Catholic Habitat Builds in Washtenaw County, Michigan

Catholic House: Dedication Friday, June 24th at noon!

2011-05-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Catholic Habitat for Humanity House!

Dedication: Friday, June 24 at noon!

1383 Hull, Ypsilanti.

This is a great time to meet M and J who are a fantastic family!!

We hope that you can make it out during your lunch break.

We’ll need a few people to make cookies.

To help contact: Maggie Porter (734.677.1558 ext. 119)

See Photos at: catholic-habitat.blogspot.com/

Habitat's Video - Features the Catholic House!

2011-05-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

Our new video features an opening shot of the Catholic House sign immediately followed by a shot of the siding going up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l54gBGbbNrQ&feature=youtu.be

The dedication is on June 24.

Catholic House Update

2011-05-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been out to the site – now's your chance!

Sign-up to help on Friday, May 13th and Saturday, May 14th to help finish the home, 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti 48198, at http://h4h.volunteerhub.com/Events/Browse.aspx.

The family – M and J– have been on site as often as possible – which most weekends has meant one of them has been on site EVERY SINGLE DAY!

They are so grateful for the love that has been outpoured to them and their three daughters.

We'll start planning the dedication shortly and I hope you are all able to come out and see what a life-changing work you've been part of.

In Christ,

Maggie Porter

Faith Relations Associate

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley

170 Aprill Drive, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Office: 734.677.1558 ext. 119; Fax: 734.677.1572; Restore: 734.822.1530

www.h4h.org

The work continues!

2011-04-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

The front step proved to be a challenging obstacle for volunteer crews...but in the end they prevailed!

At the same time, interior work continued to make sure this home is up to Energy Star standards for the family.

Snow day!

2011-04-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

Snow doesn't stop our volunteers! Here you can see that the green siding is still intact! The shiny foam board is for insulation in the basement - we want to make sure our homeowners stay warm!

Working and fellowship!

2011-04-05T09:12:00.001-07:00

Everyday brings transformation to the house and strengthens friendships among volunteers and the family!

Chilly workday!

2011-04-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

The chilly weather didn't stop volunteers from getting so much done both in and outside! :)

Moving the front step!

2011-04-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

I don't know when I saw a group of men so proud of themselves! It took hours, but these fabulous volunteers got a couple hundred pound solid cement step into the dumpster! Woowee! I showed up just in time to snap a few pics of the final push and the smiles that followed!

Join us!!!

2011-03-25T17:18:00.001-07:00

About the Project:

Where: 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti

Who: Catholic Parishioners and other volunteers! Must be 16+ to be on site, 16-17 only if accompanied by parents.

When: 9am to 4pm on Thursdays, 8 am to 4 pm on Friday and Saturdays

How: Sign up online at www.h4h.volunteerhub.com or by calling Maggie Porter at 734.677.1558, ext. 119.

Note: Slots that are RESERVED are not filled- call Maggie to learn more.

Habitat: Meet the Catholic House Family

2011-03-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

I’m happy to announce that the Catholic House officially has a fantastic family assigned! They were just shown the house last night, so this is hot off the presses.

M and J and their children: F(9) M (5) B(3)

M works in the custodial department at U of M, J doesn’t work outside of the home. They are parishioners at Christ the King and have known Scott Wright, Social Ministry director at St. Francis for many years.

They are so excited to be moving into a home being renovated by people they know and love. The girls were already claiming rooms and choosing paint colors with me while their parents were looking at the house with our construction team yesterday,

They’re already hard at work on their sweat equity hours – so I’m sure you’ll see them at the site! Make sure you say “hello” if you see them on the build.

In Christ,

Maggie Porter

You're invited: OPEN HOUSE - Today!

2011-03-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

The Catholic House is getting shown off TODAY as part of our Open House Series – please feel free to come by any time between 4:30 and 6:30 – I will be there and would love to chat with you and show off the fantastic progress that we’ve done so far! If you’ve volunteered on this house, this is a chance for you to show off your work to your family and friends – without the hardhats!!! If you haven’t made it to the site – this is the perfect chance for you to check out what’s going on.

Also, if you know ANYONE who might be interested in a home please invite them. See below for more details.

You are Invited!

Join us at both of these beautiful homes!

1383 Hull Ave and 1190 Hull Ave, Ypsilanti

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

4:30-6:30pm

Everyone is welcome, please bring your friends!

Map to Open House

1383 Hull Ave: This 3 bedroom and 1 bath bungalo style house is has a warm interior with excellent natural light. Spacious three bedroom and one bath comes with an all new kitchen, and will have newly refinished hardwood floors throughout. Keep comfortable throughout the year with high-efficiency heat and air conditioning.

1190 Hull Ave: Bring your family home to this three bedroom, one bath, with refinished hardwood floors. This home comes with new roof, kitchen and bathroom, with a lovely upstairs loft with quaint nook. Plenty of storage space available with a large insulated basement and very large outbuilding.

