October 25 - Finishing Work Is Detailed Work

Stepping Up: Building the Chancel Platform Steps - 
Eric and Kevin are both patient men and the job they are doing requires patience. The steps ascending to the pulpit span two thirds of the front width of the sanctuary. The steps are curved which simultaneously adds to their appeal and their construction complexity. Five thick, curved stair treads are stuck together with glue and screws, and assembled on pillars. The riser is also constructed from multiple pieces. The riser pieces are first tacked to the uprights to assure proper fit, then un-tacked and reassembled, securing the pieces to the back of the tread assembly. The entire assembly is then installed into its final resting place.

Kevin and Eric are shown working on the second step under the watchful eyes of Jared, sitting, and Jean, standing.

Eric works on tread assembly while Kevin removes tacking nails from the riser pre-fit test.

The end tread pieces must fit the wall perfectly. After being sawed at the proper angle, the board is scribed with pencil line to make adjustment for irregularities in the wall surface. Eric is shown here using the belt sander to shave off material up to the pencil line.

By the end of the shift last evening, the last step was put in place and  the job was complete. One more item to cross off on the job list.

Did I say 'job list'? I don't know about these bosses. The more things get crossed off, the more the bosses add new lines. Somehow it doesn't seem fair, but all the little as well as big things have to be done before the church is ready of use.

I did hear one of the bosses say we are shooting for holding the first services in the building on November 19th. That is less than one month away!!!! Perhaps the end is really in sight.










More Details -
One evening last week Tom and Janet were grouting and cleaning tile in the restrooms. I thought it a bit amusing that Tom was smearing dirty grout on the wall and Janet was right behind him cleaning up the mess. Tom acknowledged that was not new. It has been that way ever since they got married.

Clean up is a task with which most everyone can help. Conner grabbed a broom and added his contribution.

Last week I noticed Ken wandering around the parking lot stretching out a yellow ribbon then walking back to where Brionna held down the loose end, counting out loud as he walked.

Last evening I saw what results of this ribbon stretching and step counting exercise. A striped parking lot, and this time on top of the blacktop, not under it.

Markus stayed out after dark, playing in the dirt. He demonstrated great skill with the manual excavating tool, creating a suitable trench for the planting bed edging.

Aare is not kneeling in the corner as punishment for unacceptable behavior. On the contrary, his behavior is exemplary as he fits baseboard material in place, assuring perfect fit.
Aare, how many trips to the saw to make that tight fit? This piece took about five, he figured.




Fitters Fitting -
While most of the workers are out in the open spaces both inside and outside the building, a trio of technically skilled folks hang out in a small room off of the men's restroom, which pretty much assures that no girls will wander into their clubhouse.
Mark, Glen and Brian are pipe fitters that take care of making sure that hot water from the boilers gets to wherever it needs to go.  I think their clubhouse is called a fitting room, but I am not certain.

We rely on their expertise. I can hardly wait to see this maze of pipes and valves actually works as planned.














Painting Doors and Mitering Frames -

Bob was spraying trim pieces which will cover some of the now exposed hardware on the fire shutters.

That is, he was spraying when he was not teaching Ed how to make the mitered frames that will hold the glass in the doors.

As Dave is painting (applying a coat of sealskin) the doors that will have glass inserts, Ed is actually doing something useful, not messing with Dave's paint can. Ed is verifying the length of the side of the frame he is about to build.

Here we see Bob demonstrating proper nailing technique and  Ed following in his footsteps. Ed acknowledged that it is not as easy as it looks, but he is a good student and learned the technique.

Pews in the Sanctuary -

The pews are not yet secured but are in their soon-to-be new home, at least for the moment.
It makes the scene look a lot like a church, and gets the heart beating a little quicker as we await its completion.