MINISTRY UPDATE
Sept. ’20 Project Report
It’s been a few months since I last updated you with the project John Schlitt Ministry has undertaken.
If you remember JSM was in the process of assisting a single lady whose health had declined to the point her once prosperous business was failing and her home was in desperate need of repairs. Through the generous donations last year JSM was able to replace her broken heating and air conditioning system, stove, dishwasher, and hot water heater.
Fall of ‘19 I also contacted a Christian contractor with a very small crew to get a bid on repairing her back deck. After he and I took a really hard look at the structure, we both agreed the deck was actually unsafe and should be torn off and replaced. The old deck also had a small balcony off the 2nd floor with an entrance door. The former owner had an upstairs apartment in the house but the outside stairs had been torn off. The current owner had used the 2nd floor for her business. When we examined the 2nd floor spaces the contractor and I knew immediately that to reconvert the upstairs to a rental property would be very cost effective and would greatly benefit this lady’s financial condition. Her business space could be moved to her basement area.
At this point two goals are apparent in getting this lady back on track and able to move forward in a safe and efficient manner. We need to finish the outside deck and return the 2nd floor to a rental apartment.
Beginning last November I tore the old deck off the house.
The contractor’s team worked to begin the new deck before the Nashville rain and cold weather set in. We were able to get the lower deck on and frame the upper deck and stairs before we had to stop.
With spring of ’20 drier, warmer weather finally arrived. I worked to get the lower railings up. The upper deck was floored and upper railing installed . I applied a sealant to prevent water from flowing onto the lower deck space. This was a very frustrating and time-consuming process! Once finished I moved on to putting a lattice skirt around the lower deck, building two gates in my shop for installation, and installing the railings on the stairs.
In early June the gutter needed to go back up along the 27’ deck span. On a nice Sunday afternoon, my grandson, Logan, Dorla and I stood on three ladders and held the gutter in place. I secured one end and moved along the span, as they held it, maneuvering the gutter under the tin drainage flap until each section was bolted. We were all hot, exhausted, and ready to go home after that!
While working on the outside project we saw that the two neighbors on either side of this home were also making real progress in restoring their landscapes and homes
In fact, as an added blessing, both neighbors generously offered to clear the overgrowth and old chain link fence of our home owner to erect a privacy fence around their properties. This will give beauty and privacy to all three home owners. This neighborhood is finding new life and benefitting all who live here
Mid-June Lone Star Warrior Ministry led by Chris Sarge Gill out of Tyler, Texas partnered with JSM in a fund raiser for the project. With the generous donations of contributors we hope to make significant progress on the outside deck and the home’s 2nd floor as a rental space.
A team of us (Krey, Dorla, Dae, Jack, Henry, & I) cleared and moved the upstairs space of business furniture, trash, and boxes to the basement. We dumped trash and construction scraps into a dumpster rented for a month. Krey continued to keep the lawn mowed during the summer/fall.
By early August ’20 the space was ready for Adam’s crew to construct a bedroom closet, do the wall boarding in all 3 closets and part of the bathroom, finish . As it turned out, Adam’s crew was called elsewhere so later in the fall Adam and I built the frame of the bedroom closet. I finished the wall boarding and taping.
A plumber, friend of the owner, was hired to do the added plumbing for the kitchen sink next to the bathroom. He also plumbed for a shower head over the tub so that a shower might be available. I built a linen closet in the bathroom. I tore out the old flooring . The floor space is very small.
In the kitchen I removed the upper cabinets and one bottom cabinet. Brought these home to rebuild into an 8’ assembly with a sink cabinet. Open shelving and purchase of refrigerator is planned. A section was left open for a stove . The cost of a stove and electrician to wire in is negotiable.
Painting the kitchen, bedroom, hall, and very small living room is the last inside project.
Outside there are some final details to finish. The list includes: finishing the safety railing, the rain drainage system between the upper deck floor and the lower roof overhang near the upstairs apartment door, constructing a step down concrete pad , as well as, a brick sidewalk off the bottom deck from the stored bricks.
After meeting with my board on October 8th ’20 we determined the working deadline for the project to be the end of November. In consultation with a local roofer, he recommended the same procedure I had planned for the drainage off the roof and upper deck section near the safety railing. I will be meeting with my contractor to determine if his crew can undertake this with direction from me and also finish the safety railings. I will seek an electrician for the needed electric needs of the kitchen. I plan to contract a painter to do the rental apartment painting and a handyman to do the concrete pad and brick pathway to the lower deck. Stone pads are planned to be purchased for the path to the upper deck stairway. A new stove and refrigerator will be purchased and installed for the rental kitchen.
