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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 9/24/2009 2:29:24 PM
The two biggest delays for this project was weather and interior finishing. I'll not grumble about the weather. We had two months of very wet weather following the storm, then two months of smooth sailing during a very hot and dry period and just as we were finishing the project, six weeks of wet during a time of year that is usually very dry. Weather is the one thing I refuse to complain about. You can replace subs or change your own routine but weather is going to do what it will. The one thing I can assure you is that whatever weather you have could be worse so just go with the flow. After the house was in the dry, weather became less of a factor except I did learn that house wrap should go all the way to the soffit if there will be any delay at all in finishing the exterior. Wrap serves a greater purpose than as a vapor barrier. It is a temporary rain coat for your investment until permanent siding is in place. In my situation, I was counting on the dry fall weather we normally experience to give me enough time to get the interior finished before I completed the exterior. I only wrapped the walls to 1 ft above the heated space and left the OSB exposed on the gabled walls. Bad mistake. While we were busy finishing the interior trim we encountered a week of blowing rain. One morning I discovered water pouring around a kitchen window over my newly painted wall board kitchen cabinets and bare floor. Between storms I grabbed a ladder and the end roll of housewrap to correct the mistake. I decided to recycle the beautiful solid birch doors from Mother's home. All but 3 or 4 survived the tornado with minimal damage. Mom asked me to paint them to better match the new decor. I also recycled the door trim and retrofitted 11 doors from swinging to pocket sliders using Johnson Pocket Door Hardware. Cabinetry required an extra two weeks due to a couple of change orders and a couple of mistakes from the countertop manufacturer. One note about cabinetry; don't take anything ever for granted when discussing the location, dimensions, finish, hinges, sliders, depth of drawers or placement in relation to your other fixtures. If you do, I can assure you one result. You will regret not going over every tiny detail. It is far better to annoy your cabinet people with details than to spend years being annoyed at your cabinets because they are misplaced, misfitted or do not serve the functions you need. My subs attended to other contracts while waiting for my cabinet builder to finish their install. During this time I sanded, filled and painted the old trim and doors. My calendar said I was to be installing stucco on the exterior but that would have to wait. Simply put, the entire project had gone so smoothly, I still could not complain about the extra delay since I should have built in more time for finishing in the beginning. I had allowed two weeks but should have allowed a month.
On my next build I will make three changes: First, I will have every detail of the cabinetry thought and on paper whereas this project was thrust upon me by the tornado where we moved from cleanup to construction in a matter of weeks. Of all the subs, cabinetry was among the last planned and least familiar aspects of the project. Second, I will finish the exterior before the interior. Third, I will allow additional time for finishing or have additional subs lined up to handle interior and exterior finishing at the same time rather than try to do it all myself and hope the weather cooperates.
Important note: The finishing segment involves hundreds of tiny details and decisions that require the OB's time and attention. This is the one time when likely it is more cost efficient to hire subs than it is to do everything yourself. Not only are finishers often far more skilled than you or I in specific trades such as cutting crown moulding, they are not working under the stress of managing so many distractions.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 8:17:58 AM
We were delayed in the final cleanup of the construction site until early June due to continual rainy weather. Everything remained under tarps until then. Our framers wanted nothing in their way so we had to remove a few walls on the northeast corner of the house as well as a stairwell that ended where the third floor once stood. Framers arrived Friday night and marked out wall placement with door and window openings. There were only a few hitches in the layout at that point but several would be found after the fact with easy correction. One challenge facing the framers was the fact I had selected pocket doors to replace traditional swinging doors for all interior walls. With pocket doors, each header must span twice the opening plus one inch. This interfered with a couple of TWall stud arrangements but the team basically did a terrific job. It also resulted in one wall of the stairwell to the basement being out of plumb but my assistant caught that mistake while we were preparing for drywall a few weeks later.