Open House Series

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley

Join Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley in previewing upcoming homes for sale in 2011. This Open House Series will be hosted on Tuesday evenings in February and March to show off these homes. The public is encouraged to attend these free open house events to see what Habitat

homes look like and the powerful impact Habitat renovations have on foreclosed homes in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Attend any or all of the open house events to take a tour of a Habitat home and to learn more about Habitat for Humanity, and our homeownership program.

Tuesday, March 22 • 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

2905 Marshall Street • Ann Arbor, MI 48108 • Burns Park Neighborhood

This three bedroom, one and a half bath home comes with new windows, siding, roof, and extended driveway, insulated basement, extra large barn-style shed, and gorgeous yard.

Map to Open House:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2905+Marshall+Street,+Ypsilanti,+mi&aq=&sll=42.225808,-83.583886&sspn=0.008819,0.015857&g=1383+Hull+Avenue,+Ypsilanti,+mi&ie=UTF8&ll=42.226007,-83.583877&spn=0.008421,0.015857&z=16

If you are interested in the Open House Series or want to know more about Habitat’s affordable Homeownership Program, please contact 734.677.1558 or www.h4h.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley • 170 Aprill Dr. Suite A., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

www.h4h.org

2011-03-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

We officially kicked off the 2011 Catholic House this Saturday! Thank you to Father Prabhu Lakra from Saint Francis of Assisi Parish for coming out to the home and blessing the project! We are looking forward to a strong build, where volunteers are safe and have a fun, and productive work days!

About the Project:

Where: 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti

Who: Catholic Parishoners and other volunteers! Must be 16+ to be on site, 16-17 only if accompanied by parents.

When: 9am to 4pm on Thursdays, 8 am to 4 pm on Friday and Saturdays

How: Sign up online at www.h4h.volunteerhub.com or by calling Maggie Porter at 734.677.1558, ext. 119.

Note: Slots that are RESERVED are not filled- call Maggie to learn more.

Kickoff this Weekend

2011-03-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Please join us Saturday, March 5 at 8 am for the kickoff celebration!
Father Prabhu Lakra from Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor will be blessing the project.

http://www.annarbor.com/community/faith/local_catholic_community_kicks_off_ninth_home_with_habitat_for_humanity/

Catholic House Update: Work Starts March 4!

2011-02-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

The Catholic House project kick-off weekend is on March 4-5! (note: March 3 has been canceled) So get ready to strap on a tool belt, pick up a hammer, and have fun volunteering!

Contact: Maggie (734-677-1558 ext. 119)

Individual Volunteering

The open/public days are now posted on Volunteer Hub. Please note: to make sure there are slots available for the Catholic community, I have reserved half of the slots on open days. You will need a join code (CATHOLICHOUSE) to access these slots.

Volunteer Hub Instructions:

1. Go to http://h4h.volunteerhub.com

2. Click on "Event Groups" under the blue banner at the top

3. Click on "1383 Hull"

Note: Some days have been filled with a group from a parish (indicated in the summary) while others have slots reserved for both Catholic and public volunteers. Slots that are Reserved, not Filled, are STILL OPEN. These slots require a join code: CATHOLICHOUSE

4. Click on Sign-Up on the day you'd like to volunteer.

5. Create an account (including orientation and quiz), noting your Parish

7. Choose a day and location and click on that day's "Sign Up" button - the join code is CATHOLICHOUSE

8. Don't forget to unregister if plans change.

9. Have fun volunteering!

Group Volunteering

Many work days have been assigned to individual parishes, especially early in the project, but there are many still open. Maggie will continue to try to fill these by approaching parishes individually, but please let her know ASAP if you would like to reserve a day before they are gone, otherwise, she will open them up to public groups.

Financial Update

We now have $30,640 towards our fund-raising goal. That means only $4,359 to go for the full $35,000!
If you haven't pledged and you or your parish would like to make a donation, please contact Maggie: 734.677.1558, ext. 119

Kick-off Dates

2011-02-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

Habitat for Humanity Catholic House Renovation at: 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti 48198.

We need six additional volunteers on Friday and Saturday, March 4th, 5th. And, we will work on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays until the end of April. No skills or tools required. Must be 16 or older. Workday from 8am to 4pm. Please join us & in the next weeks you can learn how to: paint, drywall, lay flooring, install cabinets/shelving, hang siding, & landscape. During Lent this renovation project will be completed by volunteers from each of the parishes in our Washtenaw County, region.
Contact: Maggie (734-677-1558 ext. 119)
Sign-up at: http://h4h.volunteerhub.com
See photos of our Catholic Habitat House at: http://catholic-habitat.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~

Please consider making a donation to help the Catholic Habitat for Humanity House in Washtenaw County. Make Checks Payable To: Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley - CATHOLIC HOUSE, 170 Aprill Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48103; & MEMO: For "CATHOLIC HABITAT HOUSE".

