Nice. Our source of cobbles ran out before we could finish a storm water swale/faux river project. Anytime you can score free rocks take them!
The free rocks thing is a thing!
First roof redo for the goat shed we call our residence, we swept off all the pea gravel on the roof, lowered it in buckets, then sold it per bucket for $0.10 per bucket.
Contracting guy came by and we just loaded it into his truck bed and he gave me a $20 and we both felt like we had made a steal.
Next day my inner thigh and lower back made me rethink who "won" that exchange.
Does anyone here have any experience with earthquake retrofitting? Our house was built in 1926 and hasn’t been bolted. We recently got selected to receive a $3000 FEMA grant and are starting to get estimates. Anything to look out for? Dealing with contractors as a homeowner is all new to me.
1 I am biased against contractors. As bad as used car salesmen. I have a sampling of three and it took just one to ruin it for the other two.
2 Our house is bolted. With quality! drill, hearing protection, some basic knowledge (buy a book about it, read the darn thing sober), and time, you could do it. No one cares more about your place than you after all. At our 1930 house, they missed a few spots in the sill resting on the foundation, I rented a concrete drill, bought a new 5/8 inch concrete bits, some lag bolts (and washers and nuts), and some epoxy, and and by Sunday evening thought, "in 12 more hours, the epoxy will have set and maybe my house won't fall apart during the next 7.0." So far it hasn't.
3 See if you can find some Absorbine (sp) Junior. Get your significant other to use it on your back once the work is done. If she does more than you, well, pony up soldier and apply it to her. In either case, this scent will stay with you till you're both dead. Learn to make this work for you.
4 If you hire out, and yeah, I can see why you'd want to, beware of the termite thing. Read on up IDing termites. Scholarly articles first. Per California bldg code, contractors without pest control license are not allow to recommend termite remediation.
5 Joists can always use some love...zero reason you cannot do it yourself.