The House That Claire Built

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Day 163: Top 10 Reasons Tremendous Results From Tragedy

As we approach the year anniversary of the most epic day of my life; looking at the picture below reminds me we have come helluva way from 6:15 am on 5-19-2011. WE is important; I could not have done this without all of you.

10. I really was going to take that pile of crap to goodwill
9.  Test your inner blood pressure limits, mine is going to compete in the olympics
8.. Meet the neighbors you never knew paid attention to you
7. Give City Hall a new reason to see you
6.  Being certified in US Bank jargon bull$hit
5. Condition your inner-deal hussler/negotiating in the Retail me not rat race
4. Construction workers are babes
3. I did not fail, I just found 10,000 ways it didnt work.
2. "Where everybody knows your name....". at Home depot!
1.  Learn who really is there for you through hell or highwater....in this case highwater would have been helpful.


Case closed my loves!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Day 151 Hire an Architect- they dont miss a beat!


US bank has certified us 90% done... the finish line is in site. Below is the reason you hire the architect to see the job through to the finish line.


Substantial Completion Walk Thru
Claire Martin Residence

Date: May 30, 2012
Present: Mike Killeen, Joe Pupillo

The following issues were noted that still need to be addressed:

Exterior
1) Install railing at concrete stair near street
2) Install gutters and downspouts
3) Remove guard rail and install rail called for at front porch at the porch and the front stair.
4) Install one more decorative trim ring at each column.
5) Caulk entire exterior of building where required, including around all windows.
6) Install door hardware at front door.
7) Install skosh molding around ceiling at front porch
8) Confirm that all required weep holes have been installed.
9) Ease top edges of stone at front facade beneath bay.  Currently stones have flat tops exposed.  Flat tops to be eliminated by easing the top edges.
10) Affix drip edges at gable ends to roof.  Many of these are pulling loose at their ends and curling back.
11) Paint and seal the exterior foundation wall.
12) Address gaps at gable end soffits.
13) At east gable ridge, properly align rake boards.
14) Remove card board form work from concrete deck piers.
15) Set nails at back door exterior trim.

First Floor
1) Bedroom No. 2 (front bedroom) - Finish seat at bay.
2) Bedroom No. 1 - behind door - patch drywall
3) Bedroom No. 1 - patch drywall at south wall
4) Bathroom - patch drywall behind door.
5) Great Room
- install countertop at island.
- install mantel
- fix outlet at right of fireplace - sticking out and crooked currently.
6) Hall Closet - install base.
7) Hall - patch drywall to east of hall closet door.

Second Floor
1) Master Bedroom
- Install missing screws at switch plates.
- Caulk windows/door at north facade.
2) Master Closet - install door stop.
3) Stairs
- Confirm leak is fixed at west windows.  Clean up and paint stained areas from leakage.
- Patch all holes in ceiling hatch and trim around hatch.
4) Laundry - Fix drywall and base at recently installed drain.

Basement
1) Install nosing at top of stair.
2) Patch plywood at landing.
3) Clean up brittle concrete around basement windows.
4) Install trim at basement door
5) Clean all exterior walls of loose concrete, formwork leftovers, etc.
6) Repair wood studs at HVAC at east wall.
7) Install insulation around each window in the basement to assure no airflow around the windows.
8) At bathroom rough in, remove bottom portion of 2 x 2 studs on north wall to keep moisture from wicking up these members.

General
1) Caulk and sand all trim.
2) Caulk behind baseboards to eliminate all gaps.
3) Check to see that all door stops have been installed.
4) Remove all drywall mud from doors/windows (saw this at exterior window, north wall of master), but check all.
5) Complete general cleaning of all floors.

Light/Electric/Data

First Floor
1) Great Room - 2 spots missing from north wall.
2) Bedroom Number 1 - data and phone jacks missing
3) Hall - CO detector missing
4) Bedroom Number 2 - cable TV hookup missing from south wall
5) Stair to Second Floor - 2 canned lights missing

Second Floor
1) Master Bedroom
- Data and Cable missing from west wall.
- telephone and data missing from east wall.
2) Master Bath
- finish drywall at the shower ceiling and walls
- finish drywall at toilet room east wall.
3) Closet - outlet missing from north wall.
4) Hall - Repair drywall at wall/ceiling juncture on north wall.

