Mike Coordinates A Massive Post-Katrina Rebuild | Holmes in New Orleans 104

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Here's the reality. We will be done on time and Gloria is going to be coming home. You're saying it's actually sinking.

[00:00:07]>> It's sinking today. The next uh 50 years, we could lose another 500 to 700 square miles.

[00:00:14]>> It's just a big ball of emotions. You know, you had to be here. You had to see it. You had to smell it. You had to feel it. You had you had to know it.

[00:00:42]When Katrina hit, devastation happened everywhere in New Orleans. It was it was massive.

[00:00:47]>> You know, over a thousand people died cuz these levies failed.

[00:00:50]>> I lost everything. The whole house had went in the river. We set the first goal at uh 150 homes.

[00:00:57]>> Right away, I offered I'll come down and build the first house for nothing. We have exactly 9 weeks to build this house. It was an unrealistic timeline. I think it'll be really close.

[00:01:08]>> Stop Ever and get that tarp tied down.

[00:01:10]Who's flipping up? Hurry up. You got about 60 seconds.

[00:01:40]I have exactly one month away from August 29th, the deadline date that we want to get this house back. the celebration, the block party. I was about three days behind on my framing schedule. I think we're going to pick up with that. We're really escalating with the electrical, the plumbing, the walls on the second floor and closing in this roof line.

[00:02:05]And to me, my whole job is to be the leader of the marching band that orchestrates everyone in what they're doing to get done on my deadline.

[00:02:21]I need a measurement from this wall to the back, from that side to the back.

[00:02:26]>> I went home for my brother's birthday who passed away and uh we still celebrated it. We had a big pig roast and that went off really good. I mean what I love my job so I like to be involved in doing things around the house and I also missed a integral part of the build because we were a few days behind on our framing and so I wasn't here for the roof framing and I was a little bit disappointed in that and so I I was definitely thinking about that when I was at home because I mean that's where my skills come in handy and that's why I'm here to do stuff like that.

[00:03:03]My name is Donald Fmarker with Sherid Volmach and Sons Electric. Shard's my dad. They've been in it for 50 years.

[00:03:11]We're pretty much just local uh I guess 80% residential. We do clay wiring houses.

[00:03:16]>> Take what you need.

[00:03:19]>> Today we're going to be wiring all number 12 wire 20 amp circuits. uh all the lighting, putting up the recess cans, pretty much roughing in this house here. I donated all my time and material. We just felt that they needed some help. Four or five days, no big deal. Help somebody out.

[00:03:48]>> Uh so, Don, I'm Mike. I really appreciate you coming in here and donating your time for the cause here. I think it's a wonderful thing that you're doing. Uh, obviously you started the electrical. I'm very happy with this.

[00:03:59]So, any questions you have, just call me, yell out Mike, and I'll come running and solve your problems. But right now, this is looking good. Thank you, sir.

[00:04:07]>> All right, Mike.

[00:04:07]>> Keep doing it, man.

[00:04:09]>> Thank you.

[00:04:12]>> We've had a break. The last two days are actually cool. A balmy 100, I think it is. The sun's just gotten a little hotter this afternoon, but it's it's just a bit of a break. It's good. It helps. It keeps us from really uh wanting to fall down.

[00:04:28]If >> it could be like this every day, we'd be flying flying.

[00:04:33]>> I can't see all that.

[00:04:36]>> I just had a question about the pond lights. Are we like Is there only three in the kitchen here?

[00:04:42]>> Yeah, I was kind of waiting. You said something about a fur down for the AC.

[00:04:46]So, we got them hanging >> uh more. I'm looking at the pot light over the window. We can't center it, can we?

[00:04:50]>> Yeah. Right. Right.

[00:04:51]>> Is there any way to do two?

[00:04:53]>> We can put two >> cuz that's the only way to balance it.

[00:04:55]And anything we do, then we make sure it's neatly lined up.