Demolition Weekend Round Up! January 28 & 29

2011-01-31T06:27:00.001-08:00

Thank you to everyone who came out for this weekend's demolition work!

Friday morning started off strong, with volunteers spreading throughout the house with crowbars, sledge hammers and lots of muscle.

Chuck and Jane got to work in the upstairs loft - removing knotty-pine paneling that will be sold at our ReStore - providing more funding for affordable housing!

By the end of Saturday the ceiling was 3/4 of the way done and the flooring is coming up. (Picture before ceiling removal)

On the main floor, Ken worked vigilantly to remove trim and other problem areas.

While Don and Sean worked to open up the kitchen and carefully remove the cabinets, which are also being sold in our ReStore.

Looking good!

Trisha, Pam, and two college students from Holy Trinity Student Parish started smashing walls and ripping out 2x4s in the basement:

Saturday continued the work of opening up the home!

Unfortunately a camera was forgotten, so this iPhone shot has to suffice for all of the hard work that these great volunteers threw themselves into!

Thank you guys - see you at the kick-off!

Demolition Weekend Round Up!

2011-01-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who came out for this weekend's demolition work!

Friday morning started off strong, with volunteers spreading throughout the house with crowbars, sledge hammers and lots of muscle.

Your help is needed! Demolition days: Friday and Saturday., January 28 & 29

2011-01-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

Your help is needed!
Habitat for Humanity Catholic House Renovation

Demolition days: Friday and Saturday., January 28 & 29
We need lots of volunteers to pick up a sledge hammer and help us get the home ready for construction to begin in March. Please join us and help with tearing out the old to make room for the new…. Contact: Maggie (734-677-1558 ext. 119)

Sign-up HERE at: http://h4h.volunteerhub.com

Catholic House Update and Upcoming Meeting - February 10

2011-01-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for posting information about the Catholic House project and the demolition day on January 28 – 29^th! I've been getting lots of calls from volunteers, so I know you have been getting the word out! I've attached the flier and inserts if you didn't receive them or need more. Please continue to promote the day. I'll pass out information about the kick-off at the upcoming meeting. (see below)

I was out at a demolition site this weekend – and it is very gratifying and exciting work – so please consider coming out.

Funding Update:

We have $22,500 pledged on the project – we are making great progress getting to the $35,000 cost to renovate. We now only need $12,500 to make this a full sponsorship. If your congregation hasn't submitted a pledge, please do so as soon as possible!

Please plan to attend a very important meeting on February 10^th, at 7:30 pm, here at the Habitat office.

We'll be discussing:

Techniques to get your congregation excited about the project and recruit volunteers and lunch providers.

The scope of work for the project – and the draft build schedule.

We'll be assigning workdays to congregations. Please come prepared with a calendar and any specific dates you know that either your congregation is busy or a day they would especially like to meet. This is a crucial meeting so please send a representative from your congregation.

Please let me know if someone from your congregation can attend. Also feel free to invite a representative from a group in your congregation, such as the Knights of Columbus. We'd love to give them the opportunity to have a service day!

If no one from your congregation can attend, I would love to meet with someone from your parish. Please let me know ASAP to set up a time.

Thank you, and see you on the 3rd of February!

Maggie Porter

Faith Relations Associate

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley

170 Aprill Drive, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Office: 734.677.1558 ext. 119; Fax: 734.677.1572; Restore: 734.822.1530

www.h4h.org

POSTER for Catholic House 2011 at: 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti 48198

2010-12-29T07:40:00.000-08:00

Click here to view & print our POSTER in PDF for your parish or favorite bulletin board.

Artwork created exclusively for Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley by local artist Kim Rhoney. www.kimrhoney.com

Strap on a tool belt and pick up a hammer with Habitat for Humanity!

Our Catholic community has been partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley since 1990. Building is a fun way to put your faith into action through service to others.

About the Project:
Located at 1383 Hull, in Ypsilanti, this previously foreclosed home is in the Nancy Park neighborhood where Habitat is concentrating their efforts!

Workdays are Thurs: 9 am -4 pm and Fri/Sat: 8 am - 4 pm

What you need to know about volunteering:

Skill Requirements: No skills required. Habitat house leaders will teach you the skills you need to complete your assigned tasks.

Age Requirements: 18+ always welcome. 16-17 year olds with a parent/guardian. Call Maggie to discuss opportunities for younger volunteers.

What to wear: Weather appropriate clothes, closed-toe and heel shoes, and no dangly jewelry.

What to bring: Water and a sack lunch (unless instructed otherwise). Feel free to bring your own well-marked tools.

