Celebrating One Month Since Stone Solutions Was Called

Why does any one think it is appropriate to leave a customer's home like this for a month?

 

Today: Operation "Get Stone Services Attention"

Still No Call From Stone Solutions

Day 15 after measuring and confirming the template.

We are at the end of the second day after I was told that the counter top  after
people would be calling me right away.

Someone is Lying. The Question is who?

1. Stone Solutions?
2. Lowe's Installation Co-ordination Team?

It does not matter, they both already have my money. Why should they give a flying roll on a fucking donut?

No call last night from Stone Solutions

Day 14 after measuring and confirming the template.

Who is surprised?

AND no call today.

Lowe's Called About Concerns

The Lowe's Installation Coordinator called and reported:

• Yes, they will supply the glass shelves.
• Yes, they will re-order the correct drawer piece.
• Yes, they have spoken to Stone Solutions who should call me any minute to give me the update on scheduling the counter top installation

Outdoor shower

Only the second season after this unit froze...  lets put this puzzle together

The problem s i bought the parts a year ago, and forget how I was planning on doing this.

Some Day's It's Hard to Get Good Help

The designer for Lowe's today called to apologize that she had been out of touch as she had family in the hospital. Should caught up with the emails and discovered that I've been told are going to be two weeks by the stone company. She said she'd look into that and call me back.

The next call I got was The Stone company calling to return my call wish I had not made. They explained to me that they were waiting on confirmation from Lowe's about the order and was surprised that I hadn't heard from Lowe's.

It turns out that I have an additional three Square feet of countertop to what was previously quoted and to what I have previously paid for. Lowe's had to get my credit card number to deal with this.

Now Lowe's has settled that and is going to call the countertop people and approve the new and improved size and thanks I'll be called within 48 hours to schedule the installation.

This all took a week for Lowe's and the stone company to get together and get more money from me.

posted from Bloggeroid

Templates for the Counter Top

This morning the counter top company sent there electronic measuring equipment to make templates for the counter tops.

The party line is two weeks to make the counter tops.

Customizing the Pet Work Station

Today we customize a semi-custom cabinet.

The plan today is that the contractor will call me when his carpenter is on his way.  We want to lower the pet station cabinet so the bottom drawer will be a good feeding station.  Here is what it looks like now:

My plan is to cut about 3" from the bottom at the toe gap and then add some unused molding that is left from the cabinet install to regain the height.

7:55 am : The carpenter is on the way!  He will be there in half an hour!

8:51 am : The carpenter was rear-ended in a multi car accident on Rte 3 by Met Life Stadium.  He and his truck are okay, but will be delayed.

10:00 am : Text came in:  Carpenter is at the house waiting.  Gotta Run!

Meet with carpenter and discuss plan.   He used to work for some pet supply company, and knows exactly what i am looking for.  He has a better plan.  I need to run to Home Depot and get some 16" full extension, soft close drawer slides.

Here is the wonderful perfect result:

Our Personal Inspection and a Couple Issues : End of Week Four

First, there is a cabinet that does not have holes for the shelves on one side, of course it is the side that will be in the corner behind the stove - PIA.

Second, the problem with the Pet Center, how to make the drawer lower - I have a plan and the contractor is coming Tuesday to implement it.  Wednsday the counter top people come to measure.

Then there are these voluminous cabinets over the microwave and the refrigerator.  We will have to think about how best to use these.

Finally, masking the bottom of the wall next to the stove.

A bit of Finish Work, and Then Another Pause

Well, a couple things to finish off this part of the work.

Add the Microwave and Refrigerator.

Add the Pulls:

Now we wait for the counter top template to be made...

End of Week 3

So, Friday was spent undoing the problems from Thursday... it seems they could not read the small drawing and missed the spacer they were to put in next to the refrigerator.  So they had to strike the upper cabinets, add the spacer, and move everything over 1-1/2".  This is the result at the end of the week:

We are not happy at the height of the low drawer of what will become the pet feeding station, it is a bit tall for Linzer.

Back to work!! W3D2

Contractor is back.  Today's plan is to fix the electrical inspector's concerns and text him images.  Then to do the sheet rock with the goal of painting tomorrow.

Final Initial Inspection

The building inspector came and looked.  approved it all and said he would see me when it was all over.

First Round of Inspections

Plumbing between 2 and 4

Electrical between 4 and 6

Plumbing is good.  Electrical has two notes:

Move this wire so it does not cross the studs.

These wires need to be set back and protected

Addendum Permit for Plumbing

In unrelated news...

If it is not one thing it is another.  

Late last week the basement toilet started to over flow when the main floor toilet flushed.  I tried a few tricks, but no luck solving the problem. 

So today our friends at Roto-Rooter got the call.  I like that their truck shows up with everything they need and while there price is a little high, the efficiency that they bring to the task is well worth it.

The main sewer from the house was clogged somewhere between the basement bathroom and the basement laundry room.  So he snaked out the inbound side, snaked and vacuumed the trap, and then snaked the outbound side.  All good.

Construction: W2D5

Nothing today.

Construction: W2D4

an email day:

We are completed with the plumbing work. Once the town issues the permit we will be able to call for rough inspection of the plumbing so we can continue with the rest of the project.

Yes, since all of the plumbing is done, as soon as it is ready we will schedule the rough inspection.

The good news, they approved the permit.

We were able to organize the rough inspections. Below are the dates/times of the inspections:

Electric - Wednesday the 11th (4-6pm)

Plumbing - Wednesday the 11th (2-4pm)

Building - Friday 13th (4-6pm)

Once these inspections are completed we will return to proceed with the project.

Construction: W2D3

Met with the plumbers tonight at 4:30

Before:

After:

Next Step?  Email the contractor.

Construction: W2D2

No permit today.

Met with Plumber, and he will do the work Wednesday or Thursday.

Construction: W2D1

No permit.

First Weekend

Let's recap...

Removal of dumpster, email chain:

Any word on removal of the dumpster?  It seems to be leaking rusty rainwater onto the concrete, and we do not want it to stain the drive way.

>>>Unfortunately the dumpster is going to be at your residence a few more weeks. We don't remove the dumpster until after the cabinets and appliances are installed, as we need the dumpster for the packaging the cabinets and appliances are in.

...and ...and I discussed that the dumpster was for only a few days, as my town recycle will take the cardboard during their weekly pick up.

>>We will call the dumpster company to have it removed since the cardboard can be taken during your recycling days. Thank you for this and we'll try to have them take it today, if not tomorrow.

Additional emails:

As you can tell by now, the demo is completed for your new kitchen and the tile is underway. We are estimating the tile will be completed and grouted tomorrow.

As ... discussed with you earlier today, after completing the demo of the soffit, we found plumbing that will need to be re-located in order to close up the walls. To do this, we need to apply for an additional subcode permit with the town.

...from our office will be applying for this first thing in the morning, and we have asked the town to put a rush on approving the addition as soon as possible so that we can avoid waiting on the rough inspections.

Our plumber will be in contact with you in the next few days to schedule to complete the plumbing change order needed. After the plumbing is completed, we will not be able to return to proceed further with the project until the rough inspections pass.

We will have an update for you on Monday as to when these inspections are scheduled.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please let us know.

What it looks like now:

Construction: W1D4

The grout has been applied. 

Now let's talk about the plumbing problem.  When the soffit was removed, the water supply and drain from the upstairs laundry room were reveled to be in the way:

So we have applied for a new permit, and hopefully Monday EOD it will be available.