Construction Continues

Pastor Kallam had a meeting with the County building officials last week. The Mechanical inspector still has some questions about the HVAC, minor stuff like SEER rating, size of ducts and flow rates. Although not "impressed" with my drawings, they were ok with them, and have given approval for us to continue with the non-structural and electrical parts of this renovation.

Latest Photos

The main bathrooms are not your regular "institutionalized" facilities. They are more a work of art.

Work Continues

The outside of the new building is looking up.  It looks so good that people are starting to stop and ask what we are doing. Even a lady from the Chamber of Commerce ask and then ask us to tell them when we will be ready for them to show up to a "ribbon cutting". It is also now repainted.

Inside; we continue to do what we can while awaiting county approvals. The platform is being rebuilt to the engineers specifications.

The Pastor has been busy with floor time in the bathrooms....

Murphy's Law

We have all heard it before "If something can go wrong, it will go wrong." that is the essence of Murphy's law. For added measure; let's just throw in the "Monkey Wrench."

The men have come a long way on the platform construction. Remember that the county said we needed an engineer.......he has seen it and likes what we have done, so we continued with the build.

Both sides are done.

We assumed that the engineer would draw and certify what he had seen; here's where that monkey wrench comes into play..... We had to tear it down and start all over. I guess I can't really blame the engineer for being overly cautious, it is his name and liability on the plans.

OK guys; the practice run is over - let's do it again...

There are 3 5/8" x 5" lag screws on each stud, plus the 2x4 bracing. I don't think this ledger board is going to collapse!

Look at the floor joists - double 2 x 8's. The plan gave us a choice of joist hangars or (3) of the lag screws at each end of the joist. Let's see; 12 screws at .69 cents each or 2 joist hangars at $1.55 each.......

 

Even the outside is looking better. Deacon Davila is pressure washing; getting ready for paint.

Progress

We would all like to think that renovation and construction is an easy thing and that it moves along at a fast pace. Fact is that the "start-up" is at a snails pace and progress appears to be stagnant. I can tell you that "it ain't so".

Our new building is a large high visibility structure that once was (I think) a  metal fabrication shop. There are things we can do, and many things we can't do (without approval). The can't do(s) is where the slowdown shows up. Number one is that the occupancy rating has to change - from what it was to "Assembly" which follows a whole different set of codes. This requires approval at the County.

Pastor Kallam had a meeting with the county a few weeks ago (see the earlier post). The requirements necessary to move forward are still being worked and just so yo don't get the idea that nothing is happening, there is a lot going on "behind the scenes".

Drawings and details that the county needs are being worked, and a general contractor is being consulted to help finalize the plans that will be need for approved. An engineer has been consulted about the load bearing capacity of the raised platform(s); and other experts are being consulted about electro/mechanical work. Like I said, sort of "behind the scenes".

Things are progressing in the existing office areas, the doors are being changed to six panel colonials, all the old flooring has been removed and new carpet or ceramic is in place. Wall painting and baseboards are still in work. It is looking good.

NEW BUILDING UPDATE

Work continues on the new building. It is slow going, and after the county meeting we are not moving as fast as we would like. Most all work on the sanctuary has slowed to a snails pace. Since the county requires certain conditions be met we have no choice but to comply. The new raised platform has to be "engineered" and certified, insulation and air conditioning must be meet certain requirements, both of these  will need state certified mechanical and architectural people to design and certify the items. We also have to provide drawings from a general contractor showing what we intend to do. We had thought that all we would need is a licensed electrician and plumber (and appropriate permits). It turns out that the county only has concerns about the sanctuary renovations.

The lower level of the interior is making progress; all the rooms have flooring and new doors are in going in.

SOME OF THE INSIDE SHOTS:

The ceramic looks great.

The sanctuary platform construction was halted until we get it engineered. There will most likely be a change in how the 4 x 4 posts support it.

The outside is shaping up also. Talk about sweaty work! (And all I did was take the photos.)

Renovation Continues

The saints at ALC of Navarre continue to clean, paint and renovate.

Yesterday Pastor Kallam had a meeting with county officials to discuss what we need to do for compliance issues. There were things that we thought would be of concern, but were not; and a couple of things that we hadn't even thought about.

County issues aside, work is progressing.

Floor preparation done and ready for tile.

18 x 18 tiles

Main hallway

Foyer

Classroom carpet

Classroom carpet

Like the Energizer bunny, we just keep going..... It may not look like it, but a lot has been done in the past couple of days.

Another Day.........

Here we are again, destruction, construction, painting, etc.....

Heavy steel coming down

The steel is down.

Securing the wall structure to the floor. Nail gun is jammed!

More walls going up.

Bro Jonathan Palkowski comes by to help.

Bro Bryan

Sis Crystal Knight cutting in around windows.

Sis Gonzalez was painting