What to expect: Each project day will offer a variety of tasks and opportunities to work within everyone’s comfort and skill level. Hard but rewarding work. A fun, team building day.
How to sign up: Call Maggie at 734.677.1558, ext 119, or register online at: h4h.volunteerhub.com

Other ways to get involved: Pray, bring lunch to the site, donate to the project.

Sign up to Volunteer Online:
h4h.volunteerhub.com

Parish Contact:
Scott Wright
734- 821-2121
swright@rc.net

Habitat Contact:
Maggie Porter
734.677.1558, ext. 119
mporter@h4h.org

Progress Report, December 10, 2010

2010-12-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

Catholic House 2011
Progress Report, December 10, 2010

Financial Amount Pledged to Date: $14,500, $20,500 needed.
                Only 3 of the 13 Parishes have submitted pledge sheets to date
Gift In Kind committed: $0 (Last Time this accounted for approximately $7,000 of the budget)
Trades people need to talk to our construction manager by January 1, and have a written agreement with Habitat by January 15. The major trades (HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical) need to be completed between January 30 and March 5 while the house is open from the demolition work days.

Schedule:
          Prebuild day: January 28-29
            Kickoff: March 5
            Workdays: Thurs-Sat, with days assigned to Parishes
            Project Length: Two Months

Questions?:         Contact Maggie Porter, mporter@h4h.org, 734.677.1558, ext. 119

2011 Habitat: Catholic House Planning

2010-11-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Catholic House Meeting on Thursday, October 28, 2010, was a great start! Here's a summary of what we discussed:

Build Location: With Jim Moore (our 2011 house leader and St. Francis parishioner) we decided on 1383 Hull in Ypsilanti.

Build Timing: We'd like to kick off in the early spring – this will allow students to be involved in the project.

Funding & Commitment sheets (see attached) are due to me by our next meeting, December 9^th.

We will be discussing more of the practical details of the build at our next meeting, December 9^th at 6:30 pm at the Habitat Office, 170 Aprill Drive, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
Questions... contact Maggie Porter, at the Habitat Office: (734.677.1558 ext. 119)

2011 Catholic House - 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti

2010-11-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

2011 Catholic House - 1383 Hull, Ypsilanti

Habitat in the AA News 2010

2010-08-16T13:47:00.001-07:00

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers Breathe New Life into Foreclosed Homes
http://www.annarbor.com/news/habitat-for-humanity-volunteers-breathe-new-life-into-foreclosed-homes/

2010 Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Dedication 1208 Share, Ypsilanti

2010-06-22T17:11:00.001-07:00

2010 Habitat Interfaith Build Dedication – Please join us on Sunday, July 18 at 3 pm as we dedicate the completion of the Krisel Family's home at 1208 Share in Ypsilanti. Correlle, Sharmaine and their three young children are hard working, creative and excited to have a home to call their own. Correlle and Sharmaine have been working to complete their 300 sweat equity hours since December and have spent many hours working on their house. The Krisel family is grateful to everyone who has helped sponsor the build and/or volunteered on the site and hope you can attend this celebration!

This Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley build was sponsored and rehabbed by a coalition of local congregations, including a sponsorship from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and volunteers from many of the local Catholic parishes. As we are gearing up for a 2011 Catholic House we would love for you to see the impact of a home renovation on a family and a community while we rally support and excitement for next year! You can stay up-to-date with all the latest info for next year's Catholic House at http://www.catholic-habitat.blogspot.com/ or you can contact Maggie Porter, Habitat's Faith Relation Associate at 734.677.1558.

Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Dedication

2010-06-22T17:10:00.001-07:00

Interfaith Dedication July 18 at 3pm

2010-06-10T09:01:00.001-07:00

The Interfaith/Share House Dedication is on Sunday, July 18 at 3 pm at: 1208 Share St., Ypsilanti 48198. Come see the impact of a build. Questions contact: Maggie Porter, Faith Relations Associate, Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (734-677-1558 ext. 119)

We are rallying support and setting goals for a Habitat Catholic Build 2011.
1. Did you know that the money you invest in a Habitat Home is recycled into future affordable housing for many years to come as homeowners pay back their mortgage?

