OUR FIGS- LIKE JELLY ON A TREE

It's fig season and we have two of those bad boys. They are so good it is like natures own jam. Everyday i pick them and bring them home. Have you had grilled figs with bacon and goat cheese? My wife's grandmother told us how we can dry them, but we might have to wait. We had an ant problem last week at the apartment and we are worried they'll return

COCINA

The kitchen is starting to look like a kitchen. We can't wait to cook in it. Our fridge in our apartment keeps everythigng at warm 65 degrees. I bought 2 steaks to grill and by the next day they had turned. I can't wait to get out of this place and into our new home. Goodbye helicopters, Goodbye freeway, Goodby black soot. We were thinking about replacing the windows to the right, because they don't open and need weights, but i think we might keep them as is. I like the way they look.

THE LIGHT

There is land on the horizon. The bathroom has real form and it's coming together very well. The hardy back is down, ready for the tile. The electrical, gas and plumbing all got signed off on. The AC is hooked up and so is all the duct work. Our finish date was for the 15th, but we knew it was a bit optimistic. This week there were crews of at least 7 guys going at it. They really got a lot accomplished.

The building is up

Took out the ugly bushes from the root.

For our chandelier

Correction

We need to move the switch and the lights so they don't conflict with
the closet.

Electrical in room

The room

I am back on the roof! And this time I didn't fall through.

Framing Thieves

Today we are picking out where our windows should go. The framing is up and we have gone through 3 inspections without any problems. The subfloor is rock solid and leveled so that when we put our hardwood floor it will be flush with the rest of the house.

We camped out at the house last night because all of our stuff is there and if that would get stolen we would be sunk.

Hector, the worker who stays at the house during the week, told me that my neighbor is stealing buckets of water from my front faucet at night. We were going to confront them, but we decided it was a great opportunity to have some fun. We haven't singled out one particular plan, so we are open to suggestions. We did buy a faucet lock. The misses wants to jump out of the bushes with a covered panty hosed face and a camera. I just want to exercise my Texas right and shoot whoever is on my property.

INSULATION

We dropped of some stuff at the house. A couple of ceiling fans, the medicine cabinets and speaker wire. And we walked in to see Hector and Leon adding in the insulation to the back room.

His & Hers

I have never been so excited not to share. I think most couples can relate to how much it sucks sharing a bathroom sink. No more toothpaste/ beard trimming/ unidentifiable gunk for me!
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Fan-Tastic

Found this fan on sale so we picked up two. Our ceilings are low so we were limited on what fans we could choose from because most of them hang too low. You got 8 foot celings and add a fan that hangs two feet down and well you do the math. Besides it's just not nice to decapitate the guests. On second thought...
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Our Medicine Cabinets

We got two! These will be going over two metal console sinks in the bathroom!
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FOUNDATION POUR

This weekend we woke up extra early to greet the cement truck and watch them pour the cement into the forms. I never knew it was such a precise thing. The pressure has to be at 30psi, it has to be done quick so it cures evenly.

Here They Are

I can't wait to refinish these doors!!!

PROGRESS!!!!!!

We have been very busy.

Making some serious progress. My parents were in town this past week and my dad, the Architectural Engineer was on the job site several times this week. He said that they guys were doing a bang up job, using the highest grade materials and working their ass off. We got to select were the lighting fixtures and recessed lighting go. PLUS where to pre-wire for surround sound. ANY TIPS WELCOME!

Now we need to make a decision about clothing dryers, gas v electric.We know gas is much cheaper to run, but they are all very big in comparison with the smaller 24 inch European ones that only seem to run on electricity. We are thinking of the bosch axxis, because of their size. We need all the space we can get, so we have to weigh both options.



This week we have completed rough plumbing, gas line, and rough electrical, plus we have installed a NORTIZ tankless water heater . This thing is bad ass, it only heats up the water you need. So it saves tons of energy plus it qualifies for the 2009 tax rebate. We can run our kitchen sink, flush a toilet, take a shower, and fill up the bath at the same time without loss of hot water. HIRSCH plumbing has a special on them for $659! It should be between $800-$1000.

Here are some pics of the guys getting ready to pour the footing. Easy as 1/2/3.On the last pic, that thing is solid, you couldn't move it if you tried. and yes my dad tried to move it.

Oui, Zee Doors Belong to Us

We searched high and low for a pair of French doors. But these were no ordinary doors Monsieur, these were Craftsman French doors or 9 lites as they are often called that we were after. The difficulty was not in finding the doors, it was in finding that style of doors that measured 24 inches each in width and finding them in our price range.

We had found the perfect pair at a salvage yard a while back but they would not let us put them on hold. The owner said he couldn't hold them but that we should not worry because it wasn't like anyone would buy them by the time we came in the next day. When we went back the next day to get them, we were too late. Yup, he sold them to someone else!

