Thursday, August 20, 2009

August 20, 2009

Just to give an update on the progress of this house build...

Bruty's Carpet Corner finished installing all the floor coverings today.

The electrical is 99% complete and we are waiting for the ground to dry out for Alliant to be able to bury the power and gas lines.

Tomorrow we hope to have the kitchen counter tops come in so we can install them. Saturday we plan to finish up the base trim where the vinyl flooring was installed. We hope to finish hanging towel racks and the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. We have the window blinds ready to install.

We will then be waiting for the plumber to finish up the bathroom stool, sinks, etc.

Once the ground dries up we can pour the sidewalk and install the finished steps and handrails. Then there is some more landscaping that will add the finishing touches to the yard.

Once again, if you have a couple hours, give Jim Cluney a call and schedule some time to help finish up the last minute things that need to be accomplished.

We will be letting everyone know the exact date and time for the dedication ceremony for the house as soon as we finalize a few more things.

Please plan to come and be a part of that fantastic day.

Just a reminder, we will have available a DVD with over 350 pictures that highlight this year's Habitat build for a minimal fee of $3.00. If you are interested in one of these DVDs email Jim Cluney at jcluney52@mchsi.com and put your order in. We will be showing a presentation highlighting each day of the build process at our dedication ceremony.

Keep checking back with this Blogsite and stay up on the latest news....

Saturday, August 15, 2009

August 15, 2009






Today's work crew was smaller in numbers, but mighty in work accomplished. Leo Vittetoe, Nick Evanovich,Norman Brooks, Richard Gilmore, Isabel Tapia, Andrew Buendia, Jim Cluney, and Terry Miller made up the crew today.

We finished putting on the base trim and door casing, except for where the vinyl flooring goes down. We hung most of the ceiling fans and a few more light fixtures. Most of the towel bars and bathroom accessories were installed.

While most of us were busy inside, Terry Miller was busy outside moving the mountain of dirt around the yard and leveling the terrain.

Isabel, Izzy as we have learned to call her, and her friend Andrew helped clean up all the wood chips and sawdust and paper from all the work that was done over the last two days. They even managed to get some paint on the closet shelf supports and some on themselves.

We made a shorter day of it today since it was part of the weekend.

Next week we will have Bruty's Carpet Corner installing the carpet and vinyl floor covering.

We were one kitchen cabinet short and should get it in along with the counter tops by the end of the week. This will let us finish up the plumbing.

Alliant Energy will try to get our gas and electric run to the house hopefully by this week also.

We look forward to the storm doors coming in this week also. Then, if the rain doesn't mess us up, we will continue to work on the dirt, or mud, around the house.

We are heading closer to completion, but there is still a lot of little things that still need to be finished up.

There is always more opportunity for anyone to help that wants to.

Please give Jim Cluney a call at (319) 653-1735 if you want to help.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped!!!!!

Friday, August 14, 2009

August 14, 2009 - Part One






What a work crew we had today! Thank you, Nick Evanovich, Charlie Thompson, Charlie Phelps, Tom Hunt, Richard Gilmore, Norman Brooks, Leo Vittetoe, and Gary Scheeler for your help today.

The kitchen cabinets came in today and most of them were installed. The interior doors and base trim came in and mostly installed. Closet shelves and coat rack poles were installed.

It is really looking like a finished house now!

Tomorrow the rest of the trim and cabinets will be finished up. We will be hanging the ceiling fans and smoke detectors as well. The bathroom fixtures and towel racks will be hung.

If you want to help we will be starting at 8:00 in the morning. As we have said before, if you can't get here at 8:00, come when you can.

We want to thank Carolyn Guenther for providing the meal today.

Enjoy these pictures from today's build.....

August 14, 2009 - Part Two



Here are a few more pictures from today's build, enjoy...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

August 12, 2009




We had another great work day today. Thank you, Dave Birney for bringing in your equipment and filling in the low spots in the yard and along the foundation. Over the course of the next few days the yard is going to look a lot different. Tom Hunt helped Jim Cluney put in most of the light fixtures today.

