Adirondeck Chair

It's been awhile since my last post.  It's not that I don't have time; rather I lack content pertaining to my house to post. 
But now I have something. 
a CHAIR!

We bought some cheapo plastic adirondack chairs for the front porch.  Now while they work, I would prefer something I built.  I searched and found some plans on FamilyHandyman.com

The plans called for pressure treated lumber, but since it would live it's life on the front porch I used common pine and sealed/stained it with deck seal.  

Note: I used Behr Deck Stain for this.  Just bought a quart.  Having now experience with ReadySeal for my deck and Behr for the chair....hands down ReadySeal is the champ.  The Behr was harder to keep drips and excessive brush fulls from splotching or leaving marks.  So if you have to stain a deck, get ReadySeal. 

The Great State of PA (even if their football fans are jackholes)

So I have spent the last 7 days on a Harley touring around Pennsylvania with a few other great friends. I have perused enough blogs to know that many of you are building in Pennsylvania.  My cousin lives just North-East of Pittsburgh.  I rode up Friday night and spent the night at her place.  We visited a local pub where I caught (and gave) a fair amount of shit (the curse of a Bengal's fan).
From there I toured up through Debois and found hwy666 (for the hell of it).  We rented a little house in Aaronsburg, making that our "home base".  We visited Gettysburg for a great burger at the "Blue and Grey" and spent some time at the battlefield.  We toured the Harley factory in York and then made another trip back to Gettysburg for another burger.
Dodging horse poop turned out to be a sport as we meandered up and down the roads.
It was a great trip even if we lacked the time and gas to get everywhere we wanted to go.  For you PA natives, you have a beautiful state....even given the fact the Shitsburg fans are Jackholes.  haha.

landscapping

I will start by apologizing.  I still need to get some pics posted.
Most will remember I posted about meeting with my PM about landscapping issues.
Here's what was done:
-Offered to cut out exposed waterproofing.  It would leave a small tar line on the foundation.  The waterproofing is warranted for 20 years and will not degrade in the sun.  We chose to leave it alone.  I will plant some vegetation of some sort.
-added dirt to the left side of the house countering the "hump" I was dealing with.  Reseeded and threw down loose hay (loose hay is my request, I didn't want more of that hayroll shit)
-removed the silt snakes along the back.  In doing so, moved the "grass line" back several feet increasing the grass lawn part of the lot.  (my wife was happy about that.  I have to mow more grass now, booo)
-cut back drain pipe.  added some more dirt.  reseeded and threw loose hay down.
-offered to build a mulch bed on right front corner of porch (severe slope).  I declined as I plan to build a nice stone planter.

I still have a decent slope on the back and right side.  There is not really anything that can be done aside from building stone retaining walls.  I can whine and complain all I want, but the fact remains the house had to be built several feet up.  As my PM politely put it, "you have a point A (top of slope) and a point B(bottom), there is only so many ways to get there...but you have to get there."

so, let this be a good lesson to actively ask questions and fully understand what is going to be accomplished.

Overall, I am happy with what my PM did.  He has improved my satisfaction with the back yard.  I still dislike the slopes, but I working on non-mowable solutions.

One more thing to add, while standing in the front yard yapping with the PM after we walked around the house, I discovered a bedroom window with a single crack.  My PM verified it was not something a kid could cause and said it was likely a small crack on the edge at the factory and spread later.  At his request, I put in a service request online and it was replaced in less then a week.  More kudos for Ryan's online service.  

Second Story deck?

From the day we found out that our walkout would be under the deck, I have considered ideas on how to install some kind of overhead structure that would funnel the drain water away giving me a covered patio.
Then my wife found this:
http://www.timbertech.com/products/finishing-touches/dryspace-drainage-system/default.aspx
I think it will fit the bill quite nicely.

For those that wonder about cost, I got a quote today from a lumber yard that carried Timber Tech.  For my 14'x12' deck, it will cost $585.50 +tax . 

