Tuesday, May 5, 2009

*#$%# code

The entrance to the gallery is all finished:I used all old wood that I pulled off of another old porch to try and keep it all looking uniform-ish. Unfortunately we are not technically supposed to be open until we pass inspection. Which I just found out we don't. However if any of you happen to be in the area and want to check out some pots... who are we to turn you away?
According to code this section of our porch is a real danger to the public:
Apparently with the height that the porch is, our railing should be 2" taller and the vertical pieces need to be 4" on center (ours are around 12" on center). A real death trap. I try not to get annoyed at our code man as he's really a nice guy, and just doing his job, but today was a little bit of a challenge. Luckily we need to back fill around the house a little more, so we'll just back fill around the porch as well, to prevent people from falling from such great heights. According to code, about 10" of dirt should be good... go figure.
Up next:

Stairs in to the basement! Should be fun. I always fluctuate between loving all of this, and kind of wishing we had the money to pay somebody else who knew what they were doing to do all the work so we could just make pots. I love it when the sawdust is flying, and I really wish we had somebody who knew what they were doing when I'm standing there at the hardware store trying to figure out how everything fits together. Definitely a learning experience.
Joe

6 comments:

Blaine M. Avery said...

I know what you mean, felt that so many times in the last two plus years. I have been in our place over a year and things aren't done yet trim and such. after a while I seem not to notice though... scary!! It will all be worth it in the end I know you all can feel that through all the mess and hard work..... Im pulling for you down here in the grove, we miss you and the great vegetables Christy
cheers
Blaine

brandon phillips said...

it's too bad y'all are so far away. i'd be happy to come help you if i could. my dad was a carpenter when he was young and i also worked as a carpenter for quite some time, it's in our blood i guess. shoot me an email if you get confused, stairs can be a b*#$% sometimes.

ang design said...

nice looking ute!! happy stair making and dirt filling in ...

cookingwithgas said...

darn- we feel for you having been there as well- best of luck it is jsut w wee problem and soon you will be open!

jim gottuso said...

what a pain in the butt! a word of advice though, i chose to tangle with the code enforcer here when i was younger and ended up with them piling much more stuff that needed to be done onto what they originally cited me for, all at penalties of fines if not done. a death trap indeed... it's practically a guillotine made of wood

Joe and Christy said...

Brandon, it is too bad you're so far away... I'm sure I'll get it all figured out, but it sure would be nice to just knock one of these projects, without so much head scratching and concern.

Jim, I imagine that is good advice, I can't imagine what it would be like to be on the bad side of your inspector.... ouch.

Joe