Blog Entries

A Contractor�s Perspective of Investments

lchester@charter.net — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0100

A recent article in the local paper read, "Investors put money into homes rather than stocks", recycling the old adage that owning real estate is the only way not to go wrong - emphasis on the word ‘real'. When so many people have lost large percentages of their paper wealth in the recent stock market declines, the benefits of a tangible asset versus a stock portfolio snapshot is brought painfully home.

Not that real estate investment has been painless in the real economy. [...]

August 31, final construction entry

lchester@charter.net — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:00:00 +0100

8/31/08

The house is furnished and has a great feel. The theater room came out impressively (we added a Blu-ray disc player, 7.1 surround sound with B&K amp). The only construction related item remaining is the cooktop - which came in Natural Gas instead of Propane as ordered - and Dacor does not have a conversion kit - and is out of stock. We expect the new unit to arrive next Monday and it should be a simple swap-out.

The golf cart arrived Wednesday ( [...]

July 28th

lchester@charter.net — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:00:00 +0100

I finally have the approval to build the decks in the new set-back - the variance drama is done! The crew began the piers on Friday (approval was Thursday night). Material will arrive today for framing.

The lighting control is being installed now - two engineers are here from Ft. Lauderdale programming the system. Power is on and we have air conditioning! Most of the lighting fixtures have been installed and the electricians have only one more day finishing up appliances, et [...]

July 12

lchester@charter.net — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The elevator has been delayed - for no apparent reason. The painters are complete with all the basic painting and are down to the shelving and paneling I added. Appliances are installed, as are the glass hand rail panels - both inside and out.

I am getting complaints about the HVAC units on the roof - the Fripp Island ARB enforcer came down to express her concern. I have not yet built the screening rail in front of it them which will completely hide the units. Oh well.

All the [...]

June 29th

lchester@charter.net — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Floor finishing is done! The painters are doing punchwork now. Plumbers have begun set-out, and the water is on.

The appliances and light fixtures are all on site, ready for installation. Finish carpenters have returned and are completing all the final trim items - door locks, shoe molding, bunk room shelving, theater room shelving, some poplar ship-lap wall paneling I decided to add in the kitchen, etc. The list seems never ending but it is now no longer growing (muc [...]

June 15th

lchester@charter.net — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The floor finishers are back as of Thursday. They will be finishing floors all week, which removes any and all other interior personnel from the job.

Interior painting is complete other than touch-up and special items, like the bunk beds and ship lap paneling. The bunks are in but the shelving in the bunk room is not - it will have to wait until the floors are done.

The counter tops went in last week and they are great. We used the OysterStone product I described earlier. I [...]

May 28th

lchester@charter.net — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The inevitable delays have crept in. The rain came and some of it came in. I had two of my best men out to install locks and adjust the doors � the source of the leaks. Because of the water on the floors, the finisher wanted to give it a few days to get back to a good moisture level. He went on to another job. He and his entire crew got exposed to TB (no kidding) and have been in quarantine.

In the meantime, the electricians have set out the circuit breaker panels and outlets, getting the hou [...]

May 9

lchester@charter.net — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The kitchen cabinetry has been set. The counter tops and bar top fabricator is scheduled to arrive on Monday to make templates. The tops will be a new product called Vetrostone. The mason who invented the process is the best marble fabricator in this area. He uses local oyster and whelk shells in epoxy slurry to create a terrazzo-like surface that is beautiful and unique (take a look):

http://www.vetrostone.com/seacrest.htm

The carpentry crew framed in the boardwalk to the beach access s [...]

May 9

lchester@charter.net — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The site has been called a �beehive of activity� this week. The driveway pavers and installers arrived (blocking up Tarpon Boulevard with an eighteen wheel tractor/trailer), kicking everyone else out of the yard. We have been parking in all the neighbors� driveways, and I am grateful that the houses have been unoccupied. I decided to go all brick on the drive and turn-around (as opposed to concrete perimeters). The finish looks very expensive � which follows.

We have had three different tile [...]

April 29

lchester@charter.net — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:00:00 +0100

A lot of progress over the last two weeks. Tile in the laundry room and mechanical room is complete, and the hall bath is under way. That is turning out very nicely. We are using some glass tiles around the glass block wall, and pebbles on the floor. Shower pans and backer board are going in downstairs.
The exterior column caps and trim are finally complete. The Ipe* decking on the rear deck are being installed. I have decided to use Ipe T&G flooring on the screened porch to give it a more i [...]

