Friday, November 30, 2007

New kitchen arrangement and 1/2 bath floor

We have been in our house since last January and during this time the wife has complained about the location of the dishwasher to the sink for loading and to some cabinets for unloading. It just so happens that while cleaning out some old pictures of a model home (this model) I discovered that there was a different arrangement. Yesterday we had our 10 month inspection so when the people from the builder showed up I had to ask whether the kitchen was to 'print' or at the judgement of the installer. I asked this question this way because I have complained before and I was told it was 'to print'. Well they went and checked and we weren't to print. They proceded to swap one cabinet and the dishwasher. In doing so they discovered that the cabinet had, in their opinion, installed with too many screws. One had been ran in from the top before the counter top was set thus they couldn't get to the screw head to back it out. This required splitting the side piece so it could be moved. It couldn't be seen but they felt it was wrong. A new cabinet is on order and will be installed.

Also while they were here I had them look at the basement floor where I am going to install a 1/2 bath. I paid good money to have it roughed in properly 'to print' but I have a problem. The sump pump pit is too close to what would be one of the walls for the bath. It is the wall that the toilet and sink would sit on. This is the wall that is critical in the fact that it would hold the plumbing and the toilet as to sit 12-1/2" from it on center. When they put the door into this room they set it 6" too far to one side so that it is close to where the sink would be when it swings open. No room to move because there is a floor drain for the water softner, a/c condenser and hotwater tank blow-off. The wall has to be built over this open drain and then collect the drain the sink will go into and continue on. In order to install one of only two walls that I must build for this room this one wall will end up with a double off-set, on of approx. 4" -and then a 10" off-set to get around the sump pump pit. Okay, now I have thouroughly confused everyone with this description (pictures to come later) I am back to where I talked to the homes builder about the floor. The floor and a pitch to the sump pump that intails approx. 50% of the bath's floor. I tried to put a leveling compound down and even though I'm not a mason, I didn't do too bad. However, there is still some uneven issues with it when I put a straight edge down. I started with a 1-1/4" difference between the bottom of the board that would be the lowest point of the wall in that area and the elevation of the floor. I now have that up even with the wall but I still have pitch in that direction and some waveness to it. Now, to make this too long of a simple story short, I asked the service crew for the builder for some help with the 'to print' issue and they didn't even question it. Said they would have a manonry crew out within the next 14 days. If I had only asked before this, but then, I did point it out during the homes walk through and was told....'it's to print' with a grin and shrug.

6 comments:

Gene said...

That right you go ahead and puff that chest out YOUR THE MAN OH YEA YOUR THE MAN!!! Good Job Let me know when we are hanging drywall!!!! Let it be after awhile as I cut my finger off last night!!!OUCH !!!!

Butch said...

It will be at least a couple of weeks considering how fast this builder is.

Was the finger important? Should we hold services? Can you still hold a cup of coffee? I heard the coffee shop calling early next week.

Butch said...

If the thing wasn't so bloody I would post it in the blog. Fingers and engine fans do not get along. The fan wins every time. We won't be hanging drywall in a couple of weeks either.

Reine said...

....I heard he may milk this for a few months!...you may want to hire a drywaller!...LOL

Steph said...

Tell Gene hope his finger heals quick! I'm glad you didn't post it too. The email was bad enough.

Gene said...

Thanks Steph
its getting ouch better. It doesnt ouch hurt as long ouch as I dont ouch type.