BBRRRR! This morning the radio said minus 30 with a wind chill of minus 41. Quite a wake up call - especially since it is still November!
The building is partially insulated. The more it is sealed up though, the harder it is to use the propane heat. Yesterday we came and it was cranked way up. It was warm in there! Needless to say we turned it down. But then the workers have been complaining of sore eyes and throats. Propane heat! I think we will be seeing less work done until those furnaces are popped in. We are going through the paperwork hoops to have that done. Atco needs to approve the gas lines to put on meters and Direct Energy needs to finish registering the lines (which we've requested twice now) to approve the installation of the meters. Everyone needs to do their part to make it happen and we need to wait patiently!
Power should be pulled into the building today. That will help get the furnaces going. Have not heard from the sheet metal company though! We reach them through the plumbing company since they are a sub-contract to the plumbing and heating company. And the owner of that company is impossible to reach - so we talk to one of the office personal to get in touch with the sheet metal fellows who actually will drop in the furnace units. Everyone needs to do their part to make it happen and we need to wait patiently!
Like I said - it is cold! We need heat to keep the work going! Everyone needs to do their part to make it happen and we need to wait patiently! We pray for patience!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A Week Later!
I think we have recovered (for the most part) from our unplanned window repair. We've yet to have the actual work done and receive a bill - so there may be a bit more "recovery time" needed yet.
In the last week lots of things have been happening inside the building. Roughed in plumbing and gas lines are almost done. I think the plumbing company has been the winner in the "let's hold things up" race. I seem to remember this being a much too common occurance back in Peter's former commmercial construction days as well. Maybe things haven't changed that much in all these years. Although this has given Peter time to take a number of pictures of the work before the insulation and drywall stages. These pictures I won't post - they are strictly for the record in case someday we are altering things for tenants. They are not that interesting - unless of course you are a plumber. And if you are - my apologizes then to your trade for my comments. Hopefully you personally are not in the running for the above said prize!
Our electrician installed three temporary lights outside - partly for security but also so we could choose which style we ultimately want to see on the building. We decided quite quickly the one we want to go with. But I keep forgetting to get a nighttime picture to publish in a post! Again - no picture!
The electrician Lorne and his son Todd were in the building today running wires. This I did get a picture of! In this picture you get a bit of a feel for the height of this lease space downstairs. We are putting in a dropped ceiling though! Maybe someday it will all be opened up for the tenant who wants to have a high vaulted space! The t-bar ceiling will be installed at 10 feet. Imagine a line running about one foot above the top of the window. That's where the final ceiling height will be!
Our electrician Lorne
We have a super electrician on site! I'm glad we hired him - Peter is too. It's a small company but we get excellent service!
We have insulation upstairs! What a difference in warmth this makes! It can be nippy downstairs and after a short walk up the 20 stairs you find yourself in a nice warm and quiet office space! We noticed immediately the difference with outside sounds coming in - especially a north bound train whistle. Once the insulation was installed, we could carry on a normal conversation upstairs even with the train announcing it's arrival. We knew this would happen - but it's very reassuring to actually have it happen! It will be wonderful to have the same for the main floor! Soon!
So what else has been happening? Plumbing - I mentioned that. Electrical - I mentioned that too. Insulating upstairs - yes. Ah! Upstairs. Peter and I have been busy up there too. Those stained beams I mentioned last posting. They needed a coat of varnish before the drywall board goes on. So Saturday Peter and I were up there varnishing! But not before we had numerous errands in Red Deer and the installation of the metal door frames for the main floor to take care of.
We were awake early (as usual) on Saturday and by 8 a.m. were picking up the door frames from a warehouse in Red Deer. From there we went to Peavey Mart in the city as well to purchase the remaining chain needed for our "downspouts". We are not using conventional downspouts that return back to the building. We are using 1/2 inch chain that will rust in time - probably sooner than we think! Hopefully "rusty" chain will be left untouched! From there we went to the Lighting store and ordered our upstairs fixtures. By shortly after 10 we were heading back to Lacombe. It helps when you know what you want!
