more pictures http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m69/kuv_hlub_koj_xwb_2007/DSC08035.jpg http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m69/kuv_hlub_koj_xwb_2007/DSC08036.jpg http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m69/kuv_hlub_koj_xwb_2007/DSC08037.jpg

hampton, they just don't all know you from the decorating board. Give it time! I looked over in discussions and saw your sink question - - is that the one you're talking about? I would guess people just didn't know the answer off the top of their heads. But a good website to check out sinks of all types is homeclick.com, although given what I have heard on these boards, I wouldn't risk actually ordering from them.

I thought the prime suspect likely was voles, having experienced the large amount of damage they can do when I lived in more rural areas (in the woods of western MA once, during a winter with deep snow, they completely took out -- eating roots and girdling trunks up to the level of the top of the snow -- about 20' of flower border, including several shrubs, one of which was Gruss an Aachen). I am guessing you might be experiencing the apex of a vole population cycle this year, Sheila. Vole populations generally run in cycles of 3 to 4 years. During population-peak years here in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will actually see (and hear -- they squeak as they run) large numbers of voles running around even in the middle of the day and their "runs" through the grasses will be everywhere. They become so numerous that raptors and other predators will often only partially eat their catch, leaving half-eaten vole bodies lying around. The populations of white-tailed kites, whose diet is 99% vole, also go up during those years (in one of those years, my husband and I would every evening count 75+ kites flying over our house to their communal late-summer roost just north of us). The good news for you is that your vole population may well crash to next-to-nothing next year and give you a few years' break. In the meantime, traps and snakes are good. Prime vole habitat is tall thick grass, so keeping grasses short in the vicinity to the extent possible also helps.

I have been a swimming pool contractor for 34 years. I am Jandy Pro Edge Dealer for about 20 years. As a Pro Edge Dealer, we can offer our clients an extended warranty on their products. Jandy equipment is not just automated systems. They have offered filters for close to 20 years now. My friend and colleague actually headed up the pump and filter division for Jandy and is is still involved with the company. I prefer their equipment as they provide great dealer support, which in turn supports my clients. I've been using salt water systems for 20 years, and quite honestly have never seen any corrosion issues at any of the pools we have built, renovated or service. Our new pools are equipped with a Jandy automated system, pump, filter, heater, Polaris cleaner and a salt water generator. Nicheless LED lighting also. Some pools we add a Del AOP system which uses ozone and UV for santizing. Testing and adjusting the water weekly, will keep things in check. Improperly balanced water will destroy anything it comes in contact with. It's paramount to maintain proper water chemistry. Hopefully the pool builder will guide you on the equipment needed. You may consider prepping for a heater as may want it down the road.