Getting a letter from the FBI is a little like having a police car come up behind you on the highway. Even when you aren’t doing anything wrong, haven’t done anything wrong and don’t plan to do anything wrong… it makes you nervous. We received one of those letters today from the FBI talking about potential terrorist activity as we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The letter included a flyer with a list of potential indicators and best practices concerning construction sites. Most of them are common sense, but the reminders are good. I’ve scanned the flyer and included it to the right.
The President has just confirmed that the DC earthquake occurred on a rare and obscure fault-line, apparently known as “Bush’s Fault”. The President also announced that the Secret Service and Maxine Waters have initiated an investigation into the quake’s suspicious ties to the Tea Party. Conservatives, however, believe that it was caused by the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.
I am surrounded by sickness here lately. Becky has been sick this week and is hacking and coughing and snotty when I go home. Will and Kathy are both hacking and coughing here at the office. Kathy has been making fun of me for wiping down my phone after she uses it!
For years I’ve been one of those people that wash my hands in the public restroom and then use the paper towel to open the door when I leave. Touchless is great, where everything is on sensors and my preference is for bathrooms without doors or with doors that open out, but that doesn’t always work. I’m not a big fan of the blower dryers for this reason.
Well, I’ve noticed that I’m apparently not the only one. More and more public restrooms have trash cans near the exit. (Keeps me from having to practice my basketball shot across the room!) I got a little vindication from Commercial Building Products magazine this month when I saw the picture here to the right. It came with the caption, “Mounting paper-towel dispensers near an exit door provides users the chance to protect themselves from any germs left behind by others. The conveniently located waste container makes it easy to keep used towels off the floor.” Good plan!
The Shore Club of Bass Lake opened Memorial Day weekend earlier this year. We were pleased to work with Jane Sheets and Ed Rickman on this project from the start as we previously discussed in this entry regarding the BZA hearing for the project. We want to wish them the best of success with this new venture!
As is often the case with remodel projects, we found additional code violations, structural and electrical problems that were concealed. We worked closely with the new owners to make sure that the items under our contract were corrected properly. This can become a little frustrating when you’re working under a tight deadline to get the planned work complete and then suddenly have new requirements thrown into the mix. Fortunately we were able to make these changes and complete our work on time.
The Shore Club was featured in an article in the Pilot News Weekend Addition, August 6-7, 2011, in which Jane and Ryan Sheets discuss their vision for the new Shore Club. They have worked hard to keep the feeling of nostalgia for those familiar with the Shore Club of the past, while adding new features such as outdoor patio dining and banquet facilities.
Culver has become well known for our restaurants. Jane is a Culverite and she is hoping to spread that reputation west to Bass Lake. If you haven’t done so, give them a try!
We were recently commissioned to renovate an old garage in Culver. There is nothing more “green” than repurposing an existing structure. Plus in this case the existing structure sits on the property line, so to maintain the current access and location, it had to be remodeled rather than be rebuilt. The existing structure had two walls bowed to the point of being nearly off the foundation. The entire structure was out of plumb in at least two directions, one by approximately 5″ in 7′! It was a rather sad structure. In its pre-renovation condition the local squirrels were getting more use out of it than the property owner. New concrete walks, aprons and a new concrete floor were completed in conjunction with our work by another contractor.
Preconstruction North & East Facades
This structure was not the best built in Culver when we arrived at the site. It appears that it was not originally built “square”. We tackled it with the intention of making the best of what was available. We started by grouting the block cores full in the foundation wall where the bottom plate had moved. The allowed us to pull the wall back into position and anchor the wall to the foundation in the correct position. We then reconnected the tie rafters to square the top of the wall. We were only able to partially achieve this goal as shelving had been added which held the wall slighly out of plumb.
At the corners we pushed and pulled them back to as close to plumb as possible. Sheets of OSB sheathing were installed on the inside of the walls at the corners to provide diaphragm framing. This diaphragm framing held the studs in place at their corrected locations.
New South & West Facades
The existing windows had been installed without headers. We reconstuctioned these openings with headers and installed new windows. The existing entry door was replaced with a standard door size. The existing sliding doors were replaced with sectional overhead doors. We also added new electrical wiring, replacing the old knob & tube wiring. Electrical wiring was brought underground from the house connecting to the existing electrical panel. GFI duplexes (inside and outside), interior lights and exterior wall sconces were added.
New North & East Facades
To finish out the exterior cosmetic changes we installed new siding, new soffit, new fascia and new architectural shingles. The resulting facelift was a phenominal improvement. Our client should take up a collection! I think the whole neighborhood has been improved by this renovation.
The owner is pleased and christened the renewed structure by camping out in it with her children the first night it was complete.
Getting a letter from the FBI is a little like having a police car come up behind you on the highway. Even when you aren’t doing anything wrong, haven’t done anything wrong and don’t plan to do anything wrong… it makes you nervous. We received one of those letters today from the FBI talking about potential terrorist activity as we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The letter included a flyer with a list of potential indicators and best practices concerning construction sites. Most of them are common sense, but the reminders are good. I’ve scanned the flyer and included it to the right.
The Shore Club of Bass Lake opened Memorial Day weekend earlier this year. We were pleased to work with Jane Sheets and Ed Rickman on this project from the start as we previously discussed in 
