Chapel Update

The photos here were taken on the two hottest days of the year (so far).

We're working again on Tuesday, starting in the morning...

	A problem in need of a solution, July 2010 The chapel ruin as it stood on 6 July 2010 - an eyesore unlikely to remain standing another season. Time to get to work!
	We were out of bailing wire Cross beams are holding the chapel together. I've lost track of the number of times I've bonked my head.
	The ceiling It's like stained glass, only trashier.
	In progress Victoria and I fixed the studs on most of the east and west walls, and all of them on the north wall.
	Victoria the construction worker She's pretty handy with the power tools - she was on stage crew for a couple of years after all.
	Mike at the start of the south wall demo. The tools of the trade are in his hand.
	South Wall: step 1 Here's what's holding up the south wall - a 2x6 and two very large jacks.
	Support System Those two jacks are holding the south wall about two inches above its previous position. You will note that there is no sill at all under the wall. That crazy old-growth paneling was literally the only thing holding up that wall. Yikes.
	Mike begins demo of south wall Ah, this is the fun part: making it look even worse so we can tackle the structural problems.
	Rotting studs on the south wall Once the siding is off, we see what we were expecting: rot.
	What we were up against Notice that every single stud on the south wall had already been repaired at some point in the past - and that they are, every one of them, rotten.
	new sill and footing on south wall It sure is pretty! We had to replace chunks of all the south studs, reinforce them, put in new footers, and put in a sill. It was a little tricky cutting the footers to the correct length with no sill. Did I mention the wall is being held up by jacks inside the building?
	After the demo and rebuild of the south wall No doubt the neighbours think it's even worse now, but the building is immeasurably stronger now. I no longer think it might just fall over.
	The new south wall Here's a medium shot of the new sill and studs.
	Conquering hero? Not so much. I'm sweaty and dirty after an all-day demo and rebuild.

Unemployed? On Summer break? Just need an excuse for a day off your regular 9 to 5? Come on over TUESDAY and help in the epic chapel rebuild! Tasty refreshing beverages provided, and all workers will be invited to the dedication dinner when we're finally done with the building!