Hands-on: Students transform empty lot into home

By Ali Bronsdon / Leader Staff

What began as an empty lot on Polson's 16th Ave. East is now a beige 1,684 square foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom, handicap accessible home with a two-car garage and stone-faced propane fire-place — all thanks to 13 students, a devoted teacher and a community that cares.

Russ Barber, who has been a builder either part- and full-time all of his adult life, spends six hours a day, five days a week teaching 12 Polson High School students and one Flathead Valley Community College student the many intricacies of building a house from the ground up.

"This gives them a very good understanding of what goes into building a house," said Barber. "The program is designed for students interested in a construction-related field and targets giving the students exposure to standard construction materials and techniques, so when they get out there, they are familiar with what they are going to be working with already."

The class, which is offered through the FVCC catalog, is also open to Polson high school students. It corresponds with the high school calendar and awards college credit as well as high school elective credit while students learn hands-on what goes into the construction of the average family home.

According to Barber, students used survey equipment to check the lot's elevations and stake out the location of the house, taking into account the zoning setbacks from property lines. Then, after a professional excavator dug the hole, students set the forms and poured the concrete. They framed the floor, the walls and the roof, put in the windows and doors and hung the dry walls. Now, as the project heads into its final stages, students are busy installing cabinets, laying tile and finishing the painting. As the weather improves, students will finish the siding, shingle the roof, pour the driveway and sidewalk, help install a sprinkler system and lay sod for the landscaping.

"You learn trades that you can use for the rest of your life," said Polson junior Travis Healy, who enjoys being able to escape the confines of a classroom and to "learn by doing." According to Healy, this class gives him a head start on most high school students looking for construction jobs. "Employers would rather hire a kid with experience than a kid who may just be interested in learning."

Senior Nathan Randall admits, "There are hardships, too. You still have to do a lot of work, make sure you are dressed for the weather and call ahead if you are not feeling well."

"Math is really important," adds Randall. "The further you get in the house, the more precise you have to be in your measurements, so I tell everyone to work hard on math skills if they want to take this class."

The Lake County Building Association sponsors the project and picks the lot and the floor plan. Most importantly, the association finances the venture through commercial lenders. FVCC has been able to provide grants and scholarships to help the high school students with the cost of tuition.

"What thrills me the most is the high level of community interest and support for the project," said Barber. "We are fortunate to have a number of businesses donate materials and supplies, or give us their services at a reduced cost."

The student-built house is then sold on the open market. The fact that its builders are students doesn't seem to retract from public interest or closing the deal. Barber estimates between 200 and 300 people show up for the open house events, and there are almost always a number of interested buyers throwing in bids at sale time.

"In many ways, it's probably a better-built house because it's been built by students and we take the time to do it right," said Barber, who stresses five essential rules: flush, level, plum, square and safety first.

"We've got a reputation of building a great house," said Randall. "That's the beauty of it. You know, in a couple of years, I'm going to drive by this house and be able to say, 'Hey, I built that.' It's going to be here for a long time."