Most weed killers suggest not to apply until after the newly sprouted grass plants have been mowed three times. So wait until about June 15 before spraying your new seedlings. Keeping the seedbed moist until establishment of the new grass will benefit the weeds as well. Autumn is the best time for seeding a lawn. Wait until the new grass plants have been mowed a few times and are strong enough to handle the weed-be-gone application. Bill Hill Here is a link that might be useful: Lawn Maintenance Schedule

I'm nearly positive that NC requires a bathroom on all floors with bedrooms. They might even require a bathroom on all floors. There is a ceiling height limitation and I think it is above 7 foot. Every floor needs to be separately zoned on HVAC. Shortcuts are generally not allowed in new construction in NC. In my jurisdiction, if they think it looks like it could be a bedroom, it needs to be set up like a bedroom. Smoke detectors, ARC fault, enough egress windows etc. That is a pretty strict interpretation and I realize that is local.

The practical definition of a Juliet balcony is a deck that doesn't have a platform, only guard railings. The code interpretation issue is whether or not the exception to R311.3 that allows a landing less than 36" in the direction of travel is satisfied with a dimension of 0". The next question is what dimension would be allowed (2", 4", 6" etc.) I suspect you will find that your contractor knows what he is talking about. You won't be the first person to ask the building department for an interpretation of the exception to R311.3 and you may be successful but the only thing that is certain is that they cannot refuse the 4x6 deck the contractor proposed and they might accept brackets down to the existing foundation that would avoid foundation piers. They might also accept a 3x3 deck. The biggest waste of money would be the construction of two foundation piers that would later be abandoned. Ask your contractor if brackets to the foundation would reduce the cost of a 4x6 deck. If so, that might be the best solution. The contractor's offer to install the ledger board is a sign of good faith. Make sure it is through-bolted and properly flashed according to the new more strict code requirements added to the IRC after so many fatal deck failures. I recommend Grace Vycor Plus under the building wrap and over the top of the pressure treated ledger board and that should be protected with metal flashing (no unfinished aluminum). Metal flashings do not weather well when in constant contact with water on top of a ledger board so the vycor will prevent water intrusion when the metal flashing inevitably fails. the metal is essentially protecting the Vycor from UV rays. I stopped using ledger boards 40 years ago even for decks close to the ground. I always use Maine Deck Brackets.

Thank you, all for taking the time to send in your comments. It helps to hear other perspectives on the subject and work through the thought process. I think I will look for a more narrow tub that is not so deep but still an adult could use. I don't care for the land yacht ones anyway, they take too long to fill and have hot water tank issues, which I know can be addressed. I think if the child is really small it's probably going in deep kitchen sink and beyond that I think as long as an adult could reach in and over I think it would be workable. After all I am doing this for us for at least 10 years. Come to think of it, I got a huge shower going into one of the bathrooms now that you could put a kiddy pool in, if it was a real problem . I would like the tub for house members, jetted and bubbles are out, although bubbles are really tempting, but, all those tiny dark holes to who knows where is just asking for it. I will see what happens with the sinks. Thank you all.