The tear-down & rebuild project on 36th Street. |
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Announcements
Exhaust Fan
The electrician could not make the external blower to work, so now I have to figure out how to install this.
On Sunday, found the fast acting fuse was bad, which is an indication of wrong wiring; and who knows what else was burned. Went to Radio Shack & bought the replacement; but still it does not work. The 120V goes into the board, but the remote control panel does not light up, and when pressing the button, it does not respond with any sound or light. Supposedly, the main board provides the power to the remote control panel. I then removed the remote control panel & inspect to see any loose connection or burned parts; but could not find any thing wrong visually. Found the replacement part from Appliance Parts Pros, for the main board it's around $200! Yikes. Electronic printed Part Number: AP2837207 Availability: In Stock (Order now and it will ship Today ) Price: $197.21 Ready to order? Just follow this link: http://www.appliancepartspros.com/cart.aspx?part_id=2837207&part_qty=1& We offer the following shipping options: Within Continental US:
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Knobs & Levers
Here are few places that we can get the door knobs online: Sure, there is always eBay and Craig's List | Here is the list of what we need
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Walk-through
After almost a year, from the day we signed the contract with the builder, today is the walk-through of the house. The house comes together great. Walking through each room, feeling the walls, trying every single faucet, switch, and electrical outlet; the house is finally here. Other than paint touch up here & there, few dink and scratches, nothing major. So, we will have another "re-walkthrough" next week. As you can see from the pictures, there are blue tapes marking the places we have for the touch-ups. Few things the "home owners" now have to do:
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Did not realize
During the process of building this house, there are numerous things that we did not realize until late in the game; so here is a page that we use to keep track of all these things
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Cabinets
To finish up the 5501 project, there are few areas which we need cabinets or build custom shelves.
Butler Pantry In the dining room, we have two areas which need to be finished. One is the butler pantry, and the other is a wine rack. The butler pantry is a fancy name for a wet bar. Basically, it should have some wall cabinets to store cups, glasses, wine flutes. Then the counter big enough to accommodate place to prepare drinks, and a small sink. Under neath should have a mini fridge or wine fridge. Wine fridge is better, nicer looking because of the glass front. Something like this would be great. |
Appliances
For the appliances, we found out that it's best to go with a "package" deal, especially for the deal which we got: buy a range and get free dishwasher, and also buy a fridge and get free range hood! In our case, which is excellent, because the island range hood alone would cost us almost $3K (42" pro-series hood + external 1300 CFM blower). We decided to go with external blower for its powerful ventilation and quietness.
The built-in oven does not fit with the prepared opening in the cabinet. So, now we have to research & find a way to fit the built-in microwave & oven. May have to buy more parts to install this set properly. Here is a useful link to get parts. Also part diagrams are available on this Thermador's e-shop link |
Sizes
There are recesses and spaces which we have to fill with TV, cabinets or appliances.
- TV recessed area in the living room, the diagonal size is 53"
- The basement windows are 18" x 32". This is not egress size to be considered as a bedroom.
- Need to measure butler pantry
- Need to measure master bedroom bar area
- Need to measure built-in book cases in family room & library
- Need to measure built-in equipment shelves in family room
- Need to measure built-in wine rack in dining room
- Need to measure built-in server rack shelves in stairs well
Drywall services
Saw the below ad in Craig's list.
Drywall Services ...... (Northern VA )Date: 2009-09-21, 12:41PM EDT Reply to: sale-zveks-1385134730@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] I am a 15yr+ experienced drywall technician & need some things I am willing to barter for on my services: I work for a drywall company during the day and can do drywall work in the evenings and wknds! I also ACCEPT CASH if you have nothing to barter. I do offer FREE estimates. I hang drywall, skim, block, tape & sand, all ready for painting (I just do the drywall part, No painting & No framing). Materials are extra, unless it's a small job. (Sorry, I do not go to MD or DC) Thanks for your time! Barter: I need a good, working (THIN) laptop with at least Windows XP or Vista installed in it or a Fender or Gibson electric guitar that is ready for play for my son or a flat panel screen tv at least a size 19' or larger or a bose system radio or a Wii or any good electronics or a nice BMX bike for my son, just run your idea by me. Thanks. Please, email or call me at 540-222-2713 (No Solicitations, PLEASE)
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Deck
It's time to think about putting in a deck for the 3701 & 5501, and here is a great tool to design & see the deck in 3D: Can also use Lowe's to design the deck online |
Basement
- Need a plan
- Submit plan to Arlington county for permit
- Also need electrical plan & submit way ahead of time
- Figure out who will do what:
- Insulation
- Air conditioning
- Framing
- Drywall
- Flooring
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Moldings & trims
- Finish drywall & paintings
- Installing doors
FlooringIf the basement floor does not have any moisture, we can put down the foam underlayment, and install laminate flooring right on top of it. This is the most economical way. The total for 1,500 sq-ft of laminated flooring is around $1,300; less than $1 per sq-ft. Including underlayment & end-capsSub FloorIf doing the sub flooring, it will cost around $1.5/sq-ft (DriCore $5 per panel of 2x2). This sub floor compensate for the dips on the concrete floor and also acts as vapor barrier. Laminate, hardwood or carpet can install on top of this sub floor directly.
InsulationUse special adhesive to put up 2" rigid foam on the basement walls all the way up to rim joists. Then install 2x4 walls with 1" offset. Use pressure treated for the bottom plate. However if the sub DriCore floor was used, put the 2x4 wall on top of the DriCore. Insulated with R-11 between studs.Door & SoffitCover the pipes & ducts with 2x4 soffit. Door framing make sure 2" over all around.Rooms & partitionsBedroom requires 5.7 sq-ft egress, or 24" x 20" window. So, make sure to have that requirements before calling it a bedroom.We probably need:
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