Yesterday Ed Kielenstyne and Jim Cluney finished installing the sewer line in the back yard.

Now guess what! We have the kitchen cabinets, interior doors, and trim all coming in by Friday! This is an absolute miracle since we were not suppose to get them for at least another week. God is so good!

The schedule for work will go like this....

Friday we can use anyone who will be able to help us hang interior doors, put down the base trim, install the kitchen cabinets, and install the shelves in the closets.

We will plan to work Saturday to finish up what we might not get done Friday.

By Tuesday or Wednesday we will have the carpet and vinyl installed.

Counter tops will be here in about a week and then we can finish up the plumbing.

Once the dirt has time to settle we will put in concrete for side walks and step platforms. The steps will then be ready to construct.

We typically work from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you want to help and can only be there for an hour or two that is great.

Please call ahead and let us know which days you can work so we can figure the number of people we need to feed at lunch time.

Call Jim Cluney at (319) 653-1735

It is amazing how fast things come together when everyone works together to accomplish a common goal. Thanks again....

Monday, August 10, 2009

August 10, 2009

Latest update on Habitat build schedule....

As you might have read, we had a minor setback in our building schedule due to the wrong doors and trim being delivered.

We should have the correct materials in by this Thursday with plans to start installing both doors and trim on Friday and Saturday.

If you want to help install light fixtures, closet shelving, and a few other minor things this Wednesday, call Jim Cluney at (319) 653-1735.

We will be back on schedule before you know it.....

Thanks for all the volunteer help.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Jim, Your blogs are coming in loud and clear. Love the pictures! Thanks for all your hard work. The house looks awesome. Lynette

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

August 04, 2009




We were able to get the water line in today thanks to Ed Kielenstyne from Circle K Plumbing and Jon Ballou who trenched for us.

Bad News....

Somehow there was a mix up on the order for the trim and interior doors and they won't be here for tomorrow's workday. Oh well, that means we will get a few days to rest up and hit it again in a few days while we wait for the right materials to come in.

We will have a few small jobs to do on Friday that will consist of putting the shelves in the closets. We might be able to help the electrician some. Then there might be a few other jobs by then.

Call Jim Cluney if you would like to help at (319)653-1735.

P.S.

Please Blog us back if you would. We don't know if very many people are getting this Blog or not. I guess we will assume you did not get this if we don't here from you.

Monday, August 3, 2009

August 03, 2009 Part Three






Here are some more pictures from today's workday. Enjoy!

August 03, 2009 Part Two






Here are some more pictures from today's workday. Enjoy!

August 03, 2009 (Part One)






We had another fantastic day today! It was the day of the Paint Party!!!!

We had about 10 volunteers help out today. All the rooms are painted now. Wait till you see these awesome colors! Reds, purples, greens, blues, and browns highlight the rooms. It truly is a side of Isabel's family that is individual and unique. Yes, Isabel ROCKS!

You should have seen the faces of the kids when they got to see their rooms all painted up.

We also want to thank Raph Gonshorowski for donating his time and materials for putting up the seamless gutters.

The floors have been cleaned up from all the rosin paper and drywall mud and dust. The screens were put back in the windows, and preparation for finish trim and doors was done.

Tomorrow we hope to lay the water lines, and sewer lines.

Wednesday we will be installing all the doors and trim. This will really accent finish of the house.

If you want to help, call Jim Cluney at (319) 653-1735.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

August 01





Another great workday at the house. Thanks to Walt Graffam, Tom Hunt, Andy Lopez, Isabel Tapia, and Jim Cluney, all the walls got primed and ready for the finish coat of paint.

Monday at 8:00 a.m. we will be having our Paint Party! It shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours to put the finish coat on all the walls. Once that is done we will begin to clean up and get the house ready for finish trim and doors on Wednesday.

Thank you Lynette Sievers for the great lunch today!

If you have questions about scheduled workdays or any other questions, call Jim Cluney at (319) 653-1735.

Drive by and see the house so many people have helped to build. I believe there have been something like 90-100 volunteers helping this year.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!