Masonry images

Basement Water Issue

The following is the response from Basement Technologies to our walk through regarding basement moisture.  I suggest that Archia and the homeowner meet with them again to go through the options as suggested below.

"Thank you for the opportunity to allow Boston Basement Technologies (BBT) to review this project for you and the home owners.  BBT is based right in Canton, MA.  and is the leading basement water proofing company in the United States if not the World. In New England alone we have successfully completed over 300,000 residential and commercial waterproofing projects using our patented systems. In addition we have over 110 dealers throughout the US, Canada and Europe. I know that you have chosen the right company for this particular project.

   My findings at 1431 Brush Hill Rd. are that throughout the majority of the basement there are evident signs of water seepage at the floor and wall joint from a light to moderate nature that have occurred over a lengthy duration. In some areas this has likely been heavy in nature during specific weather events. The areas that have been most effected are the lowest sections of the basement, the racquet ball court and stairway, the media room and the boiler room pit.    The entire basement has a severe humidity issue even with the HVAC type dehumidification unit running. Ideal Relative Humidity levels are 40% and not greater than 50% RH. My readings where between 62% and 69% RH throughout and over 80% at the entry of the crawl space under the breakfast nook.    Access pits in the floor suggest severe dampness under the slab which is very common and an issue that BBT treats regularly with our Humid Evac system. Eighty percent of the dampness in a basement comes from under the slab, and forty percent of the air in a home comes from the basement. These issues should certainly be handled in a permanent manor using a combination of BBT’s systems to assure a worry free and healthy basement and home environment.    This project has multiple issues that BBT can certainly solve. This project warrants a follow up visit with our project manager and engineer along with the decision makers of the project. The objective of such visit would be to determine the proper plan to assure the outcome that would be most beneficial to the home owners and what they wish to achieve. At this follow up BBT can also outline the solutions for this project and then develop a sound quotation to provide the right solutions that will make the most economical sense."

Laundry Room Option

We have determined that we can install the laundry room at the desired location.  We propose removing the demising wall between the "Sewing Room" and the "Walk-In-Closet" on the 2nd floor.  This will not be included in the upcoming kitchen bath renovation quote.

If you would like to move forward we can task JB to layout a laundry scenario and we will price it up.

Yet more asbestos

The following images are of areas exposed in the yellow and blue baths during demo.  We will need to have these areas removed before continuing on.  

Meeting Notes 7/16/12

Peter Millington, Peter Stames

1. Discussed masonry at mudroom door and window and determined that we would not need to do the arched soldier course above the header.
   
2. The kitchen island will be priced as white oak stained brown.
   
3. The beams in the kitchen ceiling and the timber arches will be stained white oak.
   
4. The breakfast room restoration estimate will include:
• Removing the timber and herring bone veneer to the substrate.
• Replacing the timbers with Cedar (?) and we will price infilling with herringbone brick and stucco and another panel scenario for best budget/aesthetic.
• Remove tile floor
• Remove floor framing
• Install "rat" slab and vapor barrier
• Install cross ventilation?
• Reframe and insulate for installation of new hardwood floor.
• Deck above to be ipe' on sleepers.
• Install extra scupper for water removal
• Rubber roof below sleepers,
• Install brick or wrought iron rail to bring perimeter walls to 36" minimum off decking.
  
5. We discussed location of a Laundry Room.
• Scenario 1 - Would ideally be located in the room next to the blue bathroom on the second floor.  This would entail installing a soffit above the entry door that would possibly compromise the top cabinet door but would allow us to connect into the appropriate vent.  This scenario still needs more confirmation.
• Scenario 2 - would be directly across the hall.  This is the easier of the 2 scenarios since there is venting available on that side of the house.
  
6. The chimneys are being priced as:
• Removed to below limestone.
• Limestone replaced with granite.
• Scenario 1 rebuilt in same detail.
• Scenario 2 rebuilt with simpler detail as value engineering 

Walk Through Notes 7/12/12

Security 
Don Martini from Lexington Alarm walked through the project this morning and gave us the following notes.

