Time for Rain Gutters and a Fence to Keep it All Together

With the completion of the hookup of the fire suppression system to the City water main, we were able to hook up the rainwater drainage to the pipe that were laid beneath the new concrete sidewalk, install rain gutters and downspouts, and replace the chain link fence across the front of the property where the driveway used to be. 

Each rain gutter is one piece, no seams, extruded by the green machine in the back of the truck from a sheet of aluminum.

That is one long, single piece of aluminum sheeting, extruded into the shape of the gutter.  Here two men are putting it up, but only one man was able to put most of the others.

And here is the result.  Now let it rain!

With everything inside the fence almost completely completed, it is time to fence.

Fire Suppression System Hookup Finally Happens!

It took nearly eight months, but it finally happened:  Our fire suppression system was hooked up to the City water main in Castillo Street.  It took that long to obtain the necessary permits from the City and from Caltrans.  Scheduling the actual work took only a week.  The work itself was spread out over 5 days, but now the last remaining major project is completed, so that a number of things can be done:  activate our fire alarm, install a security system throughout the remainder of the library, install rain gutters and hook them up to our drainage system, which was installed throughout the property but the drainage pipes out to the street had to wait until the fire system hookup work was done.

The first step was to cut the pavement and sidewalk with a big saw.

The second step was to break up the sidewalk and pavement, and then a ditch was dug from the edge of our property to the water pipe line.  The concrete was excessively thick, necessitating an extra half day for its demolition.

A City Water Department work got down in the trench to cut the water main and place a tee and valve in it.

It isn't especially impressive, but here are the results of his work.

At our end of the water pipe, a back flow preventing valve has to be installed, and here it is.

And here the crew is installing it.

Putting it all back together again is the final step.

While we had asphalt and a crew on hand, we had them finish the area around the trash enclosure..

Now We Have a Nice Storeroom!

The last room in the old wing of the Sahyun Library to be renovated was the old periodical room.  All the periodicals were taken out and stored in one of our storage units, the steel shelves were taken out and stored in the back yard, the walls were patched, painted, and the floor was carpeted.  A small meeting had to be held in the room, and a couple members said that room is too nice to be a storeroom.  A crack crew of volunteers reassembled the shelves and attached them to the walls.  So now we have a nice storeroom.  

Mac cleans the new shelves in the new storeroom which was once the periodical room.

And Jim Friestad wasted no time in stocking those shelves!

We're Almost Done, Except for . . . . . . .

Yes, the extension to, and the renovation of, the Sahyun Library is almost completed - except for connection of our fire suppression system to the City's water main.  We have no idea when that will happen.  Oh yes, we have ordered new partitions of the correct color for the Women's Room and are hopeful they will be delivered "soon."  
In the meantime, the interior and exterior of the old wing have been painted, and everything looks quite beautiful.  Do stop by the library to have a look, and keep your fingers crossed that all else will happen "soon."

The painters had to touch up shrinkage cracks that opened up between the tongue and groove of the ceiling planks.  They and our contractor avered that they had never seen the like with wood that was supposedly kiln dried.

Here is the old wing with its "eyebrows" and new coat of paint.

The entry patio really looks good with the new paint job, the new eyebrow, and the new bricks around the orange tree.

The old wing simply sparkles now with its new roof, new windows, new awning, and new paint job.

Seismic Bracing

The seismic bracing for the bookcases is completed, thanks to volunteers Martin Peterson, Stan Zalatel, Mac McMillin, Jim Friestad, and Art Sylvester.  We'll paint the exposed nuts and L-brackets, then we'll hope for an earthquake to see if the system works!

Martin attaches one of the braces to the wall.

Stan and Martin attach a brace to the top of one of the bookcases with Jim Friestad inspecting their previous work.

A wind storm stripped all these fronds from one or out tall palm trees, saving us, therefore a tree-trimming expenditure.

Two More Little Hurdles Overcome This Week

Today, the roofers finished tiling the awnings over the old doors in the old wing, thus completing that part of the construction.  The awnings, or "eyebrows" as they may be called, add a touch of class to the old wing and bring it into conformity with the new wing.
Jim Friestad, Martin Peterson, Stan Zalatel, Mac McMillin, and Art Sylvester added more volunteer hours to bookcase construction this week with the manufacturing and emplacement of seismic bracing in the new stack room.
And finally this week, new light fixtures were installed in the Ladies' bathroom.  Partitions won't be far behind we hope.

Finishing touches are added to the new "eyebrow" (awning) over the old door and new window at the north end of the old wing.   It sure dresses up the main entrance to the Sahyun Library.

The roofers also dress up the old entrance.

 

 

 

 

Mac and Jim drill holes for bolts to link sections of box beams to make seismic braces in the stacks.

Martin and Art link up more sections for the braces.

The white bar between the two bookcases and below the light is one of four seismic braces designed to keep the bookcases from toppling in the event of an earthquake.

We Are Still Constructing!

Now that the windows have been installed in the old wing, our contractor is able to focus his attention on several items that he deems necessary and desirable or are required as a provision of our building permit.  These details include a trash enclosure, an awing over the old entry way, and an awning ("eyebrow") over the rear window and door of the old wing.  Expect that the construction will be completed this week, at the rate Bruce and Carlos are going, and that the roofer can come soon afterward, followed then by the painter.

Some library librarians, users, and visitors may have seen this workshop out in the parking lot and wondered what's up.  See below.

The gate and sides have been added to the posts and gate frames.  Just need to paint it now.

 

This heavy construction required for the awning over the turquoise door and window at the rear of the Community Room.

In contrast to the new wing, the bricks in the old wing are hollow and too weak for us to attach the awning solely to the wall, so the heavy 6"x6" posts are necessary to support it.  After Carlos finishes the wood work, we'll put a red tile roof on it to match the rest of the roofing.

This awning will cover the entry to the old wing.  When it and the other awning are completed, we'll have four such awnings over each of the entrances to the library.