Early Saturday morning, Tide Guy snapped the caps onto the rails. They are done!! We still need to put two short rails down some steps and install the gate. But, the rails for safety are done. Tide Guy then scrubbed and pressure washed part of the deck. Oh, it looks so good and just like new.
We went to see my old high school's basketball game that afternoon. If they won they would be in the Final Four for the state. We played horribly the first half. At halftime, it was realized the goal we had been shooting at was about 6-12 inches too low. Explained a lot. Anyway, they raised it, so the opposing team shot at regulation height both halves while we did not. There are a lot of disgruntled parents and players. Not sure what if anything will come of the complaints to the state.
Sunday afternoon we finished cleaning the deck surface and I cleaned out some of the leaves underneath. We returned the sawhorses we had used to paint the side boards. That opened up some room inside for the outdoor furniture. We don't have much left to move from that area to have it cleared for the new stamped concrete floor. It really looks so much nicer with less stuff underneath and the leaves gone.
Tide Gal
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
All Lined Up.
Tide Guy came home yesterday around 1:00. And......we got all the rails up on the deck. We got the last one done around 6:00 and it was very cold and dark. We had to finish with a flashlight, but they are all done. It was so dark, Tide Guy couldn't even get the caps snapped onto the top. That will take a minute today. I also cleaned out the flower pots and some debris underneath the deck. We have to clear this out so the concrete can be poured there. It looks a lot better but there are a lot of leaves that will have to be blown out.
Tide Guy now plans to clean the deck and railings. We also need to take some boards and junk to the burn pit here. I've sent a message to the landscape guy that we need to touch base for planning purposes.
The culvert for the temporary drive arrived Thursday. We need to get dirt so that can be installed for the large trucks to cross into our lot.
The tree service is scheduled to come in about two weeks if the weather holds out. They will cut down 15 trees of various sizes, cut into smaller pieces, and haul off.
The pool guy is scheduled to begin digging the end of March when I return from Disney.
The Niece is very excited about the pool and has offered to help us dig. She is a hoot.
Tide Guy now plans to clean the deck and railings. We also need to take some boards and junk to the burn pit here. I've sent a message to the landscape guy that we need to touch base for planning purposes.
The culvert for the temporary drive arrived Thursday. We need to get dirt so that can be installed for the large trucks to cross into our lot.
The tree service is scheduled to come in about two weeks if the weather holds out. They will cut down 15 trees of various sizes, cut into smaller pieces, and haul off.
The pool guy is scheduled to begin digging the end of March when I return from Disney.
The Niece is very excited about the pool and has offered to help us dig. She is a hoot.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Not Maybe
So, the last post mentioned a possible change in the pool shape. Turns out we can do a "L" shaped pool. So, that is what we are doing. In fact, we have it drawn out in the back yard.
Yesterday, Tide Guy was sick in the morning and stayed home to work. I sanded the caulk and painted the side boards in the morning. After a nap and lunch, Tide Guy felt somewhat better and got the trim on the upper deck. We plan to install the rest of the rails this weekend. Once that is done, we only need to install the gate and a few trim pieces along steps.
On national side of things, gas prices are soaring. Fast. It seems prices have gone up 25 cents in about a month. Right now prices are about $3.49-$3.59 here. And, we are predicted to hit close to or over $5.00 by summer. That prediction is the "average" nationwide and luckily we are usually a little below average national cost.
China just referred a week. Not bad, but they are so far behind.
Tide Gal
Yesterday, Tide Guy was sick in the morning and stayed home to work. I sanded the caulk and painted the side boards in the morning. After a nap and lunch, Tide Guy felt somewhat better and got the trim on the upper deck. We plan to install the rest of the rails this weekend. Once that is done, we only need to install the gate and a few trim pieces along steps.
On national side of things, gas prices are soaring. Fast. It seems prices have gone up 25 cents in about a month. Right now prices are about $3.49-$3.59 here. And, we are predicted to hit close to or over $5.00 by summer. That prediction is the "average" nationwide and luckily we are usually a little below average national cost.
China just referred a week. Not bad, but they are so far behind.
Tide Gal
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Cha-Cha-Changes....Maybe
Yesterday, Tide Guy came home two hours early. We were able to get all the side boards up on the deck. I also got the caulking done on all the nail holes. However, it got dark really fast and I wasn't able to caulk the seams. I am hoping to complete that process today and hopefully sand and paint. Rain is predicted today so it could be a bit tricky. Next up is trim then rails!! Yeehaw.
We basically had everything decided on the pool. Then, Tide Guy realized that the pool layout may not work. With the "L" shape, location, and slope of the lot, our design might not work. As it looks now, the width may push the back of the design so far back that our retaining way may be twice as high as we originally thought. We will have to get a better look, good measurements, and determine the real slope of the property. We may end up having to get another pool shape. If we do, everything in the layout will change.
Tide Gal
We basically had everything decided on the pool. Then, Tide Guy realized that the pool layout may not work. With the "L" shape, location, and slope of the lot, our design might not work. As it looks now, the width may push the back of the design so far back that our retaining way may be twice as high as we originally thought. We will have to get a better look, good measurements, and determine the real slope of the property. We may end up having to get another pool shape. If we do, everything in the layout will change.
Tide Gal
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I Love New Estimates!!
