Habitat for Humanity Taranaki News
Great Progress Being Made at Waitara
Posted on: 29 November 2010
After a few weeks of hard work the volunteers had a day off Saturday.
All the helpers are cranking along so well that it was decided to take a well earned break at the weekend.
Painting is now underway. Today the guys are going hard out on the Gib interior linings. Once the Gib is finished the plasterer will get underway with the stopping.
There is now landscaping work to do, i.e. retaining walls, paths and drive to box up.
There will be some finishing work to do, once the plasterer is done, architraves, skirtings and hanging doors. Any tradesmen who may be available to help with this please give Mike Giddy at call.
For those that haven’t been on site the morning and afternoon teas have been amazing and much appreciated. Each house seems to have a champion and this time it must be Bev. Charlene’s mother Bev has come over from Taumarunui to help Ross and Charlene out while the build is in progress, and she’s making sure the volunteers are all being well feed at morning and afternoon tea times too.
Things are Rocking Along at Waitara
Posted on: 15 November 2010
Things are really rocking along at the Habitat site 3 Tuiti St, Waitara. Ian Hay once said "the most important thing on a Habitat site is the cream". All the old guys with coronaries who aren't allowed it at home can't wait to get along to the Habitat site and tuck in.
And this house is surely testimony to that... Bev (Charlene's Mum) has come over from Taumaranui to help, and man has she been laying on a spread. Her savouries are to die for, and the pikelets the best I've ever seen.
Ross and Charlene have been putting in a huge effort, with the help of their family and friends, and it is a joy in getting to know them better.
We are currently ahead of schedule and so worked some short days last week. The floor was poured last Friday and is all ready to go.
This week it's all on.....tomorrow we will precut and pre-nail the wall frames at Lepperton Sawmill on Mountain Road.
Meanwhile the plumbers will be at the site laying drains and digging trenches for phone and power.
Tuesday morning we have the Building Inspector booked 9am, the bobcat at 10am to backfill the drains and level up the site.
Tuesday afternoon we will be standing the wall frames.
Wednesday we may even get some roof trusses up.
It will be full on every day from now on so come along and join in; we'd love to see you and can certainly use your help.
If you can, bring some basic tools that'll be great. A hammer, tape measure & pencil perhaps.
Cupolex Domes placed ready
Posted on: 9 November 2010
Today has seen the boxing for the floor finished and the Cupolex domes being placed in position. Ross Kelly our new Habitat partner was this afternoon seen busy building a fence along the boundary.
After the visit from the Taranaki Daily News yesterday and an article in this morning's paper, and also the affiliate newsletter going out in this afternoon's mail Ross and Charlene will soon be recognised by the locals.
Site Cleared For Build to Start
Posted on: 5 November 2010
Wednesday morning saw a team of volunteers led by Mike and Ian have the site cleared to build another Habitat house on Tuiti Street, Waitara. Three large truck loads of trees and soil had to be trucked away. One could feel the tempo being picking up as the project began on site with the new partner family really getting excited.
House Build No.28 Starts Next Week
Posted on: 1 November 2010
Our Building Consent was approved today and it's in the mail!
House No.28 will get underway next Monday, 8 November at 3 Tuiti Street, Waitara.
Week 1 - Monday 8th to Saturday 13th November: Help needed with boxing up the floor, placing steel and building a fence. The floor will go down Friday 12th.
Week 2 - starting Monday 15th
We will be at Leppers sawmill precutting and prenailing the wall frames.
Tuesday 16th, around noon, we will be back at the site standing the walls.
From then on we will be working on site every day except Sunday.
27th Dedication of a Taranaki Habitat Home
Posted on: 10 September 2010
The dedication of Taranaki's latest Habitat house took place on 22nd August. Charmaine and her children are now settled into their new Habitat home. Our picture shows Charmaine and her youngest son Cam opening their gifts from the Little Tree Company and Cerebos Greggs.
Dedication Day Set
Posted on: 5 August 2010
Dedication day has been set for Sunday, 22 August 2010.
The plumbers were there today finishing off, with a Council inspection tomorrow. The vinyl and carpet is down and the house is looking extremely good and fits in well with the other homes in the locality. This house doesn't look like our normal Taranaki Habitat house as it has a different layout to our normal house build plan.
Charmaine and her family have worked well to help get the latest Habitat House to the stage it is at today - well done to them and all our volunteers!
