<p>Lots of pictures loaded to the Flicker group</p>
<p>While all of this was going on the neighbor from across the street came over. He said “Oh, your draftsman told me that someone called the City on you”. He then proceeded to tell me again that someone always calls when anyone is doing anything in the neighborhood and he always thought that it was Walter that was calling. But since someone called for my project, he guesses it must be someone else. I don’t know whether to believe him or not. I cannot imagine how he ever even spoke to my draftsman out on the street? Just out of curiosity I’m going to call the draftsman to check. </p>
<p>He then wanted to point out that there was a lot of mud coming down the dirt City Alley so I told him that we have done everything we can to protect our property with the retaining fence, straw wattles for runoff, etc. I explained that the reason there is a big ravine cut into the alley right now is that someone has been dumping a lot of dirt there since the last rains.</p>
<p>This neighbor is going to continue to be a problem.</p>
<p>cb, didn’t you say he’s doing construction also? Do you know if he has permits??</p>
<p>Neighbor across the street was running some gas lines on his roof one day but he is not doing anything ‘construction’</p>
<p>BUDGET UPDATE</p>
<p>I just wish I didn’t have to share how awful this is getting, it’s rather embarrassing. This project is going to break a new record for poor estimating, bad luck and a lot of unnecessary rework!</p>
<p>SPENT TO DATE $87,620
Estimate to Complete $32,000</p>
<p>So, it looks like I may be at about $120,000 to get this done. I’m pretty sure that my estimate to complete may be wrong because I’ve already run through the whole landscaping budget and still don’t have any landscaping to show for it, or the deck that I really want to have on the north side. I’m going to wait for a couple more weeks to see if we can get a better gauge on possible sales price before I spend too much money on the deck and landscaping. </p>
<p>We still haven’t really painted anything either, Yikes!!! Not to mention that the guys wasted time painting up the whole living room ceiling and now there are about 20 holes punched into the ceiling that will need patching and re-painting. </p>
<p>Don’t lose the deck! That’s the big selling point in my opinion! When I recently bought my new house, outdoor space with a sit-down ocean view was at the top of my priority list. </p>
<p>I know… but the deck is going to be a huge challenge because the gas meter is against the house right where I want the deck. Technically, we have to leave 3’x3’x3’ open for meter access. We do not need a permit for the deck because it is less than 30" off the ground, but it is going to be a challenge trying to design around the meter. I want to just put a ‘trap door’ type cover over the meter but I know that is probably not exactly legit.</p>
<p>Can you leave an opening in the deck for the bleepin’ meter and have some planters built into the deck so the hole is surrounded and protected by shrubbery in the planters? We found a creative solution to covering up the septic tank access holes (or whatever they are called) by making a mixed garden bed in the middle of the stone patio and putting wooden planters above each lid. The guy who came to pump the tank raved about the solution - he did not have to poke around trying to figure out where the tanks were located per as build and did not have to dig and wreck the patio. </p>
<p>I just checked with my draftsman and the neighbor did approach him in the street and asked for his card and told the draftsman same story about all the neighbors being mad that I got the house. So, there might be some truth to his story that ‘someone else’ called the City. </p>
<p>Today was a frantic day. The City Inspector came and took about 30 seconds looking at some nails at one part of the roof. We could have been covered up on Sunday if we didn’t have to wait for this inspection. But No!! we now only have plywood on the roof with gaps and lots of places that rain can pour in. Rain coming tonight. </p>
<p>Roofing guy came on Sunday to put the plastic membrane on the roof. He could not find the special round short nails that were left here for 2 months - one of his own guys accidentally took them in their truck from the big roofing day on Saturday. So, he calls me and promises that he will come back this afternoon and get us covered up. 3pm starts rolling around and I am panicking… he sends his brother and some other guy over about 3:30pm to start the job and miraculously they are done by 5pm. But there is so much stuff sitting on the roof (see pictures) that we had to put big blue plastic tarps over that area because we cannot get the plastic membrane under the shingle packs stacked on the roof.</p>
<p>Meanwhile I begged the City inspector if we could install an open exterior wall in the Utility Room. The back wall on the property line is wide open with studs while we were waiting for permit and rain has been pouring into the room. This wall has to be a special ‘fire wall’. He said we could install the exterior, as long as he can see the inside when he comes for framing inspection. This involves metal flashing across bottom, more membrane flashing, 5/8" drywall with a metal lip on bottom (to avoid moisture going up through drywall, then waterproof paper, then cement siding. Yikes!!! we have to get this all done before the rains come. </p>
<p>Remember the amount of room in this area - we had to get two SAPs (smallest available person), one hanging from roof trying to cut drywall to fit and then drop it into place from above, and another one trying to muscle these heavy pieces of drywall into that small space. Then try to get the drywall smashed into the small metal lip that is nailed at bottom and then try to get all the drywall screws in without any elbow room to get a good angle with the drill gun. Madly putting the water proofing on about 5pm - didn’t have enough time to get the cement siding as the final layer.</p>
<p>Even better, we now have permission to put in all our windows!!! OMG… we are finally going to have some visible progress. I am so excited, cannot wait. Beautiful windows have been sitting in the front room for 2 months now 
</p>
<p>Thrilled to hear about the windows. You are finally cooking with gas.</p>
<p>cb, I have a question. I noticed in the picture titled “Roof Tear Off” dated 12/13 that the dirt from your alleyway extends beyond your cement wall and, it appears, onto the sidewalk. Do you have any plans to get rid of the dirt on the sidewalk? It seems to me it would create a smoother, cleaner look if that were gone. </p>
<p>The dirt on the sidewalk is coming down from the City dirt alley. We have been very diligent that it is not coming from our yard. Towards the end of our project we will install all the landscaping - which will minimize any runoff from our yard. And we will clean up the sidewalk. It’s a waste of time to do it right now (as I have learned from many years of continuously trying to clean as we go along… to only have to clean it again a week later !)</p>
<p>We dodged a bullet last night - rain did not come in. But it looks like it is coming any minute now during the day</p>
<p>Loaded some more photos - especially the new holes in our living room ceiling from the long roofing nails</p>
<p>Those nails – OMG.</p>
<p>New windows going in!!! Finally. Loaded some photos. I especially am grateful that we can finally get rid of the dirty, musty and moldy windows in the dining room - you cannot even see through them!</p>
<p>I’ve managed to lose the bookmark to the pictures – can someone PM it to me or post it here? Thanks!</p>
<p><a href=“Shed East Window | It appears that east wall used to be abov… | Flickr”>https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/100771386@N05/15334151995/in/pool-2750844@N22/</a></p>
<p>Those windows do look nice! </p>
<p>Don’t forget to open up each picture to read the full description of what you are looking at.</p>
<p>I am amazed how blue the skies look in almost every photo taken outside. Lots of good progress! If I were the buyer, the photos would reassure me that the house is not going to fall apart! But some of this stuff demanded by the city is definitely an overkill (like our drainage system large enough to hold Lake Washington). </p>