Parters for Home Builders Blitz 2008

The Triangle Builders Guild (TBG) is a unique, non-competitive organization of local professional residential homebuilders.

In June 2008 to demonstrate their continued investment in the quality of life and the beauty of the area, the 29 member builders partnered with Habitat Wake for Home Builders Blitz 2008. Volunteering, they and their subcontractors built five homes from subflooring to landscaping in one week.

Mark Massengill of Mark Massengill, Builders LLC, who is the Raleigh/Wake Home Builders Association 2008 President and a TBG member, said about his experience: "We all need someone's prayers more than money and it is nice to know we have a little help from a friend."

Mark saw the homeowner of the home he helped build for the 2006 Blitz while on site for the 2008 Blitz. "'I pray for you every night and I thank God that you helped my family to own a home,' she told me as she hugged my neck and invited my wife and me to have dinner at her home. She told me how well her kids were doing and what a difference that a home had made in the family's life. Well, she made my day my week and my month!"

Triangle Builders Guild partners for the 2008 Home Builders Blitz

Bold indicates team leaders.





Home Builders Blitz 2008 took place May 31 through June 7, 2008, in the Raleigh neighborhood Augusta Landings. With footings, foundations and driveways installed prior to start, the construction was off to a great start with sunny weather. Volunteer custom home builders and subcontractors built the five homes shown above.

Home Builders Blitz: A Partnership with Custom Home Builders

The concept of a building project that would involve custom home builders as volunteers to build homes with Habitat for Humanity began in Raleigh.

In 2002, Habitat Wake board member Tom Gipson (Thomas Gipson Homes of Raleigh) organized a builders blitz -- a project to build homes in one week's time -- that has become a national model for partnership.

Throughout the U.S., the effort has built 723 homes in partnership with families living on modest incomes. Four years of Home Builder Blitzes in Wake County (2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008), have provided homes for 61 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.

While announcing plans for Home Builders Blitz 2008, 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.

110 affiliates from 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada built homes with the help of more than 1,000 building industry professionals in 2008. For more information on the national effort, please visit the Habitat for Humanity International website.

National Partners for 2008

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.