July 2020

July 10, 2020July 6, 2021

Satellite Internet Install Take Two

Day #122

May 22, 2020 – After the first canceled HughesNet satellite internet installation I had to go home and reschedule the appointment. I spoke with the third party installation company to make sure that I didn’t have the same guy that screwed us over last weekend. They assured me that it would be a different installer. Once again I set the appointment up for between 11 AM and 2 PM. Since today is Friday I was hoping that it would be okay and turn out well.

Text Confirmation — Satellite internet installation confirmation text.

As an extra precaution I actually came down to the cottage last evening and spent the night.

While I was waiting for the installer to show up I moved a section of scaffolding around to the back where the closet bump out is. The exposed roof joists in this area are visibly rotted. Beyond that I do not know the extent of the situation so it needs investigated.

Well, 11:00 AM – No Satellite Installer

12:00 PM – No Satellite Installer

1:00 PM – No Satellite Installer

2:00 PM – No Satellite Installer

Now I am really pissed off! At 2:30 PM I gave up on the whole idea of satellite internet.

Somewhere around 3:00 PM the installer comes down the lane and parks in the driveway. As a precaution, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a mask on. When the guy gets out of his truck he gets a look at my mask and tells me, “it looks like we won’t be able to do the installation today.” I said, “why not.” He said, “you know, because of your mask. I’m not afraid for me but my mother is immunocompromised.”

Satellite Internet Installer — Third party satellite installer.

Direct TV Dish - Satellite Internet — Our Direct TV removed for HugesNet satellite internet installation.

WTF…?

I had to explain to this dumb ass that just because I had a mask on didn’t mean I had the virus. I actually had to convince him to do the installation.

So he agrees and proceeds to march around the property with his Inclinometer and Compass Satellite Angle Finder Tool. We already have Direct TV so I didn’t think it would be much of a stretch to get satellite internet. I was wrong. The guy was struggling to find an area of open sky where he could see the satellite. We had 13+ trees removed but that didn’t help.

After giving up on a good location he agreed to install it temporarily on the same pole that the Direct TV satellite was on. He removed the Direct TV dish and got it installed. At that point he was not able to get signal on the newer of the two HughesNet satellites. He switched the positioning to the older satellite and was able to get about 80% signal strength.

Next he proceeds to show me that there are two trees in the way of “clear sky”. If these trees grow much more we will not have any signal at all. At that point the signal will be blocked and we will not have support because he has to note the tree interference on his installation report.

FML!

He tells me that the decision to leave it installed is up to me. If he leaves it, I have a two year commitment, I will probably not get tech support if I need it, and I will eventually have to cut the two, 100 feet high Oak trees that stand in the way.

FML again!

Well, I did not want to be on the older satellite anyway nor did I like anything about my experience so far with HughesNet. I told the guy to take it off, put the Direct TV dish back on and get out of here.

So much for getting satellite internet. Ugghhhh!

July 9, 2020July 6, 2021

West End Porch Gable

Day #121

May 17, 2020 – On most Sunday’s I only work part of the day. Today was no different. With the threat of rain looming I switched gears a bit and decided to close off the west end porch gable. The east end was started way back here, East End Gable Framing

I framed in the 2×4 cripples and then covered them with 5/8 exterior grade plywood. This made short work of the gable end.

West End Gable Framing — West end porch gable 2×4 framing.

West End Gable Plywood — Closing in the gable with 5/8″ plywood.

West End Porch Gable Framing — West end porch gable closed in.

Sometime along the way, Cody, a.k.a “Salad Shooter” came for a visit. Cody is an utterly disgusting dog belonging to one of the cottages near the beginning of the lane. Since, on occasion, we have a pack of dogs at the cottage, every time Cody is here he comes to visit. If none of our dogs are present he basically “marks” everything in sight and then disappears down the lane.

Before heading home for the week I covered the partially demolished overhang on the back side of the cottage. We are almost rid of the blue tarps. I can’t wait!

Old Overhang Covered — Old overhang covered for the weekend.

To jump ahead to the completion of this end of the roof framing visit this post: Rebuild of the West End Overhang is Complete!

July 9, 2020July 6, 2021

Turn On The Water and Demo the Last Overhang

Day # 120

May 16, 2020 – The title for this blog post, as you can see, is Turn On Water and Demo Last Overhang. I did get the water turned on and the last overhang removed. The bigger story is the Hughes Satellite Internet debacle that we went through. More about that part later.

With the Memorial Day Holiday quickly approaching I decided that it was high time that I fired up the water for this season. It is a whole process. First I install a new filter and connect the filter pipe. Next I install the pressure gauge. After that I install the plug in the bottom of the pump housing and prime the pump chamber. With the pump fully primed I throw on the electric and prey that there are no leaks. Most years there are leaks. This year I lucked out, No Leaks….!

Turn On The Water and Demo the Last Overhang — Water hook up at the pump house.

Baby Painted Turtle — Baby Painted turtle near the pump house.

When the water system is full and the pump shuts off, we confirm that the water heater works and then we are good to go. With that work out of the way I set into removing the last old overhang along the gable end at the back bedroom. This overhang is not framed correctly and must be fixed to allow for the installation of aluminum soffit.

Old Roof Overhang — Fascia removed from the old roof overhang at back bedroom.

