New Bathroom is 90% Done!

Installed the marble and Kohler Shower set.  Things are coming along slowly.  A couple of weekends of illness and a couple more of being out-of-town has our projects lagging behind.  But, in this market I guess we aren't going anywhere so what is the rush!

 

 

Went with a brushed nickel Quoizel vanity light bar for the bathroom since we liked the Quoizel lighting in the staircase and dining room. 

Lead Paint Abatement Begins

We have finally settled on the licenced lead abatement contractor for our job.  He was nice enough to have some of the work started before our next hearing with the city on September 9th.

We were pleasantly suprised to find out that the wood underneath is actually in really good shape.  Here are two pictures of our front porch windows from yesterday.  Once they get sanded they will look even better.  Now we have to think about either staining them and keeping the wood look outside or painting the windows back to white.  Thoughts? Opinions?

 

Lead Paint Woes Continue

If you recall a while back we posted about our City troubles. Well, the City of Chicago in all its infinite wisdom and benevolence did not take pity on us poor unknowing new homeowners. Rather, the City attorneys said that we bought the problem when we bought the house and that we had 60 days to comply with the lead paint mitigation plan. Oh, and if we want any of the documents that were sent to the origional owners when this whole mess started, we would have to file a FOIA. It is little wonder why these older homes are left to rot and contribute to decaying neighborhoods. Who wants to deal with all this?

So, we are now collecting job quotes and passing them on to the original owner (who failed to disclose any of this to us at the time of sale) through the attorney we used at the closing. The first quote we received is from DPB Abatement Services for about $7,500 to abate the paint from exterior windows, soffits, and the walls of our full bath. Don from DPB has been very helpful in understanding the city and how this process works. Thus far his quote is the lowest.

Today, Colfax Corporation came by and did a survey and will send us a quote soon after they get in touch with our court appointed inspector Pamela Kimble. Every contractor has been astonished at the level of action being requiered by the city in this case, especially given that there are no children at risk.

If anyone has used either of these companies, let us know what you thought. Our next hearing is set for September 9th so stay tuned for the next segment in our continuing saga.