Sunday, October 21st – Move That Bus!
4:00 pm: What an amazing day to wrap up a phenomenal week. Amidst a sea of signs
being waved by nearly 5,000 spectators, the Luthers came home and joyfully
received their new home and riding facility. When the event was through, I’m
not sure there was a dry eye left for miles.
Renee and her two children had such a look of excitement when they arrived.
Their trip to Italy was fantastic but this was the moment they’d been
waiting for since Ty and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team surprised
them a week ago. In fact, this was the moment we’d ALL been waiting for.
After seven days of nonstop effort, hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers and
trades people, thousands of cheering spectators and an untold number of man
hours, all our dedication and hard work was about to be shared with the Luthers.
In a rousing chorus, all of us in the crowd called out “move that bus!” to
reveal the house and then “move that trailer!” to reveal the new barn. Tears
came to Renee’s eyes as she and her children lit up with joy upon seeing
their new house and riding facility. Witnessing the Luthers smiles and tears
and hearing their thank you’s made every bit of this past week more than
worthwhile. No one here today will forget this moment or what this community
achieved in such a short time. What we’ve given the Luthers is a completely
new home and barn that will change their lives for the better just as they
have improved the lives of so many others. I am both immeasurably proud and
incredibly humbled that so many of us could give this deserving family a dream home and help save their therapeutic riding organization.
Not every community and not every builder gets the chance to be a part of
something like this. I speak for everyone at Clark Turner Signature Homes
when I say it was an honor to lead the building of the Luther’s new home. I
offer my sincerest thanks to all of those who helped make this possible from
our generous subcontractors to the wonderful trades people to our endlessly
motivated volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without all of you.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Saturday, October 20th – Move-In Day
4:00PM: We did it! A little over an hour ago I handed the keys over to Ty and his team and they’re now beginning their design work in a beautiful, completely built home. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and trades people who have spent the last several days working nonstop on the Luthers' house. Earlier today we even had Kerry Anne Abrams, the mayor of Port Deposit, helping us clean and vacuum inside the house. That’s the kind of community effort this has been.
The final hours here went by lightening-fast as we finished up a huge array of last-minute details. But despite the ticking clock everyone stayed organized and on task as we had the barn completed by noon and the house ready at 2:00. The last bits of work included touching up paint, taking care of final punch out, finishing the landscaping and prepping to move out all the construction vehicles and material trucks. The biggest task? Cleaning. Fortunately we had a battalion of volunteers sweeping, vacuuming, polishing and hauling away trash. As with this entire undertaking, we couldn’t have done it without the endless energy and spirited help of our volunteers.
And we couldn’t have done it without all of you who’ve come out to cheer us on. We had our biggest crowd yet today and all of us just loved the cheers and shouts of encouragement. Tomorrow, we hope to have even more of you here to welcome the Luthers home. They should arrive around 1:30 pm so be sure to get here early enough to park and take the tram over to the site. We expect thousands to be here when we “move that bus!”
I can’t wait to show off this new home. This will be a moment all of us will remember for a long, long time. Hope to see you all here.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Friday, October 19th – Race to the Finish
4:00 pm: The final day of construction is here and we’re moving faster than ever to make sure we finish up every detail. Even the rain that poured on us this afternoon didn’t slow us down or dampen our spirits. This house will be complete and it will be perfect.
Today has been filled with a ton of projects both inside and out. The painters have been working at breakneck speed to finish up all the final touches. In the kitchen and baths we’re finishing up tile work and fixtures. And throughout the house we’re racing against the clock to get all the trim in place from the electrical coverings to the security panels to the vent covers. Outside, we’re taking care of the final landscaping touches and also putting in the driveway and garage doors. We were all so excited this morning when we saw how many of you turned out to wish us well. The fact that we’ve had a cheering section throughout this project has kept the enthusiasm high.
Over at the barn, we’re racing at full speed to get everything complete before the horses return tomorrow. They may not recognize their own stables but they’ll surely be happy at the site. Right now we’re finishing up the riding area, completing stable construction and prepping the area with new matting and bedding for the horses. Building a house in a few days is a huge challenge. Throw in the fact that we’ve also built such a beautiful barn and there’s good reason why everyone here is filled with such a sense of pride.
The clock is ticking, the rain didn’t stop us and we’re coming down the back stretch. Tomorrow we turn the keys over to Ty and his team. Before then, there’s a lot to conquer. But with the crew we have out here, we are sure to triumph. Be sure to stop by this afternoon and see our workers moving faster than ever before. Then stop by tomorrow as the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition folks take over.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Thursday, October 18th – Second Day of Construction
9:00 pm: By the time the sun set this evening, the exterior of the house looked absolutely amazing. The new volunteers and workers who arrived today were shocked at the progress. Even those of us who’ve been here the whole time can barely believe how much we’ve accomplished.
