Easterday Construction

Website Updates this Week

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Several months ago I mentioned that we had changed our website to a WordPress base.  I have mostly been pleased, though I’ve noticed it is a little slow.  This was also pointed out offline by one of my lurkers.

I’ve put off adding to the site as it has required some research into the new features.  (You’ll notice the use of slide shows in the new pages.)  I finally bit the bullet and have worked on a few things this week.  This has resulted in some misfires and redundant work, but some of it is coming together.  You might notice that there are some additional “Testimonials” in the rotation on the front page.  Thank you to our clients and associates that have stepped up to provide these.  I also have added a couple of pages in the website.  I tackled two of our library projects (Monterey Library and Logansport Library) where I had a significant number of pictures.  These were completed as stand alone web page entries.

Following up on the previous entry on Heritage Park, I plan to do some additional “Blast from the Past” entries in the blog.  Where appropriate, those will be linked to the project section of the main website.  The Blast from the Past items will be a little more conversational in the blog format.  Hopefully that won’t be too disconcerting to those visiting our site looking to hire us, but I think it gives a nice flavor of what we have accomplished.  That’s not to mention that fact that it took hours to put together each of those pages on the libraries.  Making blog posts do double duty would appear to be a more efficient use of my time.  This also goes back to the speed issue.  The site has gotten large with all the pictures I have included, so by allowing posts to double duty helps by not requiring repetitive entries.

I am also considering how to incorporate current projects such as Culver Garden Court where I have made multiple blog entries documenting progress.  Currently Culver Garden Court has a place holder in the main website, with a link to a Culver Garden Court search in the blog.  They will probably get stand alone pages as time allows.

If you have thoughts on this, let me know.  Here or offline…

Kevin

Heritage Park

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The above picture in a recent Culver Citizen caused a “blast from the past”, reminding me of our work on Heritage Park when it was first constructed back in 1997.  We were commissioned to build the trellis panels and the arbor.  The design was created by Mark Holeman (Mark M. Holman, Inc.) and was all custom sized and dimensioned.  Mr. Holeman even custom sized the lattice which was constructed in a square pattern in lieu of the standard diagonal pattern.  This was our first project with Mr. Holeman, but we have since worked with him on several projects around Culver and in other locations.

Richard Fisher of The Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver coordinated various contractors to complete the park, so we were only involved with the carpentry. At that time our best carpenter for this kind of work was Ansel “Uncle Bud” Cripe.  He was semi-retired and only working on custom woodworking projects such as cabinetry, railings and such.   He was in his late seventies, turning 78 in September of ’97.  He mumbled and groaned about the project, shaking his head, uttering an occasional signature “lawzy!” as he went through making patterns, gluing multiple layers to create the curved tops on the trellis panels and working through the intricacies of mounting the circle within the custom lattice for the arbor.

Per Mr. Holeman’s specifications, all of the wood used was redwood.  Also per specifications it was all #1 clear redwood.  This made the material costs high.  There was no margin for error!  Fasteners were non-staining, exterior grade.  The glue and fillers also had to be exterior grade.  Everything was built in sections at our shop.  One of our crews assembled the pieces on site under Uncle Bud’s direction.  Throughout the entire project, Richard Fisher was never far from the process.  He came to our shop to review the progress and was also on site when the assembly was completed.

As with most carpenters, Uncle Bud loved working with high quality wood and he treated this project with reverence and respect.  He spoke of it with pride in subsequent years, though he could never understand why they took that beautiful clear redwood and painted it green!  Sacrilege!  Particularly after he had carefully fit joints and hidden fasteners since the original plan was to only apply a clear sealer.

If you would want to support Heritage Park through the purchase of a commemorative brick, the Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver has them for sale here.  Bricks are available in single and double sizes.  You can find a map of brick locations and a copy of Mark Holeman’s original site plan here.

Unfortunately both Uncle Bud and Richard have passed away.  They are each unique characters from our past that are missed.

Congratulations to Leroy and Margaret Bean

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Anniversary Announcement from the Pilot News, Wednesday, July 17, 2011

All of us at Easterday Construction Co., Inc. would like to congratulate Leroy and Margaret Bean on 50 years of marriage this week.  Leroy and Margaret were part of the Easterday Construction family for over 40 years when Leroy retired.  Leroy started here October 1st, 1961 as a truck driver and retired as a Site Superintendent demonstrating the potential for advancement in a Merit Shop company.  We’ve been proud to watch Leroy become an active community volunteer in his retirement, working dilegently with the Lions Club, the Grace United Church of Christ and recently serving on the Culver Park Board.

Best wishes to Leroy and Margaret for many more happy years!   There will be a reception for Leroy and Margaret at the Vandalia Railroad Station in Culver on July 30, 2011 from 1 to 5 pm.

Just for fun, you can see a reprint of an employee profile on Leroy from The Easterday Parade, our now defunct company newsletter here.  This profile appeared in the Vol. I, No. 6, October 1990.

Culver Garden Court – Kiwanis

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Reverend Liechty and I were the speakers at the Culver Kiwanis meeting last week.  We were asked to give an update on Culver Garden Court, a little about the project and a little about the Garden Court organization.  I spoke first and gave a brief run down on how long it took to make this project happen in Culver, the problems with finding a site, and the cooperation we received from the Town.

I discussed our progress on the project.  (Framing has been completed, roofing is underway, rough-in of plumbing & electrical is underway.)  I also discussed the schedule moving forward.  I also told them of the other Garden Court projects we have completed  in Argos, Bourbon, Knox, Plymouth (Fairfield), Mentone and LaPaz.  There is one planned for Napannee if the funding comes through.

Reverend Liechty then spoke on how Garden Court began with their mission to provide affordable housing that they “would be willing to put their grandmother in”.  He spoke on their constraints and their plans for the future.

Everything was well received and there were good questions as we went along.

As a quick status update, as of yesterday the windows are installed.  Shingles are being installed and were approximately 15% complete yesterday evening.  Internally the draft stops have been installed in the attic.  The electricians and plumbers are working on their rough-in.

With the completion of the framing, we will be looking at beginning some of the initial site work finishes such as curbs and walks.  Asphalt for parking and drives will follow the walks.  We will delay the landscaping until later in the year to get out of the extreme heat.

See Jeff Kenney’s reporting on this presentation in the Pilot News here.

Culver Garden Court Trusses Arrive

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Beam in Hall Above Entrance to Community Room

Wednesday and Thursday at Culver Garden Court were spent preparing for the arrival of the roof trusses.  The walls were braced and squared.  Beams and columns were installed.  All the little things need to be prepared such as setting anchors at the columns and connecting anchor bolts at the exterior walls.  The beam shown in the picture to the right is pre-engineered laminated wood designed for the load at this location.  It is heavier and stronger than a dimension lumber beam of the same dimensions would be.  The column shown below is dimension lumber.  It is anchored to the pier below with a Simpson fastener designed to not only stabilize it, but to prevent uplift when high winds pull at the porch roof structure.  Upon completion this column will be completely hidden under a decorative facade.

Column on Pier at Main Entrance

Bob Cooper, our site superintendent for this project, and I have been looking over the framing to determine where adjustments need to be made.  We’re generally pleased with the changes that have been made to the panel design since LaPaz Garden Court, but we noted a few areas where we think additional improvements can be made.  We noticed some areas where we think we can combine headers in the future and reduce the wall studs required for support.  Wherever we can remove a stud, we not only save the cost of the stud, but also increase the space available for insulation.  Bob was also the superintendent  for LaPaz Garden Court so he is quite familar with how this project will come together.

First Load of Trusses Ready for installation

The balance of the trusses arrived on Friday.  There are two semi loads like the one in the picture to the right.  Trusses will be set using a combination of extend-a-lift forklifts and a crane.  This installation is planned for Monday.  Weather permitting, we are still on schedule for the main framing to be complete Tuesday.  This should include not only the trusses but also the roof sheathing.  Some minor interior framing will come after the roof is in place, i.e. soffits, blocking and adjustments to non-bearing walls.

Once the roof sheathing is in place, we will be installing shingles on the roof.  This will allow us to be 90% weather tight.  Windows will follow, further closing the building envelope.  Completion of roofing will also allow installation of secondary electrical wiring rough-in.  Installation of plumbing rough-in for all supply lines will begin as well.