Projects in our Current House in
Phoenix, AZ
A chronological listing of projects:
1994 Moved into our current home in Phoenix
Installed safety pool-fence (contractor)
Project: Rear Landscaping
Developed a detailed plan - contractor implemented
Leveled most of rear yard by adding rear retaining walls
Added fire-pit & seating area
Install drip & lawn irrigation sod, edging & shrubs / trees
Colored concrete hard-scape to side & front
Project: Master Closet Storage System Re-design
Build central organizer block from particle board & paint
Expand existing rack & shelf systems
1995 Contractor installed Garage Cabinets, workbench, pegboard
1996 Project Office Re-Design:
Murphy wall bed, worktop, corner computer
workstations
Wall cabinets, under cabinet lighting, networking
Created storage space above garage, pull down stair,
flooring, shelving
1997 Project: Rear yard mister system
Project: Rear yard pool shower system
1998 Project: Play Equipment Set
Standard set erected by contractor
Added bracing for better rigidity
1999 Garage Sports Equipment Organizer Wall
2000 Pool resurfaced with 1" glass mosaic tile
Front security lighting: timer and dusk sensor
Side security light
2001 Project: 100BaseT Wiring
Convert computer network wiring from 10Base2 (BNC
Ethernet) 10Mbs
Installed D-Link hub and print server
Installed Cisco DSL router
Installed all new 10BaseT NIC's (Only Laptop is
100BaseT)
2002 Project: New AC System Installed
New Heat Pumps outside (American Standard)
New Air Handlers inside with variable speed fans
New air returns added in office & master bedroom to improve circulation
New air outlets in master bedroom, duct balance vanes installed
New electronic setback controllers added
Project: Master Bedroom/Bathroom redecoration
Huge fans on wall
Room divider (between gym and bedroom areas)
Asian border in bedroom and bath
Asian themed decorations
Cubic storage units and floating shelves above
New curtains and pelmets
2003 Project: New Formal Room Bookcase System:
Bookcase wall completed with countertop & cabinets
below
New drywall pot-shelf/soffit above, support column with
up-light / down-light & cabinet lights
Tri-location house AV system installed, TiVo system
installed & storage drive upgraded
Upgraded all networked computer machines to 100BaseT NIC's & 100BaseT hubs
2004 Project: Full scale
Kitchen remodel:
New countertops, flooring, sink, faucet, disposal,
lighting & controls
New & replacement cupboards, handle pulls, drawer
organizers, pull-outs
New appliances: under-counter Fridge drawer, freezer,
wine chiller
New water systems RO filter, expansion tanks, instant
hot & cold water
Project
Swimming Pool improvements:
Swimming Pool converted to automatic Salt Water
Chlorination System (LM2)
Swimming Pool Slide - basic construction completed
2005 Pool side completed - plumbing into waterfall completed
Completed Kitchen lower pantry cupboards pull out shelf conversion
Completed example upper pantry cabinet pull out conversion
2006 New bed/desk combo unit in Alex's bedroom
Add 1GB NAS storage device to computer network, upgrade
all equipment to 100Mb
Formal room - fabricate a new dual std cone down-light and halogen
up-lighter combo
Family room - fabricated fan down-tube mounted cone up-lighter
Replaced master bed matress: Select Comfort 5000
Adjustable Air Mattress System
2007 Project Reconfigured audio system to work with new Sony flat panel
TV:
Installed 52" Sony Bravia XBR4 HDTV on wall mount
Installed TiVo HD unit to match HDTV
Replaced large entertainment unit with low level unit for
AV equipment
Replaced one Switchlink lighting controller (failed)
Replaced HP double sided printer with double sided
multifunction unit
Replaced failed kitchen under-cabinet lighting fixtures
Added additional lighting under microwave (over cook-top)
Replaced the pool salt chlorinator element
Filled in sand pit and created a flagstone patio with
umbrella sleeve
Removed the pool fence & tidied up
2008 Installed new aluminum folding loft stairs in garage
Installed new Patio furniture: Table & Directors type
chairs
Repaired filtered water system
Repaired under cabinet lighting (config. only this time)
2 attempts at fixing chilled water system (no good)
2009 Created a work area for Marlene's Scrap-booking/Crafts/Art in
the master bedroom
Removed the pool fence
Rebuilt the dual std cone down-light & halogen up-lighter
combo
Built replacement rear redwood gate & stained it for
protection
Installed rolling tool chests in garage (tidy up)
Replaced one Switchlink lighting controller (failed)
2010
Family room entertainment center
unit finished:
TV mount/surround & integrated cabinet for AV electronics
New drywall pot-shelf above with up-lights down-lights &
Speakers/sub-Woofer
Outside Patio Speakers & BBQ lighting + wiring for Audio/Sound I/O's
2010 Laundy Room
Redesign
Wall of base cabinets w/ pull-out full extension drawers
for additional storage
New
laminated flooring
New
full height base cabinet with pull-out organizer, pull-out shelves &
power outlets
New upper
cabinets with flip up lids, clothes hanging rail & under-cabinet
lighting
Replacement/new handles throughout.