This afternoon it was full-speed ahead as we focused primarily on the interior of the house. We began putting in the kitchen countertops and installing the cabinets throughout the house. We finished all but the final touches of painting. And we even made time to redo the brick barrel ceiling when some unexpected complications arose. At the barn, everyone has been working just as hard and the results are absolutely gorgeous. We’ve capped the roof with striking metal work and a horse-themed weathervane. On the outside, work is continuing on the windows and siding, while on the inside, we’re taking care of painting and trim work. This is really a phenomenal barn. I think the Luthers' horses are going to be just as excited as the Luthers.
We have one more full day of work before we have to hand over the keys to Ty and his team. It’s been cloudy most of the day and we’re all concerned about rain. But whatever comes our way, we’re not slowing down now. The enthusiasm here continues to be off the chart and everyone is getting more and more eager for the Luthers to return.
Tonight we’ll be mainly inside the house, touching up the paint, finishing the wallpaper, tiling the kitchen and baths and beginning the clean up. Outside, we’re finishing up grading the lawn so we can lay sod and complete the landscaping work. If you haven’t come out here to see this amazing project in progress, Friday is your last chance to be here while you can still cheer on our army of blue shirted-workers and volunteers. Then on Saturday, you can come out again as Ty and his crew turn the house into a home, moving the family’s prized possessions back in and adding all the wonderful interior design touches. Your handwritten signs and shouts of support have kept us going this whole week and we’d love to have as many of you here tomorrow and Saturday as possible.
And don’t forget that Sunday is the biggest day of all as we welcome the Luthers to their new home. I know I can’t wait until we “move that bus” and I’m sure most of you in the community are just as excited!
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
1:00 pm: We almost have a house. After another full night’s work, the sun has once again risen and revealed the massive progress we’ve made. Last night, we conquered a large number of tasks including hanging all the drywall, fire-stopping the whole house, painting the exterior trim, putting in a brick barrel ceiling, starting the landscaping and progressing on the exterior stonework.
This morning and early afternoon work, has continued at lightning speed, but I did take some time to thank the huge crowd that came out to cheer us on. I had the opportunity to sign some autographs and even got to hand out shirts to a wonderful group of special-needs children who stopped by to wish us well. The community spirit here is really high and is only increasing as we get nearer to finishing the Luthers' house and barn. There’s no stopping us now.
Today we’ve gotten the drywall primed and begun painting the interior walls, laid brick pavers, installed interior doors (all 30 of them!) and have just about finished up the exterior stone. Over at the barn, things are moving just as fast as we’ve completed the roof and stonework and begun installation of the windows and siding. Meanwhile, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team is on-site right now, taking on the custom carpentry work. I can’t tell you how great it is to work alongside a group as dedicated and skilled as Ty’s crew.
The house looks close to finished but there’s still a lot ahead. If you can take some time this afternoon to come by and see our blue shirted army at work, we’d love to have you. As the day progresses, we’ll be tackling the interior fireplace, installing cabinets, putting in kitchen counters and beginning work on the interior trim and tiling. We’re closing in on all our goals now. I just can’t wait until the Luther’s see what we’ve built.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Wednesday, October 17th – Construction Begins
10:00 pm: The sun has set, but work continues at a fevered pace. This is quite literally a non-stop project as work will keep going all through the night. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the photos from today, you simply must do so. The progress we’ve made is so dramatic that even the pictures barely do it justice.
We have approximately 1,500 volunteer contractors and tradespeople who have come from every part of this area, including Pennsylvania, and who are committed to making this happen. Many of them are competitors to one another but have come together with the common goal of giving back to a community in a way that no one else has ever done before. So far, we’ve achieved every goal we’ve set and exceeded even our wildest expectations.
In just one day we’ve accomplished what usually takes weeks or even months to complete. Since my last post, we’ve done the drywall prep, nearly competed the plumbing and electrical work, made huge progress on installing 60,000 stones to the exterior of the house, finished the exterior trim and painting and planted a 40’ Pin Oak in the front yard. Plus, over at the barn, we’ve got the roof trusses set, the foundation prepped, the concrete poured and the siding begun.
If that sounds like an amazing amount of work, it is. I can’t speak highly enough of all those involved, particularly the volunteers who were phenomenal today, helping with lighting, clearing construction debris, feeding the workers and providing support. We even had a chance to speak to the spectators whose energy and excitement are helping everyone stay at the top of their game.
