Reality check for me, does this tile job look bad to you?
bowllady
4 years ago
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bowllady
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Year Three - Reality Check
Comments (21)The local paper says we've had .46" of rain in May (that would all be in the last 3 days.) Not much but I'll take it. I was VERY surprised yesterday when I moved the pine straw that I put down on Tuesday to plant some annuals to find the soil moist (this was before half the total rain had fallen) AND zillions (well, several dozens) of tiny (1/4 inch long) worms sitting under the mulch on top of the soil. (I can't find anything about what these might be; hopefully, they're good worms. They're not moving much.) I fully expect my roses to "slow down" in August, but I'm hoping they won't "shut down" like last year and go leafless. I'm hoping the pine straw will help a lot along with resituating the soakers earlier this spring. Like others have said, it's hard to bear bushes in my front yard that are ugly and bare, but people up north do it all winter long so if I have to sit tight for a month or so with naked Teas and Chinas then so be it. The rest of the year they're mostly beautiful. The trick is getting them mature and building the soil to support them. Hopefully, I'm on the right road. At this point I can't see myself taking them out. I will take out individuals that don't like it here, but to stop rose gardening at this point would be a defeat of huge magnitude. A local Rosarian with 400 bushes (moderns & OGRs) wrote in this month's Society newsletter that 2 years ago he stopped spraying from mid-May until just after Labor Day (due to the strain of doing it in the heat & humidity of our summer). He listed several (mostly OGRs but also Polyanthas & Shrubs) that defoliated only 25% or less and also those that defoliated 75% or more. So certain roses can be grown well without spraying even in hot, humid Central Florida. We simply have to be smart in our choices and not expect unreasonable results from the wrong roses. And from personal experience Earthkind may or may not be a smart choice in Florida with our different climate from Texas. For example, Rosette Delizy last year (1st year) seemed to keep a lot of yellow leaves. This spring not so. She is green - and growing just as much if not more. So age definitely is a factor. And I'm seeing a lot of Knock-Outs in other landscapes now with a lot of yellow on them - a lot more than my OGRs. So, Ingrid, we do have two challenging things in common - porous soil and hot sun. All I know to do is to amend the soil - so that it is less sand and more organics & topsoil - and keep it as cool as possible. Rose roots don't do well in hot soil (I think somewhere around 80 degrees, I forget though). I see a lot of rocks in your photos. Can you anchor newspaper down with rocks or with the bricks that you may get? It may give your garden an unusual look to have rocks scattered all over it but it may be an answer. La, when I handwater, I'll try to use you method with wand where I don't have soakers. But (and I don't know if I'm right on this) I think it also makes sense to "cool" the mulch a little by dampening it some, but I may have the luxury of being that extravagant since I'm not on water rationing. Sherry...See MoreUnlurking and Looking for Reality Check (Long)
Comments (17)Ann, I'm in South Florida as well, just a bit further up the coast in Fort Pierce. I've been all over the place getting quotes for cabinets, granite/laminate countertops, etc. The best quote I've received for cabinets is at this place: DESIGN KITCHENS 412 Farmers Market Rd. Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 772-464-0500 o My aunt actually recommended them to me. One of my uncles used to work there and said they did quality work, which is a high recommendation if you knew this uncle! The guy I talked to there (Larry?) actually went to the trouble to explain to me all about different box materials AND listened to what I want in my kitchen. He made a couple of really good suggestions, but wasn't offended when I turned one of them down. His quote matched what we discussed exactly. As for countertops, in my area alone I count 8 places of the top of my head who are advertising granite starting at $9.95/sq ft. With installation, all of them are actually running under $40/sq ft. In the Miami/Dade area, you may actually be able to find lower prices because of competition. I've been working on my kitchen for nearly a year because I'm fighting with the insurance company over water damage. In that time, I've also been haunting Craig's List, so I know you could probably find all of the appliances you're looking for on there for a fraction of your budget. For example: I wanted a bottom mount fridge (to replace my white SxS) in bisque because I don't like stainless. I figured I'd have to bite the bullet and pay the $2500 price at an appliance store, but I kept hoping. Three days ago my fridge popped up on CL and I went and bought it for $250! That's a 2250 savings on my budget for a little diligence in checking CL (and about a 30 mile round trip). My new fridge is gorgeous!!! LOL, if you're interested in a 4 year old SxS in white, I'm listing it this afternoon on CL. :) Anyway, the whole point of my ramble is this: the Expo may not be the best source for good prices on quality products for your kitchen remodel. It's simple because all of the vendors are under one roof at one time, but you can do your kitchen less expensively if you have the time and inclination to do the leg work. The Expo is great for seeing what is available out there, for sure. And, a big thank you to whomever posted about the Ikea in Sunrise! I was going to Orlando to check out the Ikea there, but Sunrise may actually be closer for me! :)...See MorePrice check and reality check
Comments (9)Seems high at first glance but there's a lot we don't know. How many pumps and what type? I think I remember a post or two discussing the kind of pump set-up needed to keep your negative edge free and clear of debris. Any automation for controls? What about a saltwater chlorinator? Lights...how many and what kind? Any deck jets? What about special tile? Anything beyond a standard one row of 6" tile? Will the excavation be especially difficult where you live? Are fencing, electrical, and/or other services included? And I could go on with even more questions! I'm sure some PBs on this forum can give you an idea of how much prices have gone up in 8 years on various parts of pool construction to help you with that part of the evaluation. In my own case, our real estate agent gave us some ballpark figures for various types of pools when we were househunting. Turns out her estimates were based on info from several years past and were way, way, WAY off from then-current pricing. Perhaps many answers to my questions, and others, are listed on the PB's "pool as drawn" or on a sample contract, but we can't see that so it limits any advice you might receive. The more info you can list, the better able people will be to help you evaluate. Good luck....See MoreHelp! Is this a bad tile job or am I crazy?
Comments (5)No it is not a acceptable installation. When the boxes of tile were opened and found to be poorly mounted on the sheets I would bring it to your attention and give you the option to select another mosaic or pay me by the hour to make it look acceptable. It's one thing to adjust a couple of tiles per sheet but there is plenty of poor quality mosaics out there that can turn a 2 hour installation into a nightmare and the tile setter can not be expected to absorb that cost. Never the less it should have been discussed prior....See Morebowllady
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