Tag Archives: Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Work continues on all parts of the house

Oops, dropped the load off balance

Gettin’ back to work now

Come rain, sleet, snow, or Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the mail must be delivered!

Lots of spectators today

Hilton Head Kitchen & Bath brought in the hardware for a Robert Irvine event later in the evening

Robert was a great guy and Bella absolutely loved him

I brought the kiddos out to see Mommy work

The ladies are ready to spend a chilly evening working. They even went on the roof!

H2 Builders, as part of the fund raising efforts for the family, has designed some awesome shirts. They were initially sold at a pep rally that took place on 4 January to get everyone excited about the build and to raise money for the family. Anna attended and bought a black shirt for me which I’ve had sitting on a chair next to my computer so I can truly remember what this project means to a most deserving family as I write.

Now you can become a Weapon for Mass Construction! Please contact Ms. Rose Ann Collins at rcollins@h2builders.com and let her know you would like to purchase a shirt. They sell for $10 plus shipping. Be sure to include shirt size, color, and shipping address when you contact her. Those in the Beaufort/Hilton Head/Bluffton area can purchase a shirt at the following locations.

Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor & Convention Bureau
713 Craven St.
Beaufort, SC

H2 Corporate HQ
40 Persimmons St.
Suite 105
Bluffton, SC 29910

The Chamber
1 Chamber Dr.
Hilton Head, SC 29928

Welcome Center
100 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head, SC 29926

J Banks Design
35 North Main Street
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 681-5122

All money raised from the sell of the shirts will be used for the family’s mortgage and maintenance fund. Order one, two, or ten today!

Photo used with permission

The following pictures were taken on Build Day 2 on 14 January 2011.

I was greeted at the build site this evening by this lovely lady and offered a massage. I couldn’t find it in me to turn her down, and let me tell you. That was the roughest 10 minutes of my life! She said something about lots of knots on my shoulder blades and how I must have had a long week. I think a long week about qualifies what I’ve had between the day job and media coverage. Thank you to International Spa Institute in Bluffton, SC for taking some of the stress from volunteers and media folks!

The house has come a very long way in just 24 hours! The second level’s flooring has been put in place, the walls framed, almost every window installed on each floor, the garage has a roof, and trusses are in place for the main part of the house. Believe it or not, they were a good bit behind at this point but assure everyone they’ll be able to make that time up over the next day.

This young man lives in the neighborhood and was of my Badgers for Upward football last spring. I was very happy to see him both Tuesday night and this evening. He’s a great kid and extremely fast on his feet. He has promised me to come back out for football in the spring!

Where’s Waldo, er, volunteer?

Lots of work to do on the second level

And prep work on the first along with additional work on the inside

Volunteers keep up the steady pace out in the front yard. There is always someone in this area working with wood for installation in the home.

Working on the first level ceiling/second level floor. They were getting this ready for some flashing that would be installed a couple of hours later.

Volunteers in the staging area after completing their most recent task. They were taken for their next assignment shortly after I snapped this photo.

And the most exciting thing I saw all evening…the front door frame (minus the actual door)!

The following pictures were taken on Build Day 1, 13 January 2010. I wasn’t able to get pictures of demo day because there wasn’t official media support just yet and due to some possibly dangerous conditions during demo. Look forward to a guest post coming very soon from my lovely wife Anna for details on demo day.

Walls are framed, getting ready to install second level flooring

Worker stabilizing the pillar and prepping for second level

Worker inside the home working with interior walls

Workers outside prepping 4×4’s for use

Builders taking care of business

This was an absolutely amazing day. The photos below took place at the family’s home on the evening of 11 January after the family had been surprised aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Shooting Begins

Wayne Johnson, President World Design Marketing, in front of “the bus.” WDM handles PR for the builders, H2 Builders. He and his staff have been great to me. A big thanks goes out!

The family during a shooting break

The builder, Todd Hawk, and family. They are very nice folks and their enthusiasm for this project is infectious.

This Old House

Another media lady and I were sitting in our tent chatting up a storm and watching the build when one of the folks affiliated with the build came out. She mentioned something about food and we both responded about being kinda hungry. She immediately snatched us up and took us over to the VIP tent for some chow.

CornerStone Grill out of Bluffton, SC was on hand this evening serving up some wonderful lasagna, fresh cesar salad, and a desert that was to die for called Heavenly Bars. We spoke with a very nice lady behind the table and found out her sister is the person who made them. I shoved my business card in her face and begged for the recipe.

She called the restaurant to relay guesses from the smaller group of folks who had gathered. We managed to figure out there are Rice Krispies, Karo syrup, powdered sugar, and butter. Any guesses beyond that were met with laughter and claims that the secret could not be told.

I will be making a trip to CornerStone very soon to demand the recipe in person. After all, Redshirt gets the VIP treatment!

A lot of work has been accomplished over the last 24 hours! The second level floor is in place, second level walls are all framed, windows have been installed, and roof trusses await their finishing touches. The crew’s nonstop work is really paying off.

The spectator area has a constant stream of people coming and going, and I must say that I’m pleasantly surprised. The Beaufort area supports this build to the fullest extent, even on a Friday night when the local restaurants are in full swing and the biting cold will quickly take hold of your bones. The spectator area is open from 8 AM to 8 PM. Parking is at the Piggly Wiggly on Ribaut Rd. To get on the bus, you must bring a canned, non-perishable food item.

Early this afternoon I posted on our Facebook page that there was an urgent need for framers today and sheet rock installers for tomorrow. This need has not been met, so if you’re in the Lowcountry, SC or Coastal Empire, GA area and have any skill level in trade work please visit the build’s website and let them know. You can also show up at Southside Park in Beaufort, SC ready to work.

Design team spottings have been very few so far this evening. They are all in other location working on their designs and gathering supplies to bring them to fruition. I’ve heard a few rumors of room design ideas, but I can’t publish any of them before the show airs. You’ll just have to tune in to see in about six weeks!

Hope to see you on the construction set!

I’m currently sitting at the construction set of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition watching as the skilled workers complete the walls and inside structure of the home. Later tonight, they will begin work on the second level and add the roof! It is simply amazing watching all these people come together to do something amazing for a most deserving family.

There are quite a few spectators coming and going as well. I’ve talked with a few and will post the interviews I recorded a bit later. Many are in awe of this entire event and every single person I’ve spoken to submitted an application to volunteer. There are only so many positions to fill and not everyone will get a chance to donate time when over 2800 people apply. Good on the citizens of Beaufort Country for showing such strong support for this project!

I was able to speak with Wayne Johnson, president of World Design Marketing, and he is very excited about his clients, H2 Builders, being selected to build this home. I’ll also post my interview with Wayne in the next few days.

Work is steadily progressing, and I’m very excited to bring more updates as the week goes by. Demolition day was yesterday and I have a full report on that coming very soon from none other than my beautiful wife, Anna.