[00:04:58]>> Yeah.

[00:04:59]>> Let's see it from that angle.

[00:05:01]>> You might want to you might want to just show >> the whole wall. I mean, it's >> I think we have to run with that wall.

[00:05:08]>> Yeah.

[00:05:09]>> I like where the last one is. So, if we line everything straight with that. All right.

[00:05:13]>> Okay.

[00:05:13]>> Do that.

[00:05:14]>> Thank you, sir.

[00:05:17]>> I was at my house in Iran, but it was pretty crazy. I never been through nothing like that. But my dad is 72 years old, and he called it. He said, "Uh, there'll be another Betsy." And this was the Betsy. I couldn't believe it would happen again, but it did. When it filled up with water, that was pretty much a man-made mistake. The hurricane didn't do it. The hurricane wasn't that bad.

[00:05:41]I think the government wasn't keeping track. The fact that they were spending so much money so fast, a lot of people were getting money that didn't deserve it. I mean, till this day, they still I find that some people still getting the grant money.

[00:05:58]>> Got another one coming down.

[00:06:00]>> But it doesn't bother me. My dad taught us to keep working. So that's what we doing. That's what y'all are doing. Tell me when you got enough.

[00:06:10]Today is a much better day. It was an unrealistic timeline. I think it'll be really close. A race to the finish. Um, neck to neck. I think we're going to be in there. I think we are going to do it.

[00:06:20]And I'm going to put that all in my crew. They're amazing people.

[00:06:36]>> Are all the raptors done on this side?

[00:06:39]Yeah, >> we're done.

[00:06:43]>> Let's clean her up.

[00:06:45]>> Good job.

[00:06:47]>> 20 after 4.

[00:06:48]>> One lady thought it was a condo. I said, "No, ma'am. That's a one family dwelling.

[00:06:54]>> You can't go full speed all the time." I do have Mike who says, "You know, I want you guys to quit in a reasonable time."

[00:07:01]It's a contradiction.

[00:07:03]>> What do you want to do?

[00:07:04]>> We got to try and get it done today.

[00:07:07]I was about 3 days behind on my framing schedule. I think we're going to pick up with that. We're really escalating with the electrical, the plumbing. To me, my whole job is to be the leader of the marching band that orchestrates everyone in what they're doing to get done on my deadline.

[00:07:25]About two streets down, you have a giant ship. It's really strange. You see a truck going that way and all of a sudden you see this big ship right beside it.

[00:07:33]It looks like going beside it. Feels like an island.

[00:07:36]She's a nice Gilligan. It >> is Gilligans Island.

[00:07:40]>> We're going to try and replace Pinky while we're here. Um, I really want to encourage women in the skilled trades.

[00:07:47]>> Hey, Mike.

[00:07:48]>> Smoke.

[00:07:49]>> Hey, morning.

[00:07:50]>> What's up? I'm looking pink as usual.

[00:07:52]>> I found another candidate for you.

[00:07:54]>> Nice.

[00:07:54]>> She's from the construction side. Um, did some work for her husband. He's he was one of the contractors that hired me. She's not from the demolition side.

[00:08:02]She may work out for you.

[00:08:03]>> Okay. What's her name?

[00:08:04]>> Her name is Tessy. Must be Tessy.

[00:08:06]>> Hi.

[00:08:08]>> Nice to meet you, >> Tessy. I'm Mike. I like the accent.

[00:08:10]Where you from?

[00:08:11]>> Oh, um, picking in Mississippi.

[00:08:13]>> Mississippi. Everyone's got this wild little tang twang. And I guess I guess to you to you I have an accent, right?

[00:08:20]>> Yes.

[00:08:20]>> What What would you call my accent?

[00:08:22]>> Little northern.

[00:08:23]>> Yes.

[00:08:24]>> Definitely northern. Definitely northern.

[00:08:27]>> Do you really want to wear this at this site? That's pretty nice stuff.

[00:08:30]>> Yeah, it's fun.

[00:08:30]>> You want to wear it?

[00:08:31]>> Yeah, I want to wear it.

[00:08:32]>> Mike, I only bring divas to the site.

[00:08:34]>> Yes. This is a feminine one.

[00:08:37]>> And who's this?

[00:08:39]>> This is Anley Hat. An Angley and Olivia >> relation.

[00:08:43]>> Yes. My daughter.

[00:08:44]>> Your daughter. A pleasure to meet you.

[00:08:46]My name is Mike. Hi. Nice to meet you.

[00:08:47]Watch them walk on your beautiful shoes.

[00:08:52]>> Basically, we don't want standing water in the house. We don't want the plywood to swell and everything like that. So, we can just start pushing the water right through here. And we've cut a hole in the door right there. So, we can just push it right out that door for me. And we'll get you on some more interesting stuff when you're done. Okay. I'm getting >> I'm pretty experienced when it comes to ropes and harnesses and on on roofs and walking around on them. I don't have any problem being up there. So, I can make those kind of cuts and do them efficiently.

[00:09:28]>> You were downstairs and Tessy was shoveling water through the hole.

[00:09:32]>> Did she get you?

[00:09:34]I'm sorry.

[00:09:36]>> This is not sewage water.

[00:09:37]>> Yeah, we probably head.

[00:09:49]>> I enjoy when people ask me, "What do you do for a living?" I love saying, "I work on the Make It Right Project and we are building homes in the Laura 9th ward."

[00:10:00]>> You got papers with you again?

[00:10:03]I think about what it must be like for Miss Gloria Guy to be the person who is held responsible for keeping children and grandchildren alive and well. And I know that there are days that she wakes up and she has to think about how am I going to put food on the table today?

[00:10:22]You are the caretaker for a significant number of people >> and you feel uh on a regular basis that there's some burden on you.

[00:10:31]>> Yes. I want to try to figure out a plan here where you have enough money for the month. We'll do another counseling session about 30 days from now and hopefully by then we'll have this kinship income in.

[00:10:44]>> Oh, she just trying to help me a penny pinch so that I could survive with the children or my water bill sometime would hit me like a$100 or $200.

[00:10:55]>> Okay, that seems like a lot of >> you know was really high gas. I am so proud to be a part of a program that is not just building homes for families, but are looking at the ongoing cost of home ownership for these families and are doing things that are innovative, that are state of the art to ensure that that house may is is affordable and and sustainable over the long haul. You had a house payment then, but you paid that mortgage off. I feel very lucky to have the relationships with the families that I do and to be a part of seeing their lives change in a very good way. Okay.

[00:11:35]>> Does that sound like a plan?

[00:11:36]>> Yeah, that's all right.

[00:11:37]>> Okay. Thanks.

[00:11:38]>> God bless you.

[00:11:39]>> All right. I think Gloria is going to understand the benefit of the green home when she's moved in and 30 days later she gets her first electric bill and she remembers back before the storm that she was paying $300 or $400 a month for electricity and now her bill is 80 or $100 a month.

[00:12:06]Sometimes good does come out of bad.

[00:12:09]Maybe this hurricane created a change for the area, for these people, for the positive. All in all, I see some pretty good stuff happening here.

[00:12:21]It's amazing the way they have come along in the last few weeks, not months, weeks. And I love them doors, them double doors. I love them.

[00:12:33]They're real beautiful.

[00:12:35]>> The living room and the kitchen. Oh, baby.

[00:12:40]Yes, indeed, Lord.

[00:12:44]I can't wait. I just can't wait. I just can't wait to get in there.

[00:12:54]>> Tessy, what's up? You guys are working. Well, how come you're not working?

[00:13:01]>> Mike, I just don't think I'm cut out for this.

[00:13:04]>> Is it too much?