Landscape issues and a meeting

I wish I had gotten off my bum and taken some specific pictures.  Many of you have seen the following concerns in previous posts.
Final Grading.  My arch nemesis.  My one regret in this house is that I didn't stalk the work that day.
So last week I finally headed into the backyard and begin to cut out the last several feet of that hay roll crap they put over the grass seed.  When I say "last several feet", I mean all along the back edge of the lawn.  That's a lot.  Why you ask?  Because gigantic weeds don't grow through the hay roll; rather, the large weeds just push it up tent like.  Once I cut it out, I was able to mow that shit down.  Bring on the lawn mower.  After mowing, I gave it a day or two and decided I can't take it.  Between pulling the hay roll and mowing, adding in some things I already knew, I was angry/frustrated/whatever
So I shot my PM an email.
Know this, while my PM was frustrating at times in his slowness to respond, he has always come through in spectacular fashion.  

My email to PM was something along the lines of:
"you said you would bring in dirt to ease the slope, cut one drain pipe, extend the other.  NONE of that was done.  Large rocks hiding under the hay roll prove no smoothing, grading, etc... was done.  There is a hump of dirt pushed up on left side attempting to cover waterproofing but failing.  The right side is worse.  Waterproofing sticking out and a slope dangerous enough to make a big guy like me struggle to keep my lawn mower from tipping over"
That was the cliff notes.

He responded and we have a meeting tonight at the house.  Not sure what, if anything, will be done.  I will keep you guys informed.  I will get some pics posted tonight so you can fully understand my point OR tell me I'm batshit crazy and to get over it.  It's ok, I can take it.

It's not the size of your deck that matters, but what you do with it.

And today, I sealed mine.
Today was the first weekend with no rain for two weeks.  Not sure I really wanted to seal my deck on a holiday weekend, but what the hell.  I have vowed to keep this deck in great shape and it starts now.
What did I use?
ReadySeal.  http://www.readyseal.com/
"Natural Cedar"
I did a bunch of research trying to find the right stuff.  This stuff looked to fit the bill.  I could bore you with reasons but turns out you can do a quick search on the "best deck seal/stain" and get more confusing opinions then you can handle.  It seems asking this question is like asking what political party is best, ford vs chevy, oil changes 3k or 5k,  Bud lite vs Miller lite, etc...
After enough open minded research, Ready Seal shined through.
My wife and son came out and helped and what help they were!  They probably saved me a couple hours.
For those that wonder, I used every last drop of two gallons.  I have a 14'x12' deck about 10' off the ground.  If it wasn't for all those damned stairs, I would have had plenty.  As it stands, I still need to seal 2 sides of the 6"x6" support posts and the joists below.  But all the verticals and horizontals that matter are covered.

start 'em young

Always happy to help.  He's a great kid.

Somebody wanted to come out and help too.

Done

Almost done and still smiling.

another "done" pic.  

Scheduling Service Online

I recently read about someone knowing someone who heard of someone who had issues with getting repairs made through Ryan's online service request.
http://www.myryanhome.com/ServiceRequest.aspx
There's the link if you need it.

I figured I should post my experience...to date.
On Monday, I submitted a service request for a broken drain pipe a few feet from the gutter down spout.  It appears like final grade broke it and they just covered with seed/hay roll...nice coverup jackholes.  I also put in a request to check out a hairline crack on the front porch that developed weeks after pour.  Both issues were brought to my PM's attention.  I received no response from him.  Sooooo, I decided to check out the online service request since I am officially past my 90 day mark.

I received a call on Tuesday that both issues were already visited and checked out.  I was further told that the pipe repair will happen quickly and the crack will be inspected by someone who can make a better assessment.  Wednesday after work, I found the pipe already repaired.  Still waiting on word about the crack. 

At this point, I have a favorable opinion on their quickness to handle issues submitted.  I just put in a service request asking about the exposed water proofing that my PM has not addressed either, so we will see how that goes.

Stay tuned