New
larger sink & drain units, with soap dispenser
Added
shelf above existing cabinets with molding
Re-plumbed dryer vent for close wall clearance, added new hoses & shelf
above/si
2011 New teak table outdoors with new chairs
2011 Garage Redesign - (Phase
1)
New high mounted shelves on both sides of the garage
New
adjustable shelf units in center divide
New
rail bases hanger system for Bike & Bike Rack
New
Ladder storage above garage door
New
wood sheet storage above garage door
New
workbench with integrated shelf cabinet/door & drawer unit
Hutch
for roll-about tool cart under workbench
Updated
adjustable (movable) parking assistance balls
Recycled old sink from laundry for use in garage (with new plumbing for
supply & drain)
New
larger capacity and better insulated water heater/tank
2011 Project Pool
Equipment Refresh:
New Pump & Motor
New Filter
New Updated Salt Water Chlorinator
(LM3)
2012 Total disassembly cleaning of Stainless Steel BBQ
Created a
rolling cart for my Wok Burner
Repaired the
outdoor patio speakers
Replaced
(failed) Jenn-Air built-in microwave over oven with Kenmore built in combo oven
Ran dedicated new
wiring and circuit breaker for new microwave oven
Renovated drawer
slides for Recycling bin
Another attempt
to create a working water chiller (failed again)
Repaired the roof water damage (rot) on front corner (south west) of the house (incorrect
construction)
Additional work
in Garage (new cart & bench-top power tool solution).
Removal of the mesquite tree in back yard
2013 Project: Re-constructed Entertainment Electronics Cabinet unit:
Re-implemented the family room to formal Room/Master Bedroom AV connections
Installed,
populated and wired up the Keystone input/output plates for the entertainment
unit connections
Added
connections from the Mac Mini Kitchen computer to the TV/Audio system
Configured
the Mac Mini to play streaming TV shows over HDMI & VGA/Audio
Created a video & audio switcher for the Mac Mini video to TV -
off - Wall plate to TV
Added
connections to the Wall keystone plate from the Mac Mini for Firewire and for
USB 2.0 connections
Project: Patio Furniture - Purchased modular patio furniture -
resin-wicker type with 5 seats and 2 side tables
Swapped out new kitchen soap dispenser for old version (hand soap)
Installed soap dispenser in utility room sink
2014 Project: Water Service Upgrades (Had some
time on my hands this year - so lots of catch up projects)
New insulated water service plumbing, 1/4 turn shut-off valve,
pressure limiting valve (80 PSI), water hammer arrestor
New drain line from water heater drip pan through outside wall
Added hard and soft water front hose bibs with backflow
preventers and 1/4 turn ball valves
Project: Water Softener & Whole House Filter
Insulated
new overhead water supply pipes (across main entryway raceway to Garage) to
create water softener loop
Installed new water softener with bypass valve, drip tray, waste to
garage sink drain via air-gap, overflow to new external overflow pipe
Installed whole house water filter system with bypass valve,
including water pressure gauge & expansion tank
Project:
Ultimate Water-Cop Water Leak Protection System:
Installed
WaterCop shutoff valve in garage with dedicated power supply
Installed
water cop monitoring station & remote switch in utility room and wiring to east and west loft AC
spaces
Special
wired sensors acquired and modified to have correct resistance for x2 & x3
sensor circuits
Hard-wired Sensor
circuits installed for:
1: Garage water softener pan, water tank pan, under garage sink (3 sensors on 1
channel)
2: Utility Room in Sink Cabinet
3: Utility Room behind Washing Machine
4: Master Bedroom in East Sink Cabinet & Under East Sink Cabinet for Shower
(2 sensors on 1 channel)
5: Refrigerator/Ice Maker
6: Powder Room behind WC - also protects adjacent Pedestal Sink
7: Bathroom #2 In each sink cabinet (2 sensors on 1 channel)
8: Bathroom #2 behind WC - also protects adjacent Bath
Wireless sensors added to Kitchen Island:
1: In filter cabinet drip pan,
2: In sink cabinet (2 sensors on 1 channel)
3: Under sink cabinet
4: behind dishwasher (2 sensors on 1 channel)
Wireless sensors added to Master Bedroom west side:
1: In west side sink cabinet
2: Behind Master WC
As part of this leak protection system I have added a drain down
system and an RO shutoff system based on the Water Cop alarm. The water
can manually be shut off without effect but if any sensor detects water
then the RO tank is shutoff with an electric valve and another electric
valve opens on the main water supply to drain down the residual pressure
in the expansion tank. This is achieved with a solenoid valve from the
cold supply feeding through a limited size orifice and check valve
connected to the air gap drain pipe for the water softener. This avoids
additional leakage from either source by removing pressure in the main
and RO plumbing during any water alarm.
