A Slight Glitch

Now what is a project without a setback here and there? Let me tell you about it while we are in the middle of it. I have all the outlet and switch boxes installed and have the wires run for all of them. Now to figure out what to do with them. I think a few may not be correct. That’s a long story and I’ll figure it out later. Can you find the wires?

Here’s the kicker. My electrician – the one who is going to install the new electric panel, Tony by name – came to look things over. He discovered we only have a 125 amp panel. He also discovered that our meter – the one in the alcove under the roof – is also only 125 amps. We need 200 for the new addition. Question: do we only have 125 amps coming from Portland General Electric’s transformer located out back somewhere – in the neighbor’s yard or in a neighboring street, I don’t know where it is. This, of course means we have to involve Portland General Electric. They come out, discover our meter is under the roof in an alcove, and that our electric service comes in under the new addition. I knew this and I actually had the permission of a rather non-caring PGE employee to  go ahead and do this. The caveat being that if we ever had a problem with the line we would have to install a new meter at the back of the addition and run the service wire in the attic to the electric panel. We do have 200 amp service from the elusive transformer to our house (a buried cable, if you haven’t already figured that out).

Well, the above unnamed employee didn’t exactly speak for the company hierarchy so we have to install the new meter NOW. This involves getting the guy who locates power lines and other things, digging down and finding the power line, installing the new meter base, running the new service wire, getting this inspected and approved – then calling PGE to come and reroute the incoming buried cable. Tony is taking care of all this except the digging. Here is my friend Charles from our church digging the hole. Note how BIG the meter base is!

Charles found the line without electrocuting himself. Tony is leaving on vacation. Oh yeah, I should mention that. He is going to visit his dad in Puerto Rico for a couple weeks. So I will do my part by getting the electrical IN the house inspected and (I hope – pray about this) approved. Then get the wall insulation installed. Tony will do his part when he gets back.

And that’s the way it is. The drama continues.

Weathered In

This is just a quick update to let you know where we are in the process. No pictures this time. Sorry, Sue.

The house is now “weathered in.” That means it it ready for whatever weather might come – roof is on, siding is on, windows are in, doors are on. The gutters are not on yet but the gutter guy is coming soon. Our contractor left today with all his tools. Now it is up to me – and subs.

Interior framing is done. Plumbers have done their thing. The BIG issue was whether they could get the sewer line hooked up with the proper amount of fall. The easiest way was to go under our house to the far corner and tie into our present sewer. This was the plan the boss preferred; his worker thought it wouldn’t work. However he got under there and discovered the line would just barely miss all the heat ducts and just barely make the necessary fall. PTL. I will install the fixtures when the time comes.

The next thing we do is put in the little boxes for the switches, lights, and outlets. Then run the wiring. I will do all this with help from Ginger, Joyce, and whoever else I can grab. I will need to hire an electrician to replace our present electric panel.

After the wiring then it is the insulation (I will sub that out) and then the sheetrock – I will sub that out also. My goal is to be done by December 19 when we leave for LA to be with the g-kids for Christmas. Honestly, I don’t think we will make it. But we will try.

Prayer request… that Ginger’s house sells very quickly.

Regarding things other than the house. We just spent Wednesday and Thursday in Everett, Washington attending the memorial service for Joyce’s Aunt Margaret. She was 99 years, 3 months and 7 days. I’m not sure I should say “old” because up until about a year ago she acted very young. The family asked me to officiate at the service. I considered it an honor. On the way home we got caught in terrible Seattle traffic and didn’t arrive here until 10:00 last night. Today we had a potluck at the church for the senior adults. And so it goes.

Hopefully, pictures next time.