The weather wasn’t quite what we expected, but it wasn’t too hot and it didn’t rain at all until the very end of our workday. Even then, it was just a sprinkle and didn’t bother anyone. We had 29 volunteers from two church groups, some of our corporate friends and our “regular” crew of volunteers.
Last week we got a lot of work done to prep for Saturday and painting. The tree guy came this week, so it was a nice surprise to find the back of the lot cleaned out except for a few tree trunks. Saturday was spent finishing up the moldings, installing window sills, caulking and filling nail holes, and generally preparing for paint. Paint prep included sanding the woodwork, removing the interior doors, removing the pantry shelves, putting “feet” on the doors and shelves, and covering the windows and doors with plastic.
It’s been a crazy week - the painters came on Monday to prime the ceiling, all of the walls and the doors and shelves. We used about 30 gallons of primer and it took a little over 3 hours to get everything sprayed. The paint crew came back on Tuesday and repeated the process but using semi-gloss off-white paint this time. It was another 25-30 gallons of paint, and was again about 3 hours, but this time it included all of the cleanup. Thank you so much Jason for helping us out with the sprayer!!
Next week: YES, we are working Memorial Day weekend!! Now that the house is painted, we can get started on tiling the floors, installing cabinets and vanities, ceiling fans, etc. We’ll be installing the painted moldings as well as possibly painting the bedrooms and bath.
May 23, 2008
We had a great day of work. It was supposed to be in the mid-90s, but we were lucky to have some cloud cover and a good breeze that kept us comfortable. We had 10 volunteers and got a lot more done than we expected. Nearly all of the inside doors were installed. Curtain rods were installed in the closets and shelving built into the pantry. We got started on the caulking and filling the nail holes. The city came out and installed the sewer lines and water meter. The siding trim was completed this week.
This week we will be finishing the wood trim, priming the shelves, and building the window sills. The caulking and filling the nail holes will continue, and we plan to get ready for painting next week. Of our remaining major projects, clearing the back half of the lot is growing higher on the priority list.
If we get it painted early next week, then we can reassemble doors & shelving. After that it might be possible to lay floor tiles and start the electrical trim. The week after that we will begin installing the cabinets and counters.
May 15, 2008
We had a good workday. The plumbing and wiring were completed and inspected. The insulation and sheet rock were completed this week as well.
Next week we install doors, floor molding, closets and trim.
May 15, 2008
Today was a washout. Literally. It rained all morning and with too few volunteers, the workday was cancelled.
See you next week to install doors and floor moldings.
May 12, 2008
It was another beautiful day for working and we accomplished a lot today. A crew got together and built the pad for the air conditioner. Another crew worked inside the house to cover the floors in preparation for the sheetrock crew.
May 12, 2008
Today was a nice day for working. There was a lot of work being done on the wiring. We worked with the homeowner to determine the locations and installed the switch and outlet boxes. Outside, work continued on the porch siding and trim.
Next week we’ll continue with the wiring, build the air conditioner pad, cover the floors to prepare for the sheetrock crew and continue with siding and trim
May 12, 2008
It was a busy week - the plumber and air conditioning contractors were in. The ducting in the attic is nearly done. It’s been a chilly week as well, which in a way, is good for us.
We had a big crew from BP in Texas City who were a real blessing in getting the siding up. Patti and Barry worked on the Bird’s Nests, which are always a little tricky.
We also had a crew from UTMB come out and haul a lot of the brush from the back of the lot to the front. Hopefully the county will help us out and haul it away.
Next week’s tasks will include siding and trim, installing outlet and switch boxes, wiring and finishing up the porch.
May 12, 2008
Another nice day and we had some additional UTMB volunteers this week. We got more work on the siding done and the plumber’s been working with the HVAC contractor so that we can get the roof shingled. In general, things are moving along and we should be on target to finish up the end of June.
April 5, 2008
We had a smaller overall crew today, being it was the day before Easter. The siding waited this week so we finished up with some interior details today, such as putting in the electrical boxes in most of the rooms. Our homeowner needed to go home and measure some items for the living room and we couldn’t finish the hallway because we’re storing siding in the house. Wiring the house is underway.
Next week: We’re hoping to get the siding finished up.
April 5, 2008
Note: We are planning to be working the Saturday before Easter.
It was another beautiful weekend and we had 26 volunteers working on the house! We arrived Saturday to find that the Thursday crew was able to get the windows and doors installed. So the Saturday crew was on to install siding and trim.
When installing the windows and doors, flashing is also installed to help keep water out. Then J-trim or J-channel is installed around the windows, doors and the A/C connections, etc. that stick out of the siding.
The basics of how-to-install-vinyl-siding is not the siding at all, but rather, the flashing ,the eaves, soffits, windows, and door trims. Part of this is remembering that vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes. As a result, we make an effort not to drive the nails in too tight and to leave a little gap at the corners where it will need to move. While some folks were installing the first strips of siding, we had a few others installing vinyl fittings for all of the external outlets and spigots, outside lighting fixtures, and the dryer vent.
Next weekend’s tasks: Continue work on siding and trim, and possibly begin interior wiring.
References: Make Your Own House; Fine Homebuilding.com; Ask The Builder.com
March 19, 2008
