Youth House Construction Progress Update
Weeks of January 18- January 29
As of the end of January the building is ready for drywall. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-ins are finished. Exterior trim is ready to be painted and the brick masonry has begun. Appliances and cabinetry are ordered. With dry weather we should see significant progress in early February.
Weeks of December 28- January 15
As of January 16, we're much closer to having the mechanical and electrical rough-ins completed. The upstairs electrical passed its city code inspection last week and insulation is being installed there. The upstairs soil piping is in place and lacks only a couple of vent lines to be complete. The downstairs electrical is 95% finished and we expect to complete the remaining details in the coming week. Randy Frazier and his crew have completed the "smart house" cabling, including the phone system, computer network, security system, fire alarm and smoke detectors, and audio/television hookups. Heating and air conditioning ducting is being installed and should also be completed next week. Concrete foundations for the front steps and the ramp on the north side have been placed.
Outside, the carpenters have completed the porch and terrace, the north, east and west gables, and have moved to the part-gable on the south wing. From there they will move to the dormers. Bricks for the exterior will be delivered to the site on Monday, January 19 and will be laid as weather permits.
Excavation of the site for the new Pavilion and band shell was done Thursday and Friday, and the foundation footings will be dug as soon as the muddy site conditions improve.
Weeks of December 14- December 25:
Last week, with installation of the remainder of the doors and windows, we completed the "dry-in" of the building except for the second floor window on the south side. We also continued the electrical rough-in, installing 85 can lights and, with the very welcome help of a volunteer team of electricians, wiring them. The contractor also completed installation of the large pocket doors donated to the project by the Fraziers.
As of Christmas Day all framing is complete including the upstairs; all light fixtures are installed except on the front porch and the stairwell; most of the downstairs and about half the upstairs is wired and the downstairs plumbing is installed. We have received bids and have selected a contractor for the drywall work, which will commence following the rough-in inspection and the installation of the insulation (a task for which we will again welcome volunteers).
Week of December 7 through December 11:
Last week the crew concentrated on completing the eave trim on the two dormers, applying sheathing to the gable of the porch, installing the fireplace, the windows and the front door, and beginning work on the "eyebrows", soffits and frieze trim nailers. During inclement weather they continued framing the second floor, completing the walls of the mezzanine and stairwell and laying out the remaining rooms. During the coming week we expect to apply the roof shingles, complete the soffits, and close in the open gable on the north end of the building.
It's encouraging to note the level of interest in our progress, as evidenced by the questions that arise. To answer two of them: The window in the south gable is intentionally not yet installed, because we intend to load the second floor drywall material through that opening. Similarly, the north gable was left open until the shower and bathtub units for the second floor bathrooms could be set up into the building...it would have been almost impossible to take them up the stairwell.
Week of November 26 through December 4:
Last week we continued framing the second floor and dormers and applied the roof deck and roofing felt to the main roof. Progress appeared slow because of the care required when working on the high, steep roof surfaces (the peak of the main roof is 28 feet above ground). Thanks to the Lord the task was completed safely. During wet weather the crew moved indoors and worked on framing the hearth and fireplace wall in preparation for installation of the fireplace and flue. We also completed the electrical rough-in for the kitchen appliances and convenience outlets.
Week of November 22 through November 25:
During this abbreviated three day work week we were blessed with spectacularly beautiful weather. The crew completed framing the front porch and began the interior framing for the upstairs rooms and the two dormers. We are now past the point that rain will shut down the job; there is plenty of work to do in sheltered areas for a couple of work weeks.
Week of November 14 through November 21
Last week was a good one, with beautiful weather all week. The crew made excellent progress, completing the framing for the terrace roof and setting all the rafters for the main roof. Applying the roofing felt to the completed portions of the roof made us less dependent on dry weather for continued progress.
Week of November 7 through November 13
The major accomplishments for this week were preparation and construction of the patio and front porch slabs and sheathing of the roof over the south and west wings of the building. Completion of the patio slab enables construction of the terrace roof structure, which in turn enables setting the long rafters for the remainder of the main roof. These items will be undertaken the week of November 16.
