Project LLCER Building

A Big Flat Ceiling - The ceiling over the kitchen, dining area, narthex and restrooms are all in one plane. The current project is hanging the drywall from the trusses to close up the ceiling over all of those spaces. Being inside work, it can be as easily done after sunset as during daylight hours. No matter when it is done, it is heavy work. A twelve by four foot sheet can be carried by one strong man but it is a workout. Hanging the material on a ceiling means you must fight gravity the whole time. My father used to talk about innertron, the solid matter that is lighter than air. He claimed you could put some in your pockets to hold up your pants. He was in the bakery business and said it was useful for moving 100 pound flour sacks to the mixer - much easier than carrying them. I never saw the material but I recall it being often mentioned as I was growing up. Watching the guys hoisting, positioning and then attaching the large drywall sheets made me think that a little innertron wo...

The Beautiful Donate Button - Well, it did not happen while I vacated, but now I will offer an explanation of the "Donate" button now residing in the blog heading. Early on in the building project, after one of the very early posts I got a phone call from a non-Elk River congregation member, suggesting that the blog should include a place for readers to donate if they so wished. So a link to the LLCER website was added to static area on the right side of of the blog. However, donating to the project through the LLCER website required leaving the blog, finding the proper tab on the website, locating the correct fund on the drop down menu and finally making a donation. A seemingly cumbersome and somewhat daunting process for someone who just wanted to make a contribution. I know if I were a follower of the blog, I would have been discouraged by the multi-step process required. It also may have seemed intimidating to go through all those steps and only make a $10 or $20 spur of ...

Completing the Shingling - Bob sent this picture at 7:18 Friday evening as the last shingle on the ridge cap was being secured in place. Loren, Phil (I think) and Dave had the honor. As was mentioned in an earlier post, this is a size large roof with lots of shingles. I suspect that all the guys that spent time up there are very happy that this phase of the project is complete. Dave mentioned on Saturday how pleased his is that his feet and ankles will have some time to recuperate and get back to normal again. Clambering around on such a steep pitch for hours at a time takes its toll on lower extremities. On to the Next Task - Saturday was a beautiful, almost summer-like day. Bright sunshine and warm. The atmosphere at the work site was perceptibly less intense and pressure-packed than the days spent shingling. I think there is a general sense of relief at getting the housetop sealed up before the winter snow set in. There was time to do some work site cleaning.  Phil, with a baske...

The Size Large Roof Nearly All Shingled - A Saturday without rain is a real treat. If the rain holds off until after lunch it is still a good day. Many workers turned out and many shingles got nailed down. After a full Saturday of work, Sam announced Sunday morning that the roof was 7/8ths complete. The picture on the right shows the remaining one eighth. I am not sure how he came up with the amount unfinished. I wonder if he counted out 1,287 shingles left in the inventory.  Work fascinates me. I can watch it for hours. There are always interesting things to see and hear.  Some of the guys climb up a ladder to get topside. Kevin and Steve called a cab.  No matter the means of transport, there is plenty of work to be done and they all get about the business of finishing the roof. Joe apparently does not take to scrambling around on the steeply sloped rooftop.  Some shingles need to be custom fit so Joe sets up shop with this oversize paper cutter and does the require...