1st Week in Falfurrias, Tx 2017

Our initial project involves a house owned by Robert and Mary some miles outside Falfurrias.  The issues are several but begins with the siding which is comprised of two layers both of which are rotted or damaged.

This is the house on the day we began work.

This is the rear as we begin.

The second issue is electrical.  The main electrical panel is on the outside of the house and nearly all the wires run on the outside of the siding or along the ground.  The  electrical panel  is on the left  and all the wires spread out like a spiders web from there.  Our job is to reroute all wires inside the walls and ceiling.  But first, we have to figure out what is where.  Stel and Roger are beginning that process.

To put wires inside the walls, we need the siding removed.  Here Judy, Al, Avis, Mike(the owner's son) Paige and Virginia are enthusiastically tearing off the first layer of siding.

Avis, Bob, Al, Judy and Bev working on removing the second layer of siding.

Stel is diconnecting wiring from the siding so that the siding can be removed.  Perhaps you can better view the spider web of wires here on the wall and on the ground.

Next problem, the electrical panel is attached to the siding so to remove the siding, we have to figure out how to stabilize the panel.  Al and Stel discuss and Al sets out to support the panel.

Avis (on ladder) continues removing siding while Paige (blue stripes) entertains homeowner Mary and her daughter Iliana and son Mike.

Stel pulls range cable from wall and will feed it to Roger in the attic while Gary and Bob work on foundation repairs with homeowner Robert and his son Mike in the background.  The family has been working with us each day.

Roger attempts to escape from the attic but Jodi caught him on film

so the next time he tries to go out the other side and we had to tear out siding to get him out.

Stel and Roger try to figure out which wire is which.  Just can' keep it straight.

Meanwhile, the siding has arrived so Paige and Bev apply a primer coat

as do Judy and Virginia.

after painting all that siding with primer, someone arrived with the final paint so Judy, Bev and Paige begin painting anew.

One window was broken in such a way that we couldn't fix it so Gary and Avis prepare the opening to receive a new window

and then they install the new window.

In the meantime, Al has been fastidiously repairing rafter ends and installing new facia boards.

There were soft places in the floor that needed to be addressed so Bob settled into the job.

He spent a couple of days fixing these soft places.

As wiring issues are resolved, insulation is installed.  Here Ralph and Homeowner Robert begin the process with an electric stapler but it needs more staples.

After the insulation is installed, OSB covers the studs with Avis and Gary working with the homeowner.

On the side, Avis and Bob aply OSB with Paiges assistance or was that direction?

Al and Ralph apply OSB and Ralph has his whole head into the project.

Paige helps Gary to mark and cut OSB to fit.

Stel installs a new outlet for Mary so she can run her coffeemaker in the kitchen instead of the dining room.

Roger has run new wire and box and outlet near the kitchen table.  Why does he have that "deer in the headlights" look?

Jodi finally gets her picture taken to prove that she is more that just a pretty face.

After the OSB is installed, it is covered with House-Wrap.  Paige trims the edge.

While Al and Ralph cover the side wall.

After the House-Wrap comes the prepainted siding.

We marvel at the progress.

At the end of the week, every one of those loose wires has been replaced and/or moved and even identified.  When we are sure we are finished with the wiring , we will takle the siding in this area.  We have two more sides of the building so this space will not be enclosed for a while. 

At the end of each day we had to cover the exposed walls with plastic  and at the end of week one, we had the one small area to cover on the side

and the entire front is covered.  More to come next week.

Mary (homeowners) had two broken dining room chairs so Stel took then back to the church to attempt repairs.  This one had two breaks, one requiring a new piece.

Stain is applied and the seat repaired and installed and it's ready to return to Mary next week.