Week of November 1 through November 7
Last week we had five consecutive days of construction weather; the first full week of work since the first week of September. The carpenter crew completed framing the new classroom upstairs and set the trusses that form the roof and ceiling over the main meeting room, then built the chimney (actually a flue chase) for the fireplace. Electrical rough-in of the ground floor was also begun, as the main load center was installed and receptacle boxes were set and wired. On Saturday the block masons built the retaining wall for the terrace and patio on the north side of the building.
Week of October 25 through November 1
Once again the weather was an impediment, but a little progress was made nevertheless. We began erecting roof rafters over the south wing and completed sheathing the first floor. We also roughed in the water supply plumbing for the first floor. We are expecting much improved weather this week and we hope to make better progress.
Week of October 18 through October 24
Last week we made a couple of needed corrections to the ground floor framing, applied the exterior sheathing, and installed the sub floor for the upstairs rooms.
During the coming week we expect to begin framing the roof on the south end of the building and to rough in the water supply plumbing for the ground floor restrooms and kitchen.
Week of October 11 through October 17
Last week we had 3 1/2 days of semi-dry weather. The crew finished the framing details (window and door headers; beams to support the second floor) and began setting the joists for the second floor, reaching about 80% completion on them.. The staircase was framed in be week's end.
Next week (the week of October 19) we will complete framing and decking for the second floor and will begin framing the upstairs rooms.
We haven't given up on getting the building dried in by Thanksgiving, but it's going to be a stretch.
Week of October 4 through October 10
In four days of work last week, plus some overtime, the crew completed framing the first floor of the new youth house. Plans were to set the joists and beams for the second floor this week, but the forecast is not favorable, with rain predicted through Thursday.
Week of September 27 through October 3
Last week we excavated the interior grade beams, had the soil poisoned for termite protection, completed the west foundation wall of the meeting room, placed the vapor barrier membrane and the steel reinforcing for the floor slab, and poured and finished the concrete floor slab. This week we begin framing the exterior walls.
Week of September 20 through September 26:
There was no progress the week ending September 27 owing to rain. With the outlook for clear weather, we expect to pour the floor slab Thursday, October 1.
Week of September 13 through September 19:
There was scant progress this past week. We did finish the embedded items and got a favorable report from the city code inspector on them, covered them up and compacted the cover sand. Then the rains came! We'll not be able to do anything further until we have a few days of dry weather.
Week of September 5 through September 12:
Monday we began backfilling inside the foundation walls.
Bill Phillips brought us 30
dump truck loads (about 450
cubic yards) of "select fill", a mixture of sand and clay that compacts unusually well and that will support the concrete floor slab. Bill also generously provided heavy equipment to spread and compact the fill. In spite of delays caused by a torrential rainstorm at noontime
on Wednesday and another one
Friday afternoon, the backfilling process was completed.
On Friday morning we began installing the "embedded items", which consist of
the sewer and water supply plumbing and
electrical conduits that will be below the floor slab.
The coming week should see the completion of the embedded items and the digging of the grade beams (thickened, reinforced parts of the floor slab that support load-bearing walls inside the structure). Once these are completed, a moisture barrier of black polyethylene film will be laid down and the steel reinforcing for the floor slab will be installed. In the meantime, the concrete block foundation wall at the west end of the meeting room, which was omitted from the foundation wall so that trucks could drive in, will be laid up.
If the weather permits and these items are completed on schedule, we will pour the concrete floor slab late in the week or early the week following...then more obvious progress will start to show.
Randy Lambert did us a major favor Saturday by installing a temporary power supply to the construction site so that the carpenters will be able to use their power tools more easily...a very good thing!
The Lord is at work in other ways as well: On Friday afternoon, one of the vendors from the Farmers' Market strolled down the hill to hand me a check made out to the FPC Building Fund for $500. He said that the church is doing great things for the kids of Corinth, and he wanted to be a part of it. May God bless him, and may He continue to bless all of us.
August 31 through September 6:
The blank slate... future home of the New Youth House.
