So we've moved in 3wks ago and the builder came with his excavator and tried to grade the land himself. I insisted he use the laser thing. My dad has one and came to shoot elevations with it prior to. Thus, we already had it figured out for the builder. We thought the best way to go about it would be to drain the water away from the patio and around the side of the house down into the front yard where it would finally drain into the street gutters. The back half of the yard didn't need any work according to my dad and his little laser. Of course, builder refused to slope around the side and use the laser. He said that you have to "eyeball" these sorts of things. My dad said that he'd do it with the builder's excavator while builder was present. (my dad graded his one acre piece of property himself and it drains beautifully) Builder won't allow anyone to drive his excavator except those who work for him. Thus, we let him do what he wanted to do (drain it to the back into a little "ditch" that he claims runs throghout the neighborhood between the backyards) This little ditch that he's referring to is simply a low spot between my property and the people who live behind us because they built their yard up. This low spot is still higher than our yard, so of course draining into there won't work. Even if it would have. I don't want a ditch on the edge of our property line! It was CLEAR even by eyeball that his plan wouldn't work. I asked him what we should do if it still didn't drain. He said that he'd come back and try again. Naturally, it rained that afternoon after he left and here are the results: Now what? He either needs to agree to let my dad do it or hire a professional. It's in the contract that the land has to be graded properly. We don't want things to get ugly yet because there is one final issue that will need to be resolved. We haven't approached him about this yet. The driveway slopes into the carport, so the carport fills with water every time it rains. We are going to have to fight to get more concrete poured ontop of the carport so that it's higher than the driveway. Builder will freak when we bring this up. Thus, we're trying to keep things nice as long as possible.

That IS a great piece and chalk paint would be wonderfully easy, and would adhere well to the existing. You got very lucky with your Craigslist. I know that you just want to paint it now, but in a few years, if you want to do something that is fun and EASY, look at what I am doing with a similar dresser from 'my' Craigslist. All I did was cut some fabric to size for the drawer fronts, and glued it on with ModgePodge, which can be found in any craft store. It acts as glue, and then you do several coast of it on top of the fabric to act as sealer. It just takes a very light sanding between coats, and you're done! I agree that glass knobs would be perfect on yours. I just looked on eBay and found some that are very reasonable priced, and he has a good selection. See link below. They can be very pricey, so I'll be looking at his, too! (I have NO affiliation with ANY seller on eBay; I just like to shop there.) Before - During, as I haven't finished it yet. Here is a link that might be useful: Some well -price glass knobs on eBay

I would advise you avoid doing business with AZ tile and Dean Jessup specifically. We had a horrible experience with them. Don't expect them to act with integrity or stand behind their product. We used a fabricator that was a personal referral from him. When we had discoloration and fingerprints that wouldn't come off of our Della Terra quartz he informed me I must have "scarred" it by cleaning with a paper towel. ( I called him within an hour of the fabricator leaving). We paid beyond stone to buff it with a cleaner at their recommendation. It mostly resolved the issue although as a result of the buffing the gloss and sheen no longer match our perimeter counters. Best we can figure out the fabricator applied turtle wax or something similar to disguise striations around the sink cutout. Which is why fingerprints couldn't be cleaned off. We still have some smudges. Bottom line rather than try to help us resolve the issue he was hostile and accusatory. He said the fabricator (a friend of his apparently) said it was fine so we must have done something. Do business with them at your own risk.

Want a terrible truth? Unless you are buying something made in North Carolina? Rest assured it is most likely junk. Can you get lucky? Sometimes. ...................But the onus here, is on Sticklley. They never INSPECTED before they loaded that on a truck? To deliver to you? I'd make Stickley take the mirror back too. Stickley aws the agent, and should have refused the Lexington well before delivery to you. As to the real issue? The blame is shared by everyone , folks. That is what is sad. You want cheap, fast , and no hard feelings if you toss it in five years or less? That's what sent production to China, Vietnam, . Want a dresser? Go to the consignment shop.........paint the "brown thing". Consignment stores are loaded with "brown" furniture. Second truth is value/quality has nothing to do with a price tag. In this case ? None of either. At the rate we're going, the landfills will be FULL. and only those in the stratosphere will be able to have anything of quality. Nor will most of them care. ........read the beginning again lol