Saturday, October 24, 2009

week 30: still inching towards completion

Alex of Crestwood affixed the cabinet doors to the kitchen cabs and access panel to the main water shut off. He placed the knobs and pulls on the stair pull-outs, medicine and linen cabs, and the water and electrical access panels. He made sure the drawer glides on the kitchen and stair pull-outs were smooth. He’ll return with new cabinet doors for the kitchen as the ones he had were warped.











Dana of Guillory Construction switched out the handrail brackets to ones with a more traditional profile. He installed the last of the door hardware, doorstop, medicine cabinet ball-chain stop and mirror bead, AV shelves and custom-made removable return grille. Dana, you’re amazing! We love that grille!













Jeff of Anctil Heating secured a loose wire that was rattling in the furnace, flashed the utility chimney (so that’s why it was leaking) and refitted the dryer vent so that the hoses aligned and the machines could sit flush to the wall. In a tiny laundry room, every inch counts! After a couple of hours, the mechanical work was complete!




Craig of NW Glass Specialties affixed the towel bar and toilet paper holder. It was tricky avoiding the drain pipes. All bath accessories are now done!




Andrei and Val of Vic’s Hardwood Company sanded, double-coated the oak hardwood floors and stair treads and filled a few small holes on the main floor. It looks awesome! Now, all the finish flooring is complete!







Aaron of Portland Metro Electric installed more shades in the cellar and refurbished and installed some old fixtures in the store room.




Seth and Matt of Integrated Technologies returned to complete the finish installation on the AV equipment. They installed the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, mounted the TV on the wall, installed the remaining coverplates on the phone jacks, ethernet lines and cable, activated all the phone lines, programmed the remotes, installed the antenna in the attic and hooked up and calibrated all the equipment. Now all the low-voltage items are done! Check out the wireless repeater at the base of the TV; that little "eye" enables the handheld remote to communicate through the wall with the AV equiptment. Also, look how tight the drywall and millwork fit around the sub-woofer. Awesome!













Even our own contractor Erik of Ostmo Construction was on site working to get the project done. He attached the cover panels on the undercounter refrigerator at the wet bar.




We have been vacuuming the basement almost daily to make sure that the construction dust and debris do not get ground down into the new carpet. It is amazing that we’ve already filled one vacuum bag. I’ll need to get rid of the three brooms we’ve used throughout the project as the bristles have all been worn to shreds.

We put up the new, wood storm windows from Classic Sash & Door. They look just as fabulous as the new, bronze wood screens, but now we are ready for winter.




This week marks the third time that I have separated the recyclable paper and cardboard from the landfill. It is astounding how much packing stuff there is. I am doing everything I can to reduce the amount of landfill created. The construction industry is one of the biggest producers of landfill in this country.

And I found the most perfect item at Rejuvenation; a porcelain toilet screw cover! It really made me happy to remove those awful plastic ones from the main floor bath.




The HBA came by to assess whether or not our project will be on the 2010 Tour of Remodeled Homes. Keep your fingers crossed! You might be able to see the finished project in person in March next year.

With that, we have substantial completion of the project. Home owners should note that this means the start of the warranty period. We’ll clean the house thoroughly inside and out and "blue-tape" construction-related items we would like fixed or completed. These items become part of what is called the punch list.

Tune in next time for the punch list and the neighbor’s garage!


Sunday, October 18, 2009

week 29: not done yet, but inching closer!

Nick of Diamond Drywall touched up all the holes, divots and bumps in the drywall. He also sheetrocked the subwoofer cubbie. Nice! Now, the drywall is done!







Pablo and Pancho of Aspen Painting, LLC spent the week on site painting the base and shoe and the last of the millwork and cabinetry. They also touched up all the walls and clear-coated the screen door. They’ll return for the punch list in a couple weeks.







Daniil of Anctil Plumbing installed the drain and water filter at the wet bar. He also leveled the water meter in the landscape strip so that I won’t trip on it getting out of the car. Finish plumbing is now complete!





We’re so close to being done. There’s some millwork, cabinetry, counter, low-voltage, flooring and electrical yet. I have been busy shopping for blinds (which are already here and waiting to be installed), furniture, linens and knick-knacks. Tune in next time for a little of this and that!


Saturday, October 10, 2009

week 28: almost there!

Steve from Broadview Security (aka Brinks) completed the install of the new system. With the new windows and all the doors wired and the new keypad and panel in place, we are safe and secure. The security system is now done!










Seth and Matt of Integrated Technologies came by and began the finish installation on the low-voltage items. They’ll return to install all the AV equipment once we’re done with construction.













Ron and Chris from Stellar Cellars returned to oil the wine cellar racks a second time and install a rail for the countertop. They glisten in the light and look even more fabulous! The racking is now finished.

Peter of Classico Marmo returned to template the granite counter for the wine cellar. He’ll install it next week.

Jonathan and Sean of ecohaus installed the carpet in the two bedrooms, closets and family room as well as the transition strips between the carpet and linoleum. The wool carpet and extra poofy pad feel very comfy underfoot. Ahh…







Dana of Guillory Construction was busy with a lot of the little finish carpentry items this week. He installed the last bit of base shoe, cabinet knobs on the access panels in the laundry room, access door for the electrical panel, outside corner guards, recessed sash lifts, front screen door, exhaust grille, magnetic catch for the laundry chute, picture rail and doorstops as well as hung all the interior doors. He’ll be back to finish up the last bits of millwork.













Aaron of Portland Metro Electric installed more of the fixtures as well as the exterior outlets. Just a couple more items upstairs, outside and at the wet bar and he’ll be done. Check out the last two images of the door-activated closet light.










Pablo, Pancho and Rogelio of Aspen Painting, LLC caulked, primed and painted the millwork, cabinetry and trim that have since been installed. They also did the first coat on the screen door and started touching up some of the walls.

As you can see, we’re getting real close. Tune in next time for the final week of construction!