Yes I was nervous and no, you don't need to cover the seeds. Alternating freeze/thaw cycles will allow them to make contact with the growing mix. The grit just aids in soil contact. I sprinkle about 1/8 teaspoon or a pinch about the size of a pencil eraser of fine/tiny seeds over the surface of the moistened growing mix. Larger seeds (i.e., Siberian iris, blackberry lily, Echinacea) I actually place the seeds in rows about an inch apart. I very lightly push them down with the flat end of a ballpoint pen, then sprinkle the grit over the surface. If you're scared about covering seeds with too much soil, leave them uncovered or just use a light sprinkle of grit instead. I don't cover my seeds with any soil--all I use is grit.

For those interested in helping - cash is king right now. In the longrun, they are going to need donations of food, blankets etc too, but right now the infrastructure is virtually none existent. They aren't going to be able to put to use a truckload of food collected in phili.

Lien laws vary by state, but my general rule is that you should not give final payment to the GC until he provides you with signed lien release forms from all subs, precisely because the subs can file liens against your house even if you pay the GC in full but he fails to pay the subs. You contracted with the kitchen company, and they hired the sub that did the faulty work, so the kitchen company is ultimately responsible for the quality of the work. Assuming you have not already paid the kitchen company in full for whatever you owe them, I would inform them that you are withholding payment in an amount equal to the full cost of the counters until they provide you with a signed lien release from their sub (it is between them and the fabricator what financial arrangement they come to to get the release signed) as well as properly installed counters. In other words, don't pay until you get exactly what you are paying for plus a lien release from everyone.

For an insurance claim, you usually have up to 2 years to report any additional damage found as a cause of the initial claim, without paying an additional deductible, but your policy may be different. Get a reputable contractor (preferably 2 or 3), along with YOUR insurance adjuster, and the roofing company adjuster to take a look and determine the best course of action. I agree completely with the photos-of damage, during repair process, and after repairs are completed. Keep a copy for yourself-hold on to them for a minimum of 2 years, possibly longer, if you should decide to sell the house, you have proof that the repairs were done correctly and to code.