That’s Good news with the house and leaving your folks soon!
As for the neighbors, people suck man…. Plain and simple….
Progress Thread Komo's 1990 GT - Parts Gathering Purgatory & Home Remodel
- Thread starter gkomo
- Start date
As for the neighbors, people suck man…. Plain and simple….
Ok i guess i won't just leave it at that ha ha. Both concerns were privacy related. I guess that's the nature of living in a single-story home, then your neighbor builds a second story house. There's just really no way around it. We aren't going to not put a window(s) in a room because there's the perception someone could look into the others house? One neighbor was concerned about some of our windows being able to look into some of their windows. My wife sort of handled that one since the neighbor only messaged her but in my head i'm like... 1. we have no desire to look into your house and 2. the house isn't finished yet, we will have window coverings. They insinuated like maybe you can move the windows around? Umm no, plans are set and approved. GTFO with that nonsense.
The other one i thought was a little more dumb. We live on a hill and have a back neighbor that's higher up than us. They were concerned that our roof top deck has a railing instead of a wall facing their house. The deck is integrated into a V (or A?) shaped roof so the other three sides have walls for that reason, but the back is open to 'our' backyard, but apparently to their backyard too? So since they sit higher up on the hill they were wondering (or complaining) that they can see into our deck and we can see into their yard? Like ya, now our deck is level with the lowest tier of your backyard... so? If someone were standing (not sitting/laying out) on our deck... we'd see each other anyways. But also, if someone were standing on our deck they would be looking the opposite direction - toward the view it provides, not your backyard. We've never had privacy since they can literally look down into our yard so I kind of never even thought about it. But now its an issue when its the other way around. Its all good we are going to make the back railing solid-ish with a wooden design, which after more thought, my wife likes better anyways.
I think i was more irritated because the second story has now been roughly built for like a month and both neighbors messaged us within like two days of each other just recently. Maybe they are all talking amongst themselves.
On a brighter note, our lovely 80+ year old neighbor to the other side of us praises the house and says its gonna look fantastic and is all nice about everything. She sometimes walks around after the crews leave and checks things out.
The other one i thought was a little more dumb. We live on a hill and have a back neighbor that's higher up than us. They were concerned that our roof top deck has a railing instead of a wall facing their house. The deck is integrated into a V (or A?) shaped roof so the other three sides have walls for that reason, but the back is open to 'our' backyard, but apparently to their backyard too? So since they sit higher up on the hill they were wondering (or complaining) that they can see into our deck and we can see into their yard? Like ya, now our deck is level with the lowest tier of your backyard... so? If someone were standing (not sitting/laying out) on our deck... we'd see each other anyways. But also, if someone were standing on our deck they would be looking the opposite direction - toward the view it provides, not your backyard. We've never had privacy since they can literally look down into our yard so I kind of never even thought about it. But now its an issue when its the other way around. Its all good we are going to make the back railing solid-ish with a wooden design, which after more thought, my wife likes better anyways.
I think i was more irritated because the second story has now been roughly built for like a month and both neighbors messaged us within like two days of each other just recently. Maybe they are all talking amongst themselves.
On a brighter note, our lovely 80+ year old neighbor to the other side of us praises the house and says its gonna look fantastic and is all nice about everything. She sometimes walks around after the crews leave and checks things out.
Last edited:
I'd buy a store mannequin and have it looking out the window with binoculars at all times.
For the deck just mount one of these
For the deck just mount one of these
A little ChatGPT rendering of a finished product. ChatGPT had to take some significant liberties with the front entry way and balcony as there is a giant construction fence blocking any views from this vantage point. Our front door doesn't even face forward like that, but in to the left and there is no window next to it. The balcony you see doesn't wrap around the side of the house like it shows nor is the door to the balcony where it shows, but it is pretty large. ChatGPT is great for visualizing different paint colors and all that, i'll give it that though:
Our landscaping looks nothing like this either. Its actually all dirt at the moment.
One more thing to add, with the house basically being brand new... my wife was like... we gotta get a new driveway (ours has a ton of cracks in it). Add $25k+ more to the home budget. Thankfully we don't need to do that now and can save up. Spending is getting out of control.
Our landscaping looks nothing like this either. Its actually all dirt at the moment.
One more thing to add, with the house basically being brand new... my wife was like... we gotta get a new driveway (ours has a ton of cracks in it). Add $25k+ more to the home budget. Thankfully we don't need to do that now and can save up. Spending is getting out of control.
