kick off

[15_the_circle]

here's the task list from this morning's kick-off:

• attach award plaque to porch column base.  bask. 
• fabricate and install 2 pr screens and storm windows for front (west) wall windows. 
• neaten up beam pocket openings in interior side walls. 
• design, fabricate and install 3-panel upper front window and trim.  existing 6/1 window and frame to be removed with care for reuse. 
• front step has "trip lip" overhang and top step is too shallow.  suggest improvements. 
  [edit: based on a joint review of the process photos taken when the porch framing was built last year, it's probably best to just let this one be]
• fabricate and install 6 pr screens and storm windows for south wall windows + 1 pr for north wall window. 
• replace south wall shingling with random width TIG plank siding;  while wall is open insulate and address any structural issues found. 

and a reminder that no materials are to be sourced from Home Depot or Lowe's.  alternatives include Barron's or T. W. Perry in Gaithersburg or Mizell Lumber in Kensington. 

this morning's rain is not conducive for getting things done on site but running off stock for the window frames is something the trim carpenter can be doing in his own shop. 

Comments

[peach-salsa.livejournal.com]

You might also want to add that breathing and eating should be accomplished, too.

By the way, is there a particular reason that you avoid Home Depot or Lowe's? I have no loyalty to either, so feel free to be completely forthright.

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

to some extent it's a personal bias against big-box retail and the resulting harm caused to small vendors, many of whom they have driven out of business.  we lost several decent hardward stores around here when Home Despot opened. 

my other problem is that those low prices (shoddy builders who look only to their margins love 'em) are for cheap products of vastly inferior quality.  and their lumber is crap (nothing scatalogical about it, in this case it's a precise technical term). 

[peach-salsa.livejournal.com]

Ah.

Those places scare me a bit. I consider them to be the spoiled children of Wal-Mart. I stay away from that family as much as possible.

Bask help

[(Anonymous)]

Congratulations, George, on the well-deserved award!

re: Bask help

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

the HPC renovation award was only recently instituted; this is the second year it was given.  it is no coincidence that the Excellent Trim Carpenter worked on both cottages, so if there is any basking to be done he's the one who should be doing it.  that's why it's on his task list. 

it is quite fortunate that he is now available as a freelancer; I had told the builder last year I didn't want anybody else touching the house but he fired him anyway. 

Re: Bask help

[(Anonymous)]

Hurray -- yu got the HPC award I presume? I am so sorry I missed it, but only for good reason. bw

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

bamboo walker,

yes, I did, and it took me completely by surprise.  the award was described in a separate post, see www.livejournal.com/~15_the_circle/69553.html (http://www.livejournal.com/~15_the_circle/69553.html) (or you could have clicked past the link in the "everybody's an architecture critic" entry to see the detail, including a picture of the plaque). 

---

having noted Mr. B W at the meeting I figured you were in the Model Home minding those delightful children.  how very odd to think of you actually being able allowed to spend time with them while a public meeting was in session within a seven mile radius of the Grove. 
p.s. is there any truth to the rumour that down in Rockville you have been upgraded to reserved seating in the County Council chambers?  I certainly hope not.