2.    Did you know that each adult member of a family who purchases a Habitat Home is required to complete at least 300 hours of "sweat equity" hours on their home and other sites, in addition to homeownership and financial management training?
3.    Did you know that Habitat for Humanity has strategically targeted neighborhoods to focus our renovation efforts…creating stability and beauty in areas in our community that were most susceptible to blight?
4.    Did you know that Habitat for Humanity is on the forefront of conquering the foreclosure crisis by renovating foreclosed and abandoned houses into beautiful homes for families?
5.    Did you know that right now you can help Habitat for Humanity renovate a foreclosed property for approximately half of the cost of building a home from scratch?
6.    Did you know that Habitat for Humanity forms lifelong partnerships with families in our community to help them sustain independence and self-sufficiency?
7.    Did you know that Habitat Homeowners purchase their home with a zero-percent mortgage?
8.    Did you know that last year alone Habitat Homeowners paid over $200,000 in taxes to Washtenaw County?
9.    Did you know that an average 300 volunteers donate their time to work on each Habitat for Humanity home?
10.    Did you know that every Habitat for Humanity home is Energy Star Rated…saving the family thousands of dollars in utilities over the years?
11.    Did you know that over 200 children who were in unsafe or unstable situations now live in Habitat for Humanity homes?
12.    Did you know that Habitat for Humanity tithes 10% of their unrestricted dollars back to Habitat International for Habitat building? For each home we build in Washtenaw County, one is build in another country.
13.    Did you know that the Habitat Restore has saved over 2,000 tons of material from local landfills?

2010 Habitat House

2010-02-11T19:56:00.001-08:00

Catholics are partnering this year, 2010, in April and May,
(Fridays & Saturdays and some Sundays too)
with the Habitat House
Interfaith Re-Build at: 1208 Share, Ypsilanti 48198.
(In the Gault Village Area. Near area of I-94 Service Drive and Harris Road intersection.)

Sign-up HERE at:
http://h4h.volunteerhub.com
Or, contact: Lynne Punnett (734-677-1558) at Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley.

2009-08-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

Catholic Habitat House 2009 is Finished

Please plan to join us for
The Home Dedication Celebration
Sunday, August 30, 2009, at 2:00PM.

August 22, 2009 Update

2009-08-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday with a small crew we:
Dug half way down to foundation at corner of basement to find water leak
Removed all tools and supplies from basement for painting
Painted basement stairs
Stained basement stair handrail
Spot painted walls in basement
Cleaned and painted workbench in basement
Installed Pergo flooring in remaining closet

On Sunday, August 30 at 2PM is the Catholic House Dedication.
Everyone is invited!

Thanks and hope to see you there,
Steve

August 17, 2009 Update: Catholic House

2009-08-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we accomplished:

Last molding installed in bathroom and painted
Rear door scraping eliminated
Bathroom trim painted
Door to basement utility room hung
Basement walls painted
Heating and return air ducts connected in basement
Stove gas line installed
Bathroom towel bars and toilet paper holder installed
Sliding closet doors painted and hung
Closet doors in bedroom scraping eliminated
Dishwasher rewired to access different plug
Light switch box in attic was raised up about 12”
Attic access panel painted and installed
Deck boards repaired and nailed in place
Rear screen door installed
Deck stained

Thanks again,

Steve

August 8, 2009 Update

2009-08-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday with a sizable crew we:

Cleaned and reorganized all materials and tools; unneeded items were seperated for removal
Tuck pointed cracks on the interior side of basement block walls
Scraped and painted the interior side of basement block walls
Installed the last of the new basement windows
Added molding in bathroom
Caulked and painted bathroom window frame and tub/tub surround joint
Added anti-tip bracket to floor under stove
Wired the dishwasher
Cut and hung sliding doors for bedroom closet, painted same
Painted plumbing access panel at stair landing
Installed all door stops
Nailed down the last 2 stair tread shoe grips
Installed dryer vent hose
Heat registers cleaned, painted and installed
Installed risers on stairway
Cleaned all windows and frames

Sarah, Grace and Larry brought lunchmeat, bread, chips and drinks for lunch. Thank you.

And thank you all,
Steve Polgar

August 1, 2009 Update

2009-08-04T04:26:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Chuck spent a couple hours laying the remainder of the Pergo flooring.

On Saturday, Aug 1 we:
Cleaned house and rearranged tools
Removed the old gutters
Nailed aluminum sheets to fascia
Installed trim molding
Sanded and painted the attic opening
Attached aluminum shoe grips to stair treads
Installed the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher
Painted one side of rear door
Finished repairing the chimney and flashing
Cleaned basement of debris
Removed last old basement window; built frame for new
Hung front storm door
Touch-up paint throughout
Shaved side and hung bedroom door

Dave the plumber installed all plumbing except the tub/shower devices

Thanks again to all,
Steve Polgar

July 25, 2009 Update

2009-07-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

On Friday July 24, Chuck and Dennis laid addition Pergo flooring; finishing the living room and partial hallway

On Saturday with a good size crew we:

Added most all molding
Replaced one basement window
Painted molding and front exterior door
Nailed molding around tub surround and window
Installed the bathroom medicine cabinet
Finalized a few electrical connections for the electrician
Replaced rear door threshold
Added decorative molding at front door
Plugged hole in crawlspace
Fixed corner of deck
Caulked kitchen countertop
Hung interior doors
Rerouted cold air and hot air ducts in crawlspace
Installed kick plate molding in front of kitchen cabinets
Hung mailbox

The next couple of Saturdays should be minor items and clean-up

On Sunday July 25, Andrew did additional mudding on the attic opening and Ryan and Steve laid the tile on two stairs and landing by rear door.