So your wife now understands “while I’m in here I might as well put a stroker kit in and/or boost it” is what you are saying.
My Harland Sharp rockers came in as well as my Vortech FMU disk calibration kit.
Got lots of work to do once the garage is back in business.
Got lots of work to do once the garage is back in business.
Ok moved AGAIN... hopefully last time we have to move before moving back into the house.
We rented a condo/townhouse in downtown La Jolla sort of as a 'treat' to feel like we are on vacation. Best thing is, no one else living with us, no animals to take care of, just us... finally.
Stang is still just sitting on the street with a car cover over it collecting spider webs and bird poop.
We rented a condo/townhouse in downtown La Jolla sort of as a 'treat' to feel like we are on vacation. Best thing is, no one else living with us, no animals to take care of, just us... finally.
Stang is still just sitting on the street with a car cover over it collecting spider webs and bird poop.
Last edited:
Ugh, sounds like construction will delay our move in date at least 2 weeks. If we could just extend our rental it wouldn't be a big deal (besides more $$$) but they already have a long term renter lined up as soon as we move out. SO, guess we'll have to move again. This year man, this year....
On a side note, due to having to move our existing tank waterheater (so moving water and gas lines, plus venting) which was in our garage... the plumber said it would actually be easier to run a new tankless waterheater on the exterior side yard due to new beams/etc in the way of running the 'old' piping. So, no cost to us (they still get ya somewhere else) we will get a new tankless waterheater. Our existing waterheater was from 2013 so probably due anyways for a replacement.
On a side note, due to having to move our existing tank waterheater (so moving water and gas lines, plus venting) which was in our garage... the plumber said it would actually be easier to run a new tankless waterheater on the exterior side yard due to new beams/etc in the way of running the 'old' piping. So, no cost to us (they still get ya somewhere else) we will get a new tankless waterheater. Our existing waterheater was from 2013 so probably due anyways for a replacement.
Last edited:
Stopped by the house yesterday as I had my daughter over at a friends house to swim who lives on our street. Bruh, lots of work to do and we are supposed to be back in mid September...?
All flooring is being replaced. The giant hole to the backyard where our 15' door will go was supposed to have the door installed like 3 weeks ago per his schedule. They are currently doing electrical and plumbing (did hot mops yesterday morning in two bathrooms).
Framer still has to frame in the fireplace box for our new gas fireplace. They misordered a french door for a window in a downstairs guest bedroom but said they could just put it in no charge since it was their mistake so now we will have french door out to the backyard in the room to the right of the stairs.
All flooring is being replaced. The giant hole to the backyard where our 15' door will go was supposed to have the door installed like 3 weeks ago per his schedule. They are currently doing electrical and plumbing (did hot mops yesterday morning in two bathrooms).
Framer still has to frame in the fireplace box for our new gas fireplace. They misordered a french door for a window in a downstairs guest bedroom but said they could just put it in no charge since it was their mistake so now we will have french door out to the backyard in the room to the right of the stairs.
I would suggest that you start making more visits after they have gone for the day. Residential construction is one of the least inspected forms of construction and people wonder why the work is subpar. Just by looking at it they are way behind for a mid-September move in date. I would suggest that you require weekly schedule updates from this point forward.
It's gonna be really nice when they are done but you want it done right.
It's gonna be really nice when they are done but you want it done right.
@AeroCoupe (forgot to quote you) We do make visits 'fairly' often (never more than 2 weeks). We get weekly updates from our PM and pretty much are communicating with him daily. What worries me is when we ask "why didn't this get done 3 weeks ago when it was in your weekly update for work to be completed next week" we don't really get an answer. There have been a lot of inspections, actually some work has been delayed due to waiting on inspections. All our stuff is permitted through the city so city inspectors are coming out during milestone events.
Another thing i plan on doing is after the official move in date we get like 30 days to live in it and come up with things that need to be fixed or are wrong or whatever. I plan on hiring a 3rd party home inspector during that time. They won't be able to see inside walls like they could now but might catch things I have no clue to look out for.
My wife works in the real estate business (not an agent) and one of her clients is the owner of the construction company we are using (part of the reason we went with them). I'm not saying that means we are getting the preferential treatment or anything but i do believe my wife will 'take it up the chain' if needed. She has already let the guy know we are behind schedule... not that i'm sure anything is being done about it.
