No, I'm not caught up in Obama-mania. Far from it... I'm talking about a big change in my life: Tomorrow I'm leaving my job with Sprint Nextel after 9 years.
I started as a software developer with Nextel in 2000. Sprint bought out the company in 2005. I enjoyed working for Nextel very much. It wasn't as fulfilling working for Sprint. So I took advantage of a voluntary severance package they offered (and with this week's announcement that Sprint will lay off 8,000 people, I'm even more comfortable with my decision). I'll still get paid for several months, and I plan to use that time to focus on getting the house completed.
I have some software ideas of my own that I plan to turn into a business. If that doesn't work out by the time my severance pay period is dwindling, I'll turn my attention toward finding another position somewhere.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
And then, there Was Light... At Least Temporarily
Here's a photo showing off the temporary electrical hookup and the new gutters all at once. The downspouts will come later once the driveway is in.
The mechanical inspector came back today and signed off on his final inspection. I still need to have the final electrical and plumbing inspection, and then the overall final inspection.
The mechanical inspector came back today and signed off on his final inspection. I still need to have the final electrical and plumbing inspection, and then the overall final inspection.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Ah, Breathe in the Fresh Air!
My A/C guy came today with some helpers to add the fresh air intake to my air-conditioning system. It's a 4-inch vent pipe that takes air in through the eave of the house and mixes it with the air circulating through the return vent inside the house. The inspector will visit again tomorrow and (hopefully) sign off on my HVAC stuff.
I spent a little time today placing wall plates over my switches and receptacles. Still a ways to go with that, but I passed the time while the AC guys were working.
I spent a little time today placing wall plates over my switches and receptacles. Still a ways to go with that, but I passed the time while the AC guys were working.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Let There be Lights!
I'm in the process of finalizing how I want my gutters to transfer water into my underground drainage pipes. In the meantime, my electrician ran a line of regular house wire from the temporary pole to the service entrance on the house. This was so he could test circuits and switch on lights and so forth. So since Saturday, I've been able to flip a switch and actually turn something on!
It's amazing how fun turning lights on and off can be. Tonight, I went over and finished installing light bulbs all over the place. It really looks different inside with lights on. I joked that, now that I can see it in full light, I'll find out if I like my paint colors or not! I also realize now that I probably went overboard on the lighting outside. My backyard can be made to look like daylight in the dark when all the spots are on. Still, it's better than not having enough light.
This is only a temporary setup until I get my final inspections and the utility company comes to hook me up permanently. I'm not supposed to turn on more than a few lights at a time. No A/C or appliances, etc. But at least I can start memorizing which switches go with what!
It's amazing how fun turning lights on and off can be. Tonight, I went over and finished installing light bulbs all over the place. It really looks different inside with lights on. I joked that, now that I can see it in full light, I'll find out if I like my paint colors or not! I also realize now that I probably went overboard on the lighting outside. My backyard can be made to look like daylight in the dark when all the spots are on. Still, it's better than not having enough light.
This is only a temporary setup until I get my final inspections and the utility company comes to hook me up permanently. I'm not supposed to turn on more than a few lights at a time. No A/C or appliances, etc. But at least I can start memorizing which switches go with what!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Gutters Up, and Setback on the HVAC Inspection
My gutters are installed now with the downspouts not extending to the ground. This is so the driveway guys can place drains and work without banging up the downspouts. They look good! Pictures to come soon.
My mechanical inspection failed today because they didn't setup a fresh air intake. Because I've sealed the attic with foam, they claim I need to mix fresh air into the circulation system from outside... The new A/C guy (who replaced my original one when he moved out of state) said they should have known that but overlooked it somehow. I thought I had asked the original guy if I needed it. Maybe I didn't. Anyway, he says it "probably" won't cost me anything to add. So that's good.
I paid my deposit for the pavers today and signed the contract. Delivery should be in about 2 weeks, and the process may take about a week once they get started. I need to buy the materials for the drainage and also check to see if the parish is going to have to approve my drainage plan.
