New doors, windows, and more!
December 2, 2003
Yesterday the new back door went in. When Mauro stopped by around ten, he said that Gioberto would be here at two to install the new door, and the window in the new bathroom downstairs. He said the plumber would be here today or tomorrow, but that the electrician wouldn't return until the kitchen was finished. We would really like to have the light fixtures put up in the bathroom and laundry room, but since he has to come back to install the under-counter lights and the fixture over the table, this way makes the most sense.
If you remember the photos from previous posts, you will know that most of the exterior wall had already been removed. When Gioberto arrived, he started knocking the remaining interior wall out, then used some sort of hand held jackhammer to remove the frame and even out the edges. More piles of rocks! I'm thinking of changing my name to Betty, because we are living in constant rubble. Mauro's father had dropped off the new doors, shutters and bathroom window earlier. The window and door guy arrived around 4, and it was soon discovered that the frame was slightly too tall for the opening. We don't think the door guy did his own measuring, because we don't think he's been here before. Maybe everyone thought the opening could be made higher, and for whatever reason, it wasn't possible. Anyway, he took the frame back to his shop in Marsciano for a quick trim, and once he returned, the door went in.
Art had been asking Mauro to recommend someone to build an armadio for our bedroom, and Mauro had told him the window guy did that sort of thing. When Art asked the window guy about it, he said no, he didn't do that! Great! We've been waiting all this time, and now we have to start our search all over again. Once Mauro arrived, Art told him what the guy had said, and then Mauro asked the window guy, "Don't you build armadio's?" To which the window guy said, said "Well... sometimes." Mauro turned to Art and winked. So, this IS our guy after all. Best of all, his son speaks English, so we will get together with both of them to discuss the details. I have sketched out a sample design showing what I want...some tall hanging rods, some shorter hanging rods, some shelf space for sweaters, etc, and some storage space above for blankets, etc. I know that I don't want feet on the armadio, but that I want it to sit directly on the floor. I'm sure this guy will have plenty of suggestions for things I haven't even thought about. At least I have the previous experience of re-designing all the closets in our last house.
I wish I knew the window guy's name, but for now, that's just what he'll have to be called. He adjusted all the windows in the house...the kitchen window had somehow gotten out of kilter, and the rod that runs the length of the window and locks it into place was all screwed up. Once again, having the right tool and knowing what to do with it worked wonders! The bathroom window, which had been difficult to close, now works like a charm.
The window in the hall had a cracked pane, and we thought it was due to the fact that the window frame was warped. We had asked that when the window was removed to make way for the new door, that the windows be switched. I'm not sure what happened, but the window guy took the cracked/warped window out, put in new glass, and it now works like new.
Since the door work didn't start until two, there was still much to be done tomorrow. Gioberto promised to return at seven, and said it would take him about two hours. He and Adolfo put the new door in temporarily, stuffed plastic around the edges, and left.
December 2, 2003
Gioberto and Adolfo arrived bright and early to finish the new door today. Once the door was leveled, Gioberto proceeded to patch up the empty spaces, using chunks of the brick that had originally been there, and of course, mortar. How he can just throw that mortar exactly where he wants it, into the smallest of openings, is amazing. While he was doing this, he showed us the interior of our walls, and said that our house was very old. We thought it had been built in the 1960's, for some reason. He told us no, it was much older than that. He said it was one of the first houses in San Venanzo, but we still have no idea how old it is. We'll try to remember to ask Mauro if he knows.
Gioberto's two hours stretched on and on. At one, they went to lunch. When they returned at two, they now had to install the exterior shutters. Since the stairs aren't there yet, they had to set up scaffolding, and even with two strong men, it was quite a job to steady the shutters, level them, secure them, then move everything so that the hinges could be set in place. At five, there was still work to be done. We were now calling Gioberto "Solo due ora". Since the kitchen was being installed at the same time, we jokingly asked Gioberto if he was just hanging around for dinner in the new kitchen. He would laugh and shake his head...why he underestimated the time so badly is hard to imagine.
The window guy came back to install a screen on the bathroom window...in the backyard, this window is at ground level, so I think a screen was necessary to keep out any small animals that might wander by. Screens on the windows and doors are non-existent in most Italian homes, although we have seen kits to make your own screens in the DIY stores. In the spring we hope to add a screen door to the garden door. Our friends Margaret and John have one that looks nice�it works like a window shade that's mounted vertically. The only problem they've had with it is keeping people from walking through it!
Gioberto and Adolfo will return on Wednesday morning to finish the door...but no promises of how long it will take.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
The door work continues. Today the exterior of the house is finished, and the concrete work Gioberto does is unbelievable. Art asks the men to look at the bricks on the front porch...the mortar is missing between some of them, and since there is already concrete mixed, Art thought it would be a simple task. But no. Once Gioberto starts to remove the bricks they just crumble away. He sends someone to get more bricks. The old bricks are removed, and new bricks are now laid. We can't walk on this area for several days.
Art calls Rosella around ten to see when the ceramic/fireplace people arrive. She says not until tomorrow. "Domani" seems to be the most popular word in Italian. She also tells Art that she has added a piece that was not included in our plan, and it only costs 100 euro. Whether this has anything to do with the delay, I'm not sure. Yesterday when we went to buy the remaining light fixture (foolishly thinking that the electrician would be here today), the kitchen installers left before we returned. They left us the bill on the table, which was for the amount we had agreed upon, and the amount that Rosella had reconfirmed for me last week. When Art hangs up from talking with Rosella, I am NOT happy. I don't know what this "extra piece" is, but it's not what I agreed to, it's not what my bill is for, and it's not what my check is made out for. I'm sure you know by now how much we like Rosella and her work, but she has had seven months to plan this kitchen, and if she forgot to add something, then I don't feel responsible. I call her and tell her that I am not happy. When she asks why, I explain that the check is already made out to the amount that we agreed upon, and that I don't like this extra charge. She says, "Okay, I give it to you gratis. Is that okay?" I say yes, that is fine, and we hang up. Art is amazed..."you just say you don"t like it, so she makes it free? For me she was going to charge 100 euro!" Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
I decide to finish the kitchen curtains so that we can have some privacy when (ever) the kitchen is finished. I decide to hang the curtains at cafe curtain height instead of full length. This will give us a bit more light, and since the street slopes downward, we'll still have total privacy. I "make" the curtains the same way I made all the rest...with straight pins. Still waiting for the sewing machine! Art screws in the pins that hold the rods, I measure, iron and pin, and now we have kitchen curtains.
In the meantime, the plumber has arrived! He starts working on the new kitchen sink. Once he has everything connected, the bottom drawer won't close. I suggest we call Rosella and let the plumber talk to her...the ceramic guys may not be able to take care of this problem. The plumber and Rosella talk, and someone will take care of it...I don't know who, but it won't be us! The plumber comments on the drawers..."Why are there drawers...why don't they just have doors?" Art doesn't know how to tell him that this is supposed to be our cool new idea!
After lunch, work resumes. The pipes that have been sticking out of the front of the house are now diverted into the ground, and the hole is patched. Gioberto tells Art that these are to ground the house; if not, everything will go "ZZZZZTTTT"! The plumber now hooks up the gas for the oven and the cooktop. If we want to cook by candlelight, at least we have running water and gas!
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