Carisbrooke Inn

Aside from pulling my hair out because I'm naturally someone who doesn't "trust the job will get done" I am pretty blessed with good contractors. My roofer, Jack Francesco, Plumber Charlie DelRoss, and Electrician Tom Paratore have been with me for years and always do an excellent job. I have a new guy, Vince Morgan doing framing and carpentry for me. The jury is still out, but only because this is the first thing he as ever done for me. So far though I'm quite happy with his professionalism and quality. More as the project progresses. As of last week the plumber ran new supply lines to the 3rd floor for the new bathroom. He had to cut holes in my apartment ceiling, the parlor walls, room 7 bathroom walls and the floor in room 10 to get the pipes up there. He used this new plastic pipe. I never saw it before but it's pretty neat stuff. It looks like it cuts the time for plumbing in half. While he had everything opened up I had him replace a few sections of very old galvanized pipe as well. So I got my spackle knife out and got to work. Everything was patched and painted for the weekend business and no one knew any difference. This week Vince and his guys came in and totally gutted room 9 in preparation to raise the roof. Interestingly while they were tearing up some of the floor they found an old newspaper from Philadelphia, from 1909. This surprised me because I had always been told the house was built in 1918 so now I need to do some research. The other interesting thing they found was beautiful mahogany stained hard wood floors -- covered with linoleum. What were people thinking. Unfortunately they are getting ripped out because they can no longer be used. All we are waiting on now is a string of 3 solidly good days for these guys to put up the new structure (and avoid water damage to the building. Hopefully Monday will be the day. In my next post I'll tell you a little bit about the final product. My decorator has been coming up with some great stuff. I also decided once this room is done, I can't leave the 3rd floor hall and room 10 looking all old, so it will all be getting a face lift before the summer comes. By then I hope to be having many frozen drinks with my guests on the deck.