At this point we've also told him... dude, if you can focus on either the upstairs or downstairs, we will live in the other level of whatever level you still need to work on. We have bedrooms/bathrooms on both floors. Just get me back in my damn house!
Another thing i plan on doing is after the official move in date we get like 30 days to live in it and come up with things that need to be fixed or are wrong or whatever. I plan on hiring a 3rd party home inspector during that time. They won't be able to see inside walls like they could now but might catch things I have no clue to look out for.
My wife works in the real estate business (not an agent) and one of her clients is the owner of the construction company we are using (part of the reason we went with them). I'm not saying that means we are getting the preferential treatment or anything but i do believe my wife will 'take it up the chain' if needed. She has already let the guy know we are behind schedule... not that i'm sure anything is being done about it.
At this point we've also told him... dude, if you can focus on either the upstairs or downstairs, we will live in the other level of whatever level you still need to work on. We have bedrooms/bathrooms on both floors. Just get me back in my damn house!
Last edited:
in Cali.
@gkomo - Man that is great you are doing all of that and yes having an in with the contractor is huge. I know its more money but I would hire a 3rd party inspector before they start covering thing up (wall board, cabinets, flooring, etc.) so that pictures can be taken and a report done so they can correct any deficiencies prior to covering it up as that is expensive.
@Noobz347 - typically they inspect form boards for pouring concrete which typically has the rebar in it, plumbing rough in, electrical rough in, then plumbing final, and electrical final. Most say that you need to build to the 2018 building code but the vast majority of that is left to the trades to honorably do correctly.
In my world we have inspectors on the job a week before it starts until it's finished and the red line drawings are turned in. We have qualification testing for all the work, all the welding is 100% non-destructively tested (x-ray, ultrasonic, vacuum box, mag particle, etc), all of the welding is inspected including the welding rig function, soil compaction testing, concrete testing, pipe pressure testing, coating installation inspection, and then there is all the electrical and controls inspection.
I realize you cannot afford to inspect everything on a home build or remodel as we could not afford that but I know how city and count inspectors do things and its almost laughable in some places.
Anyhow, I would seriously consider having that same 3rd party inspector you were going to have look things over after you move in to do some inspecting now.
@Noobz347 - typically they inspect form boards for pouring concrete which typically has the rebar in it, plumbing rough in, electrical rough in, then plumbing final, and electrical final. Most say that you need to build to the 2018 building code but the vast majority of that is left to the trades to honorably do correctly.
In my world we have inspectors on the job a week before it starts until it's finished and the red line drawings are turned in. We have qualification testing for all the work, all the welding is 100% non-destructively tested (x-ray, ultrasonic, vacuum box, mag particle, etc), all of the welding is inspected including the welding rig function, soil compaction testing, concrete testing, pipe pressure testing, coating installation inspection, and then there is all the electrical and controls inspection.
I realize you cannot afford to inspect everything on a home build or remodel as we could not afford that but I know how city and count inspectors do things and its almost laughable in some places.
Anyhow, I would seriously consider having that same 3rd party inspector you were going to have look things over after you move in to do some inspecting now.
So far we've had inspections for:@gkomo - Man that is great you are doing all of that and yes having an in with the contractor is huge. I know its more money but I would hire a 3rd party inspector before they start covering thing up (wall board, cabinets, flooring, etc.) so that pictures can be taken and a report done so they can correct any deficiencies prior to covering it up as that is expensive.
@Noobz347 - typically they inspect form boards for pouring concrete which typically has the rebar in it, plumbing rough in, electrical rough in, then plumbing final, and electrical final. Most say that you need to build to the 2018 building code but the vast majority of that is left to the trades to honorably do correctly.
In my world we have inspectors on the job a week before it starts until it's finished and the red line drawings are turned in. We have qualification testing for all the work, all the welding is 100% non-destructively tested (x-ray, ultrasonic, vacuum box, mag particle, etc), all of the welding is inspected including the welding rig function, soil compaction testing, concrete testing, pipe pressure testing, coating installation inspection, and then there is all the electrical and controls inspection.
I realize you cannot afford to inspect everything on a home build or remodel as we could not afford that but I know how city and count inspectors do things and its almost laughable in some places.
Anyhow, I would seriously consider having that same 3rd party inspector you were going to have look things over after you move in to do some inspecting now.
