We were lucky in that our plumber's prices were right in line with what I found online. However, I think there is something to be said for maintaining the goodwill of the plumber (he's not exasperated if bits and pieces are missing, or other issues due to delivery), as well as potential warrenty type issues. Aditionally, our builder uses a local guy, and in this small town I'd call him if we had plumbing issues 4, 5, 10 years down the road- he knows his work, he can fix it back up, and I I'd rather not leave a bad memory. I also find it much more effective to go park myself in a store if there is a problem rather than deal with people online (if a part happened to fail down-the-line). Now, what this may be worth is up to you, and which items are worth potentially annoying the builder and/or plumber vs. other things you may want to do differently in your build.

dave_donhoff - I'm just brainstorming again! LOL We have a house with a 2nd mortgage. We bot in 2003, and the 2nd is at 8%. Orig (for 2nd) was about $26,800. 30yrs due in 15. Have paid on this for 7 yrs as of Sept 2010. We've been making pymts of about $240.00/mo, + we made 2 or 3 extra annual pymts. (Min Due = approx $196.00) So it should be paid off at the 15 yr mark. We owe just about (or 'just over') $10k. Will take another 8 yrs to pay off 2nd. I don't want to wait 8 more years. We cannot re-fi. Bought for $134,000 in Southern California, and NO equity (obviously). We owe about $108k btwn 1st & 2nd. Zillow shows valued at $105K this month, but has been down to $90K AND I KNOW that Zillow, Trulia, Cyberhomes are just guestimates. However, we have nothing fancy, and bought with none of those updates or remodeling. (we have green & blue sinks, toilets, tubs; tiled counters & orig cabinetry in kitchen & bathroons. Basically the same as was built in the '70's.) My mind is all over the place & I've been wondering about this for awhile now. Some days I say "NO WAY", other days I wonder. I want that 2nd paid off. Yet, I want to keep what little liquid assets I have. (AND, I DO understand that my 'Liquid Assets' would be tied up if I were to consider this type of loan until paid in full.) I am also getting close to receiving an inheritance by years' end. LOL, I know, don't count your chickens... Well, I'm gonna say I'll be LUCKY if I get 5k! Most likely more, but...one never knows. (I'm thinking about at least 10k, so settling for 5). HOWEVER, all this came about regardless of the stupid inheritance! I was just thinking / pondering. The rate of the 2nd on our home is 8%. We cannot re-fi. (negative equity, PLUS it 'costs' to re-fi) Balance due approx 10k (maybe a bit more, but not a problem) Dividend Rates on C.D.'s so low it's crazy - nothing to spit at nor blink twice about. I was just wondering: Open a 'share cert' for 10k for 60 months, borrow 100% against it, (still get the dividend paid on my cert???), pay the 10k 2nd mortgage off with the loan, and pay myself back??????? (and, if I default, I still have enough to cover...B-4 any inheritance) Does ANY of this make any sense? I'm tired. HOWEVER, I ALSO WAS WONDERING ABOUNT ANY NEGITIVES TO TAKING OUT SUCH SECURED LOAN...when I have a very long history of good credit.

I suspect you would be ok at 5'4" with a stacked pair of Duet Sports, I am 6'0" and my girlfriend is 5'9". I know the stacked full size Duets look much taller when I see them in the stores. With the stacked Duet Sports the the controls are at or just below eye level for me if that helps any. As to the venting/power issue I had no major problems, however I do live in an older house, and the plumbing/electrical spacing may not be precisely at modern code requirements. As it is, I bought the longest dryer cord I could find (I think they are legally limited to 3 ft, this one measured 38 inches) I had maybe 3 inches to spare and reach the existing plug. The exhuast vent was much the same.

I've had the Wolf CSO for 4 years now and echo CH's experience. I've got a 30" Wolf convection and a 36" BS gas range. Those ovens are only used when needed, the CSO is used all the time, for everything. We use it for rice, softening buns, custards, eggs, steaming veggies, you name it. I love how it makes cookies in steam convection mode, I bake 2 sourdough loaves a week in steam convection and the crust is great. The sides of an oven pancake (German, Dutch, whatever) almost hit the top of the oven. If it fits we roast meat in it, again w/steam. I almost always use some steam setting and have found very few things that don't take to it. I even use steam when doing brown sugar bacon. I did have the boiler go out after warranty was up, we are out of the service area so I had to take it in myself. It's small and light enough it wasn't a problem. Cost under $200 to repair, that was about a year ago. It does have a dedicated 240 breaker. We have it mounted above the Wolf oven, puts it right at chest level. The island sink is right in front of the oven stack so filling the reservoir is easy and as mentioned surprisingly doesn't need filled all that often. You need to descale them periodically, the oven will prompt you when it's needed. Probably twice a year at most, it's an automated process but you need to purchase the solution and follow along w/the beeps. If I knew it would have been so versatile when we built the house I'd only have 2 ovens. I think in 4 years we've used all 3 at once maybe 3 times. I'd ditch the 30", can't fit the big pizza pans in it and it doesn't get hot as hot as the BS oven. Speaking of heat, the CSO only goes to 445 deg. My one gripe would be since it's small and the convection fan is always on when roasting meat it spatters all over interior of the oven and needs wiped down or it will drip w/the steam onto the next item cooked. Wiping it down is easy since it's a stainless interior but you need to pull the racks so it does make it kind of a chore.