Home Builders Blitz 2008

Construction is complete (click here for photos) for Home Builders Blitz 2008.

The 29 home builders who make up the Triangle Builders Guild, with the leadership of Habitat Wake Board Member Owen Williams, of Williams Realty & Building Company and Ward Russell of Legacy Custom Homes, made a big difference in our community.

Donating their expertise and gathering contributions of materials and labor from vendors and subcontractors, these builders built five houses for families in desperate need of decent and affordable housing.

Click on this link to open a document with directions to the build sites in Augusta Landing, Raleigh:
HBB08 Builder List & Directions

Read About Home Builders Blitz in the News & Observer

Workers build homes in a hurry:
This News & Observer story (permission requested for link) shares the story of custom homes builders from Triangle Builders Guild building a home for a local teacher's assistant.



Members of the Triangle Builders Guild

Our Triangle Builders Guild partners for the 2008 Blitz


Bold indicates team leaders.

Home Builders Blitz: A Partnership with Custom Home Builders

The concept of a building blitz that would involve custom home builders to build Habitat homes in one week's time began in Raleigh. In 2002, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County board member Tom Gipson (Thomas Gipson Homes of Raleigh) organized a builders blitz that has grown in scope to become a national model for partnership. Three years of Home Builder Blitzes (2002, 2004 and 2006), have provided homes for 56 Habitat homeowners.

Kevin Campbell, Habitat for Humanity International's Director of the Home Builders Blitz said: Bringing professional home builders into Habitat's work is a natural project for a housing ministry. The builders will augment the excellent work done every day by Habitat volunteers around the world, which will help Habitat serve even more families in need.

Normally it takes eight months to build a house. The endeavor is achieved with the support of City of Raleigh inspectors, realtors, commercial builders, closing attorneys, building insurance companies, the NC Housing Finance Agency, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh/Wake County and many others who support Habitat Wake. Each year Tom has motivated participating builders to share expertise and donate materials.

Tom said in an interview with the News & Observer in 2006: When we said we would build them, we meant 100% complete -- landscaped, carpeted, cleaned -- finished as if they were the houses we usually build.

For Home Builders Blitz 2008, Plans for America, 110 affiliates from 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada will build 263 homes with the help of more than 1,000 building industry professionals.

While announcing plans, Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International said: Professional builders comprise a very logical network for Habitat to engage-and a very skilled one, as well. The Home Builders Blitz event maintains our commitment to the volunteer aspect of our work, and we're grateful for the enthusiasm with which builders continue to embrace the project-and Habitat's mission overall.

For more information on the national effort, please visit the Habitat for Humanity International website.

Sponsoring Partners

On behalf of the Habitat for Humanity International Home Builders Blitz 2008, we like to thank the following national sponsors.

Whirlpool Corporation
Since 1999, Whirlpool Corporation has donated a refrigerator and range to every home built by Habitat in North America. This commitment continues with appliance donations to every home built during Home Builders Blitz 2008 and Operation Home Delivery. To date, Whirlpool Corporation has contributed more than 56,000 appliances accounting for more than $25 million.

Dow
Dow has been a partner since 1987 and will provide Dow Styrofoam insulation products to Habitat homes.

Yale
Yale will provide the interior and exterior locksets for all homes built by Habitat in the United States and Canada.

Square D
Square D has partnered with Habitat to provide load centers and circuit breakers for all homes built in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Valspar
The Valspar Corporation has made a commitment to donate paint for all Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the United States.

Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas has been a partner since 1992 and has generously provided more than 100,000 custom window coverings to more than 20,000 homes in the United States and Canada. The company donates and delivers its finest custom-made products for the privacy rooms of all new and rehab Habitat home construction and at cost for all other rooms of these homes. In addition, Hunter Douglas employees and customers volunteer thousands of hours each year with local Habitat affiliates nationwide.

Larson Manufacturing Company
Larson has been a partner with Habitat since 1992 providing storm/screen doors for Habitat homes built in the United States.

Kohler
Kohler will support Home Builders Blitz 2008 with a donation of faucets for each house to include a kitchen sink faucet, a lavatory faucet and shower/bath valve and trim. Kohler made a similar donation to Home Builders Blitz 2006, donating all faucets to the project that saw 459 houses built in one week.

Rinnai
Rinnai tank less water heaters donated by Rinnai Corporation are natural or propane gas powered and are up to 50 percent more efficient than tank type water heaters and save up to 16 square feet of usable space inside the home. Rinnai also supported Home Builders Blitz 2006.

CertainTeed
CertainTeed has committed to support Home Builders Blitz by providing roofing shingles for all projects, drywall for 10 homes, vinyl siding for 25 homes, fiber cement siding for 50 homes and insulation for another 10 homes.

Ferguson
Formed as a result of the partnership between a local Habitat affiliate and Ferguson, this new venture will provide up to two bathroom toilets in every Habitat home built in the United States over the next two years.

Home Builders Blitz: A Partnership with Custom Home Builders

The concept of a building blitz that would involve custom home builders to build Habitat homes in one week's time began in Raleigh.

In 2002, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County board member Tom Gipson (Thomas Gipson Homes of Raleigh) organized a builders blitz that has grown in scope to become a national model for partnership.

Three years of Home Builder Blitzes (2002, 2004 and 2006), have provided homes for 56 Habitat homeowners.