A Lull between disasters



We were waiting for the boiler to be installed so we could get heat into the house.  Well it was installed about 2 weeks ago.  But the boiler needs electric and the electric is going to be under ground.  Very sad and unexpectedly, our mason did not show the day he was to dig the trench for the underground installation.  We learned later that day that he died of a heart attack in his sleep. He was an honest well liked craftsman and we were very saddened by his death.

Will be experiencing more delays while we search for a new mason.  After the hurricane finding available trades people is like looking for hens teeth.(a phrase my father used). 

42 in. mahogony door and transom.

Mahogony door prior to painting.

  The mahogony door was delivered and installed on Thursday of last week 12/13. It is going to be painted French Blue, so this is the first, last and only picture of it in it's mahogony nakedness.

  

Great room from 2nd floor looking at the back of the house

Not wanting to delay waiting for heat, the sheetrockers burned $$$$ worth of propane to get the finished and ready to paint.  The painter is waiting for heat,as is the floor installer & the tile man. 

Looking at the entrance from the back wall of the house





Metal roofs were installed on the cupola and the bumpout for the gas stove.

We were glad to have a week of about 50 degree weather and the painting was almost completed.  The vertical cedar siding is painted "Almond Soy" and the horizontal siding is painted "Cork".



The gas stove is installed and waiting for: gas for the flame and electric for the fan.  Not sure when but the new mason promised me today that he would have the trench dug by Friday the 21st and the electrician has promised to be there to run the electric. 

Of course, I almost had heat last week after suggesting we run power off the temporary service pole direct to the newly installed boiler. However, when the HVAC guys came over to coordinate the connection of their system to the boiler, they discovered that insulation was installed into the chase for the air return and the sheet rockers had nicely sheet rocked it. Oh and did I mention that the custom stairs being built by G&G stair builders (http://www.ggstairs.com/) who went out of business 6 weeks after getting a 50% deposit from us. They've promised to honor our contract but they are already weeks late on delivery. I hope they're not using up all the scrap wood to make our stairs.



Almond Soy stain being applied to beautiful cedar siding



Looking at the house from the southeast side



Siding being completed on the long awaited door. which is primed white prior to it's French Blue finish.

In spite of all that's gone wrong, we are very happy with the house and the work that's been done.  All the trade people have been overwhelmed by the storm demands of new customers who are out of their primary homes.  They are doing the best they can under the situation.