<p>Well, as long as we’re telling potty tales…My sister built a new home, and we were all there visiting on Thanksgiving. Several of us used the toilet in the master bathroom (I don’t remember why we used it instead of the guest bath; maybe the guest bath wasn’t finished?) Anyway, by the time several of us had used it, the next sibling who came out mentioned something to the effect of how cool it was that the toilet water was so hot and steamy. My sister said, “WHAT???” – and went in to find that it was in fact, really hot water. The plumber had mis-plumbed the toilet to use the hot water feed, but you never got hot water until several people in fairly close succession had flushed the toilet. We all got a laugh out of her “spa” toilet experience. </p>
<p>Here’s my sewage story. Some of you may have seen this before:</p>
<p><a href=“Flip This House - The Reality - #445 by notrichenough - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums”>Flip This House - The Reality - #445 by notrichenough - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Oh, poo!</p>
<p>(Anyone have that smart phone poop emoji?)</p>
<p>Nevermind. CC does not let it post. :)</p>
<p>Love the story about the blocked pipes with the test plugs. Out here the inspector doesn’t touch anything. It would be the plumber’s responsibility to clear the test plastic plugs. I am actually worried about how we are going to plug our sewer lines for inspection because we have an operating toilet and we don’t want to have to saw open used loop drains (seems to be our theme) and insert plugs. </p>
<p>PROGRESS UPDATE</p>
<p>Well, besides the ‘We Have a Problem’ described above, </p>
<p>We have finally installed all of our exterior windows, except new egress windows that I am waiting to be delivered to Home Depot. The large set of casement windows have been installed across the front of the old porch. Of course I would have liked to just put in clear glass picture windows to maximize the views, but we need a little bit of style and interest across the front of the house and we needed to have some openings for ventilation. I have casement windows in that area so that there are not any ‘grids’ going across the glass panes.</p>
<p>We had to have a ‘special inspection’ $$$ for some guy to come stand and watch us drop threaded anchor rods down into the drilled original concrete foundation walls. He measured the depth of one of the holes, stared at the plans for about 10 minutes and watched us put epoxy down in about 4 holes and set the threaded rods. Then he spent about 15 minutes filling out some complex form that we have to show to the City inspector. I want that job!!! stand around and watch people. However, he was very nice. We underestimated how much of the dang expensive anchor epoxy stuff we needed and we ran out. He said it was OK, he trusted us to go get more and finish</p>
<p>After that inspection we had to spend about half day putting the special nuts and washers on the anchor bolts and finally installed the $400 Simpson Strong Wall thing. This required us to take out studs in the south kitchen wall to squeeze the strong wall contraption all the way through to kitchen wall. We barely have enough room for the French door that is going to go out to the courtyard.</p>
<p>And, just as everyone was leaving for a well-deserved Christmas break, the key to the front door broke inside the deadbolt. Poor guys spent quite awhile trying to take apart the deadbolt, trying to get the broken piece out of the deadbolt and nothing worked. So, we just had to close the front door and lock it from inside and now the only way we can get into the house is to climb up the mud embankment on the north side and try to reach up to the French door lock. Then heave yourself up through French door which is about 36" above ground and then go try to unlock front door from inside. I’m going to make sure that I am not the first person to the project in the morning until we get our new front door installed 
</p>
<p>A couple of new photos have been loaded.</p>
<p>cb, lots of work completed, and it looks great in the pix. Now that most of your hurdles are completed, do you have an estimated date for completion?? </p>
<p>BUDGET UPDATE</p>
<p>We do not even look like the amount of money that has poured into this house!!! </p>
<p>SPENT TO DATE $93,000 (there is not one part of this house that looks like that kind of money has been spent)</p>
<p>Estimate to Complete $20,000
And I know I will go over this amount somehow. </p>
<p>The biggest hurdle we have right now is a lot of drywall, mudding and texture that has to get done. So far I have received a estimate of $4,700 (no way!) and some kind of weird estimate of $3,500 but the guy says it will take 9 days. I am desperately seeking drywallers right now because I know it is going to take a long time. Unfortunately because we are half torn up and half old walls there is a lot of ‘tying’ in to existing walls. At this point it would have been easier just to tear everything off and start all over again </p>
<p>I know I have at least one more week to get to drywall install because I have to pass several inspections before we are allowed to drywall. Then one week of drywalling, one week of painting, two weeks of bathroom and kitchen installation and then another week of sanding and refinishing the floors. Hopefully some of the painting and bathroom installation can occur while we are doing some of the other stuff. Also have to install all new siding across the exterior front porch of the house.</p>
<p>I want to be done by January 23rd for personal reasons. But my lead carpenter thinks we may bleed into February. Right now drywall installation is my biggest concern. I don’t even have anyone to do it. I have all the other trades lined up. </p>
<p>In general we lost 6 weeks waiting for permits and another 1 1/2 weeks of doing a lot of crazy structural engineering required to pass inspections. We are two months behind schedule, which is why labor and carrying costs are way over budget. And permits, fees, inspections, services and materials/labor for rework and structural engineering probably count for about $15,000 - $17,000 of the overrun.</p>
<p>cb, fingers crossed that all goes quickly. I’m sure you’re eager to get some money back in your account.</p>
<p>The major expenses that we still have are:</p>
<p>Roof Shingle Installation
Stucco repair
Exterior siding and install
Painting
Drywall Installation
Tile Materials
Tile Installation
Some Lighting
Kitchen Countertop
One bath vanity</p>
<p>Everything else is purchased and stacked up either in my garage or at the property</p>
<p>Today is roofing day! Well, at least it had better be roofing day, they are promising they are going to show up. I’ll take lots of pictures</p>
<p>Pictures of roofing and our new front door are posted to the Flickr group</p>
<p>I really like the front door, cb. Roof looks good as well. Can you refresh my memory by telling me where the doors to the left and right of the fireplace lead/will lead? I know you posted a floor plan early on, but I’ve slept too many times since then! Hope that 2015 brings nothing but clear sailing on this project after all the snags in 2014 </p>
<p>The roof is looking good!</p>
<p>What are all those blocks piled along the wall along the street?</p>
<p>If you are in tge courtyard looking at fireplace there is going to be double french door to right of fireplace. Going in today!! And small 30" door to left that exits from bedroom hallway. Serves as entry to main bath if you have guests out in courtyard. Its justhha plain door because California energy requirements restricted me. </p>
<p>The red pavers in front were in back courtyard. But there were a lot of broken and damaged ones. No way i could find matching pieces because they are strange hollow thick things. Because there werent enough pieces to cover patio, we had to take them out and haul them down to street. Someday when i get organized im going to put them on Craigslist and get rid of them.</p>
<p>Purchased plain large concrete pavers to s</p>
<p>Set back patio. One of our jobs we did while waiting for permits</p>
<p>CB, I gather you were unable to save the door with the ship carving?</p>
<p>The original door with ship carving was not 1936 vintage. It was from about 1970s. It was in very poor condition, damaged and termite ridden on bottom. I personally didn’t like the exterior of the door, wanted something with a little more style. It’s now sitting in side yard waiting for me to determine it’s fate! Do you really think that someone might want it? Should I try to sell it? Put it out with the red pavers for Free?</p>
<p>Cb, wow - a lot of progress! </p>