I can’t encourage you enough to come out and cheer on this incredible crew of blue-shirted heroes. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime project. Don’t miss your chance to see it in action.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
2:00 pm: Wow! Words can't describe how proud I am of what this army of workers and volunteers has been able to accomplish. So much has happened in the last 12 hours. It was astounding to see everyone's unbridled enthusiasm as they labored through the night to complete the framing, build a roof,
install windows and sneak in a few minutes to watch the sun rise. Where
once was a horse pasture, now clearly stands a house.
With some early morning encouragement from volunteers and spectators, we
began electrical work and plumbing, as well as heating and cooling system
installation. The team installed a fireplace inside and began building an
outdoor fireplace too. And if that wasn't enough, another brigade of blue shirts went to work on the exterior stone masonry and landscaping preparations.
Be sure to check back later tonight for another update; so much is happening
you don't want to miss it. Better yet, come out and see for yourself how
this community has pulled together to make the Luther family's extreme dream
come true.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Tuesday, October 16th – Demolition Day and Construction Begins
11:00 pm: What an amazing first day. After this morning’s march to the house and my speech, everyone got right to work and we’ve already made a huge difference. Demolition finished this afternoon and by 5:00 this evening, framing of the first floor began. Surrounding the site are huge stadium lights allowing work to continue all through the night. By the morning, the entire home and barn will be framed and the roof sheathing will be in place, meaning we’ll be ready to begin a whole range of projects from roofing to wall installation.
When I first got the call from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I talked to my employees, my subcontractors and my suppliers and saw such enthusiasm about the show and this project. Everyone wanted to be part of this, so I knew at that time we could meet the challenge to build this home in under a week. I’m proud to say we’re right on track. I hope you get a chance to come out and see all the work being done. It’s a sight to see!
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Noon: We’ve begun! This morning I gathered with hundreds of workers and volunteers and marched them to where we’re building the Luther family house. We met up with Ty and his designers outside the barn and I took a moment to tell everyone how important this project is. We’re giving back to the community and providing the Luthers a first-class facility for them to expand their therapeutic riding program. You could feel the excitement in the air as I told everyone "let’s build that house, let’s build that barn, let’s get to work!"
And we’ve gotten to work faster than you can imagine. Demolition of the barn is well under way and we’re already pouring concrete. By this evening, we’ll have the framing rising. Everyone is incredibly motivated and there is no doubt we’re going to make it. I’ll have more to say later in the day, so check back.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Monday, October 15th – Move-Out Day
While the Luther family is away on a much-deserved vacation in Italy, their house – I should say former house – was packed up and moved out. We even moved the family’s horses to neighboring farms, where they will be taken care of while we renovate the Luthers' riding facilities along with building their new house.
I’m glad to say we’ve started out at a great pace. That’s good news because this is like the Triple Crown of home building for the tradespeople and subcontractors on our team; it’s an opportunity they might never see again, and it’s a chance for them to shine, to show their skills and do their best work. What we’ll be leaving behind is a better community, enabling Renee and her family to continue doing great work, and we’ll all walk away feeling better about it.
Tomorrow morning we march the crew over and begin the major work, but we’ve already gotten so much done. The site survey is well under way, and we’ve put up environmental protections, begun foundation work, drilled a well, began plumbing and brought electricity to the site. That’s a lot in one day. But it’s nothing compared to the plans ahead. Of course, none of this would be possible without the many volunteers, those already here and those who begin working with us tomorrow. The outpouring of support from the community has been incredible. This is why I’m so glad to call Maryland home. And why I can’t wait for the major work to begin tomorrow.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
Sunday, October 14th – Door Knock Day
Who knew one knock on a door could change so many lives? This morning, I was privileged to be present as Ty Pennington and his Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team surprised the Luther family of Port Deposit with some wonderful news. Over the next seven days, hundreds of us from throughout the community will join together to build the Luthers their ultimate dream home.
Do we have an exciting challenge ahead or what? This is all about caring. Caring for our community and for those who are less fortunate than us. For the past 25 years, the Luther family has helped special-needs children and adults throughout the community. Now it’s our turn to give something back to this wonderful family.
After meeting with the Luthers and sending them off on an all-expense-paid vacation to Italy, our crew began setting up the base camp. The weather was spectacular and we got off to a great start, setting up tents, laying electrical and trimming trees to make way for the construction vehicles. We are so excited to get started and thank all those who are donating their time, expertise and materials. I hope all of you find some time to come out and cheer on this great crew.
– Clark Turner, founder and president,
Clark Turner Signature Homes
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