Rick Damato and Jill Nash from Roofing Contractor worked as volunteers during the 2005 JCWP blitz build in Detroit.

A Natural Fit

This involvement in the construction industry made for a great opportunity for many of BNP Media's journalists to gain some hands-on experience as volunteer construction workers. It is one thing to talk about roofing and write about roofing, and quite something else to throw a bundle of shingles on your shoulder, haul it across the roof, tear it open and start nailing. For example, Roofing Contractor publisher Jill Nash may now justifiably add framing carpenter, roofer and painter to her résumé.

Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian ministry that was founded in 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller with the simple goal of eliminating all substandard housing from the planet. The Habitat model is a partnership between churches, businesses, and individuals who furnish funding and volunteer labor to build homes in partnership with people who cannot otherwise afford to purchase a home. Habitat homeowners pay full price for the home, and pay it off with a no-interest mortgage.

The trusses are lifted into place at Habitat for Humanity house No. 20 during the 2005 Jimmy Carter Work Project in Detroit.

Detroit Battles Back

Not so dramatic, until you visit there or look at the numbers, has been the decline of the city of Detroit. Blight is visible as you move around certain sections of the city. It is said that as many as 25 percent of buildings are abandoned there. The population of Detroit has fallen from a high of 1.8 million in 1950 to just over 900,000 in 2004 - a loss of nearly half of the city's residents. Once an industrial powerhouse, Detroit is no longer one of the top 10 most populous cities.

That is the bad news. The good news hinges on the awesome opportunity this city has to rebuild, and the 2005 Jimmy Carter Work Project is evidence that it can happen. The 2005 JCWP leaves Detroit with 30 new homes that will provide security and shelter for thirty hardworking families. While land to build on is a major hindrance for affordable housing in many parts of the country, it is inexpensive and available in Detroit.

Volunteer David Rooke, a framing carpenter by trade, nails the trusses into place.

Let the Building Begin

The local affiliate, Detroit Habitat for Humanity, was responsible for all of logistics with support from Habitat for Humanity International. As "blitz" builds go, Detroit HFH really had its act together. When volunteers arrived on the site, the basements were in and the prefabricated stud walls were on site ready to be placed. Engineered trusses were ready to set, and an enclosed semi-trailer donated by Whirlpool Corp. (headquartered in Michigan and a major donor to Habitat for Humanity) was filled with most of the components needed to build the house.

The first nail driven on House No. 20 was at the hand of the homeowner, Efrain Guevara. Guevara, like all Habitat homeowners, had to invest many hours of "sweat equity" into his and other Habitat homes as part of his down payment. In fact, he spent the entire week on site as one of the volunteer constructors. His wife, Demaris, also spent some time working on the site and provided a homemade lunch for all the workers at midweek.

The frame house took shape quickly. The exterior was quickly skinned with OSB and a thick layer of blue Dow insulation. Dow is also a major donor to HFH and the company's trademark blue board can frequently be seen on Habitat homes as they are being built. At the same time that the roof covering was being applied, volunteers started wrapping the exterior of the house with vinyl siding. Thankfully, volunteer professionals from the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) were on hand to give instruction, provide direction, and answer questions. They even helped with some of the trickier details and pitched in whenever any of the homes fell behind schedule.

The roofing was well designed for the climate in this upper part of the Midwest. The roofs were of a simple gable construction, not too steep, and easy for volunteers (even journalists) to walk. Once decked, the roof covering started with two courses of ice guard at the eaves. On house No. 20 a couple of Southern boys had the job of installing the membrane. David Stewart, a volunteer from Norcross, Ga., assisted the author with the task. A renewed respect for the talents of real roofers was discovered as the finer points of installing a self-adhering membrane were learned the hard way.

Following the rest of the dry-in, GAF Timberline shingles were applied over the course of two days. Again, it is one thing to write about roofing, but it is a genuinely unique experience for a non-roofer to head home with the raw knuckles and purple fingernails and traces of asphalt and glass fibers in places too delicate to mention - and soreness in places you did not realize you had.

The interior finishes were conventional and simple. At the end of the week, a simple, decent home was quite nearly ready to accommodate this family of seven. When you stand back and survey the structure, you are reminded just how important the work we in the roofing business do in providing comfort and shelter to the masses.

Some of the volunteers from BNP Media pose with the new homeowners, Efrain and Demaris Guevara (center front), as the house nears completion.

The Neighborhood

Speaking of the playground, it is certain that the addition of young families, like the Guevaras, with young children will bring a new life to this area. The stability that comes from homeownership is at the heart of the mission of Habitat for Humanity International. And, speaking of "international," a tithe portion of BNP Media's JCWP 2005 sponsorship was contributed by Detroit HFH to build homes in other parts of the world, especially the areas affected by last December's tsunamis.

It's Your Turn

Habitat for Humanity does the bulk of its work through local affiliates like Detroit HFH. There is most likely a Habitat affiliate in or near your town. You can contribute materials, labor (there is always a need for professional labor; volunteers cannot perform some tasks), or expertise to your local affiliate. The HFH affiliates are working hard to build a better community for local families and businesses.

Thanks for supporting this publication; we could not have sponsored the Guevara's home without you.

Volunteers install vinyl siding during on a Habitat for Humanity house being constructed in Detroit in 2005.

SIDEBAR: Habitat for Humanity International

HFHI has built more than 200,000 houses around the world in its first 28 years, providing more than a half a million people with safe, decent, affordable shelter. The organization expects to build another 200,000 homes in the next five years.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowner's monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat homes.

HFHI's work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates, which are independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. There are more than 1,900 active affiliates in over 100 countries; 1,600 of them are in the United States.

Partner families are selected based on level of need, willingness to participate in the program and ability to repay the no-interest loan. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing partner families.

Habitat is not a governmental agency and does not typically accept government funds for construction of houses, but the organization does work with government agencies toward fulfilling its mission of eliminating poverty housing. HFHI is managed by an ecumenical, international board of directors.

Learn more about Habitat for Humanity online at www.habitat.org.