Before we varnished the beams we installed the door frames. Seven in all. It only took two hours, with much appreciation for an excellent framer! Next time we see him we will have to thank him! When all was said and done, Peter admitted to me he had never installed a door frame like that before! We did the outside door to the electrical room - but these inside doors were different. He knew in his head how it should work - but had never done it before. I wonder how many other things he hasn't done before but waits til afterwards to admit how much of a greenhorn he was! I knew I hired the right General Contractor! Not afraid to try!
My General installing a door frame!
We have insulation upstairs!
Ready to drywall upstairs!
So now if the plumber will finish up the rough-ins and the electrician wind up his work we can carry on and get some heat to stay in the building! That is that plan! And a good plan it is when the thermometer is dipping lower and lower at nights and the winds blowing out from the north grow colder and colder each day!
In the last week lots of things have been happening inside the building. Roughed in plumbing and gas lines are almost done. I think the plumbing company has been the winner in the "let's hold things up" race. I seem to remember this being a much too common occurance back in Peter's former commmercial construction days as well. Maybe things haven't changed that much in all these years. Although this has given Peter time to take a number of pictures of the work before the insulation and drywall stages. These pictures I won't post - they are strictly for the record in case someday we are altering things for tenants. They are not that interesting - unless of course you are a plumber. And if you are - my apologizes then to your trade for my comments. Hopefully you personally are not in the running for the above said prize!
Our electrician installed three temporary lights outside - partly for security but also so we could choose which style we ultimately want to see on the building. We decided quite quickly the one we want to go with. But I keep forgetting to get a nighttime picture to publish in a post! Again - no picture!
The electrician Lorne and his son Todd were in the building today running wires. This I did get a picture of! In this picture you get a bit of a feel for the height of this lease space downstairs. We are putting in a dropped ceiling though! Maybe someday it will all be opened up for the tenant who wants to have a high vaulted space! The t-bar ceiling will be installed at 10 feet. Imagine a line running about one foot above the top of the window. That's where the final ceiling height will be!
Our electrician Lorne
We have a super electrician on site! I'm glad we hired him - Peter is too. It's a small company but we get excellent service!
We have insulation upstairs! What a difference in warmth this makes! It can be nippy downstairs and after a short walk up the 20 stairs you find yourself in a nice warm and quiet office space! We noticed immediately the difference with outside sounds coming in - especially a north bound train whistle. Once the insulation was installed, we could carry on a normal conversation upstairs even with the train announcing it's arrival. We knew this would happen - but it's very reassuring to actually have it happen! It will be wonderful to have the same for the main floor! Soon!
So what else has been happening? Plumbing - I mentioned that. Electrical - I mentioned that too. Insulating upstairs - yes. Ah! Upstairs. Peter and I have been busy up there too. Those stained beams I mentioned last posting. They needed a coat of varnish before the drywall board goes on. So Saturday Peter and I were up there varnishing! But not before we had numerous errands in Red Deer and the installation of the metal door frames for the main floor to take care of.
We were awake early (as usual) on Saturday and by 8 a.m. were picking up the door frames from a warehouse in Red Deer. From there we went to Peavey Mart in the city as well to purchase the remaining chain needed for our "downspouts". We are not using conventional downspouts that return back to the building. We are using 1/2 inch chain that will rust in time - probably sooner than we think! Hopefully "rusty" chain will be left untouched! From there we went to the Lighting store and ordered our upstairs fixtures. By shortly after 10 we were heading back to Lacombe. It helps when you know what you want!
Before we varnished the beams we installed the door frames. Seven in all. It only took two hours, with much appreciation for an excellent framer! Next time we see him we will have to thank him! When all was said and done, Peter admitted to me he had never installed a door frame like that before! We did the outside door to the electrical room - but these inside doors were different. He knew in his head how it should work - but had never done it before. I wonder how many other things he hasn't done before but waits til afterwards to admit how much of a greenhorn he was! I knew I hired the right General Contractor! Not afraid to try!
My General installing a door frame!
We have insulation upstairs!
Ready to drywall upstairs!
So now if the plumber will finish up the rough-ins and the electrician wind up his work we can carry on and get some heat to stay in the building! That is that plan! And a good plan it is when the thermometer is dipping lower and lower at nights and the winds blowing out from the north grow colder and colder each day!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Difficult Day
TODAY
This is a bit harder post to write! Today we arrived at the station site to find out we had been vandalized overnight. After the necessary calls to police and insurance and window companies - we basically cleaned up the broken glass, boarded over the broken windows and now need to confirm with Loewen a repair to six segments of windows. This act and some telltale evidence has shown it to be a repeat of vandalism that has happened already in town recently at another construction site. We've done all we can do. We need to be more faithful in praying a "hedge" around the site when we drive away at night.