I have decided to retrofit hinged doors from the basement which had to be stripped due to the rainy weeks following the tornado. It seemed we could not find or arrange tarps that would keep the basement dry during the stormy spring and early summer. Most of the doors from the main living level were either damaged or no long could be found. Retrofits from swinging doors to pocket doors is made possible by Johnson Pocket Door Hardware which you can find online. I was directed to local millworks shop about 85 miles away. Although reluctant, the millworks shop sold me "kits" at retail. It is clear they are accustomed to NOT dealing with owner-builders but prefer to deal only with architects, designers and custom contractors. By my second visit, they had become more friendly so I'll probably have them "house-broken" in the event I need advice for the future. Clearly, as owner-builders we are going to face some opposition from time to time.
For the most part, subs have been helpful, attentive and responsive.
My wife and I decided to ask a local licensed electrician if he would be willing to oversee our work and give us direction in the wiring. He accepted our offer and we agreed upon an hourly fee for his services. He made us aware of the three biggest challenges facing electricians in home construction: Plumbers, Insulators and Drywall installers. Plumbers tend to grab the premium spot between hot and cold water below the vanity sinks for their vent pipes. This poses a problem for installation of the vanity light which must be shifted to one side or forces the homeowner to install a light fixture on either side of the mirror. The attic insulation crew is another challenge. Regardless of what the salesman or sub says, his "attic rats" are on the low end of the employment universe and what they step on above your newly installed painted sheetrock ceiling will be instantly and forever covered with a foot or more of insulation. We decided to take no chances with our wiring by keeping all panel runs in three primary bundles each protected by a 2x4 toe board nailed to span between trusses where feet, knees or insulation hose could hang or snag on wiring.
We also allowed two primary avenues for the HVAC ducts that would not cross our wiring paths and give those installers the maximum headroom.
Likely, I will personally oversee the insulation blowers to make sure they do not crush or dislodge our ductwork so heat or cool air is not lost by some momentary oversight that will forever be covered in the attic. That is not one assumption I care to trust to the lowest paid and dirtiest job description of the entire construction project. It's the sort of mistake that is easily denied by everyone and blamed on others if it is ever discovered at all!
We were also very careful to keep our wiring stapled to the middle of the wall out of reach of sheetrock nails or screws.
I decided to hire a team to install, float and texture the ceilings and walls. They helped me with the estimate for materials. Their estimate was 12 cubes short for mud and 3 sheets short for wallboard. After my experience with the excess wood for framing, I was more than happy to go back for a few items rather than be stuck with excess.
Returns... yes I ask my suppliers if they will take returns. In the case of the mill, they made it clear they sell only in full bundles and there is a no return policy. Otherwise they can not justify selling less than by the truck. In the case of the truss builder/supplier. My volunteers actually used up the materials he delivered because they were placed on the driveway slab nearest the house. Only after the project was underway did I realize I had too much material. I still do not know if my truss builder mistakenly gave the entire list to his employee or if my volunteer designer who worked with the truss maker sent him an updated materials list after a small change was made and was unaware I had already made arrangements for the longer 2x4s and 2x6s to be purchased directly from the mill at cost. (I have a friend who owns a mill and was willing to sell me complete bundles at cost if I would hire the truck to pick up at his dock.) Only if I had counted the entire project inventory prior to construction could I have directed my volunteers away from the extra materials and used only from the mill bundles that were 30 feet further away. My mistake but the volunteers loved the easy access to materials.
My wife, daughter and I with assistance from one handyman accepted the task of painting the entire house interior. It took us 2.5 days. We used a premium primer made for gypsum board walls, a one coat premium ceiling paint and one coat custom colors from Lowes. I think they were all by Moore Paints.
We hired a plumber for the retrofit. He prefers to work with copper which pleased me because I can't see the new flex line holding up as long.
Because I have been diligent in the construction process and am working on only one house at a time, I have found subs are both surprised and pleased to have opportunity to get in, get out and get paid. Our electrician complimented our quality of work and I am confident his breaker panel is one of the neatest I've ever seen.