- Concrete Foundations/footings (passed after something was fixed with the footing to the bottom of the stairs)
- Framing/Structural (passed after readjusting the height of the beam overhead of the first stair)
- Shear Walls (no issues i'm aware of)
The hot mop inspection is next on his list.
I believe California has a 3 year rolling code requirement so our plans were approved in 2025 so we have to meet 2023 standards as the new codes take effect this year.
Our latest update:
What’s been done:
- Rough electrical in last stages
- Rough plumbing in last stages
- Vendor meetings
- Door pan and custom deck flashing in fabrication
- Hot mop scheduled 7/27 Mon.
Let me throw this out there concerning the third party inspector, use one with cred, like a retired contractor, we have an issue where the TPI suggested some very expensive wiring replacement, long story short between the contractor and the insurance man it did not get done and now we get turned down for insurance. Wiring as is passes local/state codes.
Go figure.
Go figure.
Ya, definitely would use one my wife would have knowledge of through her work who has experience and good referrals.
Kinda sucks we (the larger community) don’t exactly trust the city inspectors 100%. I mean they’ve caught things (as I mentioned) so I know they are doing something, and hell maybe they are doing a good job, but a second opinion would be nice too.
Kinda sucks we (the larger community) don’t exactly trust the city inspectors 100%. I mean they’ve caught things (as I mentioned) so I know they are doing something, and hell maybe they are doing a good job, but a second opinion would be nice too.
As in all professions, there are good people and there are some dumb ones....
Bright, common sense city inspectors are a must do in my opinion.. the problem comes from the " Impotent" ones who think they are very bright but are very stupid... MOST of the time the problem inspectors have been women and " foreigners" ...... Just my experience..
I built two homes, acting as the general and doing what work I could do, and remodeled one... Be advised that once you move in it gets more difficult to complete a room or area and you double your work time as you are working around items, people, kids and wives.... Sometimes moving in too soon stops the finish items in a build...
Just my experience from a 71 year old coot....
Bright, common sense city inspectors are a must do in my opinion.. the problem comes from the " Impotent" ones who think they are very bright but are very stupid... MOST of the time the problem inspectors have been women and " foreigners" ...... Just my experience..
I built two homes, acting as the general and doing what work I could do, and remodeled one... Be advised that once you move in it gets more difficult to complete a room or area and you double your work time as you are working around items, people, kids and wives.... Sometimes moving in too soon stops the finish items in a build...
Just my experience from a 71 year old coot....
Man that is good to see as most places the inspections are for the most part a joke. Your build looks like its going to be a great layout and a lot more space.
I caught more stuff with the guys building the foundation for my shop and it was starting to aggravate them. I just kept pointing to the drawings that my dad (Civil Engineer with a PE) sketched up for me and told them that they agreed to do it per the drawings. Lots of grumbling but it got done. You should have seen to look on their faces when I asked for the concrete mix and turned it down based on slump. They got a second mix design and it was good to go. It was like pulling teeth...sad.
I caught more stuff with the guys building the foundation for my shop and it was starting to aggravate them. I just kept pointing to the drawings that my dad (Civil Engineer with a PE) sketched up for me and told them that they agreed to do it per the drawings. Lots of grumbling but it got done. You should have seen to look on their faces when I asked for the concrete mix and turned it down based on slump. They got a second mix design and it was good to go. It was like pulling teeth...sad.
Got our bathroom tiles/shower doors/etc all picked out. We are adding two bathrooms and redoing one of the other two bathrooms. This was a tough one because my wife would send me photos of bathrooms she likes constantly, but they were all different designs. I'm like, pick one! We need to get moving on him ordering materials. Actually, a lot of this project has been my wife sending completely different designs for a lot of things.
I also heard rumblings via my wife that there is an issue with the kitchen window sizes that are being replaced. I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with the quartz backdrop that surrounds the windows (from prior kitchen remodel) that were cut to fit 'retrofitted' windows and now they are putting in normal non-retrofitted windows. So not sure how they will reconcile the quartz sizing around the windows. Thats just my suspicion, need to talk with the PM.
I also heard rumblings via my wife that there is an issue with the kitchen window sizes that are being replaced. I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with the quartz backdrop that surrounds the windows (from prior kitchen remodel) that were cut to fit 'retrofitted' windows and now they are putting in normal non-retrofitted windows. So not sure how they will reconcile the quartz sizing around the windows. Thats just my suspicion, need to talk with the PM.
Similar threads
