The “Extreme Makeover” hasn’t just been for the Cowan-Brown family. The show has reached out into the community and the Family Service Association Domestic Shelter in Kokomo is getting a new roof because of it.
In conjunction with the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project, Hallmark Homes contacted United Way’s coordinator of community volunteers Cheryl Graham to find out what community projects needed to be completed. Graham suggested three agencies that could benefit, including the domestic shelter.
The shelter was built in 1985 and still had its original roof, according to program coordinator Pam Isaac. Beginning last Wednesday, volunteers and contractor started working on the shelter.
“Oh my word,” Isaac said. “They came here and have painted, carpeted, landscaped and now a new roof is going on.”
We are looking for SKILLED laborers to come straight to worksite to help us finish the Cowen-Brown home. If you are any of the following, please head directly to the work site (11040 S. 100 West):
SKILLED Carpenters
SKILLED Painters
SKILLED Cabinet Installers
SKILLED Trim Carpenters
SKILLED Equipment Operators
SKILLED Plumbers
Also, only volunteers and sponsors will be allowed at the work site for the remainder of the evening. Spectators are welcome to join us for the Reveal tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m.
Again, if you are a SKILLED laborer, please come help us finish this house!
Despite all of the difficulties that have existed in this build, Hallmark Homes CEO Derek Wilder still feels that they will complete their part of the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project tonight. They plan to hand over the keys to the interior designers at ABC tonight and complete some final exterior projects, such as landscaping this evening into Tuesday morning.
Some of the interior tasks that Hallmark Homes still need to complete on the estimated 3,000 to 3,500 square foot home today are painting, finishing the trim work and finishing the all hardwood floors.
The rain was a significant drawback in an effort to build a house in just over 100 hours. A normal build of this size would take between 90 to 120 days.
“When you pour a footer and have a monsoon, it makes it rough,” Wilder said.
The rain, which turned the entire build site into a mud pit, required changes to building plans throughout the week. Equipment that would normally be used had to be scrapped after they were getting trapped. For example, lifts that were normally used to lift people to install siding would get stuck in the mud and have to be towed out.
At one point, Wilder predicted that the build was as much as 14 to 15 hours behind schedule. The ability to get back on task can be credited to dozens of laborers who are putting in full days, getting three hours of sleep a night during the build.
And what was the motivation to keep the workers at the site.
It’s much quieter at the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build on Monday morning. At least, that’s the case on the field side of the site. Kind of like a calm before the storm, the spectators haven’t come out in the numbers that they did yesterday for Family Day or that are expected for tomorrow’s big reveal.
That’s led to a much quieter site. The spectator tent has been closed in preparation for the post-Reveal festivities on Tuesday night. Sponsors are still around, providing goods and services everywhere you look.
On the other side of the road, at the Cowan-Brown’s new home, the contractors and volunteers continue to work at a frenetic pace. They are making sure to turn every screw and hammer every nail in advance of Tuesday.
That’s our update from Bunker Hill, Ind. Everyone is amping up for the return of the Cowan-Browns and to “Move That Bus” tomorrow.
The hours are quickly slipping away from the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team. The weather brought hundreds of spectators for Family Day, but there’s still a house to be built for the Cowan-Brown family. Now the construction team is scrambling to make up for lost time caused by the rain.
The build site transformed from a flood zone to a mud zone overnight. Scott Dallis, of Dallis Homes, said he has been on seven builds with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He said the rain and the resulting mud are causing delays for the build.
“This isn’t the worse I’ve seen,” Dallis said. “It rained worse in Kentucky during the 2005 season.”
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition uses all the volunteers it can take, but it helps to have experienced hands working on the house. Andy and Steve Gall, of Gall Brothers Inc., arrived at the house at about 2:30 p.m. and planned on working through the night. “We’re in for whatever it takes,” Andy said.
And this is an all night affair. The weather has forced constant delays, making an already tight schedule even tighter. Volunteers and contractors work through the night every night of the build in order to stay on schedule.
Trucks line up in front of the build site for the latest edition of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Friday morning. Entering the site took upwards of an hour because of two inches of rain that fell Thursday night and Friday morning.
Trucks travel up and down the road dropping off supplies. The buses also navigate the one-lane available to drop off the incoming volunteers and spectators.
The rain destroyed most available parking near the site, requiring the trucks to park on the street. This is why the road has become so jampacked.
Today is Anderson University work day at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Faculty, professors, students, and alumni are in Bunker Hill, Ind. to assist with the build. Along with the group is Anderson University alumnus Troy Jones.
Troy Jones graduated with the class of 2005. Jones came from from Anderson, IN to volunteer with his wife, Elizabeth Jones. Jones is currently pursuing his MBA degree at the Flagship in Anderson, IN.
Asked why he came out to help, Jones responded, “I wanted to help out the family and be apart of something much bigger than myself.”
Jones works for the American Cancer Society. Kori Brown, the daughter of the Cowan-Brown family, is a volunteer for Relay for Life through the American Cancer Society. She has raised over $35,000 for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.
Troy has the privilege of knowing Kori and recognizes her dedication and commitment through donating her time and raising money for various causes. Troy is one of many who are donating their time and working efforts to make this an enjoyable experience and a life-long memory for the Cowan-Brown family.
We can’t show you pictures of the new house — that would ruin The Reveal (which happens this Tuesday). That doesn’t mean we can’t show you what a good, old fashioned demolition looks like.
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