Newsletter:  October 2005 a "If a customer wants cherry wood cabinets or marble or granite counter tops – we can do that," says Mike Fitzpatrick, Project Manager for Pinnacle Homes. "I brought in LeDuc & Dexter to help make it happen.  They have the manpower and the expertise." – Eric Schmitt, General Contractor, Schmitt & Company. Super Service Plumbing are experts at installing, testing and servicing backflow assembly devices.

Vista Pointe – Pinnacle Homes

Residential

Pinnacle Homes is building another unique subdivision of 10 upscale custom homes in the highly desirable west Petaluma area. Vista Pointe is located on Sunnyslope Road off "D" Street. There are 9 floor plans and the homes range in size from 3,000 to 5,300 square feet.

There are 9 different floor plans at Vista Pointe. (click image to enlarge)

Vista Pointe is a hillside development with picturesque views of downtown Petaluma and the surrounding area. Seven of the homes are located on a cul-de-sac off Sunnyslope Road and the other three homes are located on Sunnyslope Road.

Pinnacle Homes has developed a niche of building infill projects, subdivisions of approximately 10 to 25 homes, in desirable locations such as Bel Terreno, a recently completed project just off the Sonoma plaza next to Sebastiani Vineyards. LeDuc & Dexter worked on that project and is the plumbing contractor for Vista Pointe.

The hilltop homes at Vista Pointe have nearly 360 degree views. (click image to enlarge)

Vista Pointe homes have numerous options and upgrades available to homebuyers. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter is installing the complete plumbing layout that includes copper water pipe and they are also installing the fire sprinklers systems for each home. These custom homes provide homebuyers with options and choices that include upgrades in plumbing fixtures as well as other variations, "If a customer wants cherry wood cabinets or marble or granite counter tops – we can do that," says Mike Fitzpatrick, Project Manager for Pinnacle Homes.

Fitzpatrick, who has been a project manager since 1989 and has spent the last nine years with Pinnacle Homes, has worked with LeDuc & Dexter many times over the years. "They are excellent - one of the biggest, most professional, most organized plumbing companies I've work with – they're tied for first place," says Fitzpatrick. When asked who they were tied with Fitzpatrick replied, "I'm not sure – but that's how good they are."

Schmitt & Company Building Blankiet Estate

Wineries

Blankiet is located on a hillside behind Domaine Chandon in Yountville. (click image to enlarge)

Schmitt & Company, a Napa Valley construction company, is in the process of building Blankiet Estate in Yountville. Part of the process includes preparing the winery for the 2005 crush, which is underway now. This required getting Temporary Occupancy of the facility from Napa County. Even though the winery isn't scheduled to be completed until June of 2006, Blankiet is now crushing grapes at the facility.

Eric Schmitt, General Contractor and owner of Schmitt & Company had a tight two and a half month schedule from the time the project was green lighted to prepare for the crush. "I brought in LeDuc & Dexter to help make it happen. They have the manpower and the expertise. Pat Stotesbery at Ladera (Vineyards) referred me to LeDuc & Dexter," explains Schmitt. LeDuc & Dexter did extensive work at Ladera Vineyards, a retrofit project that included caves and a complicated septic system.

The crush pad during a lull in the grape harvest. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter installed the boiler system in the right foreground above the winery. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter completed a mechanical area on the highest tier of the hillside winery site at Blankiet Vineyards that includes a boiler, hot water storage tank, compressed air, and pressure boosting system to pull water from the well. LeDuc & Dexter also helped to prepare the crush area with hose stations for gas, air and water. The winery also has 8,000 square feet of caves for wine storage, which were built by Nordby Wine Caves. LeDuc & Dexter connected the plumbing stubs from the caves to the winery.

Schmitt & Company has previously built Plumpjack Winery in Oakville and is currently putting the finishing touches on a 14,000 square foot hillside home that features an observation tower, for the owners of Blankiet Estate. "We've found our niche, which is boutique wineries and one-of-a-kind customs homes," says Schmitt, who has been building in the Napa Valley for 20 years. Schmitt & Company has 20 employees and generally takes on no more than 2-3 projects at any one time so they can give them the attention that these type of one off custom projects demand.

LeDuc & Dexter installed the pressure boosting system to draw water up to the winery from the well. (click image to enlarge)

Back Flow Prevention

Super Service Plumbing

Backflow prevention has applications for residential and commercial properties. For residential homes that have a water well and or an ejector or booster pump and also receive city water, most cities including Santa Rosa require a backflow device. For commercial properties with sprinkler systems, irrigation systems and domestic water systems a backflow device is required.

Super Service Plumbing used a crane to position the backflow prevention device into position at Continental Lanes in Santa Rosa. (click image to enlarge)

Residential homes with a water well require a double check assembly (DCA) that is enclosed in a box and buried underground. The device is located past the water meter and is typically inspected once a year by a certified tester. After a homeowner has drawn city water two check valves in the backflow device prevent the water from going back into the city water supply.

For residential homes that have an ejector pump or booster pump a reduced pressure principal backflow device (RP) is required. The RP assembly is above ground and if either check valve fails the device dumps water on the ground. RP backflow devices are also used in commercial applications when irrigation or domestic water systems are present. For commercial facilities that have a fire sprinkler system, a double check detector assembly (DCDA) is to be used. Super Service Plumbing installed a medium size six-inch pipe DCDA at Continental Lanes in Santa Rosa for this purpose.

Super Service Plumbing personnel lower the double check detector assembly (DCDA) into its point of operation. (click image to enlarge)

The double check detector assembly  (DCDA) fully installed and operating. (click image to enlarge)

The average life of any backflow assembly device is five to seven years before it would need to be rebuilt with a rubber kit. If a backflow assembly device reaches an age of 25 years or more the model should be replaced. Super Service Plumbing are experts at installing, testing and servicing backflow assembly devices.