Basement
1) Storage/Utility - only 2 of 3 lights installed at ceiling.


Mike Killeen, Architect
Killeen Studio Architects
2012 VP & Events Co Chair
3015 Salena Street, S. 100
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-713-0885
mike@killeenstudio.com

Monday, April 23, 2012

Day 146 Clean Crew

Thank you! Kathryn Palacios, Andrea Curd, Ashley Curd, Buthaina Noman, Catherine Martin, and Kyle Marsden
A clean house is a happy house. Having a great crew of friends makes for happy times.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Day 131- Final Inspection 420

CCC Inspections just called to confirm the FINAL inspection authorized by US bank.

April 20th at 4:15-4:30pm.

4/20..... around 4:20pm.... the house on high street. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

If this isn't a damn good sign I dont know what is!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Day 125- Will Call

I have the best painter in the world. His name is Brian; a value he brings includes his banjitar skills. He says it keeps out the neighborhood riff raff.


I learned yesterday there is a Will Call Department at Home Depot. You buy your stuff, they unload it and reload it onto your truck. No mess or stupid carts. Cool idea home depot. Not as cool as the  25% APR rate you have on the credit line you extended me.



If you ever need a banjitar painter, let me know; he paint real good.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Day 111- Superbowl of Deals


Kasey the QB
Me, Linebacker





 Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase. -- Erma Bombeck.

This one goes out to my Quarterback Kasey Lawrence. Not only did she and I make a nice dent in the wallet, she kept me focused, well researched, well fed, and well traveled for some deals! A quick drive to chicago early saturday morning lends itself to some awesome deal touchdowns sunday night! Don't mess with Kasey, she is going to be MVP someday.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

All of Us Serving You... a fat plate of anxiety

The frustration and anxiety of the past week can not be expressed in better words then the following dialogue. 

Monday- I yell at US bank for  not giving me the next draw of payments for construction.
Tuesday- I apologize profusely for not opening my stack of mail; the payment was there.
Wednesday- Take the payment to US Bank Richmond Heights and speak with the Vice president "KC"


KC- Uh mam. We cannot take your payment
me- Why? It is issued by your corporate office
KC- Because it is too big for this local branch
me- But it was written by your corporate office? you won't let me deposit this?
KC- No, im sorry that is policy.
me- So what is your advice (as I pull out my video camera)
KC- I think you should take it to Bank of America and try to deposit it there
me- So you are telling me to take this check issued by US bank and take it to the competitor?
KC- yes, that is what you can do. Otherwise mail the check back to corporate and get an authorized signature that we are allowed to deposit it.
me- But US Bank wrote the damn check, why can't you accept it. Do you not want my money?

I called my dad at Morgan Stanley to see his advice. He was pissed and had the federal trade commissioner in Jeff city on the phone in 15 minutes.

2 hours later, and 3 US Bank locations later, I found a teller not aware of the policy and got that check deposited!

Damn US Bank, why do you play with my heartstrings when I play by your rules?

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Day 88- Wreck the Deck

Its not time to have a wreck the deck party quite yet... but its fun to fantasize about the massive parties and major trash I can't wait to pick up from this sweet new deck. Not to be understated by the cedar shake going in... or the aggregate concrete patio. Thank you for St. Louis weather on this first day of February.

It must be Bob Marley's Birthday week....

Friday, January 20, 2012

Day 77- Windows, Brick, Limestone and Charles Dickens

 "The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists. "
 - Charles Dickens

 
Tim (master Craftsman) Killen (architect ninja) Joe (contractor wizard) Gary (lead clydesdale)



Monday, January 9, 2012

All Star Crew

Andy The Shit Talker and Tim 'Lucky Charms'
The sparkling plumbing crew

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Day 61 Roofs, Rocks, Reggae

You can't truss it!
-DJ





Since the firetrucks in our neighborhood, Nathan The Neighbor has progressed to cement trucks and cranes obsession. Little ones are impressionable....
-dj