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Category Archives: Landscape
We Get a Shed
Here is something new. A shed purchased as a kit and put together by a store contractor. Our kids ordered it for us and had it built, although they will use it for a couple of years. And it certainly … Continue reading
Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Construction, Landscape
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Gleaning More Materials
I’ve used most of the building materials that have been stockpiled in the past; although there is more finish work in the house that needs to be completed. I hope to use the log railings for door and window trim … Continue reading
Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Reduce Reuse Recycle, Solar, Spa, Trombe Wall
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Tank Troubles
I found an ad on craigslist for six solar panels and two storage tanks. It was another Novan system with a heat exchanger. They had a photo of the panels installed on the roof. There were also photos of the … Continue reading
Posted in Reduce Reuse Recycle, Solar, Spa
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Solar Thermal Plans
I have been wanting to install solar thermal panels to help heat the hot tub water since the hot tub is the major draw on our electrical power. We have prime sunshine and solar hot water heaters were very popular … Continue reading
Posted in Plumbing, Reduce Reuse Recycle, Solar, Spa
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Wabi-sabi Garden Gate
I often have the pleasure of meeting someone special while purchasing Craigslist items. Some folks are all business, which is fine, some are cautious, which makes sense, and some are very friendly and sharing. I have to say that connecting … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape, Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Cleaning the Spa Water
The spa water was getting dirty. There was sand on the bottom that did not seem to be getting to the filter. So I bought a small Intex vacuum kit to suck up the dirt through the filter system. Unfortunately … Continue reading
Posted in Maintenance and Repair, Spa
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Contactor Chatter
The contactor is a switch that is used for high power applications. In this system it is normally closed until power is called for by the heaters through the PC board. Acura Spas expert Joel told me the chatter meant … Continue reading
No Power to Spa Pump
At first I thought that the power problem could be something the electrician could figure out for us. But they could not send someone over right away so I got out the multimeter to check for power. I found the … Continue reading
What about that Spa?
The day before we arrived home the electrician was ready to hook up the electrical to the spa so he did it and when we got home it was already hooked up. It couldn’t be tested until there was water … Continue reading
Posted in Inspections, Landscape, Spa
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Beautiful Stoop!
I had to go back to the ladies who sold me the extra flagstone to get enough stone to finish the stoop. They had another customer pick up all the rest of the stone but saved me a wheelbarrow full. … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape, Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Small Victories
I gave up on the spa electrical trench when I ran into the huge piece of concrete that was right in the middle of the trench area. I called the electrician thinking it would be better to pay for a … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape
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Measly Shovel Meets the Impenetrable
After working all day yesterday putting the rest of the siding on the spa, except for the equipment side, today I installed the cover rollers to have a place to put the cover when the spa is open, and cleaned … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape
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Flagstone Stoop Partial Progress
Another project I am working on is finishing the front stoop flagstone patio. I ran out of flagstone and have been looking on craigslist for low cost or free stones. I missed a free stone offer because the truck had … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape, Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Back to Spa Prep
I had to stop part way through the spa prep to go on multiple vacations. Poor me. So back at projects now that we are home. I’m working on finishing the spa insulation and then mouse proofing the cabinet before … Continue reading
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Landscape, Spa
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Spa Prep
I started working on the side of the spa that is next to the deck wall before we left for Estes Park and finished it when we returned. My two sons helped with this project–stretching 1/4″ hardware cloth to keep … Continue reading
Moved the Spa but…
Dave and I were able to move the spa onto the concrete pad by some accurate trailer back up placement and an ingenious plan to hold the spa on the pad while the tilted trailer moved forward. Much easier than … Continue reading
Front Stoop
One of the tasks we have to complete before the doors can be repainted is to put in a patio in front of the french doors. I remember my grandmother used to call the door patio a “stoop”. We were … Continue reading
Posted in Construction, Landscape, Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Slab for Spa
Today we finally got the slab for the spa poured! It has rained all week so we had lots of water to bail out of the form and from around the outside of the form. The rain also delayed the … Continue reading
Posted in Construction, Landscape, Spa
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Landscaping Fabric
I purchased this “professional” landscaping fabric from a guy on craigslist for $75. The roll is 4 foot by 225 feet so longer than what I could purchase at the home improvement store. It is heavier fabric too. I used … Continue reading
Posted in Landscape, Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Rock It
Yeah, had rock delivered today. The cheapest gravel I could buy is road base. It is not nearly as pretty as pea gravel because it is a mix of aggregates from about 3/4″ gravel down to sand particles. Used mainly … Continue reading
Posted in Electrical, House Systems, Landscape
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