Thanks for everyone’s help,
Steve Polgar
Catholic House Leader

July 18, 2009 Update

2009-07-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

On Saturday with an adequate number of volunteers we:
finished painting the exterior of the house
painted the bathroom
laid the remainder of kitchen floor tile
replaced another basement window
finished stairs to front porch
painted the shed
removed construction and yard debris
and watched jets fly by from the Willow Run air show

On Monday evening (Jul 20) Chuck and Tom:
Added Pergo floor to the living room & partial hallway

July11, 2009 Update

2009-07-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday with a lot of volunteers, we were able to:

Clean and straighten the inside of the house
Sand door frame
Add lengthened strike plate to front door jamb
Paint closet shelves
Sand walls in bathroom; now ready for paint
Rake and bag leaves and twigs
Remove some deck boards for access to basement windows
Install trim molding in bedrooms and cut trim for other rooms
Add steps to front porch
Lay the tile in the bathroom
Trim the attic access

Thanks to all for your help
Steve Polgar

July11, 2009 Update

2009-07-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

On Saturday with a lot of volunteers, we were able to:

Cleaned and straightened the inside of the house
Sanded door frame
Added lengthened strike plate to front door jamb
Painted closet shelves
Sanded walls in bathroom; now ready for paint
Raked and bagged leaves and twigs
Removed some deck boards for access to basement windows
Installed trim molding in bedrooms and cut trim for other rooms
Added steps to front porch
Laid the tile in the bathroom
Trimmed the attic access

Thanks to all for your help
Steve Polgar

June 27 Update

2009-07-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

With plenty of volunteers; from as far away as Westland and Detroit and even from St. Patrick and St. Mary Magdalen of Brighton we were able to accomplish the following:

Painted 2 sides of house
Replaced a few cedar shakes as needed
Poured concrete driveway and front stair pad
Trimmed trees and hauled away yard debris
Patched and sanded kitchen/hallway pass-through
Worked on plaster walls in bathroom
Applied crack sealer/leveler to bathroom floor

June 20, 2009 Update

2009-06-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we:
Hand scraped last of exterior paint
Installed shelves in shed
Removed one basement storm window
Trimmed shrubs, cleared twigs and branches
Prepped driveway for June 27 concrete pour
Added new chimney crown
Painted in bathroom, kitchen, closets and hallways
Replaced defective cedar shakes
Power washed the exterior of house
Sanded, painted and installed crawlspace “window”
Added new gutter downspout

Pictures courtesy of Larry Vandenbergen

Thank you all,
Steve Polgar

June 13, 2009 Update

2009-06-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, with 7 volunteers we:
Finished framing exterior bathroom window
Trimmed trees and bushes
Added remainder of luan sub-floor in kitchen
Scraped off exterior paint
Framed a concrete pad for approach to front porch
Painted bedroom doors
Added most of the Pergo flooring in the living room
Touch up paint in kitchen
Built cover for back of tub plumbing access
Added insulation in crawlspace under back bedroom
Cleaned basement
Started framing a cover for crawlspace opening

The future homeowner Krystle Niemeyer will be at the house on Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30PM. All are invited to come to the house to meet her and her family.

June 6, 2009 Update

2009-06-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we were able to:
Finished painting the hallway, kitchen and stairway
Reworked and added new brick molding around back door
Installed new bathroom window
Added cedar shakes around new bathroom window
Installed 2 of 3 tub surround panels in bathroom
Scraped paint off front exterior wall
Framed driveway for concrete paving
Removed and replaced cold air return panels in basement
Added final trim pieces to shed

Thanks to all,
Steve Polgar

May 30, 2009 Update

2009-06-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we were able to finish painting most rooms except bathroom, kitchen and basement stair ceiling/walls. Kitchen needs final coat and bathroom is still under construction
Flashing added over front door frame
Exterior basement window frames were painted
Bathroom window reframed for smaller glass blocks
Tools moved and rearranged
Chimney repair work was started
Gutters were cleaned of debris
Landscape tie frame by one basement window leveled
Cedar shingles repositioned at front door
Front door exterior frame was primed

Krystle Niemeyer along with her 2 daughters is the future homeowner. She works weekends so we may not see her at the house. They may have info about her on the HHHV website.

Sandra Tracey of Nanny-on-the-Go! supplied a deli tray and drinks, thank you.

Thanks to all who help,
Steve

May 16, 2009 Update

2009-05-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

On May 16 with a good crew of volunteers (mostly from St. Mary’s in Chelsea), the following work was done:
Front bedroom painted with final coat paint
Living room painted with primer
Trees were trimmed in the backyard.
Shed was moved onto the pre-poured pad
Hardware attached to the shed doors
Added flashing and secured frame around exterior of front door

One volunteer (Jay) took the job of removing old insulation, debris and dirt from the crawl space under the back bedroom. It was an extremely dirty and confining job; braving a mammoth woodchuck and bees. He’s to be commended. Hopefully he will return next week to add new visqeen and insulation.

