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The lot is cleared and the back hoe arrives to begin leveling and
clearing the land.
Some supplies were strategically placed in the far back of the lot
where they will be out of the way until needed.
The hole which will eventually take shape for the foundation is dug
by the back hoe.
Once the hole for the foundation is dug, the next step is to build
the forms for the footings and lay crushed stone in to establish a
solid base for the building.
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Professional masons are busy at work here laying the concrete blocks that form the foundation.
Here the mason is laying the blocks for a critical corner where
everything must be perfectly square.
The foundation takes shape as masons continue to place the concrete
blocks. As you can see they are
just a few rows from completing the process.
The foundation is topped off, the last row of concrete blocks are in
place and the bolts which will help
hold the first floor in place are installed and ready to go.
Rock Solid Construction is one of the critical suppliers who help
build the foundation and ensure that
the building is strong and meets all city codes.
With the walls of the foundation complete, the concrete basement is poured and the concrete work for the foundation complete.
Just a quick diversion from all the building efforts, you can see
what happens when a neighborhood starts to improve. Habitat builds
houses and then our partner families start to work their magic and
make the homes beautiful! It is a lot more than just building
houses, it is building neighborhoods.
After the foundation is complete the first floor is installed and
the house starts to take shape.
Of course it takes a lot of people, but here on a Sunny day in
Newark the team works to put in place the first and soon the house
will work to the next stage.
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A youth group from St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Summit
work to back fill around the foundation.
Now things get exciting as the first floor walls and the second
floor supports are loaded onto the foundation with the first floor
in place. Soon crews will erect walls and the house will take shape.
Before the walls can be put in place workers must be sure the bottom
supports are solid and properly aligned. Here workers from Goldman
Sachs make final preparations.
The next step is to install outside firewall. The sheets are cut and
then nailed in place.
One of the most important factors in constructing a house like this
is to make sure everything fits. Here Willie Clark gives
instructions to volunteers from Goldman Sachs reminding them that
you must measure twice and cut once!
Here comes the fun part. Members of the volunteer crew from Goldman
Sachs places the second wall panel in place and makes sure it lines
up with the first wall unit.
By the middle of the next afternoon, side walls and the front of the
house are in place. Window holes are not cut for security sake, but
you can start to see the house take shape.
After the walls for the first floor are in place, tresses are placed
to begin the second floor. You can see the tresses on top of the
walls and underneath the yellow marking tape.
After the first story and the second floor deck are in place the
next step is to raise the second floor walls. To do that we start
with a stack of wall units and we need to get them to the second
floor. Read on...
Special tracks are installed and crews working on the ground hoist
the wall units up to folks working on the second floor.
As you can see, it takes a crowd to get those walls up and in place.
In this case it is volunteers from Turner Construction, 23 of them,
who got the job done!
Major progress! As you can see the walls for both the first and
second floor are now in place. Soon the crane will arrive to place
the roof sections into place.
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Moving dirt to the place it was needed most was the task at hand for
Justin Owen, a summer intern for HFHN. The Bobcat moved dirt from
the front of the new house to fill near the foundation in the rear
of the house.
One of the most exciting days in the whole building process
is when the Crane arrives to lift the roof panels up into place.
The Crane starts by hoisting roof sections onto the back of
the house first.
Then, one by one they move forward with each roof section.
Until they reach the front of the house and place that section
where it is secured by volunteer workers.
Pat of United Crane makes easy work of putting the roof sections in
place. We appreciate the donation of the truck and the driver who
worked on Saturday to get it done.
After the roof sections are installed, the plywood roof is nailed in
place by volunteers. Pictured above the shell of the house is almost
complete except for the roof over the master bedroom front window.
Mr. Willy Clark surveys the situation and prepares to install the
roof section.
The outside still needs siding and more work in several areas, but
it is time to start work inside as well. Here you see the first
floor with supplies in place to start work on the living room.
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Cablevision comes to observe. Because of the fascinating story of
the Abraham House, Cablevision came to the site to see first hand
some of the work being done. Pictured here Al Clarke, Operations
Supervisor at Cablevision, records Kathryn Cassidy and Rachel
Acquino as they cut lumber for installation.
Al interviewed a number of people who have been instrumental in the
success of Abraham House.
We will post at the Website when you can see the Cablevision
Program.
The roof goes on the master bedroom windows, the areas around the
windows are sealed and ready for windows to be installed. Soon
siding will wrap up the entire structure. Meantime the back hoe
levels the front yard. Then work inside can proceed.
Vinyl siding has been installed, windows are in place and ducting
for the HVAC system has been installed. As you can see the driveway
and sidewalks have been poured as well. Next electrical wiring will
be run and soon the inside of the house will start to take shape. A
front porch will be installed soon.
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Today Equator HD Television Network visited for most of the day with
a full crew of people to shoot a special about the Abraham House
that will air to their large TV audience. The special will air in
late January or early February. Check here for exact time and day.
In this photo the team is interviewing Dave Zurheide our Executive
Director.
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While it is not as obvious now, work is continuing at a brisk pace
on the Abraham House. Here a crew from Delbarton School at
Morristown, led by Joe Schachtele of the Carpenters Club
is building the front steps. Meanwhile, inside, framing is
completed, rough plumbing and HVAC are complete and rough electrical
is about 90% done. After inspection the insulation is installed and
then sheetrock.
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All HFHN houses are built with maximum “green” features including
insulation. Pictured here, two volunteers get read to install
insulation in the Abraham House.
HFHN Board of Directors member Lori Grifa measures for dry wall
installation in a first floor closet.
The house is really taking shape now with the front porch in place
and the steps all set for the grand entrances the new family will
be making very soon. There is a lot going on inside as well.
Mission Accomplished. After more than two years of dedication and hard work
Abraham House will soon become Rachel’s House. The dedication was Sunday April 26, 2009, and the grateful family moved in May 1st. The
Abraham house is a wonderful example of the positive outcome of
families of all religious denominations working together to benefit
someone else.
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