Most of the demolition is complete and new construction areas are evident. The second story with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths has been rebuilt and Loewen windows are being installed. The entry wall with bell tower has been raised 18″and adds more weight and balance to that section of the residence.

At the rear guest house a garage screens the front of the guest house and a portal/pergola connects the guest quarters to the main house.

The master suite behind the entry wall remains to be built and all mechanical and electrical rough in is proceeding in stages wherever possible.

Unfortunately, your blogger used this very same product in 1991 retrofitting an existing all-electric house adding a gas boiler and stapling up the ENTRAN tubing from the crawl space below. Worked fine for 20 years until one month ago when half the system sprang a leak and had to be replaced (Yes, even contractors have issues with their homes).

The new product, Onix tubing, by Watts Radiant, is superior in all ways and has an excellent field record. Perhaps the remainder of my system will sustain itself until warmer months when replacement will be completed.

As contractors we have been involved in ENTRAN replacement commercially. It is never a pleasant experience or an inexpensive one. The staple up described above is most affordable and does not disrupt the living space at all (except for lack of heat in the winter, yikes!). Much more expensive is tubing laid in concrete or under brick on sand flooring. Both of these remediations require extensive disruption to the living space and will often require homeowners to move off the premises.

Radiant heating is a joy to live with: silent, constant, and takes up no floor space. But always a proper appreciation of the products available and a qualified and experienced and licensed installer are key to a good job.

This recent erection of a carport/equipment shed uses steel construction with a 22 ga. corrugated steel roof. The three central bays will be enclosed in the same material with sliding steel doors across the front.

The open area between the the metal sides and the roof above will be infilled with Polygal, a segmented polycarbonate sheet material which is produced from 100% recycled material. It will allow light to penetrate the enclosed bays but block most or all of UV light transmission.

This Santa Fe adobe is a mere 63 years old and built after WWII, but it’s renovation and restoration are still important to preserving the historic nature of the neighborhood. In submitting this project for permit all aspects of the exterior facade including windows, doors, portals, stucco color, set backs and overall heights are considered as well as any new structures, fencing or other site improvements.

A good part of the spirit and charm of Santa Fe is found in its architecture and proper restoration of this heritage is vital to preserving the unique character of the City Different.