Day 45 - Hanukkah and Happy Hour

 Ah what a relief, the happy hour view is much better then I anticipated. I may be short in real life, but this is god's way of giving back... the happy hour porch is way tall! This is the view from the kitchen balcoy.

 

Today's Horoscope: Your sense of happiness has been associated with someone or something through the force of habit. You will be absolutely surprised when you find that you CAN live quite comfortably without that thing or person in your life. This is a cycle of renewed self respect. quite fitting.  

Day 37- Floor joist in

Floor joist installed right before the rain. Thank you Leise Lumber in Belleville, IL for your complimentary boom-truck usage... these guys installed the steel cross beams in the basement as they delivered the lumber.
I love good customer service, especially from the free- range home grown lumber guys.

Tim, its lucky to have an irish guy on your crew

Kirk at the office

Day 31- concrete

Concrete has been poured, walls are curing.
It is snowing.

I just got another RFP for $31k.......14% completion! Time to order lumber.....

Day 28: Wailing Wall Installed

This was the land that he worked by hand
The was the dream of an upright man
This was the room that was filled with love
This was a love that I was proud of
This was a life of a love I planned
Of a love and a life we loved
Of the house that Jack built.
Remember this house!

Day 26- Footings

today marked the first day of inspection rounds. Although the great Oz at the City of Maplewood refuses to come out behind the curtain and shake my hand; he at least gets to the jobsite at the request of the architect, and signs off on the footings. We are ready for concrete.

Day 15- slab gone

 

Note to self: the crew really enjoyed the Amighetti's 27" sub.... whistle while we work boys!

Starting Over from scratch

Day 13- My first change order

Mom, put it in the baby book... I have just issued my first change order.
This pretty little Cisterne is changing the foundation from limestone to concrete, total rebuild from the bottom up.

Day 12- Fake Foundations and Cisterns

Just got a call. Not exciting, at least its easier to swallow then fire.....

"Claire you're not going to like this......".

As the double wall foundation gets pulled down to make way for rebar reinforcement....a mystery is revealed.
A Cisterne under the ground is discovered. Whats a cisterne?
A Cisterne is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings. Modern cisterns range in capacity from a few litres to thousands of cubic metres, effectively forming covered reservoirs.
These were common in 1900 buildings....so were short walls. And shortcuts.

So Killen reveals the double wall foundation that we were psyched about is actually a band-aid, and the east and south foundation walls are short.
          - Limestone only goes 2ft under grade (should be 30" min)
          - Block foundation is sitting on concrete slab floors- (not good)
         - House was originally built with a crawl space; so to make way for a basement they just lego-ed  the     walls together (maybe this is why it was haunted.... baby spirits in the crawl space)
          - Frontenac Engineering is removing their seal of approval on my plans as the foundation is not sound.

So what do I win Bob? You win an extra cost of $9500 to replace the foundation.

heavy sigh.

Day 1- Friday November 11th, 2011

Day 1 has begun. Plumbing is the goal today. We are gonna rip up the cask iron main water line, cut it out, replace and patch. Next on the list; reinforce slaggin foundation walls.

Yesterday I picked out more insane deals at Colt Industries. I found Greenleaf granite sheets imported from China (booo).
9x3= 27 sq. ft of granite for a counter
Retail cost- $55 per sq. foot ( $1485)
Claire's hussling cost: $80 per sheet, saving $1405

We were able to purchase the kitchen, main bathroom and master bathroom for a grand total of $1900, which shaved $ 7000 off the construction allocated budget for these jobs. With that money saved I was able to upgrade from a plastic vinyl- exterior shingle to a real cedar shake exterior! Sorry mom I know you wanted this your whole life.....

My contractor also offered me a job to be his buyer due to my insane hussling ability.... let the games begin.

pics of progress!

Design team- Joe Pupillo, Contractor and Inas Warfield- deal coordinatior at Colt Industries, buying Granite

You know you are close to starting when the architect puts the sign up!

Building Permit Time Folks

I applied for a building permit on October 14th. Maplewood wants a second opinion. Looks like foundation is still sound... let the building permit roll! This exercise has taught me that a $250 engineer and a $1500 engineer are created equal.