We have had to stay on top of our subs because they are not accustomed to jobs moving so quickly. Communication is key. When I know a phase is complete and will be ready for another sub the following week, I call ahead and give them notice. After a time or two of no response, I learned that I keep calling until I get a sub to show up even if he doesn't return my calls. Subs SELDOM return calls. That seems to be an industry "thing." So, my first call is nice, my next call is more urgent, my third call is worried and my fourth call... if necessary is notice they are going to be replaced if they don't call or show up on the date for which I have given them notice. Every time, I either get a cover call with a firm date or the sub magically shows up on the date prescribed as if nothing is out of ordinary and I respond as if nothing is out of ordinary as well. It's the politics of construction. These guys are busy and they just want you to know it. One final mistake admission. Get everything in writing. As sure as you forget to get one sub quote in writing, it will cost you an extra $7 per hour or $1200 for the install. My plumber said he'd work to help Mother for $30 per hour. He SAID but weeks later I'd have to call him a liar and ruin a relationship in a small community to save a few bucks. That's the other reason you must get everything in writing if you are working in a small town. Almost every sub is a friend of a friend. Quotes in writing saves embarrassment and relationships. Relationships are important unless you are planning to build everything yourself and will never need to call a professional. Having learned that lesson, weeks later, while visiting another construction site, I found a sub whose work I liked and asked for a bid. Later that day he stopped by and told me what he'd charge. His cell phone rang and we waved goodbye as he walked away. The next week I called to tell him I would be ready for his services by a specific date and he said he could start then. It was not until the middle of the project when my Mother asked me how much he was charging because she was so impressed with the work. With all the other details I suddenly could not remember his quote from the rest.
I'm saying this for your sake and my own... GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!
Fortunately, I was able to stay in budget except for a few items where Mother was willing to compromise in order to get what she wanted. Those items were flooring and cabinetry. Those two items put us over budget by about 10G.
We did not have a year or two for advance planning. Disasters require immediate decisions spread over a very short time.
I feel fortunate for the few important lessons I've learned from the Owner Builder Network and look forward to our next construction project going much more smoothly with greater confidence in handling the unexpected that will surely arise.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 8:17:40 AM
We were delayed in the final cleanup of the construction site until early June due to continual rainy weather. Everything remained under tarps until then. Our framers wanted nothing in their way so we had to remove a few walls on the northeast corner of the house as well as a stairwell that ended where the third floor once stood. Framers arrived Friday night and marked out wall placement with door and window openings. There were only a few hitches in the layout at that point but several would be found after the fact with easy correction. One challenge facing the framers was the fact I had selected pocket doors to replace traditional swinging doors for all interior walls. With pocket doors, each header must span twice the opening plus one inch. This interfered with a couple of TWall stud arrangements but the team basically did a terrific job. It also resulted in one wall of the stairwell to the basement being out of plumb but my assistant caught that mistake while we were preparing for drywall a few weeks later.
I have decided to retrofit hinged doors from the basement which had to be stripped due to the rainy weeks following the tornado. It seemed we could not find or arrange tarps that would keep the basement dry during the stormy spring and early summer. Most of the doors from the main living level were either damaged or no long could be found. Retrofits from swinging doors to pocket doors is made possible by Johnson Pocket Door Hardware which you can find online. I was directed to local millworks shop about 85 miles away. Although reluctant, the millworks shop sold me "kits" at retail. It is clear they are accustomed to NOT dealing with owner-builders but prefer to deal only with architects, designers and custom contractors. By my second visit, they had become more friendly so I'll probably have them "house-broken" in the event I need advice for the future. Clearly, as owner-builders we are going to face some opposition from time to time.
For the most part, subs have been helpful, attentive and responsive.
My wife and I decided to ask a local licensed electrician if he would be willing to oversee our work and give us direction in the wiring. He accepted our offer and we agreed upon an hourly fee for his services. He made us aware of the three biggest challenges facing electricians in home construction: Plumbers, Insulators and Drywall installers. Plumbers tend to grab the premium spot between hot and cold water below the vanity sinks for their vent pipes. This poses a problem for installation of the vanity light which must be shifted to one side or forces the homeowner to install a light fixture on either side of the mirror. The attic insulation crew is another challenge. Regardless of what the salesman or sub says, his "attic rats" are on the low end of the employment universe and what they step on above your newly installed painted sheetrock ceiling will be instantly and forever covered with a foot or more of insulation. We decided to take no chances with our wiring by keeping all panel runs in three primary bundles each protected by a 2x4 toe board nailed to span between trusses where feet, knees or insulation hose could hang or snag on wiring.
