RENOVATION OF THE upstairs terraza, which began in January, soldiers on. It would have been done by now were it not for my child bride’s wishes.
And also due to an unexpected entryway for rainwater.
My wife noticed this faux stone tile elsewhere and wanted it here, so here it is. The workman arrived Wednesday at 8 a.m. with his 11-year-old son. I was still in my pajamas.
The kid was cheeky but fun. I asked him how old he is. He told me. He asked how old I am. I told him. I asked his name. He told me. He asked my name. He asked if I had a wife. I do. He asked where she was. Elsewhere. He asked if she speaks English. Not well.
He asked for a drinking glass, a paint brush and a rag and, instead of waiting upstairs, he tailed me all around the house while I collected those things.
He lugged a very heavy bag of cement upstairs from where it sat way out in the carport.
Other workmen have brought their boys on occasion too, but the kids normally never say a word. I think I intimidate them, not intentionally, of course.
The second issue, the rain entryway that caught us by surprise one day when the wind was blowing from just the right direction, was resolved with the cement.
A third issue has also raised its troublesome head. The yellow shade net was an unwise color choice, it appears. It’s going to get visibly dirty very fast. A darker color would have been smarter. I suspect it will have to be replaced in a year or two with a color that shows crap and dead bugs less flagrantly. Life is a learning experience.
My child bride now wants a hot tub out there. Jeez.
They installed tile over a painted surface?
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Gerard: He did after chipping the surface all over. He let the kid do that. Fret not. It is well-adhered.
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You poor thing! You have a hot child bride who wants a hot tub! My heart goes out to you. 😉
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where my own hot tub gets plenty of use, especially in the winter.
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Kim: We all suffer in our own way.
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I was going to ask if the roof could handle the weight of all that water. Then, if I remember correctly, your wife is an engineer. So, I guess, your best course of action is to soak your bones in a pot of hot water!
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Judy: I imagine the floor would support it. However, don’t hold your breath till we get a hot tub. You might faint dead away, and we don’t want that.
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All of that to fix a leak. It does look good though. Furniture and a few dealy-bobs on the rail. You’re living good.
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Kirk: Yep, when this got started just to block a leak, I never dreamed it would go this far, or this far into my finances.
I am living good. At my age, I’m glad to be living at all.
Wasn’t me who sent your comment to moderation. I do wish it would stop doing that.
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Looks great with the tile floor.
I suspect he brought the kid to distract you from breathing down his neck while he worked on the tile.
The “while we are at it” disease strikes anyone at any time. The only one hurt is the bank balance.
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Cathie: Nah, the kid is out of school for summer vacation. That’s why he was brought along. Could be that he’s training the boy to do the same work later in life.
Yeah, the new look is nice. Come sit a spell.
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Hot tub sounds good. Also one of those firepits for the winter. How did you attach the netting? On top of the glass? Replacing it shouldn’t be a big deal.
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Señor Lanier: Hot tub ain’t likely to happen. I have a bit more than 50 percent of the vote around here even though there are just two of us. Firepit would be fun. I’ve thought of that, but we really are not going to spend more than a few minutes outside in the evenings. We have other habits.
The shade net is below the glass. It is attached mostly with screws, but there are a few tie-downs too. Replacing it would not be a big problem, especially since we’d hire someone to do it.
It remains a project in progress. I never thought we’d spend much time out there due to never having done it with the old design, and we have a downstairs terraza and a yard patio. But it appears we are abandoning the downstairs terraza — apart from walking through it coming and going — and, even more so, the yard patio.
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Maybe you should name the upstairs terraza “Gateway,” because the fancy UV-proof curtains and stone veneer are gateways to your ultimate destiny as a Marin County hot tubber.
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Ms. Shoes: Not a bad idea were there any real chance of getting a hot tub. But I’m counting on her focus shifting elsewhere with a bit more time. That’s the usual process.
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I see big changes in your smooth running existence.
All this effort has led to new horizons. Perhaps even a hot tub?
Suffer on, señor!
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Ricardo: Don’t hold your breath till I get a hot tub.
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If you lean towards a hot tub, consider a stock watering tank out of wood, with rods holding the slats in place. They have a nice informal look. The slats swell when they get wet, and seal against leaks. They also are made out of galvanized steel, but those lack the charm of a wood one. Think of the old water tanks along railroads, only not as tall. Phil
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Phil: Well, that would certainly lend an interesting touch to the new terraza. But I doubt we’ll be installing any sort of tub.
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Your bride is absolutely correct. You do need a hot tub up there. Of course, I am biased on the topic.
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Señor Cotton: My child bride is right more often than not. But will you be recommending a swimming pool next?
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Probably not in your mountain aerie.
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