RE: Martin Residence Foundation Inspection (FEG# 11.672)

Dear Mr. Killeen;
Pursuant to your request, Frontenac Engineering Group, Inc. has recently carried out a site visit
on Friday, October 14th, 2011 to the property located at 7127 High Street in Maplewood,
Missouri. The purpose of our visit was to visually inspect the foundations in the aftermath of the
fire. Please note that, since our inspection was visual in nature, we did not enter any areas that
are not normally accessible, nor was any destructive or non-destructive testing conducted. Thus,
we cannot warrant the future behavior of the building’s structure. Also, our inspection did not
include non-structural items, e.g. plumbing, electrical, HVAC.
We believe that the existing foundation is capable of supporting the new proposed house.
Hence, based on our visual inspections, we recommend the following:
• Rebuilding the North-East wall corner due to settlement.
• Rebuilding the South-West wall corner due to construction demolition damage.
• Grout solid all collar joints between the stone walls.
• Provide dowel bars between the stone walls and the new proposed block above.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Thank you,
Mohamed T. AL HARASH
Mohamed T. AL HARASH, Sc.D., P.E., S.E.
Chief Structural Engineer

El Virgin

Reflection of the Virgin. The mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe is located next to a gas station in the Lower Valley of El Paso. (Cynthia Carol Almodovar/Borderzine.com)

 

 

 

Killeen, the architect surprised me the other day. We walked up to his warehouse on Salena St. and he had the entire first floor taped out with mock furniture installed. He invited me onto my porch and through the hallway to the kitchen. It. Looks. Awesome.

I was intimidated of the huge white wall in the kitchen, but as it turns out this will be a great home for the Virgin de Guadalupe mural like the one pictured above. You know, the one who crushes the serpent.

I recommend anyone to start building their dream home as soon as they can. 

sewer lateral is clear

Sutter plumbing came out and videoed the exterior and interior sewer lines. The main clay sewer lateral is completely clear and uncracked, and not a candidate for the Sewer lateral Program. He said it looks good and could use a cleaning once the house is built.

 The interior sewer line was also pointed out. This is made of cast Iron and he recommended replacing that with PVC, even though there were no cracks there either. He did not think the lines needed to be larger either; they are 4".
He gave me a rough estimate of  $8200 for 41 feet of replacement line around $200 per foot installed.

Don't Tell Apollo.....

Demo work is complete and I meet T. Postal at the house to double check foundation appraisal, I bring Apollo with me for his morning jaunt. He is confused, very confused at the familiar surrounding but remembers how good it feels to sprint into the bamboo....

Claire, thanks for inviting me back over here. Sure looks different without the house
Ya Ted it does, so do you still think we can build on this? How does the foundation look... pulling the I-beams caused a little tear....
Aw, I think its beautiful. absolutely gorgeous. I think this might be the strongest foundation Ive ever seen....they dont make 'em like this.

Dont tell Apollo we are not staying here tonight.....

Double walled foundation: Limestone and  8 " Block

This is what a $30,000 coupon looks like

Demolition permit approved

Thank you City of Maplewood for the demo permit. With the help of Public Works director, and Alderman of Ward 2 we made some movement with our new favorite building inspector.

building inspector resigns....shit

Dear Russ Todd,
Please come back to my building project. We were such tight buddies.I knew Diet Dr. Pepper was your favorite drink.  I know you resigned the day my house was approved; but this new guy cannot fill your shoes! You are so smart, super chill, and years of building experience. I couldn't even ask for a building inspector who also happens to be a fire chief! I will find you. The guy who has your position know not only does not return phone calls; but he also refused to come out of his office. I think the secretary said he has never been a building inspector before. Im screwed Russ Todd... come back.

Motion to approve the design, say aye.

6:28 pm Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Index of Characters includes CM- me, MK the architect, and DR the design and review board members.

DR- Now calling High Street, tell us about your design.
   (we step up to the table in the courtroom as the architect drawings are displayed on a huge projector screen)
CM- we are proposing a 1.5 story craftsman style home, this would replace the farmhouse design originally from the early 1900's
DR- This was the house that burnt up.
CM- Yes. yes it is. 
DR- So, tell us about the materials
CM- Due to your ordinace on new home construction, brick is the major exterior material fused with the existing limestone, wood accents..... a blend.
MK- cement fiberboard, low VOC materials, eco insulation.. potential geo-thermal HVAC......
DR- Well it looks really nice, I drove by there today to see the lot and looks like you presented some pretty good details here. I like how the brick wraps around the house, sometimes you see veneer on one side and it does not look as nice here.
MK- the portico pitched roof and half ceiling would be the roof accents
CM- Just out of curiosity, why do you have a rule on brick? How can I answer this better when people keep asking me? The house was a farmhouse.... 
DR- Uh, well, I dont know really. we would have to ask the inspector but he is not here.
CM- because it is a considerable cost as Im putting construction schedule and budget together.
MK- I mean, is it debatable?
DM1- We might be able to meet again on this topic. Bring everyone together?
DM2 (as he finds the rule on brick in his book... ) ya looks like they want you to match it to the houses around you, like that carriage house next to yours.
DR1- well thanks for putting this organization together...Motion to approve the house on High Street, say Aye
DR2 - Aye
DR1- Aye
DR3- Aye
CM- AYE! (at the end pretty loud... accidentally in an excited 4- year- old- little girl sorta way)

Room starts laughing, big stamping and punching authorization noises proceeds, MK and I exit the building at 6:32 pm. 4 minutes of pure awesomeness.

