We've Had Some Work Done

Hi! I’m Jeannie, the very lucky owner of San Gabriel House Bed & Breakfast! I wanted to talk a little about some of our changes here on the property. Since I bought the place a little more than a year ago (November 2018), there has been non-stop work going on, mostly on the outside. If you’re local or come by frequently, you have seen the activity. We certainly hope that it has not been an inconvenience to our neighbors, but there have been many vehicles, noises, and clouds of dust floating around more often than I care to mention. But the end is in sight!

First, I have to give a shout-out to the best contractor there is around here for working on old houses – Roger A. Wood. He has been overseeing all the construction, remodeling, painting and general repairs that we have needed, and I plan to keep him busy for a long time, so too bad for the rest of you! JKJK, I let him get away now and then. We started with replacing the roofs, all except the metal parts. Then we had an electrician who might as well have moved in here for about a month. He worked tirelessly to make sure that this old house is as safe as possible, electrically speaking. Raul is the friendliest, most positive and respectful worker I have ever known, so it was a pleasure to have him here. You are welcome here any time!!! Roger’s crew is repairing and painting the exterior. I think it’s been almost a year since they started. They are meticulous. Don’t think of them as painters – they are more like restoration artists. They carefully inspect the wood and replace any boards that are rotten with matching wood, or they patch up pieces that are still strong but damaged. You cannot tell the difference between the original and the restored wood. These guys can fix anything. AND, they have an eye for period architecture. They still have to do the front and side, but it won’t be long now.

I almost forgot about the blasting which was done to remove the paint from the bricks along the front porch and porte-cochere. It’s not sandblasting, but still pretty messy and noisy. However, it was so worth it! I love the color of our bricks and I’m so happy we can show them off again.

I have at least four plumbers on speed-dial, that’s not going to change, but all of them have been great. We made the big decision to dig up and replace the sewer lines going from both buildings out to the street. They were over a hundred years old, by all accounts, so now was a good time to get it done. It totally destroyed the yard. Looked like a war zone with all the trenches. But Robby Ray got it done, for a very reasonable price. And the yard is recovering. Thanks a bunch, Rob!

One thing always leads to another….

The yard was very pretty before, vividly green and cozy. Part of me wanted to leave it exactly as it was, but there were a few safety issues (pathways that were distorted due to natural soil movement), and we simply wanted more usable space for people to gather. The sewer work caused the demise of both the fishpond and the pseudo-fountain/planter statue. ☹ [The goldfish found suitable homes before the holocaust.] That opened up an opportunity to redesign the area and create an environment that larger groups of people could use for special occasions.

The reason I started today’s blog to begin with, is to announce the completion of our gorgeous backyard patio and landscaping. A big “Thank You” (and an even bigger check), went to Barringer Landscaping, Inc. If you are looking for a landscaper that will do everything right the first time, to build something that will last (ok, that is yet to be seen) and look great for any occasion, they are the ones. We started out with a big mud field, and you should see it now. Really. Make a reservation. Stay all week. You’ll want to sit out on the stone porch under some pecan trees (pecans are done, it’s safe now), and read a book while the fountains make you feel you are relaxing next to a babbling brook. Or sit in the shade of the cedar pavilion for a quiet conversation or drinks.

We’ve even planned ahead for inclement weather, as we have placed, embedded in the patio, anchors for big tents, (provided by Almighty Rentals), which will make the process of setting them up easier and quicker when an outdoor event is threatened by rain. Soon we will be publicizing SGHBB as an event venue, for small-ish weddings, big-gish birthday parties, or whatever!

I can’t remember life before remodeling and construction…. I bet it is peaceful and relaxing. I think it is almost here! I hope you can come and visit us – we’re eager to share San Gabriel House with you.