We also allowed two primary avenues for the HVAC ducts that would not cross our wiring paths and give those installers the maximum headroom.
Likely, I will personally oversee the insulation blowers to make sure they do not crush or dislodge our ductwork so heat or cool air is not lost by some momentary oversight that will forever be covered in the attic. That is not one assumption I care to trust to the lowest paid and dirtiest job description of the entire construction project. It's the sort of mistake that is easily denied by everyone and blamed on others if it is ever discovered at all!
We were also very careful to keep our wiring stapled to the middle of the wall out of reach of sheetrock nails or screws.
I decided to hire a team to install, float and texture the ceilings and walls. They helped me with the estimate for materials. Their estimate was 12 cubes short for mud and 3 sheets short for wallboard. After my experience with the excess wood for framing, I was more than happy to go back for a few items rather than be stuck with excess.
Returns... yes I ask my suppliers if they will take returns. In the case of the mill, they made it clear they sell only in full bundles and there is a no return policy. Otherwise they can not justify selling less than by the truck. In the case of the truss builder/supplier. My volunteers actually used up the materials he delivered because they were placed on the driveway slab nearest the house. Only after the project was underway did I realize I had too much material. I still do not know if my truss builder mistakenly gave the entire list to his employee or if my volunteer designer who worked with the truss maker sent him an updated materials list after a small change was made and was unaware I had already made arrangements for the longer 2x4s and 2x6s to be purchased directly from the mill at cost. (I have a friend who owns a mill and was willing to sell me complete bundles at cost if I would hire the truck to pick up at his dock.) Only if I had counted the entire project inventory prior to construction could I have directed my volunteers away from the extra materials and used only from the mill bundles that were 30 feet further away. My mistake but the volunteers loved the easy access to materials.
My wife, daughter and I with assistance from one handyman accepted the task of painting the entire house interior. It took us 2.5 days. We used a premium primer made for gypsum board walls, a one coat premium ceiling paint and one coat custom colors from Lowes. I think they were all by Moore Paints.
We hired a plumber for the retrofit. He prefers to work with copper which pleased me because I can't see the new flex line holding up as long.
Because I have been diligent in the construction process and am working on only one house at a time, I have found subs are both surprised and pleased to have opportunity to get in, get out and get paid. Our electrician complimented our quality of work and I am confident his breaker panel is one of the neatest I've ever seen.
We have had to stay on top of our subs because they are not accustomed to jobs moving so quickly. Communication is key. When I know a phase is complete and will be ready for another sub the following week, I call ahead and give them notice. After a time or two of no response, I learned that I keep calling until I get a sub to show up even if he doesn't return my calls. Subs SELDOM return calls. That seems to be an industry "thing." So, my first call is nice, my next call is more urgent, my third call is worried and my fourth call... if necessary is notice they are going to be replaced if they don't call or show up on the date for which I have given them notice. Every time, I either get a cover call with a firm date or the sub magically shows up on the date prescribed as if nothing is out of ordinary and I respond as if nothing is out of ordinary as well. It's the politics of construction. These guys are busy and they just want you to know it. One final mistake admission. Get everything in writing. As sure as you forget to get one sub quote in writing, it will cost you an extra $7 per hour or $1200 for the install. My plumber said he'd work to help Mother for $30 per hour. He SAID but weeks later I'd have to call him a liar and ruin a relationship in a small community to save a few bucks. That's the other reason you must get everything in writing if you are working in a small town. Almost every sub is a friend of a friend. Quotes in writing saves embarrassment and relationships. Relationships are important unless you are planning to build everything yourself and will never need to call a professional. Having learned that lesson, weeks later, while visiting another construction site, I found a sub whose work I liked and asked for a bid. Later that day he stopped by and told me what he'd charge. His cell phone rang and we waved goodbye as he walked away. The next week I called to tell him I would be ready for his services by a specific date and he said he could start then. It was not until the middle of the project when my Mother asked me how much he was charging because she was so impressed with the work. With all the other details I suddenly could not remember his quote from the rest.
