Local Contractors, Builders, Electricians etc

NoCo Rebuilding Network is organizing people who build:  architects, engineers, contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians,

concrete workers, drywallers, HVAC installers, painters,designers, and anyone else who may be willing and able to contribute to the effort. Our goal is to create a collaborative structure that will make the rebuilding process more efficient for everyone and give us new ways to work together, share resources and knowledge, and help those in our community.   To this end we’ve developed an educational rebuilding series called Dirt to Drapes called Dirt to Drapes,  starting August 1st, 2012 and running till June 5 2013. People are encouraged to stop by and discuss their rebuilding questions with local Architects, Contractors, Engineers, and other building professionals.

The event will be extremely informal.  Please stop by and say hello.** 

If you are interested in learning more about this group please read on ->

The local building community is organizing to fulfill the task of rebuilding in the most efficient, affordable and sustainable manner possible for our neighbors who have been devastated by the High Park fire.

A meeting was held in mid-July 2012 at the Bellvue Grange to create an organization and method for going forward with cooperative efforts of builders, contractors, volunteers and county resources to rebuild High Park fire areas, while promoting the values of quality craftsmanship, sustainability, and community participation.

Include your name and contact information on the organizational list to receive information and to be notified of the exact date and time of the July organizational meeting.

Following is a more detailed summation of the vision, objectives and identified rebuilding phases to set the basis of the organizational meeting.

We welcome all input and energy and invite you to become a part of this process. This is a difficult time for many of our dearest friends and we can make it a lot easier for them if we all work together. If you plan on working in this area, have dealt with this kind of situation before or feel that you have something to offer, please sign up, contact us and join us in a process that will continue through the long haul. We are planning to have a general meeting at the Bellvue Grange in mid-July to kick off the effort and begin this process more formally but in the meantime we need help organizing. We are waiting until that time so as we have a clearer understanding of the situation on the ground the regulatory landscape as well. Please join us in this effort.

 

The Event

Nearly two weeks ago the High Park fire started its destructive sweep through the hills west of Fort Collins. It continues to burn and poses a threat to many acres of forest and dozens of homes.  Meanwhile, many have already received the news that their homes have been destroyed. As this grim reality settles in and the extent of the damage becomes apparent, those of us in the local building community with close personal ties to the decimated area are turning our thoughts to the massive cleanup and rebuilding effort that will take place.

We are proposing the organization of a group which will work together in a collective manner during the rebuilding efforts to come. What this organization will be, how it will work, who will participate in it, what it will attempt to achieve, or even what it will be called is just beginning to be defined.  It is our belief that cooperation and collective effort is the best way to tackle the enormous task of rebuilding in the most efficient, affordable, and sustainable manner possible.

Together, we can rebuild the community faster, safer, and more efficiently.

 

Vision Statement

Create an organization that will support the cooperative efforts of builders and contractors working to rebuild the High Park Fire areas, while promoting the values of quality craftsmanship, sustainability, and community participation throughout the process.

 

Mission Objectives:

  • Keep the rebuild effort local. Help influence the direction of the effort to protect the interests of those directly affected, local people and the community.
  • Present a consolidated front.  This will allow us to take advantage of the spirit of goodwill and outpouring of community support that exists right now, and will aid in connecting with and communicating with other organizations and entities (previous rebuild efforts; volunteer labor resources; disaster relief organizations; county, state, and federal entities; as well as suppliers and homeowners).
  • Capture and share our common knowledge base.  Sharing and discussion of building design and techniques to create a common knowledge base for building more efficient, affordable, and better homes.
  • Pool resources. Pooling of resources, materials, services, governmental agencies and equipment to save time and money for all involved.

 

Scope of Organization

It is important to clarify that this group will not seek to promote itself or compete with any other rebuilding initiatives whether they are public or private. We are seeking to promote an open, collaborative approach that will allow contractors, builders, owner-builders and all involved in the effort to maximize their efficiencies while engaging in what will be a massive, long-term effort.  How builders can work together to save money for homeowners while still fairly earning a living presents a huge challenge, especially when factors such as uninsured homeowners, volunteer labor sources, public fundraising, and a host of other complications arise.  However, the basic principle of “together we are strong” endures, and by merely presenting ourselves as a unified front of builders from the area, we can use our knowledge and community ties to create an organization which will be of benefit and worth to some of those who will be rebuilding their homes.

 

Phases for Rebuild

Following is a breakdown of the rebuild effort into five phases, and some ideas on how this organization could be beneficial in implementing them. We welcome new ideas and additional input and are working on ways to incorporate that input in the process.

1.  Organization, Research, and Planning Phase

There is a lot of groundwork to do prior to any actual rebuilding that can occur right now, and will be instrumental in making this organization effective and worthwhile. Taking the appropriate initial steps on this effort upfront will save a lot of time and effort in the future, and lay the foundation for our efforts.

