Update 1-31-12

Monday my Dad picked up some supply's and then took off our pantry door and built the new door frame in for the expanded pantry. My brother Kevin stopped by to help out with the sheetrock installation and mudding and taping.

Today Seth Aho with Concrete Craftsman spent the whole day removing the old patio and getting it all ready for the new concrete. I was able to crawl onto his excavator to take out the old concrete and then I let him finish the rest. We used to have a gravel RV parking spot that lead to the back yard and the patio but the gravel was hard to get through with the wheelchair and it tracked into the house pretty bad, so having it all concrete now will be so nice. 

I first met Seth about a year ago through a friend of ours and Seth has become a big supporter of ours. I try to join Seth on Thursday nights when he and a small group of people go to Portland to feed the homeless. It has been a very rewarding experience. Seth is very committed to this ministry and really cares about the people and shares the hope of salvation with them. Keep up the good work Seth. Check out his page on Facebook at Communityembraced@groups.facebook.com

1-28-12 work crew

Saturday was a busy day at our place.

Nick Ritter owner of NTR Construction and Shawn Williams came out and finished the siding around the last window that finally came in.

A group of guys from my church came out to prep an area for some concrete and pull up some old carpet. I even had a couple of guys from the church that came out on Thursday to pull out some fencing.

Steve Akins came out to continue to mud and tape the Sheetrock.

Thanks for your hard work

Siding is almost done!

The Home Depot donated the lap siding which was around $2500. James Mattila with JXL Siding Inc. came out on Friday, Saturday, and today they should have most of it wrapped up. I used to have lap siding on the front of the house but now it has lap siding all the way around and it looks great.

Thanks for your hard work guys!

Sheetrock is on

Steve Adkins and Randy Woolliscroft came on Thursday and started to hang the Sheetrock and today they finished hanging it. Next is mud tape and texture. They worked hard and additions are always a challenge.

I just remembered two more businesses that have helped out and I want to make sure they get recognized.

Maul's Hay Farm in Battle Ground loaned us a very large tarp to cover the roof until we got the new shingles on. That was a big help, and protected the inside stuff from water damage.

Pacific Perks, ran by Jim and Natalie Fairchild provided coffee and snacks for the framing crew during the time they were here. That was a blessing because those framers drank coffee like there was no tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

Odds and ends

My Dad, Brother and his two son's, and Bryan Strickland came over on Saturday and tear out some carpet, built a wall and started to tare down a wall.

This week Sheetrock and siding should be going up. Ya!!

Insulation

Gale Contractor Services showed up on Saturday and donated the insulation and the labor to keep us warm in the new addition.

Thanks Gale for your help!

Electrical

The electricians have come and done the rough in and the inspector signed it off. Brian Hanson and Rick Brown of H&B Electric, LLC were great to work with. They donated there services to help us out, and they did a great job. Thanks guys for your hard work.

One more step down.

Yesterday we had two guys from Diamond Concrete cutting show up and cut an access hole out of the old foundation. Not a fun job, but these guys knew what they were doing. Thanks Alex (the owner of Diamond Concrete cutting) for sending your guys to help me out.

1/7/11 work crew

We had about seven guys come out today and tackle some small jobs.They removed some old siding on the house. The addition got wrapped with a vapor barrier so the siding can be put on. Some little framing issues where done. A few more things were addressed so the house is ready to side. And a few other house keeping issues were taken care of. We even had a nice lunch prepared by Ray & Donna Wharton and Ginger Chezem. Thanks guys for your hard work.

Gutters are now on

Riverside Gutters came out and put the gutters up so fast I almost didn't get dressed and outside before they where done. Two of the guys hanging them I hadn't seen for years. Jeff and Lee Joner. I grew up with them and it was good to see them again. Thanks for doing a good job.

Plumbing

Jared and Wesly with Sarkinen Plumbing came out this week and did the rough in plumbing and the inspector came out on Friday and checked it off. Thanks guys for your hard work.

Framing is done and roofing will be done before the end of the day.

The framers finished on Monday and I have to give Keith Wharton and his right hand man Ryan Acevedo with KDOW Construction, a big thanks for all their hard work on framing. Micah Sorensen and Tim Wells landed a big hand of skilled labor in the framing department as well. I can't forget Joe Smith and Ray Wharton as they were our senior advisers. Joe worked like a dog and Ray wasn't far behind. Ray single handed custom made the bird blocks for the addition. Most of you won't know what those are but every time I roll outside and look up I will see them and remember Ray. My brother Kevin Epp dusted off his nail bags and joined in on the fun as well. There were others that helped through the framing process, even a girl(Kieth's daughter Dakota). 

Wood Feathers delivered the roofing supply's on Tuesday and Ed's Economy Roofing showed up today and should have it all banged out before the end of the day. I know that Ed's donated their efforts to roof the entire house so a big thanks goes out to them. The roof that I had left was one it's last leg. Praise God on the timing of this.

Keith Wharton and his right hand man Ryan Acevedo of KDOW construction came in from eastern Washington to do the framing. They have had several of experienced framers that are local that have landed a hand. Saturday a crane truck came out and lifted the main beam up and set it in place. They even added a patio cover for us so we can enjoy the outdoors more year around. That was an unexpected bonus. There have been too many people to list that have landed a hand in the last few days. They started framing on Thursday and plan to be pretty much done with the framing on Monday. Tuesday the roofers are scheduled to show up. It has been very exciting to see this all come together. About a year ago I was visiting Keith as he was recovering from being crushed by a large bundle of trusses that fell over on him and pinned him to a wall. He was Life Flighted from eastern Washington to Portland and at first the doctors weren’t sure if he was going to make it. And now one year later he is climbing all over my house fixing it up for me. God is good!