"I had another quote today for a Tran 14i system. That person said there no yearly visit was necesary...maybe eveery few years. He said that tinking can cause more trouble than not. Ex: checking the freon level twice a year is fine but you loose a hose worth of freon each time. Eventually you may for a charge. He said it would not hurt to get a cleaning every few year depending on whether you have kids, dirt, smoke and how much you run the unit...at least that was my understanding of whast he said." _______________________________________________________ This sounds like the many companies that preffer installing systems (more money in it) than keeping them going, as his statements are wrong! Outdoor coils can get seriously dirty in just one years time and this affects the life and efficiency of the system. Drains can clogg up and ruin cieling or carpet. So what if you have to add a little vapor freon every 3 or 4 years of checking the pressures? What's the damage caused by a system improperly charged year after year? Unbelievable! Read the contract warranty with Trane! It states quite clearly that if the system or parts fail due to abuse or lack of maintanence may void the warranty (Read the back of the contract, right side upper corner "customers responsibility") Get these things in writting, not from a "shucks -don't worry about that" word of mouth contract. A proffessional a/c and heating check is not "tinkering", and if that is what he calls it- don't deal with him! I really feel sorry for folks that have to put up with such bs companies and not knowing where to turn. I'll bet he would be one to say "Why clean the house- it's just going to get dirty again"! :)

Busybme, you were the first one who chimed in when I first joined here and you photoshopped some proposed changes for a kitchen facelift - and in between then and now it went from simple little changes to a full reno! The perimeter and the island are both going to be in the birch, and the painted pieces will be a hutch and a display bookshelf cabinet. Anybody else have input? Since there wasn't much input, should I be taking that as a bad sign? I know my kitchen doesn't fit what most people on the forum are creating, but hopefully it will at least be well-appointed enough in the end that even those with different tastes can say, "I like it - but in your kitchen" :-). Here is the proposed render working with software limitations. The pendants are missing and the window is bumped out 6" facing right: facing left:

Not as much as I should. I have freezers full of venison, beef, chicken and pork, lots of eggs in the refrigerator and all my canned vegetables from the garden, as well as the onions/potatoes/butternut in storage. I seldom "need" to go to the grocery store, other than for specialty ingredients, paper products or dairy. I go through the storage area and sort out any squash or potatoes that may be getting soft or old, and make plans to use them during the week. Elery loves beans so those go into the crockpot a couple of times a week. I try to have at least one meatless meal during the week. Elery makes breakfast and it's always the same. One egg over easy and one slice of toast for me, whatever is in the refrigerator leftover, topped with two eggs and lots of sliced hot peppers for Elery. We don't eat lunch. Since all my meat is frozen, I do try to plan a couple of days ahead and thaw out whatever will be needed for the next few days. Holidays, now that's something else. That takes me a couple of weeks of planning, at least two shopping trips and several "adjustments" to the menu before I'm satisfied! Annie

Wood should not be touching raw earth. A 'deck' is suspended in the air...even if it is just 18" high. A patio is sitting on the ground. Stone and pavers (like what you have already) are the go-to products for anything that is imbedded in dirt. The amount of effort (ie. MONEY) it would take to get wood as a ground-level deck would be ASTRONOMICAL. Like 5x the expense of stone/tile. You would have to DIG OUT (excavator rentals are expensive) the ground in front of the windows. Then pillars (let's imagine cement footing with metal posts) would have to be added. Then the deck could be built. And now you have issues with water running under the deck and up against the foundation. If there's a basement you can then expect moisture intrusion. Wow. I suggest you work with stone or porcelain tile pavers....make sure you go with a low-slip surface and a colour that doesn't stain.