We installed allure trafficmaster in our new addition (280 sq ft) exactly 1 month ago and are pleased so far. This was directly on the subfloor and was in the boxes for 2 weeks acclimating in the room before laying down. "Country pine" stick planks are fairly easy to lay but do be sure to keep dust and particles away from the glue strips while laying down and clean the subfloor beforehand. We used a small hand roller to seal the glue strips as they were laid down. No peeling up or loose ends are evident yet. This is over a crawlspace (not a slab). So far so good for our experience. Thanks too for the tip on the scuffs, we were careful while laying down but my tennis shoe (tips) would make marks as I was on my knees turning around while my shoe tips streaked a few semi-circles on a few spots behind me.

Many times in older homes, the line wires are hooked to the side of the home and are fed through and exposed cable to the meter box. The cable coming out of the meter box goes into your fuse box. These days the pratice is to have an up to date meter box with a 2" metal conduit going through the roof with a weather head on top through which protrude 3 00 cables to which the line wires are attached. The same cables go to the service panel. Also, most modern installations are 200 amp. You can keep your present fuse box as it seems your electrical company is concerned about your outside connection. At some point you need to consider an updated service panel using circuit breakers instead of fuses. At the same time you need to appraise you need for additional circuits and for grounding the circuits.

yes as far as behavior issues go she hasnt displayed anything other than what I consider normal for her age, she gets good grades and follows directions most of time :)She acts just like any other kid her age... I dont think she doesnt talk to us about it because she worries we will be hurt, we have always been pretty open as a family when speaking about BM, and from what I gather from speaking with her best freinds mom and GM she has completely stopped talking about her in their presence too which isnt the way it used to be... I know I cant make this go away, I wish I could with all my might but I know I cant....I know she will carry this with her for the rest of her life and I just want to make sure I am managing the situation in the most productive manner for her... I just don't know, I feel like it is unhealthy to not talk about it but I dont want to force her, maybe this is something that will surface later on as she grows... maybe it is not as traumatic for her since she never remember a time when BM was around more than every once in a while opposed to a kid that mom just picks up and leaves....but it still has got to hurt....

Thanks so much everyone for the insight that was given on this post, I really appreciate you all taking the time to help me out! It's great to 'see' this thing through fresh eyes. All of the posts have been really helpful pointing out the issues with the house, door, shutters, plants, etc. I'm going to sit down with my DH tonight and talk to him about how we want to proceed from here to correct the problems. The roof will probably take two more steady weekends of work, so I have a little play time to make a decision and look further for a door replacement. I think that I'll remove the shutters this weekend too and look for door before I make any type of decision new ones. Johnatemp, that door is just beautiful! Cameron, Isn't the rain wonderful? :) Of course we had to laugh since it hasn't rained here in three month, but we strip the roof and here comes the monsoons! *LOL* I hope it's helping with the water level in the reservoirs. I know that our plants and lawn have certainly perked up, the lawn was all but dead and I was starting to wonder if we'd lose our weeping willow. We live West of you, a little South of Winston Salem. The last past two days here have been a good steady rain, I hope you all in Chapel Hill are getting a good soaking too!! :)