It has been 10 days since our last post and 21 days since any physical work has been attempted in back yard. Last week, I did spend some time cleaning up the mess left by the electricians in the basement.
This past Monday (December 29), we did get a call from "Our" Mike saying he has been talking with Frank (HVAC) about our question of being able to fit the interior heat pump unit above the vaulted west gable. Mike intended to drop by on Tuesday to take some measurements so that they could finalize the answer. Mike also said he had some invoices to drop off. I also suggested we review the drawings and ensure we are all in agreement with respect to the plan for the sunroom trusses. I mentioned to Mike that I noticed a person in a reflective vest out in the alley Monday morning looking at and photographing the power pole. We assume this was a representative of Ameren, the power company, in preparation to route the power line through the new underground conduit. Mike reminded me that the original promise was to have this done within 28 days of when the application was submitted. My memory was that Mike originally told us 21 days, but his memory is better than mine (at least that is what he tells me). Anyway, that means they now can get it done the first week of 2015 and still be within that time frame. Of course Mike tells me that the work has to be coordinated with the electrical contract (Rob) who, up to now, has not been very responsive. If it is accomplished, it will at least be after our holiday guests have departed. Our daughter (Laura), and her family, have been visiting from Texas since Christmas.
Tuesday afternoon, Mike did arrive and we reviewed the drawings. We are in consensus that we will vault the west girder truss and the first truss next to it (the one that would form the "box" on the west gable). This is contingent on Mike getting a confirmation from Frank that the wall space above the vaulted truss will accommodate the interior heat pump unit. The other sunroom trusses will stay with Tyler's original non-vaulted design. Mike said a shipment of trusses was coming from the Jefferson City, MO truss company next week so that it was possible that our new gable trusses could be included in that shipment. If so, then once we get the power line moved, we should be ready to lift the trusses. Mike said he is still talking with the crane guy about bringing in a crane what can navigate down the alley.
During Mike's visit on Tuesday, he seemed very upbeat about getting back to work on the project. He did note that, for the most part, we have had very nice weather during December 2014. I agreed it was unfortunate we could not take advantage of this unseasonably nice weather. Maybe we will have a nice January as well. Once we get "under roof", the weather factor will diminish. He had three invoices for us, two from the lumber company and one from the electrician.
We also briefly discussed the option of the grade of pine to use on the interior roofing and the interior gable surfaces. T is willing to accept the No. 2 pine, while I would go with the Select grade. T said she would bow to my desires. Mike said he still had not determined the linear footage required, but I am still estimating 1,000 feet for the roof surface. I have not calculated the gable surfaces.
On New Year's Eve, we visited the granite store again. T wanted to get Laura's opinion on the material to use on the bar counter top. They took the sample of floor slate with them and they liked the Cambria "Buckingham" quartz. Not necessary to make a final decision yet and the lady in the shop said the company was coming out with new colors in mid-January.