The old white fascia is shown in this picture. I was pretty rotted.

Shingles Removed — Shingles removed from overhang.

HughNet Satellite Service

For years we have been hoping that cable internet would be extended to the cottages along our lane. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Our internet options severely limited. One of the only viable options is Satellite Internet. A couple of weeks ago I contacted HughesNet Satellite Service and signed up for satellite installation. Our appointment was scheduled for today, between 11 AM and 2 PM.

Yesterday I received a call from the installer who works for a third party installation company. He was pissed off because “he” doesn’t do installations on Saturday and never that late. I explained to him that we live a couple of hours from the cottage and we could not be there any earlier. I scheduled the installation with HughesNet and as far as I’m concerned his problems are with his employer, not me.

This morning, at 7:00 AM, as I was packing my truck, still in Harrisburg, I received another call from the same asshole. He told me that he would be at the cottage in 30 minutes. I replied, “that’s very nice but our appointment is scheduled between 11 AM and 2 PM. I am still in Harrisburg and cannot possibly be there in 30 minutes”. Well, he was even more pissed off and he took it upon himself to simply cancel the installation. So there you go. Awesome first experience with HughesNet. At least I was able to turn on the water and demo the last overhang. More on this whole internet saga to follow. Stay tuned.

Metal Roofing Estimates

As a side note, the third roofing contractor was supposed to meet us to measure the roof and prepare a cost estimate for new metal roofing. We found out later that he had been to the cottage, did his takeoff and left before we arrived. He called later with his pricing.

July 8, 2020July 6, 2021

The Last of the Hurricane Ties

Day #119

May 9, 2020 – This morning I left the house at 6:30 AM. I arrived at the cottage at 8:20 AM with no clear plan of what I wanted to accomplish. Taking the easy road, I decided to complete the last of the hurricane ties.

For some reason I didn’t take any pictures of the hurricane tie installation (pictures) but I got a few of the May Snow Storm that I experienced.

While it was snowing I ate a lunch of canned Brunswick Sardines and some fresh Blueberries in my truck. I really like the no salt sardines in spring water. I managed to catch a Northern Flicker poking around for bugs in the yard.

I wasn’t sure that I would have enough of the hurricane ties to finish but I did.

Before leaving for home I moved the pile of scrap lumber I had sitting in the front yard and raked up the leaves.

Last of the Hurricane Ties — Cleaned up scrap wood pile and leaves.

My heart wasn’t in it today so I packed up and left for home at 2:51 PM. We’ll see ya next weekend.

July 7, 2020July 7, 2021

Plywood Roof Decking and Paper Complete!

Day #118

May 2, 2020 – Today I will complete the plywood roof decking and the felt paper for the new porch. There is not a whole lot to finish, but I will feel good when it is done.

Roof Outriggers — Overhang outriggers on the last section.

At the west end of the new porch I left a small portion of the roof decking open because I ran out of time last winter. You can see the outriggers for the overhang in the image above. In the images below the plywood roof decking is done and I am installing the last of the felt paper.

Roof Decking and Roof Paper — Roof decking and roof paper on the last section.

After this, the only roof sections remaining are the overhang on the old roof, along the back room and the closet extension on the south side of the cottage.

The old roof overhang is on the right side of the gable end shown in the image below. It is not framed correctly and it will be removed and re-framed at a later date.

The closet extension is not shown but there appears to be some rotted in that location. It too will be removed and re-framed.

Cottage West End

It’s an awesome day today. The weather was great and I finished the plywood roof decking and paper on the porch roof. We are not spending the night because I have not yet turned on the water. So, home we go.

Check back often for updates. See ya soon.

July 7, 2020July 6, 2021

Metal Roof Pricing – 2nd Contractor

Day #117

May 1, 2020 – Last Sunday I met with the first roofing contractor. Today, I have an appointment to meet with Sam Fisher of Fisher’s Roofing. We are to meet this morning at 8:30 AM. This is the second roofing contractor that we have solicited for pricing to furnish and install a metal roof on the cottage.

I made a stop at Sheetz but I arrived at the cottage at 8:21 AM. The river was way up to the bottom of the Boob on the Boob Tree. I had to knock down another Robbin’s Nest. It had two eggs in it. I feel bad but they need to find some place else to nest. Stop making bad parenting decisions!

Another Bird Nest — We have another Robin’s nest.

Bird's Nest — Unfortunately, I had to knock it down.

High water on the river at the Boob Tree.

Sam was a no show at 8:30. I called him at 9:06 AM to see if he was even coming. Of course I got his voice mail.

At that point I was ready to leave but I decided to wait until 9:15 to give him the benefit of the doubt. At 9:15 AM Fisher called me back. He said the he was running an hour behind but he would be there in 15 to 20 minutes. Fisher rolled in about 9:35 AM. He had two children and some other guy with him.

Sam went up on the roof and took the measurements that he needed. We chatted about soffit, fascia, gutter and downspouts. He told me that he would figure furring strips on the back half of the roof because the shingles were still on. Sam said that he could do soffit and fascia but not gutters and downspouts. He is going to email me the pricing for the metal roof on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Despite being late it was a productive meeting. After they left I headed back home. Rob and I are coming back down tomorrow to work.