How can we be thankful in this?
The number of weeks those brackets and beams sat out on the lot and didn't receive any damage (willful or unintentional)! How can we not be thankful!
The amount of damage that COULD have happened last night and didn't! How can we not be thankful!
Why this didn't happen already when you almost come to expect it? How can you not be thankful!
What if it was something that could not be repaired? How can you not be thankful!
What if theft was also involved? But nothing was taken! How can you not be thankful!
There are no pictures from today!! We left it to the police to take the pictures!
THE LAST NUMBER OF DAYS
On to another "train" of thought - pardon the pun!
We have lots of trades working on the inside of the building these days! We met with the electrician (Lorne Green) today to discuss moving along with that element of construction. So that is on the horizon! The drywall boarders are in boarding the mechanical rooms so the plumber and electrician and sheet metal fellows can all get in there and do their part towards PERMANENT heat! Today the "gas man" (Dameon from Civic Mechanical) is running gas lines and preparing for furnaces. The sheet metal fellows were in there getting some duct work done to carry the coming heat from the furnaces around the building.
Last weekend Peter and I spent part of Saturday upstairs staining our timber trusses. We are truly happy with the transparent stain we had mixed up for us! The grain of the wood is not lost, yet they are darker - which we wanted for more of an antique look. Out of the six, four are done being stained and we need to stain two more. Then one coat of varnish before the drywallers put on the drywall upstairs. I DO have some pictures from the weekend!
Getting ready!
One is done!
It's a long way up!
This week yet? I think we get insulation somewhere along the line. Plus more of the ongoing work downstairs.
Pray for us and the project - to remain true to Christ, and not become discouraged in this endeavor. To remain level-headed in moving forward with setbacks. To remember - always - to give Him thanks!
This is a bit harder post to write! Today we arrived at the station site to find out we had been vandalized overnight. After the necessary calls to police and insurance and window companies - we basically cleaned up the broken glass, boarded over the broken windows and now need to confirm with Loewen a repair to six segments of windows. This act and some telltale evidence has shown it to be a repeat of vandalism that has happened already in town recently at another construction site. We've done all we can do. We need to be more faithful in praying a "hedge" around the site when we drive away at night.
How can we be thankful in this?
The number of weeks those brackets and beams sat out on the lot and didn't receive any damage (willful or unintentional)! How can we not be thankful!
The amount of damage that COULD have happened last night and didn't! How can we not be thankful!
Why this didn't happen already when you almost come to expect it? How can you not be thankful!
What if it was something that could not be repaired? How can you not be thankful!
What if theft was also involved? But nothing was taken! How can you not be thankful!
There are no pictures from today!! We left it to the police to take the pictures!
THE LAST NUMBER OF DAYS
On to another "train" of thought - pardon the pun!
We have lots of trades working on the inside of the building these days! We met with the electrician (Lorne Green) today to discuss moving along with that element of construction. So that is on the horizon! The drywall boarders are in boarding the mechanical rooms so the plumber and electrician and sheet metal fellows can all get in there and do their part towards PERMANENT heat! Today the "gas man" (Dameon from Civic Mechanical) is running gas lines and preparing for furnaces. The sheet metal fellows were in there getting some duct work done to carry the coming heat from the furnaces around the building.
Last weekend Peter and I spent part of Saturday upstairs staining our timber trusses. We are truly happy with the transparent stain we had mixed up for us! The grain of the wood is not lost, yet they are darker - which we wanted for more of an antique look. Out of the six, four are done being stained and we need to stain two more. Then one coat of varnish before the drywallers put on the drywall upstairs. I DO have some pictures from the weekend!
Getting ready!
One is done!
It's a long way up!
This week yet? I think we get insulation somewhere along the line. Plus more of the ongoing work downstairs.
Pray for us and the project - to remain true to Christ, and not become discouraged in this endeavor. To remain level-headed in moving forward with setbacks. To remember - always - to give Him thanks!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
They're Back!
They're Back!
