Loaded more photos
Loaded some photos of cutting up the roof and the staircase. Big issue yesterday when they started cutting up the roof. Took off some concrete tiles and found a medium size wasp nest underneath a concrete tile. I have no idea how they built a nest in about 1/2 inch of space, but they did. Hundreds of wasps released and swirling right around the guys trying to build the staircase. They didn’t even flinch… they kept on going. Luckily I have wasp killer spray stuff and we found it in a pile somewhere and were able to spray it about 1/2 hr later. That didn’t stop those dang things from trying to get back to their nest
Interior doors were delivered yesterday. Quick a large pile of beautiful doors staged up and waiting. I have made a crazy design decision about the doors but I will surprise everyone later after one of them gets installed
As usual, two steps forward and one step backward. First there was the crazy wasp invasion (they got inside the house also)
Then we find out that the concrete guys accidentally took a pick ax to the new sewer line and punched a hole in the ABS pipe. My poor carpenter had to get back out there and dig it up and perform a custom/emergency repair.
At least you didn’t discover you need another permit! So - where are the pictures of the wasps? :bz :bz :bz
I was staying as far away from that swarm as possible:)
Will the concrete guys’ company pay for the repair?
No. We are just lucky he pointed it out and we didn’t end up with a poop leak under the garage slab. That’s the type of stuff that keeps me awake at night when you get into the big boy league
Today we have 2 crews working. It’s a big day because they are going to be cutting off the entire roof in the back. We decided to demolish from the top down. They had started pulling all the stucco off and then decided it is going to be safer to demolish the roof off first and then maybe we can cut the studs and just push the walls off onto the ground without having to tear off all the stucco.
Plumbing is done in the basement bath and drywall goes up today. For privacy I decided to have them drywall the interior walls and the exterior of the walls will stay open for the building inspector to see the water lines and drain vents in a future inspection. I have some leftover tile in my garage that is going to go down on the floor Monday. We will grout Tuesday morning and seal the tile and then set the toilet and vanity. Hopefully the porta pottie will be gone by Wednesday!
I wonder what the neighbors are thinking. Curiosity will probably be piqued when the roof comes off!
Yep, expecting neighbor visits any day. Especially because we have two tall studs sticking out of roof now. The neighbor below obviously doesn’t have a leg to stand on. We are now going to be looking right over their roof deck. Not one person has ever been on that rooftop deck in the last 4-5 months.
There are 3 neighbors in back that are going to be affected in different ways. These are the 3 houses along Guizot St. The one on north end will still have their main views down the alley but some of their direct West views might go away but I’m not sure they can even see over the big house in that direction anyway.
The middle house only has view from upstairs. They will lose all their view directly west and most of their view to Mission Bay. They will still have southwest views similar to our living room view because we are not raising the front part of the house. Haven’t been able to talk to the owner because the house is a rental with out of state landlord. The renters just walked straight into the house without invitation and started wandering around inside looking at everything when I first bought the house.
The southerly house behind us on the dead end street that has garage on property line will keep most of their view to ocean. But they came over and complained they were going to lose some view to Mission Bay. I understand how they feel but the house below started the whole issue. They know there is nothing else we can do but go up.
Our current roofline peak is at 24’ high. We are only going up 7 more ft from that roofline. It could be a lot worse. I’m allowed to go up another 5 ft if I wanted to.
I wonder if the OOS landlord ever visits the house, how much the property value will decrease due to change in view, and if the tenants will want a decrease in rent due to loss in views.
Also curious about who owns the brown, view-stealing house in front of you - not their names but their occupations (retired?) - and if they are the ones who stole the view or if they just bought it after the house was built up.
The owners of the big house below had lived there for awhile and then built the new tall house. A middle age couple with no kids and they were the builders. He watches the construction a lot so I think he has a flexible work schedule. I hardly ever see the wife.
Lots of action yesterday. Roof torn off and the basement bathroom got drywall installation to get ready for tile on Monday morning.
I loaded some photos with explanation
Recycling
I had to post a $1,000 bond with the City where I have to try to recycle at least 50% of all debris. I’m on track to hit about 70% of the debris because 8 tons of concrete was recycled as we took out the driveway and old retaining wall. If I can submit receipts for at least 50% of the debris I get my $1,000 back.
We have been spending a huge amount of time separating all of the clean wood that is not reusable into a separate pile. Today one of the guys loaded up my truck and went off to the recycling center 30 minutes away. After waiting in line, the guard looked through the wood and would not let it get recycled because there was concrete dust on some of the pieces of wood. These were the small stakes that were used for forming the foundation footing and they had concrete residue on the wood. What the hey??? The wood is crunched up for mulch but I cannot understand why concrete residue is such an issue.
I would have had the guy just get in another line and dump it, but I am really really trying to recycle. So… he has to drive all the way back and they had to go through all the wood in the back of the truck and throw out about 6 pieces that had concrete residue. Then back to the recycle place. OMG!!! That’s almost $100 in labor and two trips to the dang place to get a piece of paper that I can put into my stack of receipts
I took some more photos of the travertine tile laid in the boy’s basement bathroom and our continuing demolition of the back of the house, with explanations.
And the wasps came back and are trying to build a new nest right in our new staircase on the studs. Had to go to Home Depot and get a can of Wasp Spray and spray down all the new wood in the staircase. The guys were just hitting them all with a hammer and wiping out the new nest. I cannot figure out how none of us have gotten stung yet!
“The guys were just hitting them all with a hammer and wiping out the new nest. I cannot figure out how none of us have gotten stung yet!”
I am laughing so hard after reading this my fellow bus riders are probably thinking that I have bats in my attic! 
Are you putting true travertine on the floor of the basement bath, or a travertine like tile?
I know its stupid, but its real travertine. I’m going to seal it really good and remove the slipperyness with the sealant.
And, one of my biggest pet peeves…I didn’t have a chance to get down in the basement until they were almost done because it is too dangerous with all the flying debris. I go down and check and, sure enough, these guys have managed to find the ONE tile with dark brown natural veins and blotches. Entire floor is clean and neutral. Of course the one tile with brown splotches is set right under the toilet!!! Amazes me how this always happens and how I never see it until too late. Don’t they pay attention to these details??? Laid into him with no mercy but it’s too late now.
I was having some yard work done. Raised bed planters built out of old brick with the two corners anchored by these large marble blocks that are orthogonal on one side and curved on the other. They weigh about 300 pounds each. They lay the first one, the correct way, sitting right on the concrete footing. A few days later they get to the other one and lay it - sideways!
Oh geez, I looked at that and thought, “well, I guess I’ll have to get used to it” but the landscaping company owner came by and ripped those guys a new one and made them move it. I didn’t watch that part…
How can you not use your eyes? It’s just amazing sometimes.