September 2 - Trimming and Tiling

Many Hands Make Light Work -
The peripatetic chronicler returned to the scene of the action. While the parking lot was not full, that is to say more cars would have fit, there were many hands on hand to share the evening shift on Thursday. I was told that turnout improved while I was away. One person, who requested anonymity, suggested the improvement was due to my absence. I choose to think it is because the end is in sight. I have been told that distance runners are stimulated to dig a little deeper when the end is in sight and turn on a burst of speed. Now the work is creating things that will be visible in the final product. The finished building is emerging from the dim shadows providing glimpses relying more on eyesight than on imagination.

Once the cars are duly noted, attention turns to the now totally covered entryway.

Troy, Eric and Brent attach trim pieces to complete the picture.









Finishing the Interior Trim -
Once a rough sawn slab is cut to size and planed, a three step process is required to produce the finished piece. First sanding sealer is brushed on and allowed to dry. The surfaces are then sanded and wiped clean of dust. Then varnish is brushed on.

The boards in the foreground have had sanding sealer applied and await sanding. Sanding sealer penetrates into to wood, raising the grain a bit while it seals the pores in the wood.
Sanding again smooths the surface.

Kevin and Victor do the sanding. The resulting dust has to be wiped off with a cloth like the one resting on the wood plank.



















Tim and Loren apply varnish - only to wood, never to truth.

Ben, shown here with his head unceremoniously cut off by the photographer, slathers on the viscous material. Wood finishing products give off a strong, somewhat noxious odor, which not only stinks but requires a well ventilated work area. A size large exhaust fan in a doorway helps out.

Bob installs the trim pieces to frame a doorway.

Doorways Need Doors - 

Kevin and Phil collaborate on securing hinges on a door, watched closely by the quality assurance inspector.

Once hinged, the door needs to be hung. Again the inspector keeps a close eye on the installation.

I suppose the installation was acceptable since the inspector now turns his attention elsewhere.



















Tile on the Wall - 

Another new feature is the tile now installed behind the drinking fountain. Well, use your imagination and visualize a fountain secured to the wall. It is in the plan and it will be there.

Sam is plotting and scheming where and how to get the tile on the wall. The first step, apparently, is to lay out the tile on the floor. Sometimes the construction process evades my mental process. I understand that gravity will hold the unglued tiles on the floor better than it will on the wall, but I am not sure how to transfer the laid-out tiles to the wall.

Sam again employs the amazing laser level to mark the level line for the tile. He went around the room adding pencil marks to the wall atop the red line. I offered to add pencil marks to the red line on his shirt but he declined.

Pew Progress -
Jean uses the open air, outdoor workroom to continue the work on pew refinishing.

The design committee used a chunk of a pew seat for a color sample board. I am not sure about the decision making process but they knew better than to involve the chronicler in it. My sources tell me that the dark patch in the upper left corner is the winning entry.





Landscaping and Water Feature Progress - 
It seems that the reflecting pool that I enjoyed for taking thoughtful pictures of the church has disappeared into history. I am glad I got the pictures for the record before that happened.
The engineers got involved and drained the pond. The water was supposed to be gone after no more than 48 hours, but this infiltration basin was obviously failing to go along with that notion. So, the engineers mandated a ditch with rock and drain tile to assist compliance. And the water departed. Some high power organic fill was added to the bottom. I understand that some water loving vegetation will be added. These changes may make it a better infiltration basin but it sure messed up the reflection photo opportunities.


Farmer Paul says we need more grass, and sod is expensive. So in a manner reminding me of Johnny Appleseed, Paul is taking on the remainder of the 10 plus acres of land with his seeder.