Our favorite framer and crew are back! Actually, they are our only framers. We were so happy when they agreed to come back and frame the main floor for us! They are almost finished - just a bit more to finish up in the morning and we are a go for our heating/plumbing and electrical. It will be nice to be done with temporary power and heat! Then insulation and drywall and then painting, finishing, lighting and flooring. Sounds simple - much simplier than I'm sure it will be - but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once all the walls that can be framed for now are done we have a chance to get in their ourselves and do - what else - CLEAN UP and prepare for the next step.
Today we (Peter) met with one of our future tenants to go over finishes etc. (See picture of their space.) Since we are at this stage of the planning, the proverbial light glows a bit brighter! We were also able to share the building with a couple of people today - a contractor Peter has done business with for years now, Lyle Ohlerking from Lakeland Building Contractors and good friends John and Brenda Hand. John and Brenda were driving by and stopped since they saw me out shoveling away some ice build up in the front. (We actually got warm enough today to do just that!) We love it when people pop in to say "Hi" and we can share our adventure in person with them!
70 % leased. Doesn't that sound wonderful? For us it is an answer to prayer! Only two spaces left of about 600 SF each. Or they could be combined for a total of around 1200 SF for a larger office space for more people in one business. They are side by side so there is a choice. (See picture of unspoken for space.)
God has been so good and we've been so blessed with this "adventure"!
Framed Main Floor Walls! (Unspoken for space)
From the "Board Room" looking towards our stairs.
In office space of future tenant.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Concrete!
We are getting concrete poured today inside the station! Late yesterday afternoon Peter and I (mostly Peter) set up a heater inside and some fans. With the weather we've been having lately we would never be able to pour without some added heat. Needless to say - both Peter and I were awake early this morning wondering if we should go over and check things over! This is well beyond my comfort zone and stretching for Peter as well. We waited though until 7:00 - when we were supposed to be there to open up for the siding fellows to get their stuff out of the building.
This morning Kevin Braun and his crew (8 fellows) were inside warming up boots and waiting for the concrete truck to arrive. We had to hire a pumper truck again. With the doors opening and closing continually, the air cooled down a fair amount. I went upstairs to our suite to check out the temperature and it was nice and comfortable up there. I even had to pull off my toque! The son of some friends of ours was working with Kevin this morning, Daryl Ward. While chatting with him we found out Daryl knows Kevin from church. Cool!
In the first picture you can see the pumper truck getting the hoses set up for the pour before the concrete arrives. In the second picture notice the gable end finished until we can get it stuccoed next spring. It was so neat to see the batten boards go on yesterday! (The other side is being done today.) It looks more like what we have been envisioning with the gable being finished this far. In the third picture you can see the pouring inside of the slab. Notice the steam rising off the concrete!
If all continues to go well the framer will be in there tomorrow working on main floor walls. We have another trip to Red Deer this afternoon to pick up one more heater! An electric one this time - the last one Action Rentals has available! Just like insulated tarps, heaters are going to be in big demand now too!
It will be so exciting to walk on a main level concrete floor! I can hardly wait - but I promise not to be too quick about it and leave footprints behind!
This morning Kevin Braun and his crew (8 fellows) were inside warming up boots and waiting for the concrete truck to arrive. We had to hire a pumper truck again. With the doors opening and closing continually, the air cooled down a fair amount. I went upstairs to our suite to check out the temperature and it was nice and comfortable up there. I even had to pull off my toque! The son of some friends of ours was working with Kevin this morning, Daryl Ward. While chatting with him we found out Daryl knows Kevin from church. Cool!
In the first picture you can see the pumper truck getting the hoses set up for the pour before the concrete arrives. In the second picture notice the gable end finished until we can get it stuccoed next spring. It was so neat to see the batten boards go on yesterday! (The other side is being done today.) It looks more like what we have been envisioning with the gable being finished this far. In the third picture you can see the pouring inside of the slab. Notice the steam rising off the concrete!
If all continues to go well the framer will be in there tomorrow working on main floor walls. We have another trip to Red Deer this afternoon to pick up one more heater! An electric one this time - the last one Action Rentals has available! Just like insulated tarps, heaters are going to be in big demand now too!
It will be so exciting to walk on a main level concrete floor! I can hardly wait - but I promise not to be too quick about it and leave footprints behind!
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