WEEK 9 - OUT OF THE BOX!

Monday, January 3, 2011

The mini-vacation is over!  The New Year has arrived and it is time to get back to work.

Isaak continues to work on the plumbing vents today, and mentions that the water supply lines will be next.

Upon arriving home today, we found that Isaak finished up all the plumbing vents.  We are now up to code for today’s standards.  No fears of the toilet backing up due to poor venting!

Downstairs in the basement we find the addition of a few new ball valves and water supply lines started.  The ball valves are the levered handles which make it so much easier to shut off water lines.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Yesterday Isaak let me know that today would be a short day for him due to some previously scheduled appointments.  By the way his dad is home, and not feeling much better than he was in the hospital.  So we continue to keep Nachum in our thoughts and prayers.

Today when I got home I noticed new copper pipes rising up through the plywood subfloors.  The supply lines have made it to the shower and vanity.  It also appears that Isaak had to redo one of the vents because it interfered with a shower supply line.  So a couple elbows were added and viola! All is good!

A little kink in the vent!

To my surprise the steam radiators are hooked up and active!  Wow what a difference in the temperature of the room.  Now that it is a bit warmer in here the furnace will get a little break.  Hopefully the windows will be installed soon.  Remember they are framed and covered with a sheet of plywood, and all the insulation to these rooms has been removed.

A lot of work done for a half day!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Isaak and I start the morning off by laying out the neo-angled shower base.  It is not as large as I would like it to be, but I knew that going into the project.  This shower is a secondary convenience not a luxury shower with body sprays and water jets.  It will work fine for what we need.  We made a few tweaks and then I am off to the office.

It looks like all the water supply lines have been completed.  Tonight we noticed new supply lines to the kitchen sink and the powder room toilet.  Also the gas line for the range has been relocated.  I am so happy to have that moved, since we have all been tripping over it in its previous location.

A few more levers, pipes and gas line.

Another extra added in last minute. 
A additional hose bib for outside.

Today Isaak mentioned he spent a good amount of time cleaning out the old radiators.  He also had to install new control valves and new air vents on them as well.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Today I am out of the house earlier than usual.  The phones have been ringing more and a good amount of new leads have given our new year a great start!

I guess that the shower base is the next item to be built since we laid it out yesterday; and when I got home that is exactly what I found.  The shower base has been completed and lined.  Isaak had told me earlier in the day that the plumbing inspection will be Tuesday of next week.  I hope it does not snow like it did for the electrical inspection!

I peeked under the floor boards tonight and also noticed that all the copper pipes in the crawl space have been wrapped and insulated.

Surprise #2 for this week…the powder room window has been installed!  I immediately go to the window unlock it; open it up; stick out my head; unlatch the sides so it tilts in; and then close it!  I am so excited to see a window.  Wayne gets home about an hour later and does the same exact thing!  Like I said before we get excited over the little things.  I am bummed to find out the screen was damaged in shipping, but not worried about it.  It seems to be a simple fix…get a new screen ordered.  I’ll wait until after all the windows have been installed.

Tomorrow more snow is expected only 3”–6”.  We’ll see what happens.



Radiators, window, shower base and
metal sheet blocking to protect the pipes



Friday, January 7, 2011

At 5:00AM there is a slight dusting of snow on the ground, and at 6:30AM Isaak is parked outside reading his newspaper.

Today Isaak says he will finish up the windows!  The snow is now in full force and his helper is less than thrilled to hear it is a window day. 

As I was leaving for work today, Isaak has almost completed another window in the kitchen.   I laugh to myself thinking...the less than thrilled helper has got it made since Isaak is outside covered in snow and he is inside dry and warm.

What a look I got!



At least he's wearing long pants!  Normally Isaak is in shorts!
Such dedication in the snow!  Git er done!



The snow did not amount to much today, but just enough to make everyone slow down on the roads and create early dismissal for many of the schools.

Today we introduce to you our newest character of Designer Gone Client, and that is our wonderfully talented cabinet artisan John!  He called today to check in on our time frame and to let me know that the remaining custom drawer fronts and doors have arrived at his workshop.

After speaking with Isaak our “tentative” scheduling for the month is the following:

• This week all the plumbing will be completed and inspection next week.
• After plumbing inspection, then he can insulate the walls and crawl space.
• After we pass the insulation inspection then the drywall can go up.
• The week of the 17^th will be slotted for our wood floor installation.
• And the last week of January John can start installing the cabinetry!

I always use the word “tentative” when talking about scheduling because we will now be at the mercy of the inspectors and of course the weather.  One change in the inspection calendar can change many schedules, and you already know what the weather can do.  However it is exciting to think that cabinets are only several weeks away!

I was very excited to come home today.  The first thing I saw coming through the door tonight is this big new window over the kitchen sink area!  Wow what a beauty!  We can now see out again!  No more living in a plywood box. We can see!  Whoo Hoo!  And the room is warmer once again, much warmer!  I’m sure Isaak will enjoy having the windows installed too!  Today Wayne got home early because of the snow, so he was even more excited to be the first one to see the windows.

I am disappointed in the windows once again, but not because of concealed damage this time.  It is because the hardware on our double windows is different.  The locking mechanisms are a different style and the tilt latches are a different color.  Someone in quality control must have been sleeping.  I’m sure that these hardware pieces can be changed out, so I did not let it dampen our celebration.



Now all the windows in the back of the house match!



In keeping with our quirky ways, Wayne opens one window and I open another sticking our heads out and talking to each other from our designated windows!  Lol!  Yes we do have our crazy moments.  Friday night cocktails are held in the kitchen as we toast to another very successful week of progress!  Thank you Isaak!

ISAAK = PROGRESS…CHEERS!!!