We called a million places and visited tons of salvage yards but at the end it was good ol'faithful Craigslist that pulled through and saved the day. I could hardly believe it. Someone was selling the exact same doors we needed!!! These doors were meant for our house. It was as if someone had taken them out and they finally made their way back home to us. With some divine intervention, a little luck, and a lot of fluke they sold the doors to us and my in laws were kind enough to get them for us as a gift. Thank you, thank you. We will always think of you when see those beautiful French Doors.

pictures coming soon

Green Light

One of our best friends Shari made some calls and through a friend of hers we found TBG Construction. Her friend Bill has been working with contractors for over 20 years and he gave them an excellent recommendation. He gave Shari his word that these guys were legit. When our friend Shari says that Bill's word is solid, it's solid and we got to witness that.

We set up a meeting and not only did the TBG team, Jesse and Jehovany Barraza show up, but Bill (whom we had never met by the way) also showed up to make sure we were taken care of. What??? Amazing right? He took time off of work and from his day to accompany the guys and introduce himself.

We ran them through all that needed to get done: Repairing the back room, foundation work, shoring up the house, electrical, plumbing, A.C., and remodeling the bathroom and kitchen. It was a long list and we waited nervously to hear back from them. We prayed that they would come within our budget because after meeting them, we couldn't imagine working with anyone else.

When we heard back from them they sent us a very detailed bid outlining all the work that needed to be done and what the work would cost, etc. We couldn't believe it when we got to the bottom line and the price was staring back at us. It fell within our budget and not only are we able to get everything done that we need but, The Mister and I don’t have to do a single thing. They are taking care of everything. How cool is that? I won't have to fear for The Mister's safety anymore.

What really sold us on this particular team was that they understood that we wanted to keep the integrity of the home as much as possible. When we told them that it was ok if they tore through our floors to get our plumbing done, their response was, "Why would you want to tear your original hardwood floors out?" Don't have to tell me twice ladies and gentelmen, I'm Sold!! If you can find me a solution, instead of saying it can't be done, The Mister and I will always go to bat for you.

They were so excited to get to work on an old home and for you cynics that will say that anyone getting paid will act excited, this team is different. They knew more about that house than we did. We didn't fall in love with this bungalow to completely change it. All we wanted to do was enhance it and update it and they got it. They really, really , really got it.

The TBG team readily provided us with references, copies of their insurance, and license information before we could even ask. They even invited us to go and see all of their other sites they are currently working on including a huge school, before we decided to accept their bid. We couldn't believe that they would be working on OUR project. We have never been so thrilled to sign on a dotted line and hand over a check. Watch out, we are officially working with The Big Guns.

Los Angeles Salvage Yards

We might have one or two we are not ready to share yet... but here are some of our favorites:

Freeway Building Materials Located in Boyle Heights. Alejandro is the owner and he is awesome!! They have amazing doors, and anything else you may be looking for. Give them a call before you head out to see if they have what you are looking for. So much inventory they have two lots. Prices were good.

Santa Fe Wrecking Co. This place has great selection of tubs and sinks. They also sell bath tub hardware and can get you old and new hardware for your tub. We dealt with Jerry and he was instrumental in giving us tips to refinish our tub. Heads up, they are moving locations so call ahead.

Olde Good Things I think they are way overpriced but sometimes you can find a good deal there. They have pretty cool pieces that are for the avid collector. You won't be disappointed but your wallet may be.

Silver Lake Architectural Salvage Bruce is who you will meet. He's not warm and fuzzy, but don't take it the wrong way. What he is, is knowledgeable with a great eye, and always on the hunt. If you do find something you like, get it or it may not be there the next day. They just cleaned up and reorganized the place so everything is easy to find.

We will keep adding to this post when we come across some more we can share with you. Tell them you found them here.

Chrome Plating Clawfoot Tub Legs

So to complete our tub we needed to refinish the feet. I was waiting to get these done until we had decided on whether we were going to go with nickel or chrome in the bathroom. If you see the hardware we got for the tub, you will know we ended up going with chrome.

I really, really, really, really wanted nickel but it was not in our budget. Nickel gets this amazing patina on it that makes it look antique. Before we bought our house, I found a nickel metal sink console that I fell in love with. I'm the biggest sucker. I went all single white female on it. Embarrassing but true. Anyway, the reason I love it so much is because it has more of a yellow tint to it and it feels more antique. The best part is if you don't like the patina you can always polish it and it will return to a shiny splendor. Best of both worlds right? Chrome on the other hand has more of a blue hue and it always looks new. Boring but economical.

We found this amazing place to get our legs chrome plated. They were $25.00 a leg and it was well worth it.

We called everyone in town and finally settled on Cal-Tron Plating Inc.

