Fencing Stop-Gap
Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under Double-Hung Windows, Garage, weather, contractor, 2008 renovation, screens | 3 Comments
The fence we put in is only temporary. All of it is going to be re-dealt with in a couple of weeks. We got the panel of shadow box up and it looks good. The thing is so nice and level and we did a good job on the posts. Both are sunk between 28″ and 34″. The plan is to put in a third post and then make a walk-through gate with part of the panel we have already installed. The other side of the house will need 2-3 panels of the shadow box and probably 3-4 posts. I already have three of the posts and a bag of cement so this will help.
This side was ripped out by the contractor and put back in terrible shape. Of course, it was so cobbled it was hard to recreate what was there originally, but these jokers didn’t even try.
Bubs enjoying his freedom
The best part is the dogs can now go outside and not be babysat or tethered as they have been for more than two months. Naturally, Bertie, the Raptor, was checking the fence for weak spots. I think we did a darned good job patching things up and plugging holes. The fence on my backyard is a joke and I’m sure not one survey was conducted prior to any of them being installed. They are constructed piecemeal and look ugly, but what can you do? The lots are supposed to be rectangular and all of them 2/10 of an acre each but the back fences jog here and there.
The buried treasure I excavated yesterday. An ancient old Cutex bottle of nail polish
And we just had some gigantic thunderstorm rip through here. Thank goodness my sister came over today and helped me finish the fences.
And the gigantic thunder boomer that probably dropped between 1-2″ of rain in about 15 minutes
Crazy Lady showed up today and went on again how I must have bent something in the garage lock, blah blah blah. The City guy just rolled his eyes. They had to replace my lock and then gave me extremely specific instructions on how to precisely use the key and open their cheap-ass made in China garage door lock. What a joke. The screen/window guy, Birney also showed up and finished the screens but there were two he wanted to re-do so those’ll come back tomorrow.
So, the check never got signed because they couldn’t get the lock fixed in time. too bad, so sad.
You Load 16 Tons, and What Do You Get?
Posted on July 1, 2008
Filed Under contractor, 2008 renovation, fence | 2 Comments
Today my sister came over to help me put in the fence the contractors ripped out. The first part was the section between the garage and house which is just under 8 feet across. We first removed the post that was still standing because it didn’t allow enough room for a proper gate. We then began digging and what a nightmare that turned into. Apparently when the house was put here they used huge blocks of broken up concrete and large stones as fill. You couldn’t get a decent shovel full of dirt without hitting one. What’s worse, they were stacked upon one another so when you hit concrete it may be several pieces. This required the use of a hand trowel to dig out around the edges of the topmost rock so that a shovel could be used to lever it loose. Some of the pieces were so heavy it took both of us to get them out of the hole. This took alot of time, but we did finally manage to get two holes close to the house and garage about 30″ deep. I know, the rule around here is 42″ but give me a darned break. The post we removed had concrete almost to ground level that was shallow and that thing never heaved at all. This image does not do justice. When this was taken, already 5 or 6 very large chunks of concrete had been resunk in the soil as we did not have enough fill. Besides, my dogs like to tunnel under fences, this is a great deterrent.
We then headed to Home Depot. At first, we were going to do chainl ink but the problem with chain link is you have to have so many different pieces and fittings. Neither of us were willing to sit down with a worksheet and do the figuring although I know that chainlink is great. It never rusts, it tends to always work and it looks neat even after 50 years if maintained. We grabbed some posts, quickcrete, and gravel and headed to the house. We got one post in but sis had to leave to run her daughter to work. My hope was to get it all done today but the rocks really threw us for a loop.
We’ll get it done tomorrow and the farm fencing on the west side of the house will be re-strung. This will at least work good enough to keep the dogs in so that they can go in/out at will. We won’t get getting a gate/door in either but the single panel on the east side will work for at least a week or two. I’ll order a door at HD and then we’ll put in the 3rd post that will form the other side of the door.
The City guy came by and I showed him our handy work. He laughed when I told him we threw back in the big blocks of concrete saying we’re passing them along to the next people who have to dig. Hey, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. And at least our posts will be in nice and neat and we’ll have a nice gate,etc.
Tomorrow the contract is done and I sign my final check and these bozos and KMA for good.
Drywall? Check
Posted on June 30, 2008
Filed Under kitchen, Decorating Ideas, 2008 renovation, dry wall, decor, dining room, curtains | Leave a Comment
It’s done. They got here and finished sanding the final coat of mud. The only thing left is the screens and the screen guy is going to be here on Wednesday at 5.
I haven’t done a whole lot the past couple of days and I feel like a slacker, but I’ve been busy with other things. My plan tomorrow is to get Rachel’s closet painted with primer, paint the trim in high gloss white, re-cut her shelves and install them and then prime and hit with the high-gloss as well. If time allows, I’ll paint her floor with the tile red paint. At least this way she can get the bulk of her clothing put up and she’ll have a place where she can find it. I wish I could get a bed for her right now but it just isn’t possible.
I bought several widths of grosgrain in black and was playing around with layout. None of them struck me particularly well although I do like the ribbon on the fabric. I had the fabric in the dining room and thought that it too would look great on those windows. It doesn’t have the orange in it but the black and white does look really pretty with the blue. I won’t use it in both rooms though. I know that the grosgrain can also be twisted to make a box at each corner making a pattern around the curtain panel. But I think the one I like best is just a horizontal stripe at the top and another at the bottom.
Here are some shots of the panels:
