Garland Veterans Build #2

 As bad a condition as we found House #1, an attempt has been made to prepare it for another 100 years.  In essence, to do things well.

Burke St.
Once the area that would be the new kitchen floor was opened up,(the floor was so rotted, an employee fell through it) I verified that the doorway shown on the left, was depressed 1 inch.  This was caused by the homes center line girder being replaced with a 5' section where originally there had been a central fireplace and chimney. The problem was the new central girder was not tied in properly and had absolutely no integrity nor any support.  It was just a chunk of wood stuck in place...and not treated as a 'structural member'.

I jacked up the girder on both ends 1 inch, installing support below and sistering up the repair with multiple layers on both sides using new 2x8" lumber and support below, before adding new joists.

Jacked up, (temporary support shown) full support was put in place prior to removing "anything"!

The joists here as in most of this house, had been completely pulled away from this center line and/or perimeter girders, caused apparently by the move to this new location.  Was this to be left and covered up? No, not by me...

 All old joists were removed.

 Girders repaired and supported, new joists with hangers installed 16 on center.

Randy and his grand daughter Victoria finishing the rough in of plumbing by installing waterline for refrigerator location.

Kitchen floor area nearly prepped.

Outside of the home had been left opened up for months with interior exposed to the elements.  I made it an issue to do repairs and begin to dry it in.
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Important:
Seeing what was necessary to address the 1st home on Burke Street, I drove over to the 2 homes the Executive Director of the affiliate was leading efforts, both on 6th Street.

One home had been moved and placed over a property line and that portion of the home (and it's roof) has to be cut off, who takes responsibility for such errors?

Work in Progress.... 6th St. Green Home.
When the work done to 'attempt' to rectify this glaring error, is this kid of work acceptable? Photos don't lie.
What do you then do with the roof line, or set back requirements?  Looks like 'nothing'!  The building department will just LOVE this.

 Are #10, 1.5" nails adequate for exterior sheathing? No, they are too short!
How about no OSB joint spacing for possible expansion?
(Supposed to be 1/8th inch gap)

 I believe in the Habitat's concept of presenting decent, affordable housing.  It's the Habitat For Humanity mantra. I do not believe in poor quality work, cover ups and building for some, at a 'lesser quality', for any reason.
I do not agree with delivering garbage to anyone and will not be a part of any efforts to do so.

These 2 homes have many glaring problems including rotted studs. Now, the day I am leaving, I see these items are in the process of being covered up with exterior OSB, hidden and they hope forgotten.

This trash approach is not acceptable to me but is the quality of home and rebuild that is now going on in Garland's HFH 6th St. location by 'choice, not error'.

Worse yet, the media pitch, is that these homes will go to Veterans.

                               Are Veterans less worthy of conscientious, quality construction?

....Elsewhere in the U.S. some organizations are doing the right thing.
in Long Island, NY, units for Veterans.
http://www.concernhousing.org/portfolio-item/apartments-for-homeless-vets-and-low-income-families-open-in-ronkonkoma/

...and the VA itself?
well I think there are steps forward HFH and others could take if a top down rather than the slow and sloppy, inefficient and uncontrolled bottom up approach was taken.   https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/54794/eul-develops-land-buildings/