I'm saying this for your sake and my own... GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!
Fortunately, I was able to stay in budget except for a few items where Mother was willing to compromise in order to get what she wanted. Those items were flooring and cabinetry. Those two items put us over budget by about 10G.
We did not have a year or two for advance planning. Disasters require immediate decisions spread over a very short time.
I feel fortunate for the few important lessons I've learned from the Owner Builder Network and look forward to our next construction project going much more smoothly with greater confidence in handling the unexpected that will surely arise.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 6:59:13 AM
Learning to delegate to volunteers is as important as finding the right subcontractors. I suddenly found myself in the position of General Contractor of a Disaster. There's not a degree for that at any university but success in any battle or worthwhile endeavor requires somebody with a clear head. If you've lost your home to a disaster, or you're the most likely candidate to assume the role on behalf of an elderly or young child, you can't wait for FEMA to do it for you. You know how things were before the disaster, how they should be in another six months and how they are at this moment. You can not go back in time but you can use history as a reference for how you want things to be in six months. As a General Contractor of Disaster, make a list of tasks and make a list of resources. Now look at community resources. Often there are church groups passing out meals, prison work groups, etc. We used them all. One day the top of my list was cleaning up the yards. I had several tons of trees, roofing, glass, wood, wall sections, etc. It was a job too big for me and my son to do by ourselves. My mother was too frail and my sister and her husband were seldom available for their own reasons.
I knew every day I did not make progress was another day I had to be away from my own business until my mother was back in her own home again. I posted my need on facebook, called several churches and found a prison work gang looking for people who would let them on their property. The yards were cleaned up in a matter of days where it would have taken us weeks if I had just sat and waited for FEMA.
Unfortunately, there are still neighbors who four months out have piles of debris in their yards because they gave up or just waited for FEMA. FEMA has now come and gone. So have the volunteers. And so are the prison gangs. I learned a week after the group helped us that because so many people were afraid of the "convicts" they didn't want them on their property so the Warden pulled his groups out of the town. We found everyone to be well mannered, helpful and appreciated their manpower. We thanked them numerous times while they worked. 40 men with chainsaws and shovels can 20 times more work than 2 men alone.
After a disaster like a tornado, what do you have to lose that a prison gang will carry away while under the supervision of 3 armed guards? We were very appreciative and let them know it as they filed past me on their way to the prison bus. I only wish I could have gotten the address for the warden so I could have written a formal note of thanks.
Mother did have a big advantage which proved to be a giant moral boost for me. A church service group that frames homes for disaster victims adopted her need after they discovered her insurance had lapsed during a recent illness. In one weekend, volunteers erected walls and trusses. I didn't drive a single nail. I stayed out of the way except to answer questions, provide water and express gratitude. My tasks were all behind the scenes arranging for materials, shopping for best prices and making sure all materials would be delivered onsite in time for the volunteers. They saved her about $15,000 in labor that weekend and saved me a month of framing it myself. That was mid June and as I write this entry, it is mid August. We're just two weeks away from moving her back home!
The biggest lesson I learned as the General Contractor of Disaster is followup. Although I live 500 miles away from the disaster site, I could have been more diligent in accounting for materials. A few days prior to the volunteer framers, I had arranged for the 2x4 and 2x6 package to be delivered from a local mill. Thus, I had asked the truss manufacturer to deliver ONLY the stud package along with shingles, roofing felt, nails and ridge vent.
The day they delivered, I was out of town and the day I returned I allowed other priorities to take me away from counting my material delivery item by item.
Only after the framing was complete did I discover the truss manufacturer had handed the complete list to his employee who delivered the 2x4 and 2x6s as well as the items I had requested. Although I had saved about $1500 by purchasing those items from a mill, I now had paid for them twice and the framers had used the more expensive wood as it was setting closer to the construction site.
I'll use some of the excess material for a storage building but there's no returning the material under the terms of the mill.
In summary, ALWAYS count your materials as they arrive or at your first opportunity. DON'T try to do to many tasks yourself. The day I should have been counting $7500 worth of wood and shingles was a day I could have hired someone for $15 an hour to do the task I undertook. Counting would have taken me less than an hour. Not counting cost me about $3000.00 and I'll be storing the wood. In all likelihood, I will still have wood left over when we build our next home because I am planning to use ICFs. My wife and I agree we must have a basement and reinforced walls if we are going to build anywhere.