Gathering and sharing information should begin on many aspects of the upcoming effort, a few of which might be:

  • Fire-resistant design methods;
  • Reforestation and erosion control;
  • Permitting and code compliance;
  • Insurance disbursements, timelines;
  • Waste disposal and demolition techniques;
  • Mitigation of toxins and health issues related to fire-damaged structures;
  • Temporary (short-term) and alternative (long-term) energy options;
  • Defendable design;
  • Structural evaluation of fire-damaged buildings;
  • Well water safety and repair;
  • Septic systems;
  • Temporary housing options.

Part of this initial effort should be to make contact with others and create communication lists, organized into appropriate sub-groups, with emails and phone numbers. Our organization would need to connect with the following stakeholders, beginning immediately:

  • Homeowners who were affected by the fires to find out if they are interested in participating in our group. Homeowner coalitions and the neighborhood and road associations must be approached for mutual support and understanding;
  • Builders, engineers, architects, and suppliers who might want to participate;
  • Other organizations and people who would be interested in cooperating with us- other communities based rebuild efforts that might be forming right now, similar organizations from previous disasters (Katrina, Four Mile Canyon Fire, etc.);
  • Government agencies such as the Larimer County Building Department to answer questions about permitting, temporary housing permits for trailers and campers. (Candice Phippen (970-498-7724) from LCBD has already provided some information about a proposed rebuild packet and will be a great contact in the future.)  The Larimer County Health Department, County Commissioners, the Forest Service, and the assessor’s office are others who could provide information and guidance;
  • Groups who are fundraising or providing relief funds to find out availability, disbursement plans, and timelines for those in need;
  • Volunteer organizations that might provide free labor or materials such as Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, and The Colorado State Construction Management Dept.;
  • Insurance agencies for clarification of benefits, disbursement timelines, restrictions, etc.;
  • Liability issues for volunteers.

2. Cleanup Phase

All properties, as well as roads and other common areas will need lots of attention in the initial phases of the construction process. This cleanup work is one phase in which volunteer labor can especially be of great value. It will be messy, dirty work, but will benefit from a lot of unskilled workers, and will occur soon after the event so will be most likely to receive attention and community involvement and participation.

  • Address safety issues related to cleanup such as unstable structures, falling trees, toxins, and safety equipment;
  • Organize, utilize, and share volunteer labor;
  • Opportunity to share resources such as disposal containers and demolition equipment.

3. Assessment Phase

After cleanup, inventories of properties will need to be inventoried for reusable materials, structural stability, proper construction phasing, estimates of cost and schedule, as well as possible site relocation.  Many of these decisions will best be made with the participation of a diverse group of building professionals to address multiple facets of the rebuilding process, including engineers, foresters and landscapers, excavators, concrete contractors, and general contractors.

  • Provide support and assistance around the decision to rebuild or not. Look at properties to help homeowners take stock of what is left and what makes the most sense for them moving forward;
  • Determine what can be reused;
  • Find a structural engineer(s) who will be committed to working with us to make these assessments, especially of foundations, septic systems and wells;
  • Evaluate existing roads, septic systems, wells, and power systems.

4. Design Phase

Collaboration on design principles will allow for efficient use of materials (bulk purchases, equipment use, subcontractor scheduling), while information and design exchange will foster innovate designs, quality building practices, and more sustainable energy production and use.

  • Assume long-term thinking on energy use, energy production, water use, passive solar, wood heat, and other sustainability issues; this effort should take advantage of the opportunity to rebuild better, smarter, and more conscientiously than before;
  • Advocate fire-resistant building techniques, such as fire-proof design for roofs, decks, cladding and siding;
  • Encourage landscape design for defensible space, efficient energy use, comfort, and survivability;
  • Explore, assess, and support alternative designs-straw bale, SIPS panel, fire shutters, sprinkler systems, fire walls, etc.;
  • Create opportunities to plan and buy bulk materials and use local suppliers for and across numerous projects to save money.

5. Build Phase

Approaching the rebuilding of the afflicted areas as one large project promotes the spirit of cooperation while increasing efficiency and savings overall.  In hard to access mountain building, it makes sense to share equipment, labor, deliveries, and materials for the benefit of everyone involved.

  • Pool resources and equipment for mutual savings of time and money;
  • Contract with sub-contractors and suppliers for better pricing and more efficient job phasing;
  • Share and apply volunteer labor efficiently to help those who most need it;
  • Create staging areas, and schedule bulk deliveries from suppliers for greater efficiency.

We welcome all input and energy and invite you to become a part of this process. This is a difficult time for many of our dearest friends and we can make it a lot easier for them if we all work together. If you plan on working in this area, have dealt with this kind of situation before or feel that you have something to offer, please sign up, contact us and join us in a process that will continue through the long haul. We are planning to have a general meeting at the Bellvue Grange in mid-July to kick off the effort and begin this process more formally but in the meantime we need help organizing. We are waiting until that time so as we have a clearer understanding of the situation on the ground the regulatory landscape as well. Please join us in this effort.

June 22, 2012

For more information contact:

Josh Mooradian
joshmooradian@yahoo.com

Larry Lechner
larlec@frii.com