DAY 110
Spent the last couple of days trying to find of all things...longer screws for some of my network/phone outlet cover plates, and for my ceiling fans.
It's a small thing to think about...but when you do double 5/8" drywall...all the electric boxes end up being recessed a lot deeper, because you can only bring them forward up to a point, and still be able to attach them to the studs. So the screws that hold outlets and cover plates in some cases, need to be at least 1/2" or more longer than normal ones. You would think that would be an easy thing to find....not.
Oh they have all kinds of screws at the hardware stores...but getting the right size, thread count and with the extra length...not so straightforward. The ones for the outlets I was able to find something that "worked"...but the ones for the ceiling fans, they had to be the exact same kind as what came with the heavy duty fixtures meant to support up the 70lbs of ceiling fan...so I couldn't just get something that kinda worked...they had to fit the box screw holes perfectly, since that's what supports the weight of the fans. After going to a couple hardware stores...and coming up short (literally, the lonest was 3"...I needed at least 3.5")....I had to order them online....four lousy screws (I got 8 just to have extras).
Other than that...tonight I spent 3 hours adjusting the baseboard heat elements.
When they installed them, the plumber did the basic installation...and I was very clear that I didn't want any "noises" from the elements. He said it would be fine...well, no it wasn't. They had to run the return line parallel to the elements with the fins...and everything was touching. So when the heat comes on, the pipe and elements expand and move...and as they rub, the fins will "ping" and "pop" anywhere that they are touching and/or hung up, until they settle.
I let it go for the last couple of weeks...I wanted the pipes to work themselves in for awhile...but tonight I decided it was time to sort it out.
I knew what the cause was...and what needed to be done. Basically, the element had to "float" without touching the housing or the return pipe...so the return pipe needed to be hung/suspended away from the elements...and then everything tweaked and properly centered, and also all the hangers bolted solid (they didn't do all of them). In the end...it's now dead-quiet, not a single "ping" or "pop".
Anyway...I knew I would have to do some adjusting, and it was to be expected with baseboard piping...but the value of the baseboard heat was worth it, since it's a big room (tonight it's like 9F degrees).
I hope to start installing some of the initial wall treatments this weekend...or at least get them ready. These are going to be 4'x8' wood panels, partly as accent pieces, but also as part of the acoustic treatment, as they well start to tame the bare drywall surface. I have to stain them first...then cut to size and install.
By the end of the next week I should be doing all the wood trim around windows and beams...and hopefully my tile floor will be done too.
Then comes the hardwood floor.