Drawings Approved!

Thank you Mike Killeen and team of ninjas, Killeen Studio http://www.killeenstudio.com/

Father Knows Best

If you ever think your dad or mom are leading you the wrong direction, stop for a second and really double think.....you're probably wrong. The following conversation happened last friday after spending a week on the Phone with US Bank Loss Drafts department. (Worst department name in history, should be called Loser Hotline) Jerry, my dad, his advice came true!. Is it weird that my blueprints were approved in lighting-fast speeds today, Monday August 8th?! Is is weird a supervisor called me direct with ways I can bypass the phone system in the future! Again, squeaky wheel always gets oil. Architect plans approved.....check! Claire Martin<claire.morgan.martin@gmail.com> date Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 3:29 PM subject RE: appraisals/ Loss drafts dept

Get a supervisor and get their direct line. Write the chairman and tell him how you are getting jerk around and ask him to have someone capable of helping you to reach out to you. Richard.davis @usbank.com You will hear form his office in 5 minutes

Jerry F. Martin

Email to US Bank minutes later follows.....

bill.williamson@usbank.com cc richard.davis@usbank.com date Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 3:48 PM subject Loss Draft Department intel mailed-by gmail.com

Hello,

My name is Claire Martin and I am currently a Platinum customer and mortgage holder with your bank. Loan # xx5742.


I wanted to let you know that I have had an extremely poor experience with your Loss Draft customer service operators as it relates to my loan.

My house burnt down and now $179,000 is sitting in an escrow account policed by US Bank. 

On Monday I was told in a voice mail by your supervisors that I need to mail a $455 check for an appraisal.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I spent 2 hours each day waiting on hold to find out more about this cost. 

No supervisor came to the phone per my request. Out of the 5 phone reps I had, 3 of them did not understand why this is necessary either.


Since you are holding 179,000 of my money; It would be really nice to speak with some representative in the Loss draft department who are trained at answering questions. I refuse to hear anymore that you are having an influx of calls and cannot answer my questions.

If you are requiring checks to be mailed to US Bank, and leaving this on your customer's cell phones;  you better have a reason why and reps capable of explaining it. This will seriously affect my future relationship with your bank.

Thank you for your consideration to this matter, I pray for the day I can call a supervisor direct.


Claire Martin
St. Louis Post Dispatch

Christmas in July

Walking into the living room after work today was like walking into my ultimate after-life fantasy. In this fantasy, I exist somewhere in Heaven with my brother Francis, Aunt Patty, Gramps... and some other all-stars perhaps drinking a beer.  In this room I get to go to fancy room, nicely lined with shelves and belongings that once were my things, and somehow are lost or on a self guided tour. Those that know me understand that I've misplaced quite a few items. Anyway..... In this fantasy, I get to pick out on the shelves anything I want, as they are a lifetime of lost belongings on a shelf......that you get back! Wouldn't that be neat?

This ultimate afterlife fantasy happened today, we received all the salvageable items from the house fire- cleaned, ozoned, ozone-stored, barcoded, and returned in neat little boxes stacked in the living room. Dan and I are peeling through them like Christmas in July. Its weird to see all your belongings once lost, and now returned;  neatly organized, labeled and alongside a itemized spreadsheet. What would your spreadsheet look like?

A Newer Sewer

The sewer line needs to be replaced. I faintly remember a time my brother called me screaming while I was out of town that the main sewer line backed up into the basement on High Street; and a very horrible human smell was coming out of the drain pipe, including solid waste. Ew. $1000 later... Roto Rooter scoped the problem and tree branches were to blame. Ah the tree we love.....

I think now is a good time to rerun some pipe... replace the 100+ clay sewer drain with good old PVC. here is what the Maplewood inspector advised me as we watch MSD replace the pipe on Yale outside of my property:
As far as the sewer lateral is concerned, the city is part of the sewer lateral repair program in conjunction with St. Louis County. You pay $28 extra a year on your property taxes to help pay for the program. If the clay line you have now is in good condition and serviceable, the program will not pay for the replacement. That and the water line replacement would be on you. If your new house was going to have additional plumbing fixtures (extra bath, etc.) then by St. Louis County plumbing code the water service line might have to be changed to a larger line, based on the number of fixtures proposed in your new house.

