Woodworking Problem — What To Do

Here’s an issue we’ve come across that we’re a stumped on. Any input (send to nick at jenkinsproperties.net) would be appreciated.

The Colonial has a nice stair bannister. The problem is that sections of it appear to be made of different types of woods. See the pic below.

I think one of the sections is mahogany (emphasis on “think”), but I’m not sure what the other piece is.

What we are trying to do is finish it in such a way that it is (1) dark, and (2) appears as close as possible to being one contiguous piece rather than two jerry-rigged together.

We’ve been to several woodworking stores and have heard everything from “just paint it” (not ideal) to “use lacquer” to whatever else you can think of.

Suggestions would be appreciated

Electrical Inspection Passed! Hooray!!!

Almost a week after initially failing my first electrical inspection, we passed on our second go round. The thumbs up was a big morale boost to the gang and proved to be a kick in the pants. By the end of the day, we had insulated every wall in the house — and did so in about four hours.

The Nightmare Cometh True

Last week I blogged on our potential deal-killing issue with Seattle City Light. To review: SCL told us that if we want to move our electrical meter, we can, but only if we dig up the parking strip on 48th Place and wrap the electrical line, which has been buried five feet underground since 1970, in conduit.

See that little rope-looking thing to the right of the white pipe? That’s what we need to wrap in conduit — from the house, all the way down the street.

Today we got official word that SCL is willing to budge, but not much. Instead of digging what would have been about a 400-foot ditch down the street, they are willing to move our hand held closer to our house. So they’ll put a hand held about 100 feet away from our house, so our ditch will only need to be about 100 feet long.

So to review: if we want to move our electrical meter to make it code compliant, we have to first dig up a public street and wrap the electrical wires, which have been buried underground since the 1970′s, in conduit. Wire that belongs to SCL, not us.

Not sure what we’re going to do about this. Even at 100 feet, the ditch and wrapping will still surely cost a few college educations. Stay tuned.

It’s Official: There’s NOTHING Left

If there’s been a theme to Month One of our restoration project, it’s “If you think it might have to go, it has to go.” That theme might just be officially over after today, when we officially removed the kitchen floor — subfloor and all. We did not notice at the time of inspection, but the floor sagged almost two inches in a 10-foot span. (Our oversight can be excused somewhat by the fact that the sag was covered by built-in cabinetry, which is now gone.)

With a hole now in the middle of the kitchen, I have to ask rhetorically: is there ANYTHING left to demolish?

At Least the Current House is Looking Good

For all the crabbing I do about the current state of the Laurelhurst house, I have to say that our current digs in Green Lake are really looking spiffy. Check out the living room, after a decent clean:

And the kitchen:

And the main floor bathroom:

And my personal pride and joy, which I’d put up against any bathroom in the city, our master bath:

We Have to Do What????!!!!!!

This one’s fit for the “no way you’re serious” category.

As part of the overall remodel project, we are hoping to move the electrical meter from its current location in the backyard (against code) to the front side of the house, out of eye sight but within code. The move would not only bring us into code compliance, it would also free up space in the backyard for our office- and master bedroom addition.

Seattle City Light just threw a monkey wrench in our plans.

SCL now says that we can move our meter. BUT, as a condition, we have to wrap the electrical line in conduit. ALL of the electrical line, all the way to its current location — a city block away. The electrical line has been buried underground, all well, for almost 40 years. Now, unless we get some sort of reprieve from SCL, we’re going to have up a public city street and wrap a power line in conduit. A power line, mind you, on (actually under) city property, that belongs to Seattle City Light.

I’m hopeful that we can work something out here. I’ve met with the decisionmakers at SCL and they seem like nice people. If we don’t, my hunch is that the cost of digging a five-foot ditch down a public street will be more than the remodel itself. Either that or we alter the plans. That would be a shame, because no one, but NO ONE, would care one way or the other whether line buried five feet underground is or is not wrapped in conduit.

No one, that is, except Seattle City Light.

I Just Like This Pic

This one’s in the “why is this post on this blog?” category? Answer: because it’s a pic of my daughter, Reese; I like it; and it’s my blog.

Look for her at the Beach Club later this summer. Assuming, of course, the club will accept the likes of mommy and (especially) daddy.

Another Day, More Lath and Plaster

“Yeah, but it’s all just cosmetic.”

So were the words of my buddy (and Laurelhurst neighbor) Norm Cheuk when, upon viewing the house for the first time, I complained that the house needed a lot of work.

Norm wasn’t quite right.

The biggest problem with the house is that it had virtually no overhead lighting. To get lighting you need to install cans, which means you need access inside the walls, which only comes by removing the walls. This is no big deal when its sheet rock. But with older houses, it’s usually lath and plaster. And this house is no different.

Tuesday marks Day 6 of us removing walls and ceilings. So far I don’t think we’ve done a wit of actual CONstruction. My hope is to preserve at least a few walls and maybe a ceiling or two. But as the days go on, my hope is looking less and less likely.

I can’t blame Norm for this. I’ve been around the block when it comes to building houses. But usually it’s new construction. As I’m appreciating more and more by the day, new construction and pre-1950′s remodels are like night and day.

Before Pic — From the Street

Here’s what the digs look like from northeast.

Of course, if you’re viewing this blog at all, chances are you already know that.

Subs Scheduled: 2 — Subs Who Showed: 0

Now I remember what it is I hate so much about general contracting.

Today we had two an electrician and a drywallogist scheduled on site. Neither showed. The latter just didn’t show up at all. I hope he’s okay. From past experience, however, he isn’t the most reliable. More reliable that most, but still not reliable in the sense that you’d want to bet any money that he’d show up.

The electrician was another matter. Four days after hiring him and going over the gameplan, he decided he was worth a little more than he was earlier in the week. I hired him at $50/hour — suddenly he thinks is is worth $500/hour. As an electrician.

Now maybe I’m missing something, but not even high powered, hot shot lawyers get paid $500 in Seattle. Or most other places, for that matter.

For your remodeling file: I would not recommend John Johnson of Compass Electric. Unless, of course, you like unnecessary delays.