44 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Winter 2018-19 TheCoastalBend.com 44 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Winter 2018-19 TheCoastalBend.com Sanddollar Services - PENDING (rough) City Inspection—The plumbers from Sanddollar Services were the first to almost finish their rough in. This is where the build gets a little more intricate. Plumbing was able to finish up to installing hose bibs for hose access to the exterior of the home, which are located on all three levels of the home. They were not able to complete this final task yet, due to exterior delays. The Hardie board has not yet been in- stalled. I fully expect to pass the city inspection when work is com- plete. I have been impressed with work ethic demonstrated by all the employees of Sanddollar Services. Efran, the main plumber in- stalling my system, has been very valuable in suggesting changes to my plans to add more convenience to our lives. We are starting to pick out some of the products that will be installed once drywall is complete. Tri-County Electrical Services - PASSED (rough) City Inspec- tion—Tim has spent a lot of time on my project. All the electri- cal has been completely redone. Due to code changes through the years, my home needed a complete overhaul in order to pass in- spection. The amount of wire in the home is staggering in the per- spective of the homeowner. Everything has a specific code from ‘home runs’ required for bathrooms to hard-wired smoke detec- tors. In this category, I have relied heavily on the knowledge and experience of Mike and Tim to put together a complete, safe and convenient electrical system. Our next step will be to disconnect service from AEP, then we will be ready to finish out after drywall is complete. All Star Siding and Windows (80% complete)—This has been where we have had some set-backs and hiccups. It started with the windows. Due to several factors, it took almost 16 weeks to finally get all windows installed. Why? Several factors caused the de- lay. For example, I ordered custom sizes and required an impact/ storm rated window. Due to back orders at the supplier, we were told to expect double the average wait time. The multiple massive storms this country faced over the past couple years has created a backlog of orders for necessary building products as simple as windows. It did not help when the first order arrived with five missing windows, two broken windows, and two windows that were the wrong size. This is where the contractor made a mistake. Just like I said before, it’s how these problems are resolved that separates the good and the bad contractor. When confronted about the wrong sized windows, Ernest, the owner of All Star, put in an immediate order to get new windows made and delivered and offered to install the others into the design of the home for free. We now have an extra window in the master bathroom and in the entry living room. To make a point, the homeowner, supplier and contractor all had a hand in the delay of window installation, how- ever, they are installed now and are great. Next, we need to finish installing exterior doors and Hardie siding. The doors should have been completed along with the windows,