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Author Topic: Need help locating the colony's location  (Read 7898 times)

Offline specialkayme

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Need help locating the colony's location
« on: July 25, 2012, 08:38:24 pm »
Below are some pictures. The owner wasn't home, but granted me access to the outside. She told me they were in her "chimney" about 7 feet up. Looks like closer to ten by my count. But close enough. The brick had me a little concerned.

But, I can tell where the entrance is (obviously). The entrance is approximately the same height as the ceiling of the first floor. So I'm not sure if they built the colony in that chimney type structure, or if they moved inside the home in-between the floor joists.

I'd like to quote her a price on the removal. If they are on the outside, and I can remove that white trim and the shingles and get to it, it won't be too costly. If I have to go in from the living room or one of the bedrooms, that's going to make things more difficult and more time intensive. I'd also prefer to have SOME kinda idea before I start tearing open the side of her home. I'll probably tell her "it's likely here, but could be there, don't know until I get in there." But it's good to get some second opinions.

any thoughts?

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_180202.jpg
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_180148.jpg
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_180018.jpg
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_175926.jpg
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_175934.jpg
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/JustinWKay/IMG_20120725_175926.jpg

Offline iddee

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2012, 08:51:55 pm »
The shingles are nailed to a sheet of plywood. Use a flat wrecking bar and lift the plywood along the front edge. Use a flashlight to look into the open space under the shingles. They are most likely there. If not, then you worry about going into the house.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline hardwood

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2012, 09:09:49 pm »
Ditto.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2012, 10:08:15 pm »
If that area was a chimney, I didn't think there would be a void space under the plywood. But no harm in peeking. Thanks guys.

Offline affreux

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2012, 10:16:48 pm »
In the chimney, but I would shoot with a heat gun to look for the hot spot.

Offline Sparky

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2012, 10:18:22 pm »
WOW !! that carpenter was way off on their measurement to leave that kind of gap between the trim and the brick and didn't even caulk it. As mentioned about the looking under and on the side of caution, if you had a red light or lens cover the bees will not try to get you like they will when using a regular flashlight.

Offline iddee

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2012, 10:20:07 pm »
No problem with the flashlight in the daytime. Only at night.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

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Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2012, 11:16:40 pm »
No heat gun. I wish I had one, but it's a toy that I can't justify affording right now.

Offline jaseemtp

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2012, 11:19:44 pm »
If you can spend a few bucks, I purchased one from Lowes, I think it was $40.  Its just a hand held gun with a red light and helps me locate the ladies.  Not always 100% but every little bit helps.  I agree with every one else.  They are most likely in the space below the shingles
"It's better to die upon your feet than to live upon your knees!" Zapata

Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2012, 11:33:20 pm »
My assumption is those things are not that accurate on brick . . in the summer . . . during the day, right?

Offline jaseemtp

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2012, 11:55:06 pm »
Yep that is correct. Normally I am
Not looking for them behind brick though. It does work well finding them behind Sheetrock and wooden surfaces.
"It's better to die upon your feet than to live upon your knees!" Zapata

Offline duck

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2012, 01:54:02 am »
No heat gun. I wish I had one, but it's a toy that I can't justify affording right now.

you must be thinking FLIR!  yeah we all want that.. but heres what someone else was referring to.

http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

on sale now!  I find them useful inside paneling and sheetrock.  brick not so much..

Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #12 on: July 26, 2012, 08:15:54 am »
Yeah, I was thinking FLIR, lol.

I may get one for future cut-outs, but I think it would probably be best to just crack open the plywood and take a look first. At least on this one.

I will likely need to purchase a ladder and bee vac for this job. I'd prefer to keep expenses to a minimum as a result.

Offline iddee

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2012, 09:48:46 am »
Is this job in Raleigh, Greensboro, or inbetween?
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #14 on: July 26, 2012, 08:40:54 pm »
Greensboro

Offline iddee

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #15 on: July 26, 2012, 09:28:04 pm »
I have ladders and bee vac. Come see me.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline TwoHoneys

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2012, 09:59:03 pm »
I have ladders and bee vac. Come see me.

Very nice.

-Liz
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Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #17 on: July 26, 2012, 10:27:20 pm »
Thanks Iddee. I have to lock down the job first though. I thought about quoting her $275 to do the job. If it's just under the plywood, I think it's a little high. But if it ends up being behind a wall, or in-between a floor joist, I think it's on the low side. The risk I think is fair to both. What do you think? Plus, that's about what it would cost for me to get a bee vac and ladder. If I borrow from you (which I greatly appreciate), I would need it eventually on future jobs (assuming they come).

Offline iddee

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #18 on: July 26, 2012, 11:09:46 pm »
I get a minimum 300 for any removal. That one I would add anything over 4 hours would be an additional 100 per hour. It is better to lower your price when done than to raise it when it is more than you expected. It is not going to be an easy one. I also have scaffolding if you want to do it safely. This time of year, you and 2 helpers could be in the 90 plus heat for 6 or more hours. Think about it carefully.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline specialkayme

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Re: Need help locating the colony's location
« Reply #19 on: July 27, 2012, 08:10:30 am »
Thanks for the input. I'll probably quote her $300 for the removal, then $75 an hour over 4 hours. I know it's less than you charge, but I think you have much more experience, and theoretically can move much faster at it. If it ends up being 4.5 or 5 hours, I'll likely just keep it at the $300, but won't tell her that till I'm done.

I'll let her know the quote, and see where it goes. I'll be in touch about borrowing a ladder and/or a bee vac. Thanks so much for the help.

 

anything