How about an addition in a day? I’m looking for tips.
My friends 2 year old has just returned from a 3 month fight with kidney cancer, and his church and a bunch of us friends are pulling folks together to add on to their (very small/inadequate for their kids) house, this winter. We’ve thought of doing framing through drywall in a day – inspectors on site, large organized crews etc., mainly so we can get them in quickly, and to capitalize on volunteers’ interest.
A local builder has done the one day thing a few times – I called him and he was telling me about the drywallers (22 of them) hanging and taping the first coat of an entire house in 45 minutes. wow.
We’ll use preframed panels, trusses, hot mud etc., and the addition is only 32×24.
Any tips for organizing and planning this?
Replies
I have no tips but a couple of prayers to the family and the crew. My wife had leukemia. When are you planning on doing the build?
Headstong, I'll take on anyone!
Thanks. prayers appreciated. This family is really a great bunch of people - and the community is responding - they have 3 kids in a 36x18 cabin from the 1800s, so we're doubling the place.
Asher, their son, is doing well - 2 surgeries chemo, radiation the works.
We apply for the permit on Monday and would like to have the foundation ready by the end of the year.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
I was on a crew where they came close. Poured the foundation for a shed addition about 6PM the night before, and were very gingerly bolting the mudsill down at 7:30 the next AM. Had the addition up, roofed, and sided by evening. Drywall wasn't done mostly because the electrical couldn't get done for several more days.
The electrical is likely to be the show-stopper in this case -- gotta have the rough wiring in and inspected before DW can go up.
No electrons were harmed in the making of this post.
You might contact your local Habitat for Humanity group. They would probably give you some good advice.
Maybe the Amish would have some advice...
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People are entitled to their own opinions; People are not entitled to their own truth.
Jacob
Yeah, Google them, see if you can find a local blog where you can hash it out with them.--------------
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In fact, I'm Amish, as well as all the volunteers. The ladies will be having a quilting bee.
Actually we contacted Habitat, because we wanted to call our project Habitat for Hopkins (the family's name) they couldn't let us, but they donated lighting fixtures.
Its really cool to watch folks pull together to help this family in need. It really brings out the best in people.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
"We'll use preframed panels, trusses..."
My only suggestion is to check every last detail on the trusses and wall panels, and check 'em again. You'll really have a mess on your hands if they don't show up or are wrong when they get there.
Get the truss supplier emotionally invested in the project, or go there in person and have a talk with them. Let them know how this is gonna go down, and make sure they understand.
I bring this up because of a couple of bad experiences with "blitz builds". My last employer was approached by a group that was going to blitz build a large church. They had something like 80 men coming in from different states to do this.
My employer didn't think they could build as much as they said in the time frame they said they could. So he didn't schedule the trusses to be built until AFTER they wanted them.
They ended up being ahead of schedule, and we had a bunch of pissed off carpenters on our hands. They lost 2(?) days because of my bone-headed boss.
Heck, it would porobably be better if you had the walls and trusses sitting on the jobsite a week beforehand.
I just don't trust truss companies..............(-:
Brian,
You might try Millard Fuller's new group in GA. He started H4H and now is doing another group of this type. Ask them, or H4H at the headquarters about blitz building and they will help you get all your ducks in a row. BTW you might check H4H local chapters in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC. They have had lots of experience in this type of operation.
Good luck, and write everything down, schedule wise.
dan
I was involved with Habitat for Humanity for a few years. We never did a blitz build (too scary!), but obviously organization is the key.
Divide the people up into "crews" maybe 5-10 people. Pick a crew leader--preferably someone experienced with some aspect of building. Get them invested in the planning immediately, have them "own" whatever task they are assigned, make sure they understand every last detail of what they're doing so they can delegate appropriately.
Break every task into small chunks--and have it written out for the crew leaders. It's easy to forget a small detail in the rush. Make lists of every tool/piece of clothing people need to bring. Have a few people who are willing to make runs to the lumber yard/hardware store for forgotten items.
The last thing you want is people standing around waiting for the only person in charge to delegate to 50 people.
Definitely have the walls and trusses delivered early so you can go over everything. Our panel built walls once came with doorways 26" wide because the builders didn't know the 26 on the doorways meant 2'6". Granted, our walls were built by prisoners, so it's easy to see how it happened (it is a confusing way to designate a door opening size).
Talk to local restaurants and grocery stores about donating food and drinks for the volunteers--nothing like a hot lunch on a cold day to invigorate people. Church groups too--lots of older ladies would love to make a hot meal to help out since a lot of them don't feel like they can help build.
Also talk to local suppliers about getting discount or donations--be sure to acknowledge their donations with signs. Talk to the local newspaper about covering the story (preferably before it happens to maximize donation potential).
And don't forget Porta-Johns!
Good Luck! I can't imagine what it will mean to the family to see the community turn out to help them like this.
Jo