My mechanical inspection failed today because they didn't setup a fresh air intake. Because I've sealed the attic with foam, they claim I need to mix fresh air into the circulation system from outside... The new A/C guy (who replaced my original one when he moved out of state) said they should have known that but overlooked it somehow. I thought I had asked the original guy if I needed it. Maybe I didn't. Anyway, he says it "probably" won't cost me anything to add. So that's good.
I paid my deposit for the pavers today and signed the contract. Delivery should be in about 2 weeks, and the process may take about a week once they get started. I need to buy the materials for the drainage and also check to see if the parish is going to have to approve my drainage plan.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Inchworming It: Trim, Gutters, and Driveway
I've been lax in keeping up the blog lately. People ask me how the house is going, and I've started to reply with "Each day I move an inch closer on my 100 mile journey!" I've been working at the house, and so have others. But it's always disappointing how little seems to be done in a day compared to what needs to be done. I know I'll get there, and any progress is good progress. I suppose I'm just ready to move in and ready for this long project to be over.
My trim carpenter is mostly finished with everything for now. He still has a few things to complete and then he'll be finished until I lay the tile and wood flooring. He's got all the crown moudling in except for one wall in the kitchen that we're holding on until the range hood is installed. All the interior doors are in except for the 3 pocket doors. He had some trouble with those and has to come back when he's got time. And there's the smaller crown for the back garage that still needs to go up. Attic stairs in the front garage are installed, but not in the back garage. Here are some pictures taken since the crown and doors are in.
My electrician came for a good long day to complete alot of things in that department. Many light trims, receptacles, outdoor lights, ceiling fans, and my patio support columns are now in. The HVAC contractor is now free to call for his final inspection since the attic stairs in the house are in place and a disconnect is now installed on the outside of the house for the A/C unit. (I need to follow up and find out if he did that yet.) There are still some receptacles, switches and one fan left to complete before the final electrical inspection.
Knowing that my driveway is not too far off, I started looking for the iron gate I'll need. This is another item on my purchase list that floored me with the price: over $1,000 for a 9-foot gate?!? I know I want something that won't get caught in the hurricane wind like a sail, so a wooden gate is out. I want something that will last, something to provide real security, and something that looks good. This is really the only thing that fits. Prices ranged from $1300 to $1800. I've chosen a guy in the middle of that range. It's someone who's been doing iron work in this area for generations.
I've selected my gutter contractor and scheduled his work to begin. This is a local guy who has been around for years. My mom has used him and she was happy with him. I had also experimented with a local company that installs "leaf guard" gutters that have a metal visor-type of flap on top to direct leaves and debris off the roof but still allow water into the gutter. I thought about putting them on the rear garage where there are some surrounding trees, but it's too expensive. The gutters are supposed to start on Wed. or Thurs. of this week.
Which leads me to the recent swirling vortex of decisionmaking about my driveway: I had always assumed I was getting a poured concrete driveway and that I would get my slab contractor to do it for me. I had a price from him, and since I recetly got my driveway permit from the parish, I had actually called him and scheduled a start date.
After this, my mom suggested I take a shot in the dark and call a couple of paver companies to compare the cost of poured concrete with laid paver bricks. This type of driveway is beautiful, but I always thought it was reserved for the ultra-wealthy. I dug out my brochures from the home and garden shows I attended and also got a list of installer companies from brick maker Pavestone. The first company I called (http://www.lapavers.com/) gave me a price that was 20% higher than poured concrete. I was impressed with them, and their customer references raved about them. Another company quoted a price at %140 higher then concrete! Later, I learned that the going rate is closer to this higher quote. I drove by a few of the jobs done by the lower-priced guy and they looked great.
So I've decided to go with the brick pavers for my driveway! I've got some financial help from my family to help make up the difference in cost, which is a blessing. Now I've got to call my concrete guy and cancel on him after I've already scheduled him to start. That's awkward, but hey I'm making a huge investment in a house I'll be in for a long time. I've got to go with what I think is best.
