What’s the plant throwing a shadow across the walkway?
Those were some strange bushes. Already torn out because it was dead
Art Project
I bought some expensive heavy concrete caps for the pillars and wall by front gate. When I got them back to the project I decided I just did not like the medium grey color with the white stucco, green patina gate and rusted metal. They didn’t look right. When viewing the property from the front entry, the roof of the house is very prominent because it is steep. Roof coloring is medium brown, dark brown and black. The red trim on windows and doors is throwing the coloring off to the eye… but the red is all going to get painted a deep chestnut bronze (deep brown) because that is the coloring of the new aluminum clad wood windows. So the red is going away, including the red in the concrete walkway
So I started an experiment. I had brown and black concrete acid stain in my garage and I started staining the wall caps on the bottom to find the right mix. After much deliberation, I decided to stain them a medium/dark brown which ties in well with the rusted metal on the gates and the roof coloring. I put on latex gloves and went to town. When done, removed gloves and discovered that the acid stain had worn right through (even though I didn’t see any holes). Have no idea how it happened but now my right hand is permanently stained a gross yellowish dark fungus color.
And, did I mention that I’m leaving for a 4 day vacation to Palm Springs with 5 couples and our college kids??? I’m going to be the one sitting out by the pool with white gloves on so that I don’t gross out everyone 
I’m pretty sure that Cristina (Flip or Flop) doesn’t ruin her nails this way - my job is so glamorous!
Photos loaded
Oh my! Will diluted bleach take out the stain?
Enjoy your getaway.
I was watching Flip or Flop last night, and my wife only made it through half an episode before she had to leave the room because Christina’s voice is so annoying. Don’t think you can get surgery to fix that, though. 
Today I have to finish designing the top part of the curved fireplace surround which is going to be difficult. Probably have to draw it up on the wall on a ladder. Then I have to set the caps exactly where I want them. Then I have to finish analyzing all the plumbing under the house. This is all so the guys will have plenty to do on Monday and Tuesday while I am gone. Inevitably, something will have to get changed when I return on Wednesday
We are running into an issue with the half bath that I want to install in the basement area. There was a full bath with a horrid little shower in the enclosed area before. As far as I can tell it was permitted with original build because all of the plumbing is inside a block of raised concrete and it all looks like it was the original build. For example, the original hall bath plumbing came through the cast iron large pipe that is running under this raised concrete block, so it had to be there when they built the house. But, I cannot verify exactly that it was in original build because, in those days, a bathroom in garage or shed or whatever didn’t ‘count’ for tax assessment reasons and the only records we have date back to about the 1960s from tax appraiser valuing the house. Original plans long gone.
But, the issue is that we can see that the toilet and sink did not have any ‘venting’ per current bulding code. The toilet drain is embedded in concrete (still in good condition per our camera scope) and there’s no way it is vented. I have no idea how the freaking toilet ‘flushed’ without some air venting. Problem for us is that we cannot figure out any way to vent that toilet for a new inspection. It’s a bunch of puzzle pieces.
And, we cannot exactly determine where the new half bath is going to be on main floor because I have a serious problem with the stair design. This all has to do with anticipating where drains need to come down from main floor into the big sewer line we are setting in the basement area and tying in to the main sewer line running under garage slab. All so I can get a toilet installed in hall bathroom
Last week I measured carefully and the stairs going up to 2nd story are ending up in mid air outside the floor layout of 2nd story. Looked good on paper, but doesn’t match up in reality. So those stairs are going to have to go somewhere else which messes up the whole layout of main floor. I’ve discussed with structural engineer and CAD guy and I’m waiting for the drawings to get into CAD before we solve the problem. It’s been a week now and I have no updates from those guys.
