Common House minutes: 2003-11-01

Minutes:

Present: !AmyN, Mel, Laura, Becky, Ted Minutes: Ted

Agenda: CH patio pattern revision CH AC Compressor siting Exercise room equipment Reports

As noted briefly in construction minutes, the contractors think that it would be best to alter the north patio saw-cut pattern to minimize visible cracks in the patio. Currently there is a strip of the diamond pattern that continues the pattern used in the interior hall. This crosses the patio at a 45-degree angle. There is a grid of saw-cut squares planned to cross the patio at the same angle (see flooring plan). John from Phoenix is concerned that cracks in the patio will start at the corners where the patio encircles the footings of the roof posts, and migrate toward the edge of the patio in a straight line. These would cross the slab at an angle to the cuts and be ugly.

John proposes to rotate the grid of squares 45 degrees so it is aligned to the north wall of the dining room, rather than to the extended hallway pattern. This would make it more likely that cracks will occur down in the saw cuts where we can't see them.

Nobody had any concerns about the aesthetics of this change and we agreed to tell JD to go for it. We did have concerns about the pattern extending from the hall--if extended to the end of the patio, it would terminate in a planting bed rather than the patio entrance. Ted talked to JD later and said John has a plan to deal with this; it will not just tail off into the flowers. JD did not have details.

[Additional note: Phoenix points out that we will have to do maintenance on patio periodically, caulking and sealing cracks. Ted will find out more.]

The revised HVAC plan means that one of the building's 3 AC compressors needs to be sited on the west end of the building. After a brief discussion we agreed that it should go just north of the shlepping cart pad. This gets it on the north side of the building for shade, there is ample room to landscape around it, and it will be out of the way of the hot tub. The unit is one of the Puron models and should not put out very much noise.

We discussed the exercise room equipment briefly. The treadmill is large but folds, so should fit fine. We may have problems with the universal machine depending on how much space is needed around it in order to use it effectively. Doesn't look like there will be much space for yoga or other activity in the room. We should probably keep an eye on usage for a while at first to see if this is really the best equipment to have in the space.

Furniture report: A stackable chair sample is at Amy & Elphs. All 8 dining tables arriving today.