So, we had other people come out for estimates for the pool on Saturday and Sunday. At first we wanted the first guy to do everything. We felt it would be easier having one person doing all the work rather than piecing it together with different people. This guy worked a lot with the pool guy so we thought the jobs would be seamless. Unfortunately, we would be paying for that ease. Paying a lot.
Saturday, a guy I went to high school with came and gave an estimate on some of the landscaping. He would do a retaining wall, add planters with a sitting wall around the hottub, and add a fire pit area with pavers and stone benches with columns at the end of the benches. He would also run electrical for lighting in those areas. His estimate was right on target.
While he was there, another tree guy came out. He price was lower, but we feel more comfortable with the first guy that came out last week. The first guy will compete with lower estimates, so I need to call him back and set up a time.
On Sunday, the concrete guy came out. This is the guy that did our stamped driveway. I love what he can do. I love it much more than what the first guy suggested two weeks ago. It is more of what I envisioned and is much more cost effective. And prettier!! In fact, he can do more than what we expected by running the concrete up to the edge of the pool and hiding the ugly white vinyl edging that is usually seen around a pool.
So, it looks like the decision on the contractors are done. Now, we have to get the minds working together, get the time lines in sync, and get going. I cannot wait. I feel much better about these decisions, especially the end result of what it will look like. I have more input on colors, designs, layout, lighting, etc. The first drawing was basically done. He showed me two colors of concrete possibilities and they both looked the same to me. I seriously could not tell a difference in the two. Basically white. I am so NOT a white person. I like to think of my design ideas as unique. We are using his plans, but have changed it a bit. We moved the fire pit and made it much smaller. The sidewalk coming down the side of the house is more curved and closer to the house. Instead of pavers in the joints, we are doing a different type of stamp in the concrete. The surface will be a slate stamp like our drive, but we will have two circle stamps in two different larger spaces. It is going to look amazing. I wish it was done now.
Luckily for us we are having a very warm winter. Unfortunately, it is raining a lot.
I also had the tile guy come Saturday to look at putting tile around the top edges of two guest baths and the top of the mud room shower. We have enough tile to finish the guest baths but need the edge or trim. The mud room is very unique. The paint is lime green, purple towel holder, a red coal scuttle for trashcan. Add in orange, yellow, red, and blue items. Very cool. I am looking for some kind of funky red or mixture of colored tiles for above the shower.
See, I told you. A busy weekend. And I didn't even mention we hosted a Super Bowl party.
Tide Gal
Saturday, a guy I went to high school with came and gave an estimate on some of the landscaping. He would do a retaining wall, add planters with a sitting wall around the hottub, and add a fire pit area with pavers and stone benches with columns at the end of the benches. He would also run electrical for lighting in those areas. His estimate was right on target.
While he was there, another tree guy came out. He price was lower, but we feel more comfortable with the first guy that came out last week. The first guy will compete with lower estimates, so I need to call him back and set up a time.
On Sunday, the concrete guy came out. This is the guy that did our stamped driveway. I love what he can do. I love it much more than what the first guy suggested two weeks ago. It is more of what I envisioned and is much more cost effective. And prettier!! In fact, he can do more than what we expected by running the concrete up to the edge of the pool and hiding the ugly white vinyl edging that is usually seen around a pool.
So, it looks like the decision on the contractors are done. Now, we have to get the minds working together, get the time lines in sync, and get going. I cannot wait. I feel much better about these decisions, especially the end result of what it will look like. I have more input on colors, designs, layout, lighting, etc. The first drawing was basically done. He showed me two colors of concrete possibilities and they both looked the same to me. I seriously could not tell a difference in the two. Basically white. I am so NOT a white person. I like to think of my design ideas as unique. We are using his plans, but have changed it a bit. We moved the fire pit and made it much smaller. The sidewalk coming down the side of the house is more curved and closer to the house. Instead of pavers in the joints, we are doing a different type of stamp in the concrete. The surface will be a slate stamp like our drive, but we will have two circle stamps in two different larger spaces. It is going to look amazing. I wish it was done now.
Luckily for us we are having a very warm winter. Unfortunately, it is raining a lot.
I also had the tile guy come Saturday to look at putting tile around the top edges of two guest baths and the top of the mud room shower. We have enough tile to finish the guest baths but need the edge or trim. The mud room is very unique. The paint is lime green, purple towel holder, a red coal scuttle for trashcan. Add in orange, yellow, red, and blue items. Very cool. I am looking for some kind of funky red or mixture of colored tiles for above the shower.
See, I told you. A busy weekend. And I didn't even mention we hosted a Super Bowl party.
Tide Gal
Friday, February 3, 2012
Another Estimate
After the first estimate on landscaping for the pool area we decided we needed more estimates. The guy that did our drive was supposed to come tomorrow. He called, has a conflict for tomorrow, and is now coming Sunday. Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and we have people coming over a few hours after he is scheduled to be here. Fun. I have also called a few other people, but they only do blocks and we need concrete work.
I did get an estimate on the 14 or so trees we need taken down and hauled away. I was pleasantly surprised. That may be the easy part.
Gas prices actually went down into the low $2 or so for a while. That didn't last long and we are now hovering around $3.33 or so. Ugly.
On with the day,
Tide Gal
I did get an estimate on the 14 or so trees we need taken down and hauled away. I was pleasantly surprised. That may be the easy part.
Gas prices actually went down into the low $2 or so for a while. That didn't last long and we are now hovering around $3.33 or so. Ugly.
On with the day,
Tide Gal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)