The Deck

July 6, 2008
Tom, Mel & Betsy decided to follow up on an old bid from David Knotts. A licensed general contractor, Dave lives in Rocklin and is Susie’s best friend’s husband.

July 8 & 9, 2008
Dave and his crew, consisting of son Wyatt (also a general contractor) and employee Edgar, arrived in Tahoe to begin the deck demo. The wood was cut and stacked for firewood. With the old deck out of the way, the new deck could develop.

First thing was to shore up the skeleton. Dave discovered the support posts had little, or in some cases, no nails holding them on their pylons. A little scary but then again, who can argue with thirty-year-old stability. Somehow they held all those years. Nevertheless, he secured each pillar then proceeded to add the additional cross beams required to support the new decking material.




The basic recline bench design was preserved. Additional supports were added under each seat to meet code requirements. The new deck is a combination of wood product decking and redwood railing.

The Front Porch

July 9, 2008
Simultaneously the front porch was being overhauled. The guys encountered a problem when the stairs were removed. The cement pad was crumbling, uneven and unstable. No way could it securely support new stairs.



I made a quick call to the cousins for approval and the old pad was removed. Not anticipating cement work, the appropriate tools were not ready at hand. Having no shame I went to neighbors, Rob & Stacy, two door down. As it happens Rob had stopped by to chat with Dave the day before. With shovels, a sledge hammer and wheel barrel in hand I returned and we didn’t miss a beat. Edgar, the youngest and lowest on the totem pole, got sledge hammer duty and pounded the old pad to pieces for removal.



The up-side is, that the pieces were put on the side of the driveway in an effort to help extend the driveway pad eventually.


A call to a cement supplier let me know our order could be delivered in one hour. A frame went together fast and the new, larger pad was poured.






Post supports were counter sunk into the cement making a much more secure railing.



The new porch was laid, new stairs and railings were constructed and everything was sealed. It is very pleasing to the eye.

Lighting

July 8, 2008
While Dave, Wyatt & Edgar were working outside, I, Susie, was working inside the cabin. I am happy to report five new lights were installed and I only got shocked twice. Four matching fixtures are now in the main room.


One over the table, another at the end of the overhead cupboard, a single upstairs outside M&B’s room and the last on the wall between the entry and the piano.




A similar fixture was chosen for the bunk bed room. Unlike the other 60watt bulb fixtures, this uses a 100watts to give the bedroom more light.

The Skirt

It was suggested that if the space under the deck could be secured, it sure would make great storage. Dave provided an estimate and the job was assigned.

July 14, 2008
Dave’s crew and Susie came back to the cabin to continue projects. The skirt began by making wall frames on the underpinnings.


Wood sheeting was added to all sections but one.





The skirt walls extend down to the cement pylons. Wire mesh fills the gap between the wall and the ground to keep varmints out.


At the top of the open section Dave hung a door on a sliding track for access. A pad lock can be attached to the secure the hasp.





Stained and sealed it looks great!

The Trees

July 18, 2008
The cousins expressed a concern with three trees. The two large ones out the front windows and the one more on the left entrance to the driveway. Before any tree over 14 inches in diameter can be cut, a permit must be obtained. Last week I made an appointment with Rachel from the Lake Valley Fire Department. She gave the permit and inspected the property. The fire dept is recommending all properties be inspected for ‘Defensible Space’. She marked several trees for cutting.




Most were small stragglers crowding into groves or old scraggily ones. The assessment info was in the email sent to cousins for consideration. After a clarifying phone call I set out to get it done.




The next step was to find a tree service. Neighbor Rob mentioned his friend Lance Orr might cut the trees for the wood so I gave him a call. Today, on my last trip up the mountain I was hoping to meet with Lance and I did. Lance is an ER doctor in Tahoe who cuts trees on the side. He hails from Georgia where his brother still lives and has a tree service. Taking a look around the property he agreed to the job with one exception. The big tree closest to the front stairs had a natural fall line he was not comfortable with. He thought it would require a crane. As far as the others, he fetched his chain saw and got to it. His friend Rob came over and they cut all the trees except the big one in front of the kitchen.



Lance also cleaned up the low dead branches on most of the trees.







The big one will have to wait until neighbor Chris, from the house on the corner, moves his truck which is parked on the street in the way. Chris came by one day while I was out. He mentioned he was retired and comes and goes quite often. Rob will keep an eye out for Chris then call Lance when the truck is moved. Nice. I called to get us on the list for free debris chipping and removal. The branches are stacked by the street as instructed . Currently the service is running two to three weeks out.


Lance made a recommendation about a tree in the back. It is a big split trunk one closest to the deck at the end of the wood pile. It looks diseased to him. It has a definite lean toward the house. The cousins will have to take a look and decide what to do.



The cabin looks a little like a man that gets a hair cut in the summertime. At first glance, it appears short and you can see the white outline of un-tanned skin; but you know it needed it and will grow out handsome and healthier looking. Please don’t misunderstand my comments, the place is still wooded and private - just thinned .