Lunch was brought by one of the volunteers, thank you Mary Ward.

After lunch I left to see my Daughter and Son receive their 2nd degree black belts. Chuck Yonka filled in for me. Thanks, Chuck.

Please pass the word, we need Saturday work slots filled with volunteers.

Thanks for your continued support.
Steve Polgar

May 9, 2009 Update

2009-05-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

Kitchen cabinets were installed on Monday by Jim Dirosia.

On Thursday two volunteers John and Chuck spent the afternoon removing the remainder of the molding that could not be matched in the store. It will be replaced with new trim soon.

On Saturday, May 9 with 4 volunteers we were able to paint three rooms, sand ceilings in the living room in preparation for painting, prepare clean and spackle the walls in the kitchen, framed the exterior front door, modify opening in bathroom to accept a medicine cabinet and remove the forms from the shed cement pad.

Pat Schock delivered a tasty spaghetti-mushroom dish, salad and desert lunch that we shared with another Habitat house crew. Thank you, Pat.

Volunteer numbers have greatly diminished since we started; additional volunteer help is requested!

To the volunteers who continue to support this build, thank you for your dedication.
Steve Polgar

May 2, 2009 Update

2009-05-05T04:17:00.000-07:00

On Friday, May 1 with a small crew the “dropped” porch frame was reworked prior to cement porch pour.
Concrete was then poured for the porch and shed in the back of the house.
Thanks for your help.

On Saturday, May 2 with just 3 volunteers the following was accomplished:

Back bedroom, adjacent room and front bedroom were painted.
More greenboard patchwork was done in the bathroom
Frames for exterior basement windows were installed

Thanks to the 3 dedicated volunteers.
Steve Polgar

April 25, 2009 Update

2009-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 25 with a good mix of volunteers we:

Dumped sand down/between front porch block walls
Installed framing for concrete porch slab and shed pad
Repaired the rear section of fence
Installed another basement window
Added landscape ties around 2 basement windows
Painted primer in kitchen behind future cabinets
Installed luan floor under future kitchen cabinets
Sanded ceilings in one bedroom in preparation for painting
Added remaining greenboard in bathroom

Tom and Kathy Pustell once again donated a filling lunch

Thanks,
Steve Polgar

April 18, 2009 Update

2009-04-21T04:11:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 18 with just a few volunteers we were able to:

Finish building the shed
Prime paint the finished exterior basement window frames
Install insulation and most greenboard in the bathroom
Finish rebuilding the front porch with last row of blocks
Replaced the damaged sill plate under the front door
Finish mudding and sanding the kitchen walls prior to painting with primer
Removed another basement window and repaired the surrounding cement frame
Tar was painted on appropriate areas of the exterior block wall
Shrubbery was trimmed by deck

Dave Jones came and finished the rough plumbing; he scheduled his inspection for next week

B-Safe Electric passed their rough electrical inspection last week

A great lunch was donated and delivered by Kathy and Tom Pustell, thank you.

Please post or send me pictures if you have them.

Thanks again to all,
Steve Polgar

April 11, 2009 Update

2009-04-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

No work happened on April 11 for one of two reasons……

1. No volunteers showed up. I got there around 7:35 and locked up about 8:50.

2. I got there too late and the volunteers had left already.

My bet is number 2.
The power went off in my house on Friday and I reset my alarm clock incorrectly. Saturday morning I apparently woke up one hour later and paid no attention to the time (hour) until I returned home at 10:10 (real time). I never wear a watch.

I sincerely apologize to any volunteers who made the effort to work on the Easter weekend and had to go away unfulfilled. Especially if you traveled a long distance and/or could have planned something else for the weekend. I also hope no lunch was delivered at noon; that would be especially unforgiving.

I promise it won’t happen again.

Happy Easter
Steve Polgar

Saturday, April 4 update

2009-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 4 a number of parishioners from St. Mary’s, Chelsea:

Rebuilt porch with blocks
Scraped more paint from exterior walls
Removed old and framed in one new basement window
Shed roof was shingled and doors were built
Removed bathroom window and reframed walls for new window
Repositioned insulation in attic
Secured hose vent to bathroom fan
Cut rough framing wood for inside front door
Removed wallpaper paste from bathroom walls
Finished installing sub floor in hallway and closet

Another delicious lunch was donated, this time by: Janet Ammann, Christine Taylor and Jennifer Alford. Ladies: sharing the Pasta salad recipe on this blog (or any other way) would make many people very happy.