At this point, it will be cheaper for me to sell the excess wood on the local swapshop at a loss than build storage to house two extra bundles of 16' sticks.
Hopefully you've learned from my mistake by reading this.
In future entries I'll detail where I've saved money by smart O-B shopping or by tackling some trades myself. Still, nothing I can do will ever eliminate that one costly neglect. I'll always know my materials bill could have been $3000 less. You can not assume your deliveries will be for as much as you have ordered or for ONLY as much as you have ordered.
Make your list, check it twice, count everything and check it twice. Only then do you deserve to save the big bucks!
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 5:56:39 AM
With a fresh disaster upon you there is nothing as planned so you must make a plan of action based on real time actualities.
At the beginning or end of each recovery day, you must make a list of the next things to be done.
Look around and list tasks that must be done in order of priority. Tarps, clean floors, remove debris, whatever must be done to save as much life or property as possible.
If you have no volunteers, you know what YOU must do next... FIND HELP or do it all yourself.
Our task was simply too big for one or two people and fortunately, Mother lives in a community where volunteers were plentiful.
If you have volunteers, a written list is vital so you can give them worthwhile tasks before they begin to feel useless or are pulled away by their own responsibilities.
If you are in shock and just don't know where to start, find a trusted volunteer with leadership and organizational abilities to start a list of priorities until you can regain your senses.
The most important thing YOU can do is keep your list updated. This not only will benefit your efforts in terms of actual progress but it will benefit you in terms of motivation and encouragement.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 5:45:15 AM
These are some of the observations a person facing a fresh disaster will not think of except in retrospect. Following the tornado, which brought with it almost no rain at all, there were six weeks of incessant rain and storms dumping from a half inch to several inches every few days into the homes and businesses that were already exposed. From my experience with hurricanes, I have learned the great importance of removing wet wallboard from flooded interiors. Although rising water contains far more fungi and bacteria than rain, mold only needs a damp dimly lit or dark place to begin feeding and growing. Add the warmth of spring and you have the perfect storm.
Our first challenge was removing the wallboard (sheetrock) from the basement walls and prying up the particle board flooring from the main living level. Fortunately, there was a diagonal sub floor tying the basement ceiling joists together. A team of volunteers helped us with this process while another team of volunteers helped pick up scattered debris from the field behind the house. My grandmothers home next door had been empty for years but was a total loss.
Important note: After any disaster, it will be several weeks before FEMA will actually begin moving clean up crews through neighborhoods. Having good neighbors, friends, church and business associates you can call is critical. If you are an isolationist, you may want to rethink your life strategy. Having people you can call means being on call and available yourself as well.
In my mother's case, she could not call in part due to not having a cell phone at the time so I did the calling for her.
Organization is key. Volunteers come in two all sizes but only in two forms: those who can take direction and will do anything you ask and those who can give direction and have their own agenda. The sooner you learn to use both types of volunteers, the more quickly you will emerge from a disaster and be able to help others. One of the most important things to remember is that you will not be able to do everything yourself so you must pull it together and THINK what needs to be done first, second, third. Those who can give direction will help you with this. Let them. For safety sake, ask a leader to work with 2 or more followers.
Just as we learn the importance of advance planning for construction, a similar, although more quickly arranged plan for cleanup will allow you to make best advantage of the narrow window you will have until volunteers are spent.
Although it is important that you work side by side with your volunteers lest they become frustrated with your laziness, you must realize they are multiplying your effectiveness and they will soon return to their jobs, homes and families. Take care of your volunteers. Make sure they have water and food as well as sanitary restroom facilities if possible. If you are the victim of a disaster, you are going to be concerned with family and possessions so ask a leader volunteer to arrange for food, water and restroom facilities. DO NOT try to do all this yourself. You must remain onsite and available unless you have been injured or are too elderly or frail.
