www.gmwp.org/1998/finishing.html
updated 10/9/99

Habitat houses are framed by volunteers representing all levels of building skills. For many volunteers, working on a HABITAT site is their first house construction experience.

Once the house is framed, however, skilled sub-contractors are needed to do electrical wiring, plumbing, install heating systems, hang and finish sheetrock and install electrical and plumbing fixtures. For this first Grand Master's Work Project house, many of these services were provided by Masons.

West Tennessee Vision 2013/HABITAT Task Force member, Brother Bill Whisel, Brother Jimmy Turner (Both members of St. John's Lodge #332) and James Decouta (construction supervisor for Jackson HFH) traveled east from Jackson, Tennessee to plumb the house. Brother Turner is a commercial plumber, based in Jackson, and teaches plumbing at a local Vocational school. Brothers Whisel and Jackson work extensively with Jackson HFH; Brother Whisel is now a member of the board of directors of this affiliate. Brother Turner brought a donation of faucets from Delta Faucet Inc. of Jackson.

Several Blount County brethren stopped by the building site to welcome our West Tennessee visitors, and to be sure they had everything they needed. These 3 plumbers left Jackson early on the morning of July 21 and arrived at the site at 1 PM. They began work immediately, but had to cut their day short due to heavy rain. The next day, despite intermittent rain, they completed their work and are shown in the photo at left (from left to right--Brother Bill Whisel, James Decouta and Brother Jimmy Turner), getting ready to go back home to Jackson.

On Monday July 27, the electrical rough-in was done. It was inspected on Thursday July 30. Preliminary work for the heating system was also done. The Lambert Family then insulated their home to get ready for sheetrock. It was delivered on Wednesday August 6 and hung on August 7. Sheetrock work was completed by August 12. Once the sheetrock was finished, the Lambert Family began painting the ceiling and walls. Assisted by Brother Bill Neubert, they finished on August 19.

On Saturday August 22, Brother Tom Boduch, Betty Boduch, Brother David Helton (181), Brother Will Wright (453), Brother Bill Neubert (128), Brother Larry Price (469) and Blount County HFH Family Services Committee member Naomi Scrivner installed interior doors, baseboards and floor underlayment. Brother Boduch and his wife Betty also built steps and railings on the side deck. Shown in the photo at right (from left to right) are Brothers Helton, Price and Wright.

During the subsequent week, vinyl flooring was installed in the kitchen and bathrooms. Additionally, the electricians began installing fixtures. The HVAC duct work was also completed.

On Saturday August 29, Brother R. C. McElroy (719), Frank Shipwash (181) and Tom Boduch (038) finished installing interior doors, baseboard and trim. Assisted by Blount County HFH homeowner, Jason Ditmore (who lives next door, and whose house was built as part of THE HOUSES THAT CONGRESS BUILT program, led by Brother Jimmy Duncan (443), Brothers McElroy and Shipwash installed the kitchen cabinets. Shown in the photo at right are (from left to right) Jason, Brother Shipwash and Brother McElroy.

After lunch, the brethren were joined by Betty Boduch and her son Josh Voyles. After completing the inside work, the group went outside and built the storage shed. Shown in the photo at right are Brother Shipwash (left) and Brother McElroy.

While working on our house, 2 additional home sites were being prepared for houses that were subsequently framed on September 19 during HABITAT's 1998 BUILDING ON FAITH WEEK--Habitat's annual weeklong celebration of its strong and continuing Christian Heritage. Both these houses were sponsored by various Blount County Churches. The blocks in the background of the photo at left are stacked at one of these home sites, in preparation for building a foundation.

During the subsequent week, Brother Boduch finished the porch railings. Brother R. C. McElroy and Brother Frank Shipwash shingled the shed. Brother Bill Neubert installed the bi-fold doors and hung exterior shutters.

Saturday September 5 was a day to finish more details. Brother Troy Morgan built the shed door. Raymond Lambert painted the shed. Brother Melvin Giles helped install kitchen countertops. Brothers R. C. McElroy, David Williamson and Tom Boduch installed electrical receptacles and switches. The Lambert Family continued painting, and applied decorative stucco to the block foundation. Betty Boduch and Brother Larry Price painted bedrooms. Josh Voyles (Betty's Son) insulated the crawl space.

Over the next two weeks, plumbing fixtures and the septic system were installed. The water supply was connected to the house, and final site grading completed. The lawn was seeded and straw put down. The house passed its final electrical inspection and power was connected. All this was completed in time for dedication day--September 20, 1998.