By now, you’re familiar with my dream of a laneway suite. It achieved long-waited municipal approval in early October and has started to take shape in my backyard and, even more so, in my mind’s eye.  If you missed the first two instalments of the Chandlerville story, please take a look here and here. 

Things are moving forward to a March move-in date - I hear the collective roar of the contractor and his staff saying “If the weather holds!”   I am an eternal optimist about such things and will personally throw a canopy over the whole yard to ensure inclement weather is not going to mess up my plans.  

So what’s happened? Well, lots.  You last saw me sitting on a digger in my backyard moving the bucket around with the confidence of a middle aged professional woman on her inaugural turn on a digger.  But I’m delighted to report that someone much more capable has moved a lot of dirt and clay around exposing countless unexpected cables and whatnots, mostly not live. (We knew in advance about the live ones).  It was fun to watch that progress.  The next development was hydrovaccing holes under the existing garage slab to provide space for the concrete supports for my 2nd floor.  Near as I can figure, hydrovaccing involves high pressure water blasting the dirt out of the way while another hose sucks it up - like when the hygienist cleans your teeth.   Very noisy. Music to my ears. 

This week, I’ve seen concrete dust billowing out of my garage as they start chipping up the floor for various reasons.  The sounds and the clouds would, for some, cause consternation (I fear my neighbours might be feeling that) but again, these are the pleasant sounds and sights of an emerging future. 

I had a bit of a wobble on the Chandlerville plan when I learned the electrical load I’d envisaged was too great for even 200 amp service (I currently have only 100 but it’s being upped).  This means I’m stuck with a gas furnace for now anyway, technology I am not keen on for environmental reasons but practical. I had a conversation with Enbridge to arrange a site visit so they and the contractors can discuss how best to instal a new metre for the second residence.  That conversation went well.  NOT!  After a very long time on hold I finally reached Brian.  Poor Brian. I wasn’t the nicest customer. Although I had already been through two brief conversations with Enbridge employees in other departments (1 hour and 45 minutes earlier) no-one had told me I had to set up an account on "Enbridge Connects." At my request, Brian and I went through this excruciating process together. The security question part was perhaps the most annoying.  You know, it’s that painful moment when you have to decide which stupid question will have an answer you’ll always remember. I don’t know about you but my mother doesn’t have a clear “favourite colour” and I don’t know who my favourite teacher was.  So I set my own question: What is the most irritating utility company?  I think you know the answer.  Brian had the good grace to laugh at that too - by then we were friends.  Enbridge is supposed to contact me soon to arrange an onsite visit to discuss details with the contractor’s people. Brian was not able to define “soon.”  

I’ve been busy working with the contractor to fine-tune the architect’s concept. I’m told this is normal.  More scrutiny uncovers less functional bits both from a construction perspective but also for me as I get closer to actually living there. The contractor’s team is great: from the site super, Hern, to the project manager, Giovanna, to the person who runs the admin side, Nancy, to the contractor, Angelo, himself, I feel heard. No question seems dumb.  I’m so grateful.  Through a detailed review with the team last week, the straight staircase I’d envisaged will likely become a spiral which will look snazzier and also provide more floor space, a commodity in short supply.  (Not actually qualifying as “tiny” which maxes out at 400 sq ft, Chandlerville is certainly going to be small at about 550 sq ft.)   We’ve also decided to open up the ceiling and expose the ductwork to create an airier and much funkier space.  All good developments and reflecting the home I’ve got in my head. 

Finally I’ve chosen some very cool floor tiles for the main level and another fabulous design for the upper level. None of this conservative stuff I put into my rental house last year and certainly not wood - ho hum, boring. I’ve got a kitchen design for which I’m awaiting a quote (and will likely have to scale back for financial reasons) and then the next stop is the bathroom. I’ve found the most beautiful art deco vanity that is $7500(!) so I’m back to the drawing board on that one.  It was so much fun to dream before I knew the cost.  I like this part.  

So that’s where things stand.  ’Til the next report.  

Read more about Chandlerville - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6.

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