April 15th

lchester@charter.net — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:00:00 +0100

The interior trim is moving along. The stairs are complete, porch ceiling, and balcony ceilings are done. The fiberglass GelCoat was installed on the rooftop observation decks � this is a material I have not used before. Previously on flat decks over living space I have used �HydroStop� � a cloth and latex product that is very reliable but requires periodic re-coating. The GelCoat finish is a resin over fiberglass material and should be maintenance free � like the deck of a boat. Tile and light [...]

A Note from Shibumi

lchester@charter.net — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:00:00 +0100

When construction is complete and the furnishings are in place, I will be assuming management of Ange de Mer. In the interim, if you have any questions regarding the home, Fripp Island, the club, or the area, please do not hesitate to contact me. Our vision throughout this project has been to create a warm, luxurious home where families can enjoy being together year after year - all while enjoying the beauty of the Lowcountry and Fripp Island.

As owner of Shibumi Management, my goal is [...]

March 28th

lchester@charter.net — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Been a little discouraging the past two weeks. The interior trim crew has not worked out and I had to replace them. Their work was good but progress was too slow and they did have the number of carpenter they initially presented. Typical, but frustrating as one tends to hang on too long and allow for the excuses. A new crew started yesterday and so far, so good, but there was a little lost time.

We added hardwood flooring in the bunk room and theatre room - initially planed as ca [...]

March 7th

lchester@charter.net — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:00:00 +0100

The sheetrock is done and the painters have put a primer coat on. We are using a relatively new product for the primer coat - a thick ‘build-up' paint that should mask any imperfections in the drywall finishing. We will spray extra coats on the screen wall and try to make that perfect for the projected images.

The living room door has arrived - all 1500 pounds! I installed

it on Wednesday with two of my guys. I think the soreness will pass in time. There are a [...]

February 22

lchester@charter.net — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:00:40 +0100

2/22/08

No sooner said ... the sand fleas have arrived!

The sheetrock is being finished - today they are applying a second skim coat and will do a final one on Saturday, then sand the walls and ceilings on Tuesday.

The rear door has shipped but not arrived yet - we are expecting it today. I imagine it will be very heavy - six full glass panels, eleven feet tall by almost three feet wide (I hope it arrives before everyone leaves for the day).

The exterior t [...]

February 13th

lchester@charter.net — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:33:40 +0100

The insulation inspection was accomplished and sheetrock installation has begun. The ceilings are done and the walls are about 50 % now. We will not have another inspection until we request permanent electrical service, quite a while from now.

The exterior is close to being finished - just a few more handrails to go and the siding and trim can begin to be painted. We will begin primercoats this week.

Tabby stucco is finished. We also installed the speaker wire for the surro [...]

January 25th

lchester@charter.net — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:28:04 +0100

We just passed the rough-in inspection. This is the most thorough inspection - the last chance to look over the internal components of a house without an x-ray. We will be insulating this week and once past the insulation inspection, sheetrock!

The exterior is really looking good, especially on the rear (beach) side. The crew is very proud of the work they are doing - it is turning out well.

I saw the glass block in the kitchen today - it has come out nicely. I will post pi [...]

January 12th

lchester@charter.net — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:53:18 +0100

1/12/08

The exterior trim and siding crews are making good headway. We had a spat of cold weather (20's for four days - very bitter on the beach) but it is back to balmy 70's now. The stucco is also being installed on the columns and front stair elevation.

Glass block is on site - we will begin installation next week. On the interior we are placing the soffits around HVAC ductwork in the kitchen and theater room, framing in some glass block panels I [...]

December 29, 2007

lchester@charter.net — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:59:12 +0100

In the midst of the holiday season, it seems little gets done in construction. The roofers are mostly complete but have been held up by the deck membrane finishers. We are using a different product on the flat decks at the front balcony, above the screened porch, and on the two roof observation decks. It is a fiberglass and Gel Coat combination and will be very similar to the deck of a boat. The coordination with flashing details between the roofers and fiberglass crew has been spotty.

November 30th

lchester@charter.net — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:30:40 +0100

Made it though the Thanksgiving holiday. Always a lot of down time during the season - the flip side of being a contractor is that the holidays are so unproductive that it takes the fun out of having time off.

We passed the framing and strapping inspection. The windows and doors are set and the roofing is on site - a galvalumn metal roof that will begin going in on Monday. The framing stage is complete.

The plumbers have started their rough-in. Electricians will [...]