In today’s episode of Burn it Down, Don’t Reno, You’re Not Paranoid If …, our embattled couple narrowly escapes.
Back on Tuesday, October 3rd, at 9 a.m. the county’s plumbing inspector showed up precisely on time, the master plumber however did not. Luckily the inspector was a very easy going and friendly gent so things went well. Good thing I 1) had sussed out where the dish washer was connected to the drain as it wasn’t connected to the garbage disposal and the inspector specifically asked about it and 2) that I knew how to remove the pressure test seal from the overflow on the upstairs tub, Google was my friend. The inspector offered to fail the inspection over the seal and as appealing as the idea was, I was the one who would suffer most.
Later that evening I talked to Becky about what happened and she got a very sheepish look on her face, like she was a puppy I had just scolded. It seems she was fully aware that the overflow didn’t work; however, it allowed her to fill the tub more so what was the harm. Yup, you’re right, I was more than a little miffed, especially considering her proclivity for falling asleep in the damn tub.
Days later, I walked through the house with our project manager to go over the punch list. Seems he still thinks he can rally the troops and get it all done in one day. So somehow he’s going to clean the walls of smudges, patch the gouges, depressions, pockmarks, and other defects in the drywall, fix the baseboard and chair rail joints, prime, paint, then fix all the problems with the cabinets which involve completely rebuilding a small custom cubby, fixing almost every corner in the light rail and crown molding, filling in the gaps between the ceiling and crown molding, fixing the gaps between the filler panels and the cabinets, I mean yeah, that sounds like a days work. Nothing needs to dry or set right?
While we’re walking thought the office, I specifically bring up the fact that the baseboard heaters don’t work. Days before I went to test them, set the thermostat and waited, but no click, they have always clicked when turning on. So I went to the electrical panel and found that both breakers were off, so I flipped them on. Go back to the office and wala and we have heat, except after adjusting the thermostat they don’t turn off. Any who Mr. PM mentions, as if it were an aside, that they had ordered parts. So the bastard knew they didn’t work, left them connected, with no lockout on the breakers and nobody said boo to us.
Rounding out our joyful time together, just before leaving, he says he was asked to get a check. I told him no and a long winded repeat of conversations with Mr. President ensued, while I fought to control my temper. I’d asked twice, without answer, where in the contract it stated that the final reconciliation was due now and told Mr. PM that if Mr. President answered that question, I’d pay. I left out that I’d pay the amount due less the 5% retainage the contract allows for defects and my deductions for items not complete, damaged, thrown out, etc. Oh, yeah the emergency re-key, I was going to re-key anyway so only the difference between a regular and an after hours service call.
Before the baseboard heater and check thing, I was going to let a few things go, like the tile in the kitchen and both bathrooms having few if any joints that are flush. I’d guess that I’m not the only one that didn’t know about the ANSI A137.1:2022 – American National Standards Specifications for Ceramic Tile?
P.S. Seems that I hadn’t mentioned the bit about Mr. PM admitting knowledge of the issue with the baseboard heat to Becky. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but the word “fucking” was empathically used several times. Guess I should have mentioned that little detail before reading the episode to her.