1. There are two existing security systems and traces of a third system in the house, a GE wireless system, an ITI wireless system and traces of a Honeywell System.  Of these systems the GE is functioning and providing  a basic system.
2. He recommends using wireless sensors on all first floor exterior doors with access to the main house including the door to the garage.  Installing wireless motion sensors strategically on the first floor and to a lessor extent on the second floor.  Installing wired keypads in the mudroom and master bedroom.  Wireless fire and CO monitoring devices can be integrated into the system along with water and temperature sensors in the basement.  A new radio would be installed in the 3rd floor storage area over the master bedroom replacing the non functioning existing radio, this would provide communication should phone lines be down.  This system would be monitored locally by Lexington Alarm, our clients have found this to be an advantage over outsourced monitoring stations.
3. Don is of the impression that the windows are fairly secure with one weak point.  The construction of the windows in inherently resistant to breaking out the whole window and climbing through, where they are vulnerable is in breaking a single pane to reach in and open the lever.  In the past he has drilled a hole through the tab of the lever and center stile the to insert a pin with a decorative finial.  This will prevent the handle from being opened

Audio/Video/Data

1.  In addition to the A/V system in the scope of the project we recommend installation of a Sonos Music System.  These systems integrate music from your own library, internet radio services, subscription music services and auxiliary inputs into an expandable distribution system.  Each zone can play independently or in combinations. They are controlled by a wireless touch screen or by apps available for iPhones/iPads.  We recommend installation in the kitchen and existing speaker locations in the dining room, living room, study and outdoor patio.  These wires and speakers look to be operational and could accommodate a Sonos system.
2. The wire lathe and plaster is known to cause poor WiFi signal.  Consideration should be given to the type of data system desired in the house.  We will follow up with recommendations on this.

Meeting Itinerary for 7/16/12

1. Kitchen discussion
2. Mudroom door and window scenario
3. Breakfast room
• Floor
• Exterior
• Deck
4. Chimneys
5. Next steps

Pricing Plans - 7/10/12

Please fid a copy of the current pricing plans at the location below:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7m81mx5h4fv1aqo/uvKzw9xLKy

Update 7/10/12

Received the plans from JB today and sets went out to all of our guys.  We will all be meeting on site at 8:00 Thursday morning and I hope to get budgets back by mid week.

Brendan McCarthy is scheduled to go over the chimney project tomorrow and will let us know the outcome by noonish.

My copper guys will be by on Thursday morning for comparative scenarios for copper repar work.

Garage door openers have been installed.

Received your approval of the cutting of the opening between garage bays.  However, I see that JB's version in today's plan is significantly larger.  Is this your wish?  If so no problem but it will probably be a bit more in cost.  The difference is 42" wide for our proposal and 72" for JB's.

Wine racks

I understand that this is premature...but this is the guy I mentioned last week who builds custom wine racks.  These images are of some of the higher end ones.  He often has pieces that are marked way down for one reason or another.  They may a good solution for the basement wine storage.

This week - 7/6/12

• Met with JB today 7/3.  He seems ready to put together pricing plans.  Said he might have by this Friday.

• Demo guys were finishing up today.  Had some extras required by the plumbers to get to the guest bath and the master bath plumbing.  Opened up ceiling in left garage and in exterior stairs to basement to access plumbing to guest bath.  Opened basement hallway ceiling to access master bedroom plumbing.  Both of these items will be folded into their prospective bath renovation costs.  We will also take down the strapping in the existing kitchen area.  The strapping in the new kitchen area toward the front of the house will remain. 

• We have started doing exploratory surgery on the sunroom to see what the process and cost will be for restoration.  

• Asbestos remediation will begin on Thursday.

• Still setting up walk throughs for copper repair.  

• Brendan McCarthy is scheduled for later this week to come in and assess the chimney repair work.

• Still waiting on quotes for: Copper repair, Guest bath plumbing, Main window restoration.