FRUGAL BUILD
The concepts of Solid Homz, are to build economically with the goal of providing the lowest cost housing to the working homeless as possible. To that end several people donated time or furnishings.
Our prayer from the beginning was that God would send people and material we needed when we needed them. We got help with surveying, concrete and electrical work. Roofers with little fear of heights came at just the right time. Doug came just as we finished hanging the last drywall with 30 years' experience in drywall finishing. Several good painters came when we needed them. Trim and furnishings came discounted or free.
The first home built has concrete for the floor with no floor covering but was sealed and painted. However, that does not mean it is cheaply constructed. The roof is metal and the exterior is concrete siding.
The first house is clean and attractive with designer colors. The goal is to help the low income working homeless get a new start and be self-sufficient.
The shower pan is built into the slab. The shower walls are concrete board with 3 or more cement coatings then 3 or more swimming pool coatings on the walls and pan. This probably saves over $2000 per bathroom. It appears this new type of shower is the first ever in the US. It is impressive because with little or no cleaning there is no mold or mildew.
Each resident has their own private bedroom with bed, mattress, mattress cover and bedding. They share bathrooms and common areas. They have their own safe place where they can lock out the world. They have a hot shower with large shower head over 6'6" high and clean bed.
Sawmill wood was used for shelving instead of upper kitchen cabinets. Sawmill lumber and pallet lumber were used for the exhaust fan hood, base board, scuttle and trim, window and door trim and shutters. This saved several thousand dollars. Cabinets and vanity bases were sourced for economy with Formica in the kitchen and left bath with solid surface in the bathrooms.
The first home is a four-bedroom two bath house. Each resident has a case worker to help them sort through life.
The interior doors are good quality but purchased as salvage. Some would be special order at roughly $300. There are 7 interior doors, so the saving is significant.
The appliances are high quality but used. The washer and dryer are Samsung. The Kenmore refrigerator is a side-by-side double door with ice in the door. The Frigidaire stove is glass top electric. One bathroom has a double marble vanity. Plumbing fixtures are brushed nickel.
The eaves and shutters were made from sawmill lumber or pallet wood. The gable ends are attractive shake pattern vinyl siding.
The used sofa has 2 recliners with one in each end. There is an addition single seat recliner. Each are Scotch guard treated.
There is high speed internet and a new 43 inch ‘smart’ TV.
Each bedroom has its own PTAC heat and air conditioning unit under the window so each occupant can control their own room temperature.
The front porch is made of concrete blocks laid on their side. The front patio approximately 10x10 is made of washout concrete poured in squares. The front yard love seat and two chairs are made from pallets.
Care was taken during each phase to minimize waste. There was very little scrap remaining at the end of construction.