Saturday, January 29, 2005

Bathroom: Cast Iron roadblock removed

I started off this morning trying to brace up the vent pipe so I could cut the cast iron pipe. Once I got started I noticed that the vent pipe was not fitting tightly in the lead flashing. When I started looking more closely and saw some of light leaking around the pipe so I decided to just pull out the CI rather than try to brace it up.

I started hammering away and I was able to drop the vent pipe out. I am planing on pushing up some 4 inch PVC slathered in caulk to seal it to the old lead flashing. Next I removed the old bathroom cast plumbing - it wasn't easy as some of it extended down a wall a foot or so under the floor so I had to wriggle it out. Next I went to the basement to break out the basement portion of the drain plumbing. Luckily, the two month delay meant that the insides of the pipe was dry.

Once I broke off the cast iron from the septic line I capped off the PVC portion leading to the septic tank to keep the sewer gases out. I broke the pipe at the elbows and was able to support the pipe over the heating ducts (saving myself from a major mess). The only cast iron I left is the old upright pipe in the kitchen wall - it is dry and it can wait for a later remodeling job.

Now I just need to clean up the old plaster and assorted debris. Once cleaned up I will need to pull up the remaining supplier and get the new plumbing installed.

posted by Jon at Homer @ 5:06 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Puerto Rico

After braving the snow & ice to travel at Christmas I was off to Puerto Rico for Winter Nursery - 10 days of planning corn in the sun.

I left for PR on an unseasonable warm day, snow and ice wasn't the problem it was in the high 50's(F) and there was still some snow hanging around - especially in Chicago so my 8:30 flight didn't take off until 5 till noon. Once in Chicago I missed my original flight - AA had rebooked me automatic but that plane had maintenance issues so we didn't get off the ground until after 7 pm.

I got into San Juan about 10:45 picked up an ugly but functional rental car and headed down the to Santa Isabel. I got in so late that I had to physically shake the security guard to wake him so I could check in at the hotel. (scared him when he woke)

The Hacienda Santa Isabel is a nice place - quiet no chickens running around. I enjoyed the place and it was nice but if I goto winter nursery in the future I think I will stay up the hill with everyone else at the Hotel Baños de Coamo. Location to station was great but it's restaurant had not open so I had to drive back to the Autopista for breakfast. I did get to take advantage of the swimming pool and all in all I had a very pleasant stay.


Rooms & pool


Main entrance

Of course I was in PR to work not enjoy the surroundings:


While the first pollenation days were full the weather was great - in the low 80's and very low humidity levels. The furrow tape irrigation system was balanced so I was able to have dry feet most of the time. I ended up working on Sunday to make sure some old silk was covered.

As the nursery work was winding down my trip was shorter than planned by 2 days. I did make sure that all the late populations were set up for one last day of pollenation and it hung on longer than expected so it was good that I was around to see that it was finished off properly.

My return trip was uneventful, they needed to switch planes on my second leg to Champaign so even though my flight from PR was late I didn't miss my connection.




posted by Jon at Homer @ 8:29 PM 0 comments