One of the most important elements of recovery is to recognize your limits. You can literally organize a recovery from a wheelchair if needed. Think about your volunteers more than your possessions. They want to serve and they need to be able to return home feeling like they were successful and helpful.
If you can lessen their stress by finding someone who will provide them basic necessities, they will work from dawn to dusk because they are in servant mode.
It is important that you thank them but don't waste your time or their enthusiasm with long labored recollections of what happened. They are there to work. If you need counseling, call your pastor or shrink but let your volunteers get your things in the dry and your house covered before the next rain.
We had a downstairs bathroom with no utilities as all had been cut including water. I enlarged a dipping hole in a draining ditch below Mother's home where we could dip a 5 gallon bucket. Although muddy, it provided the necessary 2.5 gallons needed to flush the toilet. Remember, a toilet only needs water to flush properly. Don't let sewage and paper build up or it will not flush properly. I should have asked someone else to dig it and handed them a shovel. While I was digging the hole, someone was breaking over the underground electrical conduit for the house with the assumption it would be of no use in the future.
Be available to your volunteers. Give them jobs and get out of the way except to prevent damage or injury.
Would I be able to be so "managerial" if it had been "my" home? I don't know but probably.
All I know is that I accepted the role with the attitude I would work with anyone and welcome help from any direction as long as they were cooperative and respected my mother's best interests.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 4:53:38 AM
For the past several years, my wife and I have been considering places we'd like to relocate for eventual retirement. Because we live only a few minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, we are more highly motivated to move inland. Since 2005, we've experienced numerous hurricanes cause damage to our property and create downtime for our business and local economy. Storms I remember most vividly include Rita, Gustof and Ike. Smaller storms included Edouard and Humberto but with 'cane seasons like 2005, every storm that threatens the gulf, tends to dampen our business as coastal residents nervously prepare for the next hit.
We have considered locations from the Carolinas to Colorado but ultimately decided on Arkansas. Although it is fairly remote from major cities it has easy access to international airports and interstates. Lastly, it has four relatively mild but distinct seasons albeit, the springtime can be a rumbler as we were reminded this year.
When we first arrived to view the neighborhoods and homesites that were destroyed by the tornado, rebuilding was the furtherest thought in my mind. I remember thinking only about the cleanup, wondering where to start yet wondering why bother? Everything was gone, shredded, uprooted, tossed and crushed. That was until I was reunited with my mother, 77. She was shaken but alive. Fortunately, she had dashed into her basement as she heard debris begin hitting her house. A few minutes later as she emerged into her kitchen she saw nothing but the night sky above.
My mother's traditional 70's frame and brick home took a direct hit. After the roof was torn from her home, the brick walls caused more damage as they fell than they ever provided in structural protection. That was the moment I decided ICFs were probably in my future.
During the demolition of the remaining wall portions, I realized the stud walls were tied together only by a 1 inch foil faced foam insulation panel with straps to the brick facade nailed through it. Anything that disturbed that brick facade was going to pull down walls with the brick. Notably crushed by the brick rubble was a new high efficiency HVAC system we had installed just 2 months prior.
That was my motivation to rebuild better, smarter, stronger and more economically.
My mother was now homeless. I knew at that moment I had a new priority.
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Posted to Tornado-Reconstruction by Michael in Port Neches, TX
on 8/17/2009 4:03:18 AM
In April 2009 my mother's home was destroyed by an F3 tornado in Arkansas. Only a few months prior, I had joined the owner builder network and listened several times to the "book" on CD while traveling. Although I had some life experience building decks, an outbuilding, rewiring a few older homes, etc., I did not consider myself a builder. I still do not consider myself a builder but having overseen the rebuilding of her home, I know it can be done!
My intention for becoming a member of the O-B network was to systematically gather information over the next 3 years while our children finish college. After that, my wife and I still plan to sell our coastal Texas home and build on an inland site near my elderly mother. That decision has not been altered except to include ICFs for better tornado protection.
I hope to accomplish three goals with this blog: 1. Organize thoughts for future reference as I build in the future. 2. Provide insights for others on how to or "not to" proceed after a disaster as the case may be. 3. Gain insight from others on how to improve for future building.
I'll add photos as I have opportunity.
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