How much does it cost? What a shitty job. 

Approved: Property Tax Appeal

Thank you St. Louis County Board of Equalization. I submitted a claim on June 3rd, and on July 20th I had my answer. My appeal was approved for land assesment value, my argument that a burnt up house does not equate to $136k income property, nor the taxes that come with that value.

A county appraiser came by and the new lot appraisal stands at $20k, a much more affordable tax rate.  I don't think im going to mention the tree in that new lot value, which is double.

The system works!

Approved! Wreck the Deck

This week marks a big week in financial progress. Now would be the time to officially state that I enjoy working with my insurance company due to quick response time and timely payments.

My outside field adjuster took some time away from the Joplin reimbursements to approve some bids I sent him. Here is what was approved, prepayment pending:
LaRue Landscaping:
      $850- Remove all dead burnt limbs from large Oak hanging over the house
      $50- Remove burnt limbs on wild cherry in front yard
      $75- Remove burnt libs on trees on west side of house
Commonwealth Construction
      $8500 Home demolition costs including/excluding:
      - barricades to be billed at cost plus 10%
      - Orange Safety fence $1.60 p/sq ft with wire $2.75 per sq ft
      -Backfilling of foundation to be billed as extra
      - Demo permit to be billed at actual cost
      - Asbestos removal (if needed to be done by others)
     - Removal of concrete footing 24" thick billed as extra
     - Removal of excessive rebar to be billed as extra


Thank you Travelers. Im glad you like those chocolate E'CLAIRES I sent you.

i dont want to be part of the caravan of waste....these come in tons o' colors right :P

Toke to the Oak!

Photo by anniken don pedro

Photo by Anniken don pedro

Photo by Anniken don pedro

photo by Anniken Don Pedro

photo by Anniken don Pedro

When in doubt, hire an arborist. I said a tree prayer before I met Mr. Rocca, and really hoped he was going to give me the diagnosis I wanted to hear. He did, and he did with a vengance. Here is what Mr. Rocca taught me about my Shingle Oak Tree, slightly damaged by fire in the back yard;

-Species: Shingle Oak

Age- 150+ (fast growing type)

Base Diameter: 55"

 Height: 100ft

Branch Spread: 100 ft

The valuation method was used, as replacement cost method does not exist in this tree's case as it is IRREPLACEABLE. Here are some comments from the appraisal. " Good shade tree, medium growth rate, few pests, good root structure, well balanced top, good leaf color, a few branches damaged by fire on 5/19/2011. Well Placed in yard, acorns for wildlife, provides shade and lowered cooling bills, cleans air, holds soil, prevents erosion. Tree is in good condition and should be preserved during construction. 

Can I get a drumroll.......Estimated value $ 32,300."

Say What? The tree value is more then the lot itself? Yes he replied. You should get about $1000 each time a bulldozer or bobcat bumps into this big guy, he doesn't want to be disturbed, as he as a long life to live.

The Blend

Move in day! Yesterday marked a great start in reinvention. Thanks to my trusty yet reliable moving team Molly, Trish and Charlie together with The Pro-Am box truck we embarked on the aggressive concrete stairs; Apollo and I are sleeping well in Cheshire Ally.... well he is, as he hogs the bed just like ol' times.

Treehuggers rule the world

A nice gent from the STL Arborists Association gave me this tree advice when discussing my predicament about a healthy tree and new building footprint. His advice follows;

Demonstrating the value of the 200+ year old tree in the back yard is key to negotiations with the contractor:

1. We generally recommend that the Consulting Arborist performs an inventory of the treees on the property and an appraisal according to the Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal 9th Edition. 

2. Use the Trunk Formula, Cost of Repair or Cost of Cure Method for calcuating your tree value. 

3. Your Arborist can also help you write specifications into your contract with any home builder that basically holds them accountable if they damage the tree further. 

4.  Requiring the home builder or yourself install a Tree Protection Zone (with signage of the value of the tree posted). You can also require a Performance Bond be held for up to 10 years after completion of construction to "guarantee" they do not damage the tree, including the root system, which is as large as the branches. In your case these branches span into adjacent precincts, county lines, city lines, and neighboring property shades.

I think he must be jealous of the average $37 air conditioning cost we used to have on High Street. Anyone know a good arborist I could marry?

