Low voltage

Our electrician continues to drag while providing every excuse in the book. Here's a picture of some recessed lights he hung last Monday - he hasn't been back since then. He also hasn't done any of the big things such as set our meter outside or run the main line of power to the boxes. I can't stand him - I think today is his last chance to show up for work!

In the meantime we hired a security system installer (to start next week) and an interesting pair to do our low voltage work: Helen works full-time for Pepco and Gill works full-time for Verizon, and they, along with an assistant, ran a ton of wire yesterday for phone, internet & cable. Helen is also going to help me & Eric run our own CAT5 and speaker wire once we figure our what sound system to get - Eric is obsessed with being able to control it from his iphone. Here is a picture of the low voltage box near an outlet. It's important that low voltage wires are at least 6" apart from high voltage ones or there could be interference - see how the low voltage ones are coming from above into the box and the high voltage ones are coming from below?

Also, here's a picture of the distribution panel where all of the CAT5 comes into and out of. Our speakers will run through these panels too.

It still looks like there's a lot to do, but plumbing and mechanical are both done and passed close-in inspection. After electric & low voltage, we will need to insulate and then it's time for drywall!!

Circus of subcontractors

I've been delinquent in posting but we're making a lot of progress. The largest challenge has been dealing with our circus of unsophisticated, irrational contractors. For the longest time our plumber was MIA and slow but he is a truly honest guy and now he's coming through for us. Then recently our HVAC contractor tried to guilt us into paying him before he was done by bringing up a "trust" issue, which we've heard before and makes us furious. Now, our electrician who's hard up for cash just hit us with a completely bogus $1,300 change order and since we said 'no' has not returned to work. It's just never easy!

The picture here is of Joshua, our plumber from Nigeria, testing the drain pipes today for leaks. He's going to use air to test the supply pipes since it's getting cold now, we definitely don't want water that could freeze in there.

The faucet also shown here caused a lot of headache. Unfortunatley the hardware on this one didn't match the install manual , our experienced plumber was totally confused, and communication with the UK manufacturer was non-existant, but finally Eric realized he could just hook a hose up to it and figure out where the water came out, so now we are good to go. We have a shower head on both sides of the tub so we each have our own... awesome!

Stair details

We're planning to install white oak hardwood flooring with an ebony stain throughout the house with a special plan for the stairs, to wrap them in reclaimed wood from the attic joists. The experts tell us it's yellow pine and due to its age it's very dense with a lot of variation in color and grain. I'd like to stain it to draw out the contrast in the colors so that it matches the ebony floors but also stands out as a special feature of the house. Here's a picture of the wood in its original state and then another after it's run through a planer. Eric found a place in Baltimore that will plane all of the wood down for a few $100.

Our stairs will also be unconventional in that they won't have a lip on each step that extends over the riser and instead be more like an angled sawtooth. Eric got around the code requirement by making the steps extra wide.

There's a chill in the air.

Long underwear and a beard are Eric's secrets to staying warm this winter!

Arriba!

Eric has been borrowing his new friend James' truck for home depot and dump runs lately. He says its a stick shift with no leg room, radio or power steering, but it gets the job done. And its got some sweet green winshield wipers. Eric says he sings his favorite Mexican songs while driving it around. Thanks James!

Heroes of the day

Our cast iron tubs were delivered on Wednesday in the rain and they were so heavy that Eric could not get them into the house alone. He tried to locate a dolly but could fine one big enough so they sat in the steet in the rain a while longer until Jerome (a former colleague) & Oliver (our neighbor across the street) helped get them inside. Thank guys!

Medicine cabinets

Though Eric fell in love with the medicine cabinet with a built-in refrigerator, handy for drinks of cold water in the night, we opted for more economical ones. We're excited about how big they are and how nice they will look recessed in our white glass mosaic tile wall!