Anybody like to share their hobbies? (Waterville Valley: inspector, horse, building)

[DareToDream]

Originally Posted by horseluvr

I ride horses!!! Horses are my life! I train them, ride them and just enjoy being around them! I'm taking a course in the fall, in Temple, NH to become a therapeutic riding instructor. This has been a life long dream!!!!

Hi horseluvr - My stepson's girlfriend sounds like you! She works for a stable in NYS and loves her horses! Glad your dream is coming true! It's so nice when that happens!

[jthibodeau]

Originally Posted by lisa g

thanks for showing us your system--I've only seen way more spontaneous setups without evaporators before this. very cool!!!

Thank you, Lisa...

Our so called sugar operation is minuscule compared to those more commercial maple sugar houses. Many have open houses during the spring sap run so you can see how they actually produce maple syrup from sap.

Now, if I wasn't on city-data, I could tell you of my web site (which I use for business) and, how the last item listed in the left hand column, is a short page about our tiny maple syrup hobby set up. However, I'm sure it may/will be considered advertising so, I will refrain from mentioning it here.

Have a great day, everyone and thank you for all your great comments.....

[DareToDream]

Originally Posted by jthibodeau

Thank you, Lisa...

Our so called sugar operation is minuscule compared to those more commercial maple sugar houses. Many have open houses during the spring sap run so you can see how they actually produce maple syrup from sap.

Now, if I wasn't on city-data, I could tell you of my web site (which I use for business) and, how the last item listed in the left hand column, is a short page about our tiny maple syrup hobby set up. However, I'm sure it may/will be considered advertising so, I will refrain from mentioning it here.

Have a great day, everyone and thank you for all your great comments.....

Hehehe - you didn't have to mention it - just clicked on your name and saw your homepage and your maple syrup hobby set up! It looks fantastic!

[lisa g]

yes, I just checked it out too. Wish you'd done our home inspection last year, J

[WannaComeHome]

Wow, that's amazing, J! I've never seen anything quite like it, very ingenious.

Originally Posted by jthibodeau

It seems I hogging this thread so, I'll make this hobby my last one.

I do wood working when time permits. Last February, my daughter gave birth to twin boys. After looking around the net for baby furniture, I stumbled across a twin crib but, I noticed they were only constructed for infant mattresses. So I decided to make one using full sized crib mattresses. This is the finished product made from pine we cut from our property a few years back.

[WannaComeHome]

JThibedeau - nice website. So.. if we build new, do we need to get our home inspected before we move in, or just the town person to give us the certification?


Horseluvr: so is there a horse farm in Temple? Just curious: I used to volunteer a bit for a therapeutic riding program down here (till me knees really wouldn't let me), and if I'm able to get back to it when we move up, I'll be in New Ipswich -not far from Temple.

[jthibodeau]

[quote=WannaComeHome;4165334]JThibedeau - nice website. So.. if we build new, do we need to get our home inspected before we move in, or just the town person to give us the certification?

You have to understand that new homes are inspected by the local building inspector. They will inspect foundations, rough framing, plumbing and electrical. They will inspect for insulation and, after dry wall is installed, make sure that your handrails, balusters, stair heights and other items covered by building codes are completed. However, building codes only cover "minimum" standards.

Your local building inspector won't inspect the quality of finishes such as kitchen cabinets, dish washers, stoves and refrigerators for proper operation and installation. He won't inspect windows and doors and their screens. Nor will the building inspector make sure that central air, automatic garage door systems actually works. They won't test for water quality or Radon.

Is there really a moisture barrier installed under the siding? Has proper sub-floor materials been used under the ceramic tile? Do all the light fixtures work? What temperatures is the water heated set for and is it enough for the dish washer to work properly. Is the water pressure set too high or too low?

Then there is the garbage disposal, the door bell, weather stripping and door sweeps and hinges. Is the "quality" of construction and finishes really there or is it.......ok, thats enough.

And, before I forget to actually answer your question, IMHO.....yes, get it inspected. And, thanks for asking, Wanna.....

[WannaComeHome]

jthibedeau wrote: And, before I forget to actually answer your question, IMHO.....yes, get it inspected. And, thanks for asking, Wanna.....

interesting info. Ok, so we're gonna need to find a local GC to oversee it, and then get you to come down and inspect it before everyone leaves.

Moisture is a huge thing for us: since we're building an underground house (all one level - well, maybe the garage below the entry so there's be stairs there) and DH is allergic to mold, we have to be super careful about making sure that nothing gets into the cement walls and that the air exchange is properly handled.

If I understand things right from the septic thread.. we shouldn't have a garbage disposal? My mom uses hers really just for the bits of stuff rinsed off the dishes - anything that didn't get scraped into the garbage and compost bins.

I love getting all the info and finding things we need to learn about! See, that's also why we need C-D: cause you get to meet people in such useful areas and get great advice.

[Valerie C]

Another thing is to be sure that you write into your original contract that you retain the right to have a home inspection completed prior to closing. While many real estate contracts are boiler plate standard forms, new home construction contracts are generally written by the contractor/developer, and are written with their protection in mind and not the consumer.

Know what works really well on those little bits that you rinse off the dishes? Those little mesh screens that fit over the sink drains. I use and empty mine several times each day.

In any case, an underground house sounds very energy efficient!!

[jthibodeau]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

interesting info. Ok, so we're gonna need to find a local GC to oversee it, and then get you to come down and inspect it before everyone leaves.

Val said it all. Or, if you or others have already purchased a home with a warranty, consider an inspection on the 11th month, so to speak.

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

Moisture is a huge thing for us: since we're building an underground house (all one level - well, maybe the garage below the entry so there's be stairs there) and DH is allergic to mold, we have to be super careful about making sure that nothing gets into the cement walls and that the air exchange is properly handled.

You said a mouthful, Wanna. Your projected new home is somewhat different then the average home. Make sure you have a set of construction blue prints available prior to the start of construction. Have them reviewed by a qualified or highly knowledgeable person for approvals of materials and installation methods. Changing lines on paper is a heck of a lot easier then......you don't want to go there!

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

f I understand things right from the septic thread.. we shouldn't have a garbage disposal? My mom uses hers really just for the bits of stuff rinsed off the dishes - anything that didn't get scraped into the garbage and compost bins.

OK, OK, (sigh) I'll admit it! My wife made me install one for the very same reason also. However, we're very careful about it's use (just like your Mom) and we maintain our septic system faithfully by pumping every 3 years.