Mosby Building Arts has always been dedicated to the art of home enhancement and the positive effects it has on people’s lives. So when we had the unique opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together St. Louis and HGTV to help repair and transform the Windsor Transitional Home to make it a first-class facility for some of our war veterans, we were honored to volunteer our time, plus our design and constructive expertise to this worthy endeavor.

You may have read in our earlier blog post that HGTV will be in town on Friday, June 19^th to begin the project. Let’s take a closer look at the work that we have completed thus far with Rebuilding Together St. Louis and HGTV in preparation for the renovation of the Windsor Transitional Home owned by retired First Sergeant Hence Forland, Jr.

When Forland purchased the 109-year-old house at 3837 Windsor Place nearly two decades ago, little did he know the positive impact it would create. Inspired by the homeless veterans he met through the nearby John Cochran VA Medical Center, Forland was determined to provide a safe haven for these honorable servicemen. In 2007, he opened his doors to veterans and officially created the Windsor Transitional Home.

Forland invested his time, energy and money into the home to make the house safe and inhabitable, but it is an ongoing struggle. In early 2009, Rebuilding Together St. Louis entered Forland’s home into HGTV’s “Change the World. Start at Home” competition, and with the support of an overwhelming number of St. Louisans voting online, this veteran’s home was selected to receive $40,000 for repairs and updates.

In April, Mosby Building Arts was proud to partner with Rebuilding Together and HGTV to inspect and evaluate the challenges facing the home, and to develop floorplan drawings. We are excited to have been asked to design a new back porch and patio for the facility and look forward to working with HGTV and Carter Oosterhouse on completing this project during filming on July 19^th through the 21^st.

Through his dedication, Forland installed a new roof and upgraded furnace to provide a warm and cozy atmosphere for the deserving veterans, but virtually everything else in the home needs to be repaired, updated and remodeled.

In preparation for the filming of the HGTV show beginning on June 19^th, volunteer crews have already initiated work on the house. As a starting point, lead paint in the home has been completely encapsulated.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #562 has donated its time and supplies to update all of the plumbing, and IBEW Local #1 has completely rewired the electricity in the home, bringing light to rooms that have been dark since 1983.

Area businesses have generously donated appliances to help update the kitchen, and these items will be installed during HGTV filming.

To ensure efficient climate control - and a beautiful view - new thermal windows for the entire house have been donated, and soon Bike & Build will help to replace the subfloors.

To help maintain a strong foundation, tuckpointing is being completed on the home’s brick exterior.

During the weekend of June 12^th, volunteer crews will patch walls, install trim, and prepare all surfaces for painting.

Hence Forland, Jr. understands the basic human need for shelter, and has created safety and order for the veterans in his home. With this wonderful gift of repair and remodeling comes the opportunity to demonstrate how a sound, healthy and attractive home elevates the spirits and lifestyle of the people who live in it. This is the core belief of Scott Mosby and Mosby Building Arts, and we are honored to be a part of this effort.

Here’s your chance to contribute! Rebuilding Together is seeking skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist with this project on June 12^th, 13^th, 19^th, 20^th and 21^st, 2009. As a volunteer, you must be able to work a full-day or half-day shift and you can indicate your availability. We encourage you to help make a positive difference now in your own city by contacting Rebuilding Together’s Jessie Connor at 314.918.9918, ext. 24, or by email at jconner@rebuildingtogether-stl.org.

Please join Scott Mosby, Rebuilding Together and HGTV on June 19^th at 8:00 a.m. for the official project Kick-Off at 3837 Windsor Place in St. Louis City, 63113. Also, be sure to tune into KMOX 1120 AM on Saturday, June 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a live broadcast of The KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby from the project site. Finally, you can read regular reports of events and progress on the home by following Scott Mosby on Twitter. Scott will “tweet” (provide online updates) regarding all phases of the project from its beginning through the finished project reveal on June 22^nd, plus provide details of when this project will be televised on HGTV. Follow Scott on Twitter now.

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Tags: 3837 windsor place, carter oosterhouse, HGTV, kmox home improvement show with scott mosby, KMOX radio, mosby building arts, Rebuilding Together St. Louis, scott mosby, st. louis, twitter, veteran's home, windsor transitional home

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