Meetings and Changes

Just got back from meeting with Fred at Maxine.

He was ahead of me on the laundry chute, asked my input for two emergency executive decisions, explained the flush garage roof line issue, and directed me to buy three bathroom fixtures, as well as to contact the City's water guy concerning valve sizes. Here's the deal:

He said he caught the laundry chute this morning (having not been around for the weekend)... they're going to raise the horizontal plane of the roof (underneath the laundry chute "window") so that the chute door will allow for dropping of laundry. I'm happy.

Then he says there are two other problems... He shows me the ceiling attic access. After he jokes that even with the brutal heat of this weekend, we probably still won't NEED the air conditioning here in Port Hueneme (but it's on order, so... we're past the point of no return on that decision), we have a heater/air conditioning issue. There's no place in the plans to run ducting from the attic down to the first floor rafters... that's a problem. So he describes an "executive decision" solution that he needs me to make: we're going to run the ducting from the unit across the attic above the family room to the west wall, then (he steps out onto the roof rafters above the mater bedroom) he wants to build a 14 inch square soffit on the exterior wall and down to the first story attic (it'll look fine, he says), through and from which the ducting can run for the first floor. It works for me. Go for it.

He takes me downstairs to the master bathroom. The sink's air vent has nowhere to go... the bathroom sits below the deck and the vent can't go there... so he describes "executive decision number two": the vent is going to curve around the bath and through the closet (in a six inch soffit) until it hits the outer west wall... then up. That works for me as well. Go for it.

We go back upstairs so I can ask him about the roof line sloping issue. I point it out; he nods, and lets me speak. I unroll the plans and show him the elevation. "I see, I see," he says. This is an executive decision he made without me, he admits, and he explains why. The difference between the two roof lines would have been roughly six to nine inches... and this is problematic. If it was a foot or two or more, then he would have gone with the plans; but less than a foot, he explains... well, that is better off being flush. He shows me with his hands. The gap between the two planes will need to be filled with a ninety degree wall, and sealed both top and bottom. But the sealant is less "solid" than making the roof one level (where the joins will be smooth and truly solid). The explanation is only slightly better than satisfactory, barely convincing. But, he admits, the sliding over of the gable a foot has caused another slight change: the gable now rests under the south window in the family room, directly beneath it, less than three inches away... the bottom of the window will need to be raised a few inches to make that work. I don't have much of a choice... and there is nothing to go for. [But at least it's now explained]

I show him on the plans where the attic access in the wall should be. He shakes his head. We have to lose that side attic access (over Dad's room) because that's where some of the heating ducting will be directed for the downstairs air supply.

He then takes me downstairs into the laundry room, and tells me that I have bad news to break to Lisa: he doesn't have any extra skylights (Lisa had wanted one in the laundry room). He tells me that he would suggest two tube lights (one in the laundry room and one in the hall just outside dad's door)... he won't charge us for labor just for the tubes themselves (about $180 apiece): sure, why not since money is flying out my ass with incredible velocity.

Then he tells me that I need to buy the bathroom fixtures for the tub and the showers, so that the valves that come with them can be placed on the pipes. He cautions me NOT to go cheap on this: metal, not plastic, he warns. He says the temptation is to go cheap (can he read my mind re: monetary diarrhea?), but that just means having to replace them in two years (possibly with drywall damage). He also gives me the name of a vendor, Ferguson's, who I'll check out after lunch.

After lunch will also be when I try to contact Hickox from the City. Fred needs the water meter and valve (just installed recently) to be upgraded from 3/4 inch to a full inch for the fire sprinklers. I went by the City after meeting with Fred, and they gave me Hickox's card... but it's 12:14 now, so I'll wait until 1 to call.

Changes and news. Am I happy? Not really. Am I as unhappy as I was last night? Not even close. Fred has done his job. He's good at it.