One last thing before you head out on vacation

Have you a taken a break this summer?  It's that time of year, when everyone I know is either out or leaving soon before things get crazy again and life has to go back to routine after school starts!  I just got back from a much needed vacation with my family.  And while it's fresh on my mind, I thought I'd share the one precaution I take before I lock the house and head out the door.  If you are going out of town this summer, be sure to take this simple measure to safeguard your home and avoid coming back to a bad situation.

Prevent catastrophe, avoid costly damages

I'm generally not a worry wart. I don't have a pre-vacation checklist that's as long as my arm.  But more than a decade of homeownership and working in the home building industry have made me cautious about the two things that are catastrophic when it comes to your home - fire and water.  Everything else can be easily fixed.

Let's talk about water damage

As I mentioned in a previous post about water damage to buildings, "most of the water damage and moisture damage in buildings occurs from ‘bulk water intrusion’ - rainwater being the #1 external source and plumbing failures being the #1 internal source."  This is corroborated by the fact that a majority of homeowner's insurance claims are related to water damage as a result of burst pipes, or leaks due to wear and tear.

I've been in that situation where we got back from a weekend trip to a flooded kitchen, because the dishwasher broke while we were out.  I know a friend who lives with warped wood floors because their faucet connection burst open in the middle of the night.  I've worked with clients who've had to demolish their house (or what was left of it) and build new, after a fire or flood caused irreparable damage.  I've worked on remodels where the water heater blew up through the garage roof . There was also that time when a braided hose (the flexible pipe connecting the sink faucet to the shut-off valve at the wall) tore open in a brand new house, flooding the second floor just after my clients moved in.

Perhaps, it's better if these accidents happen when we are out of the house!!  But the damage can be extensive if left unchecked.  These events are so common that we started building in cautionary details in our new houses - like floor drains near toilets, floor recesses with drains under dishwashers and washing machines.  Over the top? Maybe! Maybe not!

Depending on the amount of water, length of time, and location, the destruction can affect framing, drywall, electrical wiring, light fixtures, flooring, baseboards, cabinets, furniture and other stuff.  I for one would like to avoid spending thousands of dollars in water damage and repairs, not to mention a large water bill and the hassle.

Vacation Precaution

That's why I make it a point to shut-off the main water supply* to the entire house when I leave town.  This is my non-negotiable.  This and turning down the thermostat on the air-conditioner.  My husband worries about the other 25 things!

Caution:

#1 If you do shut the water supply off, be sure to think about your water heater as well.  Without a continuous supply of water, your water heater tank is at risk.  Depending on the type and setting of the water heater, the heat source, and how long you're gone, the damage could be as minimal as a burnt heating element or more severe with a pressure build-up issue.  Since my house is all-electric (i.e. not a gas/propane/oil fired water heater), and it is the middle of summer, I turned the water heater off at the breaker and that was that.  If you have a fuel fired water heater, set the water heater to 'vacation' mode or 'pilot'.  Turning off the gas supply is not generally recommended, unless you are an expert at reigniting the pilot light, which you will have to do when you get back.

#2 If you have a pool in your backyard, see if you the pool water supply is isolated and only shut-off the water to the house.  You probably want the pool pump running and the filter keeping things clean.

#3 If you are gone for more than a week, you're probably going to want to run your irrigation/ sprinkler system or else your lawn and plants will bake in the summer heat.

#4 If your house has a fire sprinkler system that is tied to the house water-supply, then obviously, turning off the water main is not for you.

Alternative:

If shutting off the main water supply is not an option for any of the reasons listed above, simply shut-off the water supply valves at each appliance and plumbing fixture. That includes the dishwasher, clothes washer, icemaker, all sinks, and toilets. Yes, that's a lot of valves.

And don't be tempted to run a last load in the dishwasher or washing machine when you leave.

Where is the shut-off valve?

This depends on your water source and plumbing set-up.

*If you are on city water like me, your main shut-off is the big gate valve at the water meter in the yard box buried near the street.  If you can locate where the main line enters your house (in the garage or basement), you might find a ball valve at the entry point, either inside or outside.  I don't have this set-up at my house, so I shut the main at the street.

If your house is supplied by a well or rainwater cistern, then the main shut-off is most likely at the pump-house.

If you are building a new house, discuss these scenarios with your plumber or builder or architect.  You might want separate shut-off valves that isolate each separate use. This is highly unusual, so I provide a diagram (shown below) to let the plumber plan his installation accordingly.  This set-up also allows for easy installation of a water softener or water filter in the future.

How to turn it off?

Simple!  Turn the valve clockwise to close, and counterclockwise to open.  Remember, righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

Yes indeed, the list of things you need to take care of before you can take that break can be long and tiring.  It's ironic how stressful those days before heading out on vacation can be!  But whether it's a long-weekend jaunt, a 10 day getaway, or a 4 week trip overseas, do one last thing.

Turn your water off!

Cheers,

Sharon.

p.s. think I'm paranoid? Let me know if you do the same.

