RVing With a Purpose

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Feeling very blessed with another beautiful day. Cool this morning, then warmer during the afternoon. Actually, just plain hot working on the roof in the sun today. The rainy weekend we had last weekend turned into a beautiful week. Tomorrow is predicted to be nice, too. So hopefully we will finally get to ride the levee trail.

Today was roofing day. We really wanted to finally get the house in the dry. We had a really slow start, but then things started falling into place. Richard’s home is now in the dry with a bathroom and bedroom addition. We still have some additional screws to place in the roof and the soffit and fascia to put up, but the roof is on! Everyone worked so hard today. In addition to the roofing which everyone worked on, Stel and Avis got a lot more of the insulation installed. We had a lot of clean up to do since it’s out last work day this week.

Lunch today was again provided by Richard and was fried fish with slaw, french fries and bread. It was great. We also got word today that the committee approved NOMADS to build the other bedroom on Richard’s house so that means we will working there for a good while longer. The teams after we go home will have to complete the house. The team is very happy for Richard and Sandy. It’s been a good week.

Tonight we had our weekly team dinner and the team decided to stay home and grill hamburgers. All the food was great and everyone enjoyed the evening. We had to say goodbye to Mark and Lisa, and Mark and Jo. The four of them have been such wonderful additions to our team. We will miss their laughter and their wonderful contribution to the project. Otherwise, it was another good week.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Today was another beautiful day, cooler, and windy but beautiful. We are hoping for less wind tomorrow when we need to install the big sheets of metal roofing. We really can’t say anything negative about the weather here after looking at all the damage in Alabama from the Monday night storms. It is really amazing that no one died in those storms. Most recent count is 9 tornadoes touched down Monday night.

After devotion today, the team again headed to Baker to continue work on Richard’s home. We, however, headed in the opposite direction but only a few miles to Denham Springs to look over another home the Conference wants us to repair. This home needs sheetrock work, painting, doors installed, cabinets installed and flooring. The college kids who worked here last week taped, mudded and partially sanded the drywall They actually did a pretty good job but looks like they ran out of time to complete the job. Since this is all inside work we currently plan to continue on Richard’s home until the rain returns next week then at least some of us will go to this home.

While we were in Denham Springs, the team returned to work. It was a busy day and everyone is tired tonight. Today Rita and Lisa completed the railing for the front porch so now the porch and ramp projects are totally complete. They did an awesome job. The electrical was roughed in today, by Stel, Mark, Jodi and probably some others, and is awaiting inspection by the city. The inspector may have come after we left this afternoon. Otherwise he should be there first thing in the morning. Insulation was installed by Avis and Jo, in the exterior walls that did not have electrical installed. The electrical work has to remained uncovered until after the inspection and then we will complete the insulation installation. The windows were installed by Dave and Gary with some help by others. Yea! We took those windows out, protected them for a couple of days and got them reinstalled with out breaking any panes. Okay, now we will probably break them tomorrow. No! Mark, Max, Dave, Gary, and others spent most of the day preparing the rafters for the metal roof, soffit and fascia. Last night we went to Lowe’s and selected the material for the soffit and fascia and Charles picked it up for us this morning. We are so looking forward to having the roof on this house. That is our main goal for tomorrow. Sure hope we get it done.

Richard made crawfish etouffee for us at lunch. Again, he made a large pot and served us all. The man can really cook. Everyone enjoyed lunch too much and no one felt like returning to work. However, we had to earn our lunch. Thanks, Richard, for another wonderful meal.

Tomorrow is NOMADS Friday so we really want that roof in place before the weekend. We will let you know tomorrow night.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Today was a cooler but beautiful day. Nice working weather.

We all began the day back in Baker at Richard’s house. The Quickcete was mixed and poured at the end of the wheel chair ramp, completing that portion of the project. We began installing the railings on the front porch until we ran out of material. The lumber came this afternoon, but by then everyone was busy on other projects so we will complete the railings another day. The sheathing was completed. The purlins were all installed. We completed the blocking where it was needed. The house wrap was installed in spite of the wind and the sub-fascia was partially installed. After lunch Anne, Jo and Lisa returned to Francis Asbury and painted the floor in the hall at the church. There are still some doors to paint and trim to install and the floor will probably need another coat. We may save most of those projects for next week when we are expecting rain again.

 

It was another beautiful and productive day in Baton Rogue.  But we are tired so its a short blog.

Monday, March 19, 2018

This morning was again cloudy, dreary and drippy. We had a little rain around 10:00 but it was light and didn’t last long. It was just enough to make us cover up the saws and go inside for a moment and then it was over. After that quick little shower, the sun came out and it was hot and humid. Our high today was in the mid 80s, by far the warmest day so far. Our northern team members really don’t like that heat. They should be happier tomorrow when it cools off and the high is 65. We will be happier too.

Today the ramp crew completed the ramp with the exception of a little Quikrete by the metal ramp to help alleviate some of the mud problems. BTW, the purpose of the metal ramp is to prevent wood decay for the portion on the ground at our homeowners request. This afternoon our construction coordinator asked the crew to also place the same type of railing that is on the ramp on the porch as well. They will probably start on that tomorrow.

Today good progress was made on the bedroom addition. The windows and sheathing were removed from the exterior wall and the windows saved for the new exterior walls, the door was cut in from the living room to the bed room and the wall was removed from the old bath to extend the bathroom into the new addition. Also, the north wall framing was completed as was the interior wall framing. The sheathing was placed on the south and east wall. It was another productive day.

For those from other parts of the country, we have been watching our local TV channels from Birmingham tonight due to the severe storms in the area. Fortunately, at least for now, the area around our home has had no damage. Other areas of the state including Cullman, where Anne worked, have had severe damage. Very thankful that so far there have been no reports of injuries.