I have been volunteering at Habitat for Humanity for 3 months and I have learned so much. It is easy to learn a lot when you know just about nothing about building a house.
Below are things I have learned
- There are lots of different size nails
- There is tool that can help you move a nail out of a 2x4
- If nails are showing on the OSB that not good
- OSB is OutSide Board
- Manufactured edge is the one painted (red)
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Me in front of OSB | You can see the Red Manufactured Edge |
- The boards go Manufactured Edge to Manufactured Edge
- I learned how to measure 1/4 and 3/4 specifically
- make this mark < on the wood, then draw a line with the triangle thing
- I learned how to use chalk marker
- I learned how to use a power saw
- I learned how to measure out wood for certain spaces
- You need to mark the floor for the blocking and electrical fixtures and how high
- Blocking is putting in extra 2x4 or 2x6 in the wall to hang cabinet or in the bathroom for potential handrails
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Marking the electrical fixtures | Blocking in the bathroom |
- I learned how to use a nail gun
- It needs a battery, pump, and nails.
- I learned how to us a table saw
- I learned how to read a tape measure, I still need practice, I think I missed that lesson in grade school or 40 years is too long to remember.
- Use scrap wood to write measurements
- You need to block the for drywall too
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| measurements | Blocking for ceiling drywall |
Mark your cut with the corresponding number
To nail into concrete you use a rensit
I learned out to cut wood at an angle on a table saw
Tresses sit in brackets on the other tresses
The tresses get put on with a crane
The walls of the house are just shorter than the tresses
When you block walls it is called a ladder
- Tresses are the support beam for a roof
- You need to mark the tresses for drywall
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Tresses being installed | Marking the tresses for drywall |
- Some people are better teachers than others (Steve is exceptional)
- Habitat has companies that donate money and have volunteer at the house too
- Cranes have supports that come out each side and the front and back to keep it stable while lifting such heavy loads
- There are some really nice hammers, they call mine a baby hammer
- Mark all the tools that you take to the work site
- There are great people that volunteer at Habitat!
I love learning and I am especially excited to learn how to build a house as in the near future I want to build my own tiny house. In addition to helping in my community this is like a master class for me!
Next drywall!
My other Habitat for Humanity Posts
The humanity of Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity: Update on Stephanie's house