Fortune Cookie

Yesterday I was working while recovering from one of the best fundraiser parties I've ever seen.
The Wood in Maplewood donated great gifts, great service, and good food for the cause. I woke up at the hotel the following morning and followed a trail of Jack In the Box taco wraps in a trail all the way to the parking lot.

Taco wrap trail, a raging headache, permagrin,  fantastic donations and over 125 of your best friends coming to party; all signs of a good night.

Last night my fortune cookie at Yen Ching read, " Believe in yourself, and so will others. "
Signs of a stellar night.

Bricks

I just discovered that the City of  Maplewood, in my sector, has a new building ordinance on new home construction. Turns out the new construction has to be majority brick for the city to approve the drawing plans. Good thing brick can be painted... I wonder if they would approve a grafitti- painted brick design... our Dia de los Muertos sculptures CAN live on in the new life on High Street.....

St.Louis County Board of Equalization (BOE)

Personal property assesment letters for taxes just came out... guess I didnt get that piece of mail this week.. was it the missing mailbox? I swear Mr. Tax collector... I open all my mail!
The good news is my property was assessed lower. Bad news is, still have to pay taxes on a property that is no good. The guy helping me showed me the breakdown of the taxes... Maplewood Richmond Heights yanks a full 5% of everyone's taxes where Parks and Rec only get a .01%.... hmmm. Today I learned a helpful equation to guestimate what you owe:

 Assesed value $ x  19% + $23 Metropolitan Sewer Upcharge= what you owe the BOE in STL County.

Appraised Value= what you could sell it for
Assessed Value= what the county/city thinks they can tax you on.

Deal or No Deal? Guess who gets to go to the Board of Appeals Commission... this lucky girl! Now all you haters out there; I know you are still jealous.

Stranger Angels

Yesterday my best buds Inas and Buthaina were bossing me around putting me into a bed.
"Guurl, you need to take a nap" as Inas handed me an envelope. This was the second donation envelope she has organized from her lawfirm, Stange Law Firm.

Inside read a handwritten note on a piece of scrap paper- torn off the bottom from a stranger, a stranger angel.
            When things go wrong, as sometimes will.
             When all in life seems going uphill.
            Don't you quit. Quitters never win. Winners never quit.
            Our possessions are temoral, just a loan we pass through life.
            God provided them one at a time, he can provide them again, just ask.  Thanks, Worth.

Thank you Mr. Worth for your kind donation and Stranger Angel poetic wisdom.

Pet Resumes

 

 The Missouri Pit Rescue Association gave me some fantastic advice; make a pet resume. If you ever need a reason to fall in love with your furry family member more; try whipping one up. The pet resume speaks to the behavior of the animal you hope to move with.....actually, the pet we WILL move with.  Now check out this resume and tell me, how could you not hire this dapper dude?

Mow the lawn tomorrow

Last week my primary and painstaking worry was to spread the damn pile of mulch in the driveway. Lazy bones I kept telling myself, regardless of a shoulder injury from the week prior's mulch enterprise.  When my roomate kicked the window screen out in the fire he threw out his entire professional and personal computer out the window. Smart. Good thing that mulch pile was there to catch the harddrive's  fall.  You know it pays to be lazy sometimes....

 You ever have that feeling that you could not WAIT to get to work fast enough? Ya, I didn't think that feeling existed either, until today. The sun was shining, and I feel blessed to be alive.

On May 19th, 2011 at 6:25 in the morning I escaped out of a burning house with three precious possesions; my life, my best friend Dan, and my pit bull Apollo. The following blog is a series of mismatched thoughts running through my mind that might want to show my kids someday. The next few  months I don't want to forget the people, experiences, lessons, and expose of love that has come flying at me.

Thanks to Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon for singing me to work today.....

I don't feel the sun's comin' out today
It's staying in, it's gonna find another way.
As I sit here in this misery,
I don't think I'll ever, no lord, see the sun from here.
And oh as I fade away,
They'll all look at me and say, and they'll say,
"Hey look at him, I'll never live that way."
But that's okay, they're just afraid to change.
And when you feel your life ain't worth living
You've got to stand up and take a look around you
Then a look way up to the sky.
And when your deepest thoughts are broken,
Keep on dreaming, boy, 'cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die.
And as we all play parts of tomorrow,
Some ways we'll work and other ways we'll play.
But I know we can't all stay here forever,
So I want to write my words on the face of today
...And then they'll paint it
And oh as I fade away,
They'll all look at me and say, they'll say,
"Hey look at him and where he is these days."
When life is hard, you have to change.
When life is hard, you have to change.