My trim carpenter is mostly finished with everything for now. He still has a few things to complete and then he'll be finished until I lay the tile and wood flooring. He's got all the crown moudling in except for one wall in the kitchen that we're holding on until the range hood is installed. All the interior doors are in except for the 3 pocket doors. He had some trouble with those and has to come back when he's got time. And there's the smaller crown for the back garage that still needs to go up. Attic stairs in the front garage are installed, but not in the back garage. Here are some pictures taken since the crown and doors are in.
My electrician came for a good long day to complete alot of things in that department. Many light trims, receptacles, outdoor lights, ceiling fans, and my patio support columns are now in. The HVAC contractor is now free to call for his final inspection since the attic stairs in the house are in place and a disconnect is now installed on the outside of the house for the A/C unit. (I need to follow up and find out if he did that yet.) There are still some receptacles, switches and one fan left to complete before the final electrical inspection.
Knowing that my driveway is not too far off, I started looking for the iron gate I'll need. This is another item on my purchase list that floored me with the price: over $1,000 for a 9-foot gate?!? I know I want something that won't get caught in the hurricane wind like a sail, so a wooden gate is out. I want something that will last, something to provide real security, and something that looks good. This is really the only thing that fits. Prices ranged from $1300 to $1800. I've chosen a guy in the middle of that range. It's someone who's been doing iron work in this area for generations.
I've selected my gutter contractor and scheduled his work to begin. This is a local guy who has been around for years. My mom has used him and she was happy with him. I had also experimented with a local company that installs "leaf guard" gutters that have a metal visor-type of flap on top to direct leaves and debris off the roof but still allow water into the gutter. I thought about putting them on the rear garage where there are some surrounding trees, but it's too expensive. The gutters are supposed to start on Wed. or Thurs. of this week.
Which leads me to the recent swirling vortex of decisionmaking about my driveway: I had always assumed I was getting a poured concrete driveway and that I would get my slab contractor to do it for me. I had a price from him, and since I recetly got my driveway permit from the parish, I had actually called him and scheduled a start date.
After this, my mom suggested I take a shot in the dark and call a couple of paver companies to compare the cost of poured concrete with laid paver bricks. This type of driveway is beautiful, but I always thought it was reserved for the ultra-wealthy. I dug out my brochures from the home and garden shows I attended and also got a list of installer companies from brick maker Pavestone. The first company I called (http://www.lapavers.com/) gave me a price that was 20% higher than poured concrete. I was impressed with them, and their customer references raved about them. Another company quoted a price at %140 higher then concrete! Later, I learned that the going rate is closer to this higher quote. I drove by a few of the jobs done by the lower-priced guy and they looked great.
So I've decided to go with the brick pavers for my driveway! I've got some financial help from my family to help make up the difference in cost, which is a blessing. Now I've got to call my concrete guy and cancel on him after I've already scheduled him to start. That's awkward, but hey I'm making a huge investment in a house I'll be in for a long time. I've got to go with what I think is best.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Trim Carpenter Started, Appliances Delivered
The trim guy started on Tuesday of this week. He has installed most of the interior doors at this point. I was a bit disappointed when he showed up on Wednesday only to tell me that he was going to finish another job instead and that he was coming back to continue my house on Friday (Wed. & Thurs. was New Year's Eve & New Year's Day). I hope that he sticks with my house once he gets back.
His helper told me that you should never leave doors laid flat across horses because it can cause them to warp. In my case, we had painted three pocket doors and left them on the horses for what must have been close to a week, and at least one of them is slightly bowed. I'm not certain it's because of where I left them, but in any case they stood them up in a window to see if they would heat up in the sun and get some of the bow out.
He also told me that they've never found doors waiting for them that had no casing nailed to it on either side. Some of mine had no casing at all. My door guys had told me "some of the casing came off and we nailed it to the sides." The trim guys say that the doors always come with casing nailed to the side, but that it's supposed to then be installed on one side to keep the opening square before delivery. At least, I think that's how he deescribed it.
Also this week: my appliances were delivered. One of the reasons I really needed my garage doors this week was to have a place to secure them. I have no idea why this picture is displaying sideways, but enjoy it anyway! :)
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