Xavier and Greg from Milgard Windows punched out the punch list for the windows.
They replaced screens that did not fit properly, tightly; replaced window cranks that were damaged in shipping or construction; and adjusted several operable windows that were not quite square, level or plumb.
That’s Greg, in photo above, removing one of the lock mechanisms at a window in Steven’s office — before replacing it.
Austintateous Blinds today delivered the shades ordered weeks ago by Jacquela and Steven. Top down bottom up silhouette cells.
Above, Chris installed the shades in the master bedroom — but did not want his face photographed.
The center panel of the door to the master bath was supposed to be opaque glass — ensuring privacy while allowing light to travel through. The door arrived with clear glass. Ron and Steven went back and forth through all the paperwork — and decided it would be easier, faster, smarter to apply an opaque window film to the glass, instead of replacing the door, sanding the door, painting the door …
Steven met the other day with Jonathan Thompson from sunsationalsolutions.com to pick out the film.
Jay arrived today to install it.
One of the closet doors in Jadin’s bedroom swings open toward the tall window at the back of the room. The City of Austin inspector requires us to replace the conventional glass with tempered.
Landon and Robert from Martel Windows arrived today with the tempered glass.
Steven arrived at Emerald Hill about 230 pm to learn that the City of Austin chopped down a tree in the neighbor’s yard to clear obstructions from the power lines. The company hired to do the job — Asplundah — left the branches behind in Steven’s back yard, photo above. Ron Dahlke says Asplundah will be back Thursday. Asplundah has been working all over Northwest Hills, clearing trees from power lines up and down nearly every block.
Ron handed the house over to the painters and one of the HVAC installers.
Above, Benito spends his days working methodically around Emerald Hill, room by room, baseboard by baseboard, wall by wall, hunting down nail holes to fill with putty, paint runs to sand and refinish, scuffed up drywall to touch up. Here he is in the kitchen, working in the cubby that will be home to the refrigerator.
With Jacquela’s approval, Steven today ordered shades for the windows in the office, master bedroom and library.
NASA today reports there is water on Mars. Now we have to look for those canals. The presidents of Iran, Russia and the US spoke at the UN. World Peace was not declared. Last night, there was a total lunar eclipse. Steven took out the telescope. Jacquela marveled. Randy and his son Owen walked across the street to peer through the lens. Owen was excited, asking questions. Jadin could not be distracted from talking with her friends via Skype.
Meanwhile, today, back at Emerald Hill, Ron Dahlke from Ranserve, Brett Grinkmeyer, architect, and Steven met to consider options for the tall window at the back of Jadin’s bedroom. If we crank it open, it hits the underside of the eave and is blocked by the back side of the fascia from opening completely. We chose to make this window larger and taller to allow more daylight into Jadin’s bedroom. Now we discover the consequences. The design team coalesced around one idea — extending the roof line out about one foot and raising the eave behind the “eyebrow” to create three to four inches of additional clearance for the window when completely opened. Brett will sketch it if Ron needs plans. But Ron thinks he has this figured out and will instruct head carpenter Cris through the cutting and nailing.
The design team also tackled ideas for the door trim and baseboard, and where to put electrical outlets in the proposed garage extension.
And Federal Express delivered the first vanities.
Above … Ron Dahlke guides Kevin Rehberg through how to properly toenail studs. Apprentice Kevin is building a new section of wall where Aaron Pratt needs structure for the cabinets he will design, build and install — and for the electric and plumbing lines that will weave through the new lumber. At the back door, Cris works out the door trim he will nail into place — brickmold PVC that will never rot, trimmed into flat stock on the table saw, flipped to put the cut side up against the flashing, leaving the finished side exposed for paint.
Notes from the day:
Ron and Cris from Ranserve checked every window at Emerald Hill for level, plumb and square.
This window did not pass muster — one of the three narrow/tall windows designed to spill natural light behind the front door and up the stairs, transforming the original dark entry with purposeful geometry and lumens.
The long vertical of the window bends about 1/4 inch. Ron held a level up to the window framing to illustrate.
Steven asks that the window go back to Milgard for replacement.
Above, Cris from Ranserve bores the hole for the door bolt while relocating the original door 90 degrees, to be used now as a construction entry.
The new windows at the front of the library are open, operable.
The new windows at the back of the family room are installed. Here’s the view from inside.
And from outside.
Marco and Jonathan check level and plumb for the new window at the front of bedroom 1.