We learned that when refinishing your legs you don't want to sand blast them because they are more fragile. You want to have them dipped instead. At Cal-Tron they dipped them in copper before plating them to remove the rust and to keep it from coming back. Everyone there was so lovely with us. It was a bit of a drive but we decided to suck it up instead of mailing them in. We are so glad we did. The owner gave us a tour. It was unbelievable!!!!

Ever heard of the Fender Strat? They plate them there! They plate sooooo many cool things. The Mister went gaga over the Kirby Morgan 57. There were vats and vats and vats Willy Wonka style with bubbly liquid. We wish we could have taken a picture of the things we saw on our tour because it was the coolest thing ever. We were like kids on a field trip. Only thing missing was a brown bag lunch with a spoiled ham sandwich and a crushed piece of fruit. Yes we are super nerds.

Tips For Hiring a Contractor

Here are a few tips that we recently learned when looking for a contractor. Feel free to post your own.

• Ask for a license number. Even if you know the person, it can't hurt to ask. If they don't give you a number, you can look them up by first name, last name, aliases, and or company names. You will be able to see if their license is expired, pending, and or current. The cool part is that you can even find out if they have ever even been issued a license in the state before. If they are legit, they will not hesitate to give you the number. The website I gave you above has great information. For example, it tells you what the requirements are for contractors when they apply for a license, how much licenses cost, things to watch out for, and a phone number for any questions or concerns you may have.
  

• Checking the Better Business Bureau to see if they have had complaints is also a good idea. Check before you hire them, not after.

• Check references. We can't stress this enough. Don't check them after you hire them, check them before! There are always two sides to every story and you will be surprised at how candid people will be with you.
  

• Ask them how long they have worked with their vendors? Who do they have relationships with? If they have long standing relationships with vendors and they work with them consistently, that means they will be able to get you great deals.
  

• When you shop for material like tile, or appliances, most places, even Lowe's and Home Depot will know local contractors they can recommend to you. They see contractors all day long and can sometimes point you to a great person.
  

• Ask for insurance information. They should have workers comp, should be bonded, etc. This should not feel like pulling teeth. Either they have it or they don't. If they have it, they shouldn't have a problem showing you proof.

• If he or she does not have a license they are not able able to pull permits for you. If they ask you to pull them yourself be careful. They might tell you to pull your own permits because it will save you money... not true. Whether you pull them or they do, it costs the same. However, the difference is if YOU pull the permit, you become LIABLE if something goes wrong. YOU are RESPONSIBLE for anything that happens on your property such as a worker having an accident. If they pull them, they are responsible. In my opinion, the only exception to you pulling the permit is if you sign a contract with a licensed contractor afterwards that says they are liable and will take full responsibility.
  

• According to the state of California, if someone performs work that costs over $500 dollars, they must have a license or they can be fined and or taken to court. So it's best to hire someone who has a license if you are doing major work. If you are doing small stuff here or there, then it's up to you whether you want to go through the trouble.

• When you are getting a bid, be specific about everything that you need done. Ask if they haul away material. Ask if they usually stay within the proposed budget and time line. Get everything in writing. Ask how they have handled disputes in the past. Ask if they have repeat customers.
  

• Sign a contract!!! Do not start work without it. If someone keeps avoiding handing you one, it won't end well. Contracts protect both you and your contractor so there should be no reason not to have one.
  

• Always keep in mind that it is your money, your home, your choice. It's better to ask and be safe than sorry especially when it involves an investment. Don't assume people will volunteer information on their own. ASK QUESTIONS.
  

Yellow Light

With permits in hand we can move forward. However, with that being said, The Mister and I need to regroup and really think about our next step. We can’t afford to have any more mishaps. We are paying a mortgage and a rent payment and we can't do that for very much longer. We need to get this done fast and without costly mistakes.

We are not licensed contractors and don't know what we are doing, therefore we need to find someone who can take on this project with all that comes with it. We need someone who can be held liable, responsible, and accountable if something goes wrong. We can’t afford to take any more chances because our budget is not the same budget we started with.

We interviewed several people and although we found some wonderful candidates we are not sold.

Clawfoot Tub Hardware

We looked everywhere for hardware for my clawfoot. Because my clawfoot requires a tub wall mount we had a more difficult time finding all the hardware for it.

Most companies make deck mount and free standing hardware because the clawfoot tubs they sell now require that hardware but finding hardware for mine was hard. We kept getting quotes in the $800 and up range which included the water lines and the faucet but the faucets were not what I had in mind. Even when I found a faucet I liked I had to buy all the rest of the hardware separately and it was coming out to be way too much.

I found a place called Vintage Tub and Bath online. They had a package with the faucet I was looking for plus all the hardware I would need for $270 plus free shipping. Score! My only complaint is that they do take a little while to ship but on the bright side, my hardware looked better than the pictures on the site and I did not pay for shipping costs. They have most of what you will be looking for when redoing your tub. They even have custom paint colors to paint your tub if you are looking for that.