WEEK 4 - ELECTRICAL

Monday, November 29, 2010

Isaak is back and ready to work.  His helper has not returned to work.  Therefore a new helper is hired and starting today.  He’s on time and pleasant…a very good start!  Except for the Jets sweatshirt!

Issak is working on moving some of ceiling joists in order to get the recessed lighting where I would like it.  Lots of noise and vibrations. Dogs are underfoot and very scared.  Over the weekend Wayne noticed that Fred has licked a hot spot on his leg.  So remember even your pets get stressed during a remodel.  Their routine is changed and their environment has changed.  Remodel affects everyone in the house.  It is important to make time and make your pets comfortable too.  A trip to the dog park is definitely in order today!

I am still fighting a nasty cold and decide to head to the doctor; it is a cold turning into bronchitis. Argh!  I don't have time to be sick!

Isaak has to leave to receive a late morning delivery for another one of my clients.  The delivery truck was delayed and he is gone longer than we all expected.  Not much gets accomplished, but my client is happy.  Happy clients are my favorite kind!

He heads back mid afternoon, but not enough time to start anything else.  Therefore no pictures for today.

Meanwhile, I am taking advantage of Cyber Monday and shopping for deals on our home theater components.  I scored some great deals on speakers and sound bar, and missed out on a few others due to limited stock.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Our temporary kitchen is located in the basement.  The old slop sink is being used everyday for dishes and is now draining very slowly.  Isaak and his helper try to snake out the drain lines, but just cannot get through.  So now I have to call a drain cleaning service.  They will be here between 1:00-4:00PM.

Before heading out to the office, Isaak and I review the lighting locations.  Recessed lighting is always challenged by locations of floor joists, plumbing and unforeseen objects in the ceiling.  I know we will have to tweak locations, but everything looks good…so far!

When I returned home, I found all the large recessed cans have been installed and only off 1½” from the original plan.  Not much in the scheme of things, but it is very exciting to see the cans in the ceiling!  The drain cleaning guy did not show up unitl 5:30!





Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Isaak and I play around with the location of the low voltage recessed cans.  Some of the upstairs bathroom plumbing has proposed a challenge, but we work it out.  By the time I leave for the office, all 9 of the recessed lights are wired and working.  Let there be light!

Roxie praises Isaak's work! Thank you!

Fred needs camera time too!




Note the big white waste line is exactly where I wanted the outlet!

 

We then review the specific locations for switches and receptacles.  Just as I mentioned about the lighting, there are challenges with switches and receptacles too; plumbing lines, vent pipes, steam heating pipes, etc.  Some outlets need to be relocated due to a steam pipe and waste line from the bathroom above.  It ruins my idea of keeping perfect symmetry for the wallplates; however there are no other options, unless we rebuild the house and move the obstacles.  Not happening here!

At the end of the day, the boxes for the outlets and switches have been installed.  The recessed lights have been hooked up to a three way switch that is working!  How nice it is to come into our kitchen and flip on the lights.  Now Isaak can see during the day since the windows are all boarded up.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Quiet day on the home front, no Isaak today; yeah I can sleep in a little bit!  Isaak is sitting at a previous job waiting for the inspectors to come and give him a final sign off.  Not a fun day for him since he does not know when the inspectors will be arriving, but a good time for him to get paperwork done.

I decided this would be a great day to layout the kitchen plans on the floor.  Wayne got home just in time to help.  We were both so excited to see it taped out on the floor when we finished.  We are both pleased with the layout and even more enthusiastic about our new kitchen.

The main cooking and cleaning area of the kitchen.

Wow!  We are going to have so much counter space!



Our social part of the kitchen is a peninsula on the right side.

Friday, December 03, 2010

Isaak is here bright and early as usual.  We review the work he completed on Wednesday.  He spends his day working on more electrical and lighting.

I met with Lee of Pure AVS, www.pureavs.com,  to review speaker and wire locations for the home theater and music system we are having installed.  We are so lucky to have these guys at Pure.  He put together our dream/wish list for an awesome home theater.  Of course we have some very expensive dreams and we were very discouraged that we could not afford the concept.  Fortunately, Lee worked with us to fine tune our want list vs. our need list to a point that worked for all of us.  Compromise is the key!  Thank you again Lee for being so patient with our revisions.

Well another week is done and Isaak had a helper for the entire week! 

PROGRESS PREVAILS!