It's Nearly Done!
Posted on: 16 July 2010
Today (Friday) we should have all the woodwork inside finished ready for paint prep starting Saturday. Filling of nail holes is being done as quick as volunteers nail them up.
The two Gib stoppers have done a great job working around everyone.
The awesome new kitchen is being installed.
Barry Tyson our tamed Painting Guru who sprays the top coat is poised to launch his attack probably Wednesday next week, so we need to have the entire nail holes filled and sanded, the sealer coat on the Gib walls, ceilings and woodwork done by then.
Looks like we will be ready for carpet to go down about 28 July and then the following week will be all the finishing touches fitting of hardware etc.
This Saturday we would like to have a clean up at the back of the section. There are some trees that are blocking the light from the house and they need to be cut, loaded on the trailer and carted away.
Thank you all for your help, especially those who have travelled some distance to come in each day.
Didn't They Do Well!
Posted on: 2 July 2010
A great effort from the team, in some pretty rough weather, and plenty of mud underfoot.
The roof is on, windows are in, and the dehumidifier is running flat out to dry the whole place out.
This may take a while, and so we will be prevented from starting the interior Gib linings for a week or so until the moisture content of the framing timber is below 18%.
There is still plenty to do though, so rock on down and give us a hand if you can.
The exterior finishing is underway, scribers and soffit beads.
There are decks and timber fences to build and concrete paths to be laid. Weather permitting we will have a push on the exterior painting.
We will be working again this Saturday 8am - 5pm.
Charmaine has one more week off work. She has been on site everyday and really enjoying using all the man tools. Yesterday Charmaine and Demelza (a Habitat Homeowner from Inglewood) finished the front steps.
Despite The Rain Work Goes On
Posted on: 25 June 2010
We continue to make great progress at Shaldon Crescent despite the rain.
The building wrap and flashings are all done ready for the windows to go in. The roof trusses and framing are all complete and the soffits are well on the way.
This Saturday it's all hands on deck to nail off the roof purlins ready for the roofer coming next week.
The building inspector is due Monday, and then we will be into the exterior weatherboards and installing windows.
If you come to visit please be mindful of all the wonderful neighbours in Shaldon Crescent. Two neighbours across the road have let us put our shipping container in their driveway. The neighbours either side of us have building materials and workers constantly on their property. We appreciate them greatly and don't want to abuse the privilege. Please park on the road and don't put two wheels up on the grass as it will soon be mud and so will we.
So the rain has not dampened our spirits at all, or our progress, as we are still well ahead of schedule.
Ahead of Programme
Posted on: 17 June 2010
The current build at Shaldon Crescent is ahead of schedule with the floor insulation being fitted in today. Mike our Project Manager and Ian the builder are looking at standing the wall frames this Saturday although this was not planned as a work day so volunteer help will be appreciated.
Taranaki's Newsletter June 2010
Posted on: 11 June 2010
Our latest newsletter is in the post today to those on our database.
Click here to view the digital copy.
Taranaki Building Starts Again
Posted on: 9 June 2010
Building has started on site at 8 Shaldon Crescent New Plymouth for a three bedroom home in partnership with Charmaine Wells and her three children, Paige, Cullen and Cameron. The pre nailing of framing was completed in only a day at Leppers Mill last Monday with a group of volunteers giving up a day of their long weekend.
Families Will Be In For Christmas
Posted on: 16 December 2009
The dedication of our Taranaki Habitat house Nos.25 and 26 took place on Sunday 13 December. The homes are not quite finished and fencing and landscaping is still progressing, but with a Sunday free and most work completed it was decided to dedicate these two homes early and make sure that our two new partner families would be in for Christmas 2009.
The weather during this build has been a challenge with rain, rain and more rain, but the intrepid volunteers have continued with much slush and slosh to make things happen.
We know our two new partner families will be thrilled to move in for Christmas.
The driveways were poured last week and this week fencing and landscaping is progressing with finishing touches still being carried out inside both homes.
Waitara Work Progresses at Slower Pace
Posted on: 27 November 2009
With the Army Team gone work has drastically slowed down at Mould Street although there is plenty of work available for volunteers. Fencing and boxing for the carport pads has begun. More help is needed if the families are to be in by Christmas.
Chairman's Report on Progress at Waitara
Posted on: 21 November 2009
The NZ Army departed the site yesterday at midday and they have given us a huge shove!!!
