Another view of the latest construction setback - the workers did not work from the architect's plans and punctured the ramp heating tubes. The drawings show that the ramp brackets are supposed to be installed under the cement top, on the yellow brick.  

OH NO! Yes, the guys who installed the railing did drill into the water tube in the cement, and it is leaking. The Architect did specify on the drawing that the railing be bolted into the yellow brick UNDER the cement cap. I fear this is a major setback (and a major screwup!). I went down to the basement this morning, January 26, 2006 and turned on the hot water pump. Sure enough it was leaking at a steady pace. I quickly took this picture, but the clear liquid does not show up. You can still see the wet red metal and the wet leaves where the water is draining. So, yes, that water stain on the previous picture was caused by puncturing the plastic tube. To repeat: OH NO! 

24 January 2006. Finally! for the first time in a month progress is being made. Here is the railing for the handicap ramp being installed, bright and early on this very cold morning. The railing is only finished in a coat of primer. I am not sure what color it will be. The handrail that will be attached to the church wall is laying on the ramp against the church.  

24 Jan 06. The workers went for a coffee break, so I took this picture of the railing work. I sure hope the bolt holes they drilled into the side of the ramp pavement didn't put a hole in the plastic heating tubing!!! 

January 24 - 2006. The first work of the year. The handicap ramp is getting the railing installed. 

Here it is, January 20, 2006 and work is back to a standstill. It seems that the Summit County inspector wants the church to have a fire alarm system installed. The inspector refuses to come to the church to inspect the electrical work unless and until the alarm system is installed. This is only the latest delay we have suffered due to the building plans not being submitted in accordance with local building codes. The contractor has ordered the appropriate fire box, and until it is installed, no more work can be done.

Outside, we still need the railings put on the ramp, and need the rain gutters worked on. You can see from the picture that rain is pouring out of the open downspout hole, and also from a hole that has developed just to the left of the stained glass window.  

January 3, 2006. This photo shows that an electrician came in just before Christmas to wire the drywall frame. Not a thing has been done since then. It looks to me that all we need is a full crew to put in a full working day here and we can probably be finished.