Mission: Tuscaloosa 2012
Our second day of working on the Habitat house. We got started about 8:00 again. We park our church van at the top of the hill and walk down; the driveway isn't suitable for the van.
This once was a forest; now it's just sticks that used to be trees. The tornado came across this area just before it reached the house we're working on.
We started the workday as we always do, with a prayer. The two gentlemen in the middle are plumbers who had just arrived and whom we invited to join us.
Pete, our supervisor, lists the jobs to be done today. There's quite a variety.
The little dog that happened by was irresistible.
Driving screws into the panels that form the walls of the "safe room." The walls are two 3/4-inch plywood sheets and a sheet of 14-gauge steel fastened to double studs. Driving the screws in is not a simple process.
The outside walls of the building are fastened to the slab by lengths of threaded steel rod that are epoxied into the slab. We've drilled all the holes, cleaned out the concrete dust with an air hose, inserted the epoxy into the holes, and then inserted the steel rods. This is the tool used to get the epoxy into the holes.
Working on the roof of the Safe Room. The top is like the walls, two sheets of plywood and a sheet of steel.
Driving nails to hold the hurricane tie-downs that attach the roof trusses to the framing below. This was a two-day job, but it's all finished now.
The plumber is also working up in the rafters today.
The huge pneumatic nail gun was used to add some more parts to the framing.
The outside is taking shape as well, with work on the fascia, the trim around this gable over the entrance, and putting up the blue house wrap.
Every job site has a rat's nest of battery chargers all plugged in and always busy.
Attaching the house wrap and working on the gable.
Taking a break from installing screws in the safe room walls. One of the steel sheets can be seen on the left; this will be covered by two sheets of plywood, and all of it screwed together and attached to the studs inside the room. About 1,000 screws are needed to complete the room.
Seeing what's on tap for tomorrow.
Pretty much everyone got involved in attaching the house wrap.
Working on the fascia, and an overall view of the house as it looks now.
The view from the inside; the door and window openings are being cut into the house wrap.
What we've completed, and what's next to be done.
The whole team crowded into the safe room, and Pete took our picture.
Tomorrow, perhaps, the metal roof.
No comments:
Post a Comment