well, we've decided to go with our gut and get the permits. My friend (the GC) has no problems with doing that. And he understands my reasons for doing so. Being a small business owner, he's just on a bit of an anti-government rant lately, and sees the permit process as a government revenue grab.....he's a good guy, definitely not an idiot. He and all of the subs (plumber, electrician) are licensed and have no problem going the permit route. Funny note though........ My wife and I were watching HTV the other night. Watching the show "Holmes on Homes." Holmes is a contractor that goes around helping people out that get screwed over by shady contractors. He was helping a couple who basically had their whole house torn apart to be remodeled. Well, the contractor did some really really crappy work......all sorts of construction, plumbing and electrical code violations......and ALL of it (according to the show) had been approved by inspectors. "Holmes on Homes" ended up bascially ripping everything out and started from scratch.... With this permit debate issue in mind, my wife and I had a bit of a laugh when we saw that. thanks. mm

This old thread got revisited. @dani_m08 to answer the question about extra probe, I believe I ordered an extra one when I bought the set up. The probe wire is just setting in the junction box I think but honestly I cant remember. When I laid out the underfloor heating and the probe, I just ran another probe near the first probe, and it was then sealed into the floor self leveling compound as per instructions. then the end was just threaded into the wall like the one that would be live, and not connected, but just laying there in the box. Regarding the tile layout. I just decided to run it this way, after getting instructions on the 90Degree way, IIRC. The herringbone that I love is from my childhood and the side walks in my neighborhood that all ran at 45Degree. so that to me is herringbone. I know you posted on @sochi thread about her amazing bathroom and a wall mounted faucet. I would totally do it if I had the right sink for it. In my case I had made my sink out of soapstone and an integrated backsplash. The pictures of this bathroom reveal are no longer available because of the use of photo bucket, when it was Gardenweb. I did not keep my account with photo bucket. I'll add some of the reveal pictures so you can see the sink and floor. Regarding the sink there is no ledge for water to drip from my hands when using the faucet. The water drips right into the sink. In my other bathroom with a deck mounted faucet I am always wiping up drips and it is a nuisance. I much prefer the setup for this sink. Below: I love the flush finish from the faucet to the bottom of the sink. nothing drips on a counter or edge of a sink. Below: looking in from the doorway. Below: Here I am finishing up the sink. the backsplash was epoxied on as a separate piece. The whole soapstone install in the room took next to nothing to buy as they were all small pieces that I epoxied together with a 3 part stone epoxy. Below: this is the counter at the tub, and is in 2 long pieces but I was able to epoxy them together at there edges to make a wide slab for the top. All the soapstone was finished with a 60 grit sandpaper to be rough and this lovely soft tone of blue/green/gray/white. I did not oil it so this color tone would remain light. Below: If I recall correctly @sochi helped me decide on this Hubberton Forge Mirror. I have 3 different metals in this room, but they are all a cool silver to black color. Below: the center of this tower shares space with the kitchen on the other side of the wall. there is also some extra space that houses some electrical wiring. this is an old simple house. this bathroom was an add on when it got move to the farm in the 30s IIRC. The plumbing was all rearrange and some of the details that were orignially there I kept but updated it, such as this tower feature. The old one went and the carpenter did a wonderful job with this one. Below: This feature was another thing I kept from the old bathroom but flipped it from the other end and had the carpenter put drawers in it. Before it was a hell hole. things got lost and the build was soooo old and creapy I didn't like using it for storage. Now it is perfect for storage.

There's a reason your friend is a 'contractor on the side' and not a full-time guy, because many/most customers don't want someone who tells them to cut legal corners. If a job is not permitted, ultimately it's the homeowner's responsibility and not the contractor's, so your butt is the one on the line if there is a problem now or in the future. Figure worst-case scenario: Job is underway, neighbor reports you, inspector comes by. Where I am it's an automatic $5000 fine, a Stop Work Order and a paperwork nightmare to get permitted retroactively for a job-in-progress and clear the SWO. And then you're on the Department of Building's radar, so expect a surprise inspection during work and a final inspection with a fine-tooth comb before you'll be able to close the job. Another scenario: you do all the work unpermitted but have an insurance claim a year down the line. Insurance company asks about this new bathroom which wasn't on their initial survey of the house. Asks for paperwork about when you did the work and city approval for the work to validate the claim. Um.... Third scenario: you install the bathroom without permits, live with it happily, then a buyer flags it at resale. It's now your responsibility to have the work legalized after the fact, which would mean opening walls and re-tiling in the case of a bathroom. If the work fails code - inadequate ventilation, problems with lighting placement - you have to fix it. Delays. Plus you're then in the position of telling the potential new buyers about a property tax increase, which hasn't been in their calculations prior to this. Plus they're wondering, if the owner cut corners here, where else did they cut corners that I'm not seeing? That's going to undermine their confidence and could lose you a sale. We're permitted up the wazoo for our ongoing renovation - general, electrical, plumbing, mechanical. It's cost several hundred dollars overall, but it's minor money and red tape now to save major money, legal hassles and time later.

rouguevalley - Wow, what a good memory. I can't believe you remembered my son's room. It's actually almost finished. I ordered a valance for his window just this morning and we still need to get 2 banners for the walls. If we don't get the banners soon, I'll go ahead and take some pictures. I'm not sure how to handle those plastic dealy bobbers. I remember somone saying before to replace the plastic ones with flat metal ones, but since mine are coming from the ceiling, instead of the wall, I don't know if I can still do the frame. Anyone know how to get around that? squirrel - I was picturing using the flat trim like in your last three pictures, but the top piece is what I loved so much about the one at Lowes so I like that 1st one you did the best. I love the arch on it also. DH is pretty handy with wood, so I'll see if this is something he can do. Do y'all think it would look okay to have that top molding with the soffet above it? Laurie