They gave us their best and it is due to their input we have done so well and have got so far.
They were a great bunch to have on site….three on the team were plumbers who piped out both homes entirely, including fitting the heat pump hot water cylinders. Our grateful thanks guys!!
Also…..the garden sheds are all assembled and completed by the Linton lads!
As at 5pm last night both homes were completely finished on the outside including being almost fully painted thanks to willing volunteers from Mahia Mai and others who just keep turning up. It was great to have Kevin and Kathy, also Habitat partner families on site too.
Gib stopper Ian also arrived today and is beavering away in the rear home on the walls and ceilings where the gib is completed and all doors fitted.
The front house has about half the gib up so we are looking for guys with some gib fixing experience from Tuesday onwards. Can you help particularly this coming week?? We would love to see you.
We are hoping to have the Dedication just a couple of weeks before Christmas but this is dependant on help particularly the next few days. Please come and join the team….we need you big-time!
Outside Ian will be making a start on the fences from Tuesday onwards…..volunteer fencers are very welcome!
All in all, the last two weeks has been extremely full on, yet fulfilling, as we get closer to housing Jessica and Nicola and their families…..what a wonderful Christmas for them and us! But we can only do it with your help!
Army Team Depart Waitara Build
Posted on: 20 November 2009
The last of the army team departed this lunch time, some proudly wearing their new Habitat tshirts. After a lunch of pizza and chips kindly donated by local councillor and TET trustee Sherril George. As they departed they were waved off by Habitat partner family members from Inglewood who were on site again today helping see other families getting a hand up into Habitat houses.
Waitara Houses closed in
Posted on: 18 November 2009
Week two with the army team from the Linton Army Camp has seen the two houses to a closed in stage with gib board being installed. Two of our directors (Oliver and Ash) are to be seen busy working on the outside of the homes while the sun has been out between the heavy showers of rain today. The team has made great progress.
A hangi has been promised for the team tomorrow for lunch after which some of the army team will be departing but the remainder will stay on till lunchtime Friday.
Good Progress in Waitara
Posted on: 12 November 2009
A beautiful warm sunny Thursday morning at Waitara sees the building of two houses progressing well.
Army Engineers Arrive to Build
Posted on: 9 November 2009
The team of 16 army engineers from the Linton Army Camp arrived on site this morning and the framing on the second house is now well underway.
There has been a little bit of drizzle but the weather isn't too bad and alot of work will get done today following a welcome morning tea to which the New Plymouth Mayor, Peter Tennent will attend.
Framing is being erected at Waitara
Posted on: 6 November 2009
Today the framing is being erected on Nicola Lambert & Nicholas Dromgool's Habitat house at Mould Street, Waitara.
The framing work on this Habitat house will continue Saturday for volunteers willing to come along and help.
Monday 9 November sees the arrival on site of the army engineers from the Linton Army Camp.
Framing Preparation Begins
Posted on: 2 November 2009
The pre-cut and framing work has begun this morning at Leppers Sawmill on Mountain Road. Both Jessica and Nicola are there giving a hand, along with Ross from another prospective partner family.
The Boxing Is Off At Waitara
Posted on: 27 October 2009
The concrete was poured last Wednesday and now the boxing is off. Jessica and Nicola from the two partner families have been busy painting the black mulseal around the base. It's a quiet week this week prior to framing preparation starting at the Lepper Sawmill next week.
Build progresses in damp weather at Waitara
Posted on: 15 October 2009
The laying of foundations is progressing in the drizzly weather at Waitara this morning with the plumbers on site as well. Work got rained off yesterday afternoon due to heavy rain.
Week Two
Posted on: 13 October 2009
Week two has begun with the foundations and boxing being prepared for the Cupolex domes to be put in place on Thursday, providing the weather is kind to us. Today Kevin a partner family member from Inglewood has turned up to help. Later today Ross from a prospective partner family is planning to come along and help. He and wife Charlene are keen to start their 'sweat equity' hours and get involved.
Denise turned up with warm muffins for morning tea which put smiles on faces. More volunteers are wanted for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week and any baking for morning and afternoon teas will be gladly received too.
Start on next build at Waitara
Posted on: 8 October 2009
Work began on Monday 5 October at 88 Mould Street preparing the land for two 4 bedroom homes.