Project: Repair Damage from Roof Water Leak
Add flashing to the 2nd roof vent from the west, (poor original
installation)
Adjust the lead transition up onto the tile
Paint interior ceiling
Repair water damage at ceiling/wall joint - new drywall, tape,
texture & paint
Project: Guttering Rear & Front
Replaced guttering at rear of house (painted to match trim)
Added gutter guards to keep birds/debris out
Added drain pipe grilles and drip reducers
Added torrent catcher add on for major run-off area near family room
north/west corner window
Added new guttering with gutter guards at front above entry (painted to match trim)
Project: Kitchen
Island Rebuild (due to flood water damage)
Demolished drywall on back/end of island, removed water filter
cabinet
Rebuilt toe kicks (now removable), replaced all drywall and installed borax treatment/insulation
Mold mitigation on cabinet bases (Borax) & ventilation holes drilled
Waterproofed and soundproofed the dishwasher cabinet
Project: MooreCooler Water Chiller
- redesign of the 'coolworks' chiller that didn't chill
New airflow design from open base under cabinet to vent into cabinet
Seal ring added for base cover, new air-filter located on platform in
cabinet base (automotive type)
Integrated higher power better max-Td dual TEC element installed
Higher Flow fan installed
Heat-sink to block insulation improved, heat-sink-block mounting
bolts fully sleeved & capped
New programmable controller installed based on Arduino
Replacement thermocouple in block and new thermocouple for tank
New heat-sink temperature switches
New high current DC power supply
Insulated the tank top section
Project: Rebuild RO Water Filter:
Rebuilt water filter box (better) re-installed rebuilt water filter
(all new valves)
Change out to new clear filter cartridge vessels due to deterioration
of old ones
Relocated post-filter to top of RO unit
Fixed shut-off valve to cabinet for easier operation
Plumbed RO water directly to fridge ice-maker/water supply
Removed axial series expansion tank under sink
Installed vinyl liner in sink cabinet bottom
Install MooreCooler with air filter chamber on plinth base below
cabinet bottom
Project: Kitchen Under-Cabinet lighting improvements:
Added new X-10 relay control unit hidden above desk area - with
relocated dimmer
Split main under-counter LED lighting across two power supplies for
brighter lights
Project: Office LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Update:
Removed old incandescent lighting & dimmer units
Added new LED strips same as in Kitchen
Implemented LV dimmers in each of original 3 locations
Project: Pool Slide Improvements
Added a ball rack under the pool slide
Painted the pool slide
Added a bird deterrent strip to the slide top rail
Added a curved fence below the basketball backboard
Added large ball return device below the net
Added some keep-out rails around the pool slide platform base
Added bird deterrents (removable) on top of the pool slide
Project: BBQ improvement
Added a paper towel rack to the BBQ
Adjusted rack design and painted it all black
Project: Patio Lighting Feature
Illuminated & mounted Marlene's garage "M" wall letter
Added an Inline On/Off switch
Project: Master Bedroom TV Upgrade:
Ran Cat5e cabling from Family Room Entertainment Center to Master
Bedroom Wall Plates
Component Video from Tivo
RCA Analog Audio
Remote control back to TiVo
Remote control back to Formal Room AV system
Project: Fire Pit & Bench Refurbishment:
Cleaned off old flaking paint on bench/wall, opened up cracks for
repair & cleaning
Filled cracks with concrete patch & sanded down
Repainted benches with contrasting seat colour (as before)
Re-set the bench's built in landscape lighting - level & clean-up/relamp
fixture
Removed fire-pit brick edging
Replaced the brick edging with random black pebble tile border &
grouted
Refurbish the burner element & attachment method, create connector
cover
Project: Pool Refurbishments:
Adjusted pool chemistry to use high borate content to manage water
line algae
Replaced pool skimmer flappy
Fixed pool light and pool light dimmer
Repaired pool vacuum - replacement base plate and element
Adjusted profile of the pool drain cover (for less vacuum hangups)
Added direct drain pipe to filter cleanout with ball valve & flex
piping
Project: Added Mac-Mini connectivity updates:
Added wall plate with VGA in and Audio-in (to TV)
Installed remote buddy bluetooth remote control interface (via Sony
BD remote)
Installed Hola Proxy Switcher on Chrome for streaming UK TV shows via
a proxy server switcher (BBC/ITV et
Fixed Patio Mister System
Fixed rear landscape lighting
Fixed
the TiVo again (another new external hard drive)
Had street lamp fixed
Created hose bib backflow spray guard
Repaired Hose Reel & Hose Sprayer Head
Re-stained the teak patio table (redwood)
Made & mounted two black/white custom frames for Marlene's 30" x
30" & 36" x 36" art canvases in Formal Room
Repaired Alex's blackout blind and vertical blinds
Re-finished the sun shades for the Office, Alex's room and west
facing family room windows (Total of 9)
Repaired the U-Line fridge controller
Replaced 1 Switchlink controller in Kitchen for under-counter lights
Replaced 1 LampLink controller in Formal Room for cone up-lighter
Swapped out new kitchen soap dispenser for old version (hand soap)
Project:
Garage Redesign - (Phase
2)
Support column & beam for garage ceiling/loft support w/ integrated 110v/220V
Power outlets
New
additional troffer lighting integrated into garage ceiling
New
split system AC system dedicated for garage (2 evaporator modules)
Insulated Garage doors & extra weather stripping
Added 220v & GFCI breaker for garage power supply,
Added 110v local GFCI for new feeds to support pillar
