Today is V-Tree Day

I've confirmed that, according to state law, I have every right to cut a tree limb that encroaches on my property. I don't need the neighbor's permission, and I don't even need to give them notice. Therefore, at 10AM today the tree surgeon will meet me at the lot to cut the limb. The end hanging in the neighbor's yard will have to fall as it will. The lawyer told me I could offer to come over and clean up their end if they give me access to their yard. But I don't have to do that.

In other news, the temporary electric service has been hooked up, so I now have power at the site.

The First Signs of Construction??

The slab contractor I've chosen says he should be ready to skate out the piling locations this Saturday. I'm supposed to get confirmation tomorrow. He also promises that I'll have all of his insurance documentation before any work begins. We'll see.

Today I bought some piling stakes. At least, I think they're piling stakes. They're 1x2 inches and about 12-18 inches long. So I'm ready if he does show up.

I also called the power company today to see if they're received the permit from the parish to install my temporary electric. They have not. My electrician friend says it has been called in to the Parish for them to inspect the pole. But something must be holding it up. I have to call them tomorrow.

I recently went to take a closer look at the Pella windows. The jamb liner seemed like it was cheaply made (a thin, fuzzy strip). I'm going to look more closely at the Marvin and Allenco windows before making a decision.

Electric Pole Installed; Slab Contractor; AC Bids

My dad and I installed the temporary electric pole before Thanksgiving. My electrician/friend said that I'd need to add a 220V receptacle to pass the parish inspection. I bought most of the pieces I needed from an electrical supply store (the receptacle, a metal box to mount it in, a circuit breaker with GFI protection and a weatherproof cover). On the weekend after Thanksgiving, we went to Home Depot to buy the rest of what we needed (mostly conduit and fittings). Then we installed it. (Hooray for Jerry, an HD employee who was really helpful & knowledgeable.)

My electrician is coming to inspect it before he calls for the parish inspection. This is good since I don't want to electrocute anyone!! The funny thing is, he says that the 220V will probably never be needed during construction. But the parish requires it. At least I should be able to reuse components of it in the house.

Chain-Wall Leakage
While we were there, we also repaired a spot along my chain wall where sand was seeping underneath into the neighbor's yard. Their lot is low, and water from a rainstorm found a spot to break through under the wall. So we dug it out from both sides and filled in some concrete underneath about 4-5 inches deep and maybe 18-20 inches long. Neither me or my dad knew of anything else to do to fix it. So hopefully, it does the job.

Slab Contractor
I think I might have found my slab guy! There was a crew working on a slab up the street from my lot. I stopped and got their information. Since then, I've let him take my plans and look them over, and I've gone to see a commercial slab he did recently. It was well done, with no honeycombing or voids. Just one depression in the top where some rain water had settled. (I don't expect it to be 100% perfect.) So this looks like it might be the guy. He says he uses the vibrating rod to make sure the concrete settles everywhere. Now I just have to get him to call me back with his price! It's been a few days. I've called him a couple of times. He tells me he's been waiting to talk to his partner, who has been out of town.

Air Conditioning Bids
My preferred air-conditioning contractor has had some business and family problems that kept him out of touch for about 3 months. But he finally gave me the quote today: $14,200 for everything I wanted. That includes a 16 SEER Trane system, 4-ton, with variable speed air handler (vertical installation in the attic), electrostatic air filter, etc. While I was waiting for him, I got a couple of other bids: $12,200 and $7,900. These other two are quoting brands other than Trane. I'm not sure why the third guy is so low.

Got the Permit!

I'm ready to go, permit-wise. Yesterday, I went in to the parish permits office. My intent was to go upstairs and deal with another form that they told me I'd need filled out before I could get the actual permit. I hadn't planned on leaving that day with the permit, but the timing worked out for me to get the whole thing done.

Upstairs, I needed to visit the public works (utilities) office for them to verify that my property has the infrastructure for water, sewerage, etc. That didn't take too long. Then I went back downstairs to the permits office. The guy I spoke with last time was out sick, but I get the next best person to process the application. So I'm now the proud owner of a piece of cardboard that says I can build! :)

I also got a temporary pole with all the components from my uncle. He last used it in Mississippi. We're going to the lot to put this in the ground today. If all goes well, my friend who is doing my electrical work can get the licensed electrician to call in for the inspection soon. Then I can get hooked up!