The house next door...or how to NOT build a house

[jdurand]

Tar Pit News:
Yesterday they took down the delivery pipe for the tar kettle. Today is the second day without tar smoke!

They've been doing banging and sawing inside the house, we noticed the sheeting on the house is starting to warp and flake from exposure. I guess it's not outdoor rated glue. I wonder how much damage there was inside, during the rain before they finished the roof there was water pouring off the edges of the subfloor. I have no idea how deep the water got in the basement or if they've had pumps running. With all the window wells this house better have backup power for the pumps or during a big storm they may have an indoor pool.


Our Russia House:
A big rain storm went through. Since all the windows are in but no ceilings it was easy to do a walk-through, no leaks. Success!

But, the fill dirt hasn't been brought in yet so we had a moat around the house. They said they almost needed a boat to get from the street to the front door. Two things will fix this, all the downspouts will get pipes put in to take the water to the city storm drain. This is "optional" but the city doesn't like you NOT doing it as it puts more water on the street.

Also, our land will be filled to bring it up to street level just like our neighbors have begun doing. The cement fence foundation was built at the height of the fill.

In other news, they are VERY strict on hooking up gas appliances. The house heating system is in process but we had to settle on a kitchen stove. So, we're going with a RICCI (from Italy). Now our builder is trying to find someone that's open that they can get it from. The stove has to be in the house, unpacked, and inspected by a licensed gas plumber with the serial number recorded before the specialist will connect it. Only then does the gas actually get turned on. The home owner and building contractor are not allowed to make repairs or connections on any gas appliance.

[Toolmaker51]

Tar Pit News:
Yesterday they took down the delivery pipe for the tar kettle. Today is the second day without tar smoke!

They've been doing banging and sawing inside the house, we noticed the sheeting on the house is starting to warp and flake from exposure. I guess it's not outdoor rated glue. I wonder how much damage there was inside, during the rain before they finished the roof there was water pouring off the edges of the subfloor. I have no idea how deep the water got in the basement or if they've had pumps running. With all the window wells this house better have backup power for the pumps or during a big storm they may have an indoor pool.

Quick, dump a bucket of frogs in there. Nice music for you, and thoughtful housewarming gift for the owners; all in one!

[Toolmaker51]

Yeow! Good thing the utilities are more trusting hereabouts.
Found a gas leak late at night by odor; almost certain was hit by gardener's mower. But had sufficient tools & supplies to section it out, thread the stub, replace the upper length, dope the connections and close with a union. Did have SoCal gas sniff the premises for any other issues. Cheap insurance with raised floor construction.
I'm tending my rental house in CA. Next tenant cares for a challenged young girl, so there were inconveniently arranged [suitable and common for other instances] appliances in the washroom. Aside from re-positioning water supply and drainage, exhaust for dyer and grounded electrics for both in 1941 construction. The gas line fell way short reaching dryer with shortest compact flex line. Once again, a pipe union saved the day with ~7' nestled in a corner, very easy to reach shut-off, and my gas wand detects zero escape of natural gas. No bill for service, less than $70.00 in parts + couple hundred for tools already on hand.
My little house; the one that receives "Oooh, I like this house" from every single person who enters. Even the painters and floor refinisher...
So I won't let just any body take occupancy. Since 1999, the next will only be 3rd to do so. First was 16 years, until their situation required more room.

[jdurand]

So, they're going to stucco The Tar Pit House.





In other news
The core of the fireplace in our new house is done. Still needs the outer layer of fancy rocks. The magic bits inside the outer layer will remain hidden per the master builder. As you can see that's embedded quite a ways into the wall.

[IntheGroove]

My house was built by a stone mason in the early 60s. The inside of the fireplace and up the flue is a work of art...

[jdurand]

My house was built by a stone mason in the early 60s. The inside of the fireplace and up the flue is a work of art...

This guy is known as a master. With our builder, it's hard to get less. She doesn't really do "good enough", best bricks, best workers, ...

[IntheGroove]

All I know is the guy's name is Hans and he is from Austria...

[jdurand]

I talked to the contractor for The Tar Pit, they're having trouble getting things. Stuff that was ordered and a deposit paid is now "somewhere between Spain and here, may not have been shipped yet". He said this year is definitely the best for us to sell, but for him looking ahead next year the moratorium on foreclosures will end and he's not sure he will be able to sell anything then.

[Frank S]

I talked to the contractor for The Tar Pit, they're having trouble getting things. Stuff that was ordered and a deposit paid is now "somewhere between Spain and here, may not have been shipped yet". He said this year is definitely the best for us to sell, but for him looking ahead next year the moratorium on foreclosures will end and he's not sure he will be able to sell anything then.

I think as things start to open up there are going to be a lot of people who have been renting apartments in high rise building will be looking for single family dwellings for a short window it is going to be a sellers market and all you might have to do is once a house in put on the market get a bidders war started between 2 or 3 interested buyers. So if there are any repairs you know that should be done and some that you think might need to be done now would be the time to get them done as soon as you can get the contractors lined up the quicker and the better shape the house is put in the better your chances of having it bid up to as much as 30 or possibly 40% over appraised

[jdurand]

Oh yes, our fireplace during first test.



and our front wall in progress