Regarding the Flip or Flop episodes on TV last night. They always start out with some ridiculous estimate of $30,000 to remodel the whole house. When they finished, it came to $55,000 - over 50% off (cost still too low in my world). But now I don’t feel so bad that my estimates are so off
Yikes! Both latex and nitrile gloves are permeable to certain chemicals! Some more than the other! Glad it was just a concrete stain… The glove might look intact, but bad stuff can seep through the glove material like water seeps through cheesecloth. When in doubt, check the contents of the stain and see if the gloves are compatible with it.
https://eta-safety.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/VWR%20Chemical%20Resistance%20Gloves%20Chart.pdf
^ That’s almost 100% off.
Wish I could find a contractor who would gut and completely redo a kitchen for $7K.
It doesn’t seem like they ever pull permits either. They never show anything around that, anyway. How do they get away with that? They are famous now, and use their name to sell their stuff. You’d think a building dept would catch on, and drop the hammer on them. Or a neighbor would drop a dime.
I’ve read in various places that they use very cheap cabinets and materials and cut a lot of corners, which is the only way their reno costs can be so low. It looks good on TV but it’s not built to last.
There was a very tell tale clue in latest episode about permits. They were analyzing taking down kitchen wall. Peanuts to demo a 3’ non load bearing portion of the wall. And then they started saying it was going to be $8,000 to take out whole wall because of Engineering and permits. In reality its only about $500 to $1,000 to put in proper header, posts and straps. But the huge cost is drawing plans, paying engineer fees for calcs on the plan, shear walls and special inspections plus plan review and outrageous City permit fees. That’s where costs get hard to swallow.
This tells me they are being very careful about permit requirements. Notice that they usually keep plumbing in same places. They can pull ‘no plan’ permits to do new plumbing and electrical. This reduces time and costs significantly. I’m guessing they don’t show inspections because LA won’tallow filming of inspectors.
Sometimes you hear the contractor tell them "i have bad news…inspector said old stairs not to code " or something
Buy a Dr. Scholl’s foot file or “swedish file” and use that on your hands while under running water. It should help a bit. I use it when I get bad ink stains on my fingertips and I have to go somewhere and look presentable. (you can maybe use a buffer on your nails).
Those green gate doors look beautiful in that photo!
Coralbrook, would an Oatey vent/air admittance valve work for your basement half bath? Maybe that’s something your plumber can look into while you enjoy a short respite.
And consider putting polish on your nails to camouflage the stain.
Spent an hour last night on the hands First i scrubbed hard with Ajax and got outer layer off. Then soaked hands in a bowl of hot water and dish soap. Then oiled hands and went to town with a pumice stone and nail file. Basically filed off an entire layer of skin! I’ll consider it an exfoliation (pretty sure you’re not supposed to exfoliate your fingers, but I’m no expert). Then filed top of nails and got stain off.
My only remaining issue is yellow stain under fingernail tip. Trying desperately to get to manicure this afternoon.
:^o
Being beautiful sure takes s lot of work–and some exfoliating! Have a great break with your loved ones! :x
I sure hope you didn’t file off your fingerprints!
Enjoying hearing about your process and experience, CB. Have fun this weekend! You deserve it!
Just drove by the house to see the gates and fence - they look great! The brown caps work very well with the roof, and there’s plenty of privacy now. (There were two construction trucks taking a lunch break when I was there.) I will say the nice bright white fence does contrast with the weathered gates, but time will take care of that!
The air admittance valve (commonly known as the mobile home vent) is not allowed in City of San Diego for some reason. I have come across this problem a lot for sinks built into an island and there is nowhere to vent. We can do a reverse loop vent above the vanity sink, but I’m pretty sure it is not allowed for a toilet I’ll need to research this
The fireplace surround framing got done while I was gone and a lot of digging, cutting concrete and jack hammering in front yard to get ready to pour our new walkway and entry landing. Today I had to decide on what color I wanted for concrete and I tried hard to get a really dark brown. My favorite color was ‘Green Slate’, but of course that was 4 times the price and had to be Special Order. I could’ve held off pouring concrete until late next week, but our detailed forming would be in danger of getting ruined if it rained or something.
I’ve loaded some photos.