A summer of architectural sketching in Italy

This summer marks 15 years since my study abroad program in Italy.  It's a time that is very special to me, not only because it was 3 months in food/ culture/ fashion/ landscape/ architecture heaven, but it's when I really refined and owned my architectural sketching skills. It has served me well all the years since. So, to commemorate, I would like to share my collection of sketches from Italy. Not just the best ones, but the scrappy sketches as well, because they tell the story of a rough start and how I got good.

Italian splendor

Churches with domes, arches, columns, spires, rosettes, crenelations, piazzas, hill towns, cityscapes, streetscapes, intricate facades, window shutters and planter boxes - everywhere you turn, the scenery is rich with sketch frames.

Study Abroad for the win!  How did I get there?

I learned about the summer program in Italy when I was in my second semester at the University of Texas at Austin. I was an international student on a shoestring budget, paying my way through grad school on a meagre stipend as a teaching assistant. I had no savings and no financial support to go gallivanting through the Italian countryside just to tickle my wanderlust.

But...but...the program sounded so amazing. We were going to be living in a quasi education center called Santa Chiara, in a little Etruscan town called Castiglion Fiorentino in the heart of Tuscany.  And we would travel to Milan, Florence, Rome, and Venice, not to mention all the little towns near Castiglion, to study the art, architecture, and history of the cradle of the renaissance. I'm no history buff, but tell me you don't want to check out the seat of the Roman Empire or the center of the largest and oldest religious institutions in the world! Not just visit the Sistine Chapel as a tourist, but really dive deep into what, why, and how.

Oh, and my professor was doing an architectural sketching studio and we would draw every afternoon. S O L D.

I borrowed money and paid up. I was able to return my debts over the course of the next year. I've never been back, because sadly, I haven't had the time. Work and life...

The immersive education that a study abroad program affords sure is a singular experience. I highly recommend it.

Architectural Sketching, pen and ink

This sketch of the Pantheon is my favorite. I did in less than 5 minutes. I remember walking up to the Pantheon with our whole group and everyone wanted to get inside in a hurry, because that's where the magic lies. I wanted to capture the exterior of the building and the life of the piazza outside.  But, we had strict instructions to stick together. So, I took out my sketchbook and did this quick sketch as the other students were scurrying past me, and then ran inside to catch up.

I wasn't always that adept with a pen and sketchbook. In fact, pen and ink used to terrify me.

Drawing, a skill or a talent?

I've always been able to draw, ever since I was a kid. It was my only hobby, besides reading. The closest I came to taking my talent seriously was when I dabbled in weekend art competitions. My dad was good at it too and he nurtured my aptitude. My mom and sis were not, and showed no interest in learning. So naturally, I grew up thinking either you have it or you don't.

I never had any formal training, until I went to architecture school. We spent the entire first semester of studio, sketching and painting, which was arguably the best prelude to 5 years of architecture school. In later years, we learned to create one point, two point, and three point perspectives.

Pencil vs. Pen

I've always been very comfortable sketching with a pencil. With a soft (graphite) tip pencil, lines are looser and much easier.  You can control the weight of the line with the force of your touch. You can start with a light touch and outline the shape and proportions before you fill with more detail. There is plenty of room for error.

You don't even need to know how to draw a straight line. See these sketches of David below - no straight lines! In fact, the looser your hand is and less perfect the squiggles, the better.

On the other hand, if you want to draw buildings, you do need to know how to draw a straight line. And also understand angles and perspective. All of which I did. And yet, my first few architectural sketches in Italy looked something like this. I was at a loss. Why couldn't I draw what was in front of me?

That was the good thing about being in a class. You are committed, you show up, and you don't give up. You have someone to guide you and show you the way. Almost every afternoon, we would go out to the neighboring towns for architectural sketching expeditions. With more regular practice, I graduated to these sketches.

Castiglion Fiorentino Italy Pencil Sketch

I was getting better. But I did not dare use a pen to sketch.  'Pen and ink' terrified me. In my mind, using a pen meant that there was one chance to get it right. Each stroke left an indelible mark.

So I challenged myself. I wanted to be able to draw with confidence, using pen and ink! I started out using a pencil to outline, and then I would trace over with a pen. Not great, but baby steps, right. This was my first sketch, just pen to blank sheet of paper. What's the worst that could happen?

Pen and Ink Sketch - Il Duomo di Firenze, Italy

Then, more confidence.

Finally to these.

Still life vs. real life - architectural sketching

Sketching still life is one thing and sketching real life architectural buildings, spaces, and piazzas is quite another. The vastness and amount of detail in the picture in front of your eyes can be overwhelming. So, you have to make it your goal to capture the scene with the fewest lines possible. Just the most essential elements.

Like this sketch - just the shadows and our minds fill the rest.

With a lot more practice and observation, I graduated to the level of architectural sketching that comes with ease and without trepidation. It looks something like this.

I left Italy with the confidence that I could sketch anything.  And the understanding that sketching, just like anything else, can be taught and learned - it's a skill that gets better with practice, even for the talented.

I even did some watercolor, which is my current obsession.

Hope you enjoyed this tour of Italy. Drop me a line if you were at Santa Chiara on a study abroad program. And if you did the architectural sketching studio, I would love to see your sketches.

Cheers,

Sharon.

Note: All images of sketches and paintings are copyrighted © by Sharon George and may not be downloaded or reproduced. The use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission from the artist is obtained.