Builders Care completes home in 17 days

On Nov. 16, Bob and Mary Garcia received a special gift from Builders Care, the nonprofit branch of the Lee Building Industry Association.

The couple had been living in a 900-square-foot home in Estero for 35 years. The building ended up housing Bob, Mary, their children and grandchildren. With 14 living under one, unstable roof, and in a shed in the backyard, Builders Care stepped in to help.

On Oct. 30, their old home was demolished. Over 17 days Stock Development, along with more than 75 subcontractors, built a new 1,900-square-foot house with five bedrooms.

The gift included new bikes, a lawn mower, and a dining room table to seat the entire family.

During the tight construction deadline there were many stories about the extra effort put in by those volunteering on the project. Fred Barry, past president of Builders Care, shared some of those stories before the new home was presented to the Garcias.

In one instance, Dave Stout, of Stout Concrete Construction, and John Reynolds, of G & L Shell Contractors, stayed until 11 p.m. ensuring their concrete would dry so contractors could get right to work the next day.

Trusses were flown in two at a time, volunteers painted in the dark and according to Barry the effort even broke some construction records on the project.

Daly Construction had 25 men complete the interior frame of the house in two hours. David Debolt and John Reynolds of G & L Shell had 30 men concrete block the house in five hours.

The Garcia's home was the 130th project for Builders Care, and its biggest project to date.