Atco, siding and fireplace issues

Another month, another head banging with the city.

I am trying to order the fireplace. But I need to get it from somewhere that can install it using a city approved fireplace installer. When we applied for our building permit, we had to specify who would be installing the fireplace. I listed the place BIL buys his fireplaces from, and the city said no. So Ryan listed someone else. That someone else doesn't sell anything I am interested in buying. Expensive, and not very efficient units. No thank-you. 

So, I find a fireplace dealer, who tells me they install and they are city approved. Before actually placing the order, I call the city to verify. No, Barbecues Galore is not approved. Hang up, go to Barbecues Galore's website. Hmmm, it's "Barbecues Galore and Woods Fireplaces." Call the city. Is Woods Fireplaces approved? Woods Fireplaces on Edmonton Trail? Yes. No, they aren't approved. 

What? How did you know their address if they aren't in your system? Oh, they pay taxes, but they don't have a business license. 

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Can I get the list of approved fireplace installers? "We don't have a list." Then how are you able to tell me if someone is or isn't approved? "We type the name into the system, and it tells me." So, there's a list somewhere, how do I get it? "Well, maybe try sending a request in writing to the commissioner of licenses?" Umm, maybe send a request in writing, and maybe that might get me the info I need? Maybe? 

So then he suggests I try asking the business. Ok, so what do I ask them? "Ask if they have a license." What kind of license? "A business license." Just a business license? "Yes, a business license." Okay, my hair dresser has a business license. Can she install my fireplace? No. Why not? "She doesn't have the right kind of license." So, what kind of license does a fireplace installer need? "Something issued by a governing body." Which governing body? "I don't know, I just know that I type their name in the system, and it says yes or no." 

So I went into Barbecues Galore and asked them if they ever install in new builds. Yes, all the time. Infills, like ours? Yes. New infills, from scratch? Yes. So I called the city again the next day and asked again if Barbecues Galore is approved. Yes, no problem. 

So, I figure that the system completely falls apart if the person on the phone is unable to type "Barbecue". 

The next headache of the week is the gas hookup. I went in to apply for our gas hookup 2 weeks ago. It's about an 8 week wait. Ouch. But at least we're on the list now. They have sent out 2 people to the site to verify that there is not currently a gas line. This is in addition to the 2 times we've had the site checked for gas lines before we were allowed to excavate. MrDinks asked me to call and verify that we're on the list. Hmmm, nope. "Our system is showing a request to disconnect back in 2012 that was never completed. So until the disconnect gets completed, we can't give you a new one. You can't have 2 gas lines on 1 property." Ok, give me someone else to yell at then. Because we've been waiting patiently for 2 weeks. If your system is not up to date, and the guys you've been sending out haven't been updating the system when they come back to the office after confirming that I don't already have gas, that's not my fault. I am not adding on however long it takes to get this resolved on top of the 8 week wait I'm already under. 

After a few calls, it turns out that when the moron we bought the property from had the gas hooked up to the house next door, he put the wrong address down on the request. So now apparently we have a gas line, and our neighbours don't. But somehow, they have heat, and we don't. Go figure. But now, because we're a special case, we don't have to wait on the regular queue. Now, we are looking at getting gas hooked up the first of January. 

And then there's the siding. They started right away on the exterior insulation and house wrap, and told me to get the siding ordered and they would start last Friday. So, I ordered siding that I don't love just so we could have it onsite instead of waiting 3 weeks for the stuff I liked better. But then BIL pointed out, we don't have all our windows in yet and we don't have the fascia and soffits in. We're not ready for siding. Just finish the insulation and house wrap. Okay, the siding guys agree. But then in the last week, they've basically stopped. I've been busy at work, so I don't know the details. But a week after they were supposed to have started the siding, they still aren't done the insulation and wrap. So much for that rush on the siding order. 

But, they've gone ahead and charged my Visa for the insulation and wrap work. MrDinks saw the charge, didn't recognize the name, so he googled it. And he found a news story about a guy with the same name in Saskatchewan who was getting paid for work that he wasn't doing. Hmm. Well, at least it's on the Visa, and not a cash payment. 

The laugh of the week came in the mail. You may recall from a few weeks ago, the dispute with the lumber company over the deposit for joist designs that they then refused to do? They refunded my money and basically told me they don't want my business? Well, they sent me a Christmas card.

Siding progress

Getting the sewer hooked up.  

More sewer people!

Kitchen struggles

So, I thought I was all on top of this stuff. I had pretty good idea of the kitchen layout, the appliances, and a kitchen company picked. That's all gone to pot in the last few weeks. First, the walls keep moving. So the space I have to work with on the kitchen keep changing. Minor issues I guess.

A big problem is that the oven I wanted is no longer available. And there are no replacements. My current oven is a free standing, all in one unit with 2 ovens. My favourite feature is the small upper oven. It's big enough for a cookie sheet, or casserole dish. And because it's small, it heats up instantly, so I use it 90% of the time. It even acts as a toaster oven. 6 months ago (or more), I looked into the options for appliances. They don't make wall ovens small like my current oven. If you've got the space for a wall oven, surely you'd want 2 full sized ones, right? So, I was sticking with a stand alone oven/stove unit. But, I wanted induction. At the time, they had *just* started making dual ovens with induction tops. There were 2 models available, and I was hopeful that more would come out by the time I needed to purchase. So that was my plan. Now, those 2 models have been discontinued. And not a single manufacturer has come out with another one. The current trend in ovens is not a true double oven like I have now. Instead, they sell single ovens that come with a divider. What? How is this an improvement? Instead of a full size oven and a small oven, you now get a regular size oven that you can divide into 2 small ovens. And they may or may not have different temperatures, depending on how well the divider works. And you can't bake in both, because the upper "oven" won't have a bottom element. And you've only got 1 door. Geniuses. I could get a gas stove with dual ovens. But then I'm getting a gas oven. They don't make dual ovens with dual fuel. So, I've decided to get a free standing induction stove/oven, and a second wall oven. No more lovely little, efficient oven. But at least I'm not stuck with a single oven.

The next major issue is that the local company I picked, based on the manufacturer of the cabinets. is no longer carrying those cabinets. So now I either need to get different cabinets, or work with a different company. So I'm pretty much back at square 1.

And I am going away for work for a month, and need to get the cabinets ordered before I go. Argh!!!