Jack Woolford documented his senior project experience refurbishing the exterior of Our Pal's Place animal shelter over several visits from May to September 2017. On his initial tour, he observed the shelter's poor condition but was impressed by the owner's thrift store. His project involved cleaning and staining the front porch, planting flowers, laying mulch, and replacing damaged fencing. The work required multiple trips to hardware stores and was physically demanding but Jack was pleased with the completed improvements.
Jack Woolford documented his senior project experience refurbishing the exterior of Our Pal's Place animal shelter over several visits from May to September 2017. On his initial tour, he observed the shelter's poor condition but was impressed by the owner's thrift store. His project involved cleaning and staining the front porch, planting flowers, laying mulch, and replacing damaged fencing. The work required multiple trips to hardware stores and was physically demanding but Jack was pleased with the completed improvements.
Jack Woolford documented his senior project experience refurbishing the exterior of Our Pal's Place animal shelter over several visits from May to September 2017. On his initial tour, he observed the shelter's poor condition but was impressed by the owner's thrift store. His project involved cleaning and staining the front porch, planting flowers, laying mulch, and replacing damaged fencing. The work required multiple trips to hardware stores and was physically demanding but Jack was pleased with the completed improvements.
Date & Time Activity Commentary Pictures with Captions Wednesday, May Today I met up When I first arrived at 17, 2017 with my facilitator the shelter, I was quite Gail Holdway at shocked at how bad of a 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Our Pal’s Place. state it was in. It is 1 hour 30 min. She gave me a tour essentially a former of the Our Pal’s home which was Place facility so that converted into a shelter, I could see the but the facility is in potential project horrible disrepair. On options. After the my tour, I saw many tour, I went to the objects which were just ReHome scattered around the Superstore, which property. When the tour is owned by the concluded, I was rather shelter owner so impressed when I visited that she can fund the ReHome Superstore. the shelter. After It is quite large, and Me and Gail Holdway, my project facilitator. meeting Gigi, we does have quite a discussed the selection of antiques. available options, Although it will be quite and finally settled a challenge, I am excited on refurbishing the to begin work on the exterior of the project. facility.
Me and Gigi, the owner of Our Pal’s Place.
The front porch of Our Pal’s Place. Notice the wooden fencing around the entrance, which will play a prominent role in the project.
One of the 3 fenced portions around the
building. The shed pictured is filled with storage items.
A view of the facility from the front lawn. At
right is the front fenced area. Me posing with the Our Pal’s Place road sign.
Wednesday, June I went to Lowes so To pressurize the pump
7, 2017 that I could pick up bottle, I would need to some deck cleaner. pump all the air out to 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Afterward, I went make the liquid stream 1 hour 30 min. to the shelter and easier. A lot of strength gave the front porch was needed to pump the wood a good, even air out, so near the end spray with a pump of the job, pumping bottle full of deck became difficult. I got a cleaner. This step bit nervous by the end of would prepare the the spraying, since the wood for staining bottle I had purchased on a future visit. was running low. Everything was fine in Me using a pump bottle to spray the deck the end, and I actually cleaner on the wood. found it fun to spray every nook and cranny of the wooden porch. I make sure to spray every side of the fence wood.
Thursday, June 15, Today I went to While I did know what I
2017 Lowes to pick up had in mind, it took a some wood stain, while for me to find the 5:45 pm – 6:30 pm screws, and 2 2x4 materials I needed. It 45 minutes pieces of wood. was very interesting to N/A see all the different parts and tools within the store while I was searching around. Thursday, June 22, Today I went to the It was tedious work 2017 Home Depot to scrubbing the inside of purchase some soil the pots clean, since 10:40 am – 11:35 and plants that I some dirt would get am would place stuck inside. Later that alongside the day, I planned to go to N/A 1 hour 25 minutes house. After I the shelter so that I returned, I cleaned could place the planters. out the pots that I Unfortunately, there was would plant them in a storm and a tornado with running water warning that kept me and a scrubber. home.
Monday, June 26, Today I went to the I really underestimated
2017 shelter so that I the amount of work could place the required to move the 3:45 pm – 7:15 pm plants in their pots mulch to the front of the 3 hours 30 minutes outside, and laid shelter. I was given mulch around them access to a pile of mulch so that they would in the woods behind the look nicer. shelter and had to wheelbarrow each load all the way to the front. A closeup of the potted plants and mulch placed It took quite a long time by the side of the shelter. and a lot of energy. I barely finished before the sun set.
A photo of me dumping a wheelbarrow full of
mulch by the plants. Me posing in front of the finished plant display.
Tuesday, I went to the shelter While I was taking the
September 19, today so that I fence apart, I noticed 2017 could refurbish that the fence was portions of the originally installed in a 3:45 pm – 9:15 pm fencing around the lousy fashion. Many of 5 hours 30 minutes front porch. Many the vertical posts of the wooden weren’t even long planks were in enough to fit correctly terrible shape, so between the two they had to be horizontal planks. replaced entirely. Unfortunately, I ran out of supplies, so I will need to go back later A bird’s eye view of the fence gate’s original and finish fixing the woodwork. fence another day.
The beginning of the replacement process; the
top horizontal plank is removed. The new horizontal plank is placed, and the horizontal plank is removed on the gate and background rail. Notice that two of the vertical pieces were removed from the right side. This is because they were exceptionally bad, so they were replaced.
A photo of me using a saw to cut the horizontal
planks to the correct length. A photo of me using a drill to screw a horizontal plank in place.
Friday, September Since I ran out of I was very easy to find
22, 2017 materials for the the wood planks I fencing on the 19th, needed. However, the 3:45 pm – 5:15 pm today I went back fence gate needed a new 1 hour 30 minutes to Lowes to buy bolt holding piece, and more planks. I also that was more purchased a “C” challenging to find. The clip as a substitute only way for me to get a for a bolt holding proper clip was to buy piece. Afterward, I an entire set that also went directly back included the bolt and the to the shelter to brackets; all parts I finish the fencing already had. I explained A photo that shows the completed rebuild of the that was almost my situation with a fence gate and the surrounding fence. completed. Lowes employee, and he suggested a “C” clip. This piece is designed for plumbing, but worked perfectly for the fence bolt. I simply hammered the clip into a smaller shape to fit around the bolt, and screwed it in place.
The completed fence gate and fence shown at a
more distant angle. A closeup of the “C” clip that was repurposed to hold the gate bolt.
Monday, October Now that the fence While it is very
30, 2017 has been repaired, I satisfying to see the went to the animal wood change color, 4:30 pm – 7 pm shelter to apply the applying the wood stain 2 hours 30 minutes wood stain which I was a very time- had purchased on consuming process. June 15th. The wood Soaking the paintbrush stain was applied would only yield 2 or 3 by hand with paint strokes before the brush brushes of various needed to be dipped in sizes. the stain again. This coupled with the fact that each plank needed A picture of me dipping a large painbrush into to be painted on 4 sides the can of wood stain. made the process very slow. It was so slow that I ran out of daylight to finish, so I will need to return for part 2. A picture of me applying the wood stain to the upper area of the porch.
Another picture that shows me applying the
wood stain.
Tuesday, October After running out of After a few more hours
31, 2017 daylight yesterday, of staining, I finally I returned to the finished just as the sun 3:45 pm – 6:45 pm shelter today to was going down. It was 3 hours finish the wood a very time-consuming staining on the portion of my project, porch and fence. but I am glad that I have (21 hours 10 completely finished my minutes total after senior project. this log)
A picture showing the porch before I applied
the wood stain. A shot of the porch after I applied the wood stain.