I have carefully compared the Duvinage drawings with my own drawings and notes for the spiral stair installation.  I believe the Duvinage drawings to be in substantial agreement with what we sent them. The only discrepancy, which I believe to be immaterial, is a 1/4 inch difference in the east-west dimension of the second floor rough opening, in that my drawing specifies 116 inches, while Duvinage specifies 115 3/4 inches.  At issue is the exact east-west position of the stairs, and hence of the second floor north-south guard railings, each of which will be 1/8 inch closer to the edge of the second floor opening. This should not be a structural problem, but if it were, the opening could easily be narrowed by bolting a 3/4 inch thick board to the existing floor joists.

There are, in fact, seven critical dimensions, six of which we have measured repeatedly: the vertical distance between the basement and the finished first floor, the vertical distance between the first and second finished floors, and the rectangular dimensions of the first and second floor rough openings. Except as noted above, all these are in agreement. The seventh critical dimension is the 28 degree westward deflection which the distal (southern) projection of the east railing on the first floor should make to permit unobstructed opening of the front door. I am confident of the measurement that I made, and I do not think it is necessary for me to return to the Island to confirm it.

==> Please tell me whether you agree that under the circumstances we should NOT make a trip to Madaket to confirm the measurements but that I should a) e-mail Tim to advise him that he need not confirm the measurements, and b) I approve the Duvinage drawing by e-mailing to Ryan O'Leary a scan of the drawing with my signature.

I hope that you are recovering and feeling reasonably well.