Inspired by the format of the reality television show "Extreme Home Makeover," the Seneca County Home Builders Association is gearing up to do its own version of an "extreme build" for a Seneca Habitat home at 252 Third Ave. in Tiffin.
Richard Zeis Jr., a Habitat board and SCHBA member, is coordinating the effort. Zeis's company, Quick Dry Inc., has contributed to more than one home makeover for the television show.
"We're going to completely frame up a house by setting all the floor joists, the outside walls, we're going to put all the doors and windows in, we're going to put the roof on, and we're going to do all this in a 16-hour day," Zeis said. "When we leave at the end of 16 hours, we want it to be weather-tight and lockable."
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PHOTO BY MARYANN KROMER
A house is to be constructed on this foundation in about 16 hours as the Seneca Home Builders’ Association conducts an “extreme build” Saturday at 252 Third Ave. Spectators are welcome to observe.
Joe Swora, executive director for Seneca Habitat for Humanity, said the work is to start at 7 a.m. with a goal of finishing by 11 p.m. This is to be the first extreme build for the local Habitat chapter.
The three-bedroom home being constructed is to be owned by Challie Briihl. Swora said getting so much of the building done in one day will lighten the work load of regular Habitat volunteers.
About 50 volunteers from Habitat, SCHBA and the community have signed up to work. Zeis said 10 Sentinel building trades graduates also are expected to participate.
As in the television show, anyone coming into the work zone must have a "builder" T-shirt to identify himself and a hard hat. The four major sponsors are listed on the T-shirts.
The materials have been ordered and are to be delivered so the crew can get the work started right away. The 200-block of Third Avenue and part of Shawhan Avenue are to be closed to traffic. Zeis said rain or lightning could complicate the build, but light precipitation should not postpone the event.
"The biggest problem is if we close up the house with wet lumber, we'd have an issue (with mold). But if we just have a few sprinkles here and there, it will be all right," Zeis said. "We're getting pretty excited right now. We've been over getting the site prepped and everything ... It won't be a pre-fab house or anything. We're going to stick-frame it and custom-do all of it."
A work break is planned for 10:30 a.m. to dedicate two other recently completed Habitat dwellings.
The family of Deb Ward and Tony Distel are the residents at 255 Third Ave. Tiffanie Loesser and her family are the new owners at 263 Third Ave.
Also, a mortgage-burning ceremony is to take place for Ruth and Bobby Metcalf. They have paid the mortgage and now own their Habitat home.
Rush Graphix has printed commemorative T-shirts for the day in white and black. They can be purchased from Swora for $10 each. Spectators are welcome to stop by for the dedications and/or to watch the house going up. People can drive onto Third Avenue from the Wall Street end and park in the field or along the street.
"We're really counting on people coming out to view it and be part of it. ... There is plenty of parking for people to see this. We definitely encourage people to come out and watch it," Zeis said. "This is the busiest time for homebuilders, and we have a good amount of them that are going to give up their whole day to do this."
