Starting again in 2010
Many of you will know that Stewart Marsh of SJM Construction was less than honest with his draws from my construction loan and is no longer my contractor to finish the project (which should have been finished December 1, 2009). There is a whole tale of woe here that I don’t feel like rehashing. But now the project is moving on — on the cheap, but still maintaining quality.
I’ve become my own general contractor. But completing this project is a full time job with a 3 hour a day commute.
Here is what is happening. Dan Laney, framer and job captain from the first summer is my right hand construction person. So far Jimmy and Jeremy Packard (plus Jeremy’s brother Robbie for his ditch digging expertise) have been crew, making things happen. They have the propane line dug across the driveway (no small thing through the compacted 4″ minus gravel), breezeway decked, one set of breezeway stairs installed, countertops in the kitchen set, the gas line line the propane stove installed (this was way more complicated than it would have been if I hadn’t first planned on a wood cookstove); the wood cookstove sent from the garage to its new home in Idaho; the little back deck and its ADA ramp for Ann-access made; beaucoup garbage shuffled in the environment and in the garage and the propane line and tank (scored a good used tank – $300 vs $990 new — are in, awaiting inspections. Oh and Craig Mayea delivered a load of 3/4″ minus gravel to make the bedroom access happen. That particular front (small porch access for gimps) looks great — crisp, clean and iniviting. When the wrap around deck is finished it will be a welcome way into the house. All this happened in a week and a half.
The crew is working hard and showing pride in turning back at the end of the day to know what is accomplished. No free loaders this summer.
A welcome addition to the crew is a subcontractor, Greg Vitzelberger from Oregon Log, who on a day-to-day basis makes wonderful log furniture and hand rails and stair cases. He has agreed to make the needed railings (to keep people from failling from the upstairs into the down stairs) from more of the Welches timbers. Tom and Burt, you may have laughed at me for coveting those timbers (as you moved them for me – thanks again) but that 200 year old wood is certainly finding new life. Not to mention crew has moved them more times than they want to count. Heavy.
Back on the mountain on Saturday because Mikey and Johnny have the time to start painting the upstairs (which means electrical fixture can then happen and carpet can be laid next upstairs) and Dan and his family want to enjoy the space. And it is Dan’s birthday and that’ s where he wants to be.
Sooo here are a few pictures from the week and then I want to eat my dinner. OK, the pictures are loading well and I’m hungry.
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