Thanks to all,
Steve Polgar

March 28, 2009 update

2009-03-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 28 with a group from Christ the King parish we were able to:

Continued scraping the exterior walls
“Tar paper” and trim was installed on the shed. Doors started.
New table saw was assembled
Skim coated ceilings and walls in one bedroom and living room and small section of kitchen
Installed bathroom vent tubing
Finished one basement window frame
Kitchen and bathroom walls were cleaned with wallpaper solvent
Front gas light pole was removed
Bedroom, adjacent room and closets were painted with primer
Leaves were raked and bagged

A large lunch was delivered by Janet Holtz, thank you!

Volunteer plumber Dave Jones and helper continued the rough plumbing install

Thanks again to all who contributed,
Steve Polgar
Catholic House Leader

March 21, 2009 update

2009-03-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

With a number of volunteers from Holy Trinity Student Parish, we were able to:

Continue scraping exterior paint
Remove front porch & steps
Add roof and some trim to shed
Remove/replace one basement window

Add sub-floor piece in kitchen

Jessie Moroney and Kelly Bennett delivered a filling lunch.

2009-03-23T08:17:00.001-07:00

Credit for these pictures goes to Christopher Holdwick of Holdwick Event Photography LLC.

March 3, 7 and 14 updates

2009-03-17T14:01:00.001-07:00

March 3, 2009

1. In the basement, removed the rest of the drywall and studding that was on the east and south walls in the room. Scraped all walls and floor.

2. In the kitchen we removed the final 2 layers of vinyl tile and luan.

3. Outside, scraped off the loose paint on the cedar siding.

4. In the attic, all the baffles were installed; R30 battes were placed in all the open rafters above the repaired area. Then a layer of R19 was placed over top.

5. In the bathroom, all the drywall and corner screen from around the tub was removed so that green board can be installed. The tub remains in place.

6. The shed outside was started in the late afternoon. The walls are up, door cut out and the trusses up and gable ends sheeted. The old shed is completely taken down and in the dumpster.

Employees from Ford did a great job and were enthusiastic the whole day.

March 7, 2009

With 7 volunteers the remaining truss was built for the shed

Living room subfoor was nailed down

Walls were sanded in the kitchen

Carpet tack strips removed from bedroom floors

Wallpaper removed from bathroom walls

A large and filling lunch donated by:

Ann Arbor Management Team
Buffalo Wild Wings
205 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

March 14, 2009

With 6 volunteers more loose paint was scraped off the exterior cedar siding

Roof sheathing was nailed on the shed

Front door was replaced

Subfloor in bathroom was torn up and replaced

Damaged front screen door was removed

Some leaves and tree branches were bagged

Thanks to all who helped,
Steve Polgar

Saturday, February 28, 2009

2009-03-17T12:01:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, February 28, 2009, with only 3 of 8 scheduled volunteers we accomplished quite a bit of work.

Habitat fliers explaining our Catholic House were delivered to area houses.
All debris was removed from the house and attic, including hot water heater and refrigerator. Zac took (or will take) them and old water pipes to the Ann Arbor Recycling Center.
One of two layers of bathroom floor was removed and one of three layers of kitchen floor was removed; will be sufficient to add the new floors over.
Wallpaper in the kitchen was removed.
Walls around the tub were almost completely removed; ready for new plumbing.
Venetian blinds and hardware were removed from all windows.
Electricians were there all day and should be done with the rough on Tuesday when they return.

ALSO: the shed in back was almost completely demolished, will be finished on Tuesday.

Thanks to all who helped,
Steve Polgar

See photos at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/scottmichaelwright/Habitat#

Catholic Habitat Build in Washtenaw County

2009-02-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the - Catholic House 2009 - Habitat for Humanity Build
in Washtenaw County, Michigan, at:

328 Garland Street, Ypsilanti , MI 48198.

Most of the work on our house will be done during the season of Lent - February - April 2009.

Before helping on our house all volunteers must register and sign-up for a scheduled work day.
On the Habitat for Humanity web site you will find a listing for 328 Garland – Catholic House – where you can sign up to volunteer.

(If you just show up at the house address without first signing-up on this schedule you may only be a visitor to the sight and there may not be any work for you.)

-
The general listing for volunteers is here:
http://h4h.volunteerhub.com
-

See our news up-dates and photos of the 2009 Catholic Habitat House here at our Catholic Habitat Blog: http://catholic-habitat.blogspot.com/
-

Also, learn more about our past Catholic Habitat Builds at:
http://stfrancisa2.com/habitat/
-

See HABITAT FOR HUMANITY of Huron Valley at:
www.h4h.org

Questions contact:
-- Steve Polgar (734-485-1300) CatholicHouse@CatholicWeb.com
or,
-- Scott Wright (734-821-2121) swright@rc.net
or,
-- Lynne Punnett (677-1558 x 110) lynnep@h4h.org

See our weekly update notes HERE.
See our photos HERE.

From Habitat