[00:13:05]>> Well, it's not too much. I mean, I'm a hard worker and everything, but you know, I mean, look at this.

[00:13:10]>> You got a blister already.

[00:13:12]>> Already?

[00:13:13]>> My goodness.

[00:13:14]>> But I mean, you know, I'm also a southern girl and a mom, and this heat is just it's starting to get to me.

[00:13:22]>> I understand. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you.

[00:13:24]>> It was very nice to meet you, and I do appreciate the opportunity for sure.

[00:13:28]>> Well, I'm glad you tried it out. This is like you're getting to test us, we get to test you.

[00:13:32]>> So, it's a two-way street.

[00:13:34]>> Exactly.

[00:13:34]>> Now, you're going on the one way back, right? Exactly.

[00:13:40]>> Would you get Rusty on the phone right away and tell her she's got a job tomorrow morning?

[00:13:44]>> That's fantastic.

[00:13:45]>> You know, I had a feeling she would be the one after today.

[00:13:50]But we came in as first responders kind of, you know, was helping everybody else who was flooded and first responder work and things like that. Devastation beyond what I've ever seen.

[00:14:04]It was it was not easy.

[00:14:07]Not at all.

[00:14:14]>> Sometimes good does come out of bad.

[00:14:17]Maybe this hurricane created a change for the area, for these people, for the positive. The living room and the kitchen. Oh, baby.

[00:14:27]Yes, indeed, Lord.

[00:14:30]I can't wait. I just can't wait to get in there.

[00:14:37]On the weekend, the guys installed all the tie bar around the whole house because we're spray foam in the whole envelope. Anytime you have something that traps one side, the other side must breathe. And that's my whole oxymoron about we want it airtight, but we want it breathable. Now, exterior, we want that wood to breathe. Because if we just put a flat roof right on this, whether it was shingles, a metal, it doesn't matter. And we didn't have the tie bar allowing that wood to breathe, we actually trap it. Moisture can travel right up through the end here, get inside and be trapped, and then rot the wood. The metal is supposed to last 50 years. We want the wood to last even longer, don't we?

[00:15:18]>> Okay. Three women, Tessy, >> Candace, Rusty.

[00:15:22]>> Yeah.

[00:15:22]>> Hi, Rusty. It's Mike. How you doing today? I'm fine, sir. How are you?

[00:15:26]>> I'm doing well. You know what? We've missed you since you've been gone, and we're wondering how fast you can get your butt back here and work full-time with us.

[00:15:33]>> Yes, sir. I will. Thank you very much.

[00:15:35]>> You're welcome. Can't wait to have you back.

[00:15:40]>> Rusty is great.

[00:15:41]>> Where are you, London?

[00:15:42]>> She's doing everything right. She's very strong woman, very strong spirited after what she's been through.

[00:15:49]>> Got it. It's all yours.

[00:15:51]>> She's tough. She's tough as nails. She's probably the toughest guy I have on site.

[00:15:57]>> Everything's going perfect. Crew is wonderful to work with. I'm having a great time. It's better me than sitting behind a desk somewhere with no windows.

[00:16:07]Boys are just wonderful. A real hoot to work with. Miss Kate's wonderful. Just love it.

[00:16:15]Oh, hold on. Miss Kate, let me see your crayola again.

[00:16:19]Well, when Katrina hit, we came in as first responders.

[00:16:23]You don't want to know what the city looked like. You really don't. It was It was um devastation beyond what I've ever seen.

[00:16:37]You had to be here. You had to see it.

[00:16:39]You had to smell it. You had to feel it.

[00:16:40]You had You had to know it to understand why. It kind of um tweaks our emotions a little bit maybe.

[00:16:49]Yeah. It's just A lot of people came in to really help people and others came in to help themselves and that was horrible too. I thought of people to come in here and just take advantage of those who lost everything. And then there those ones who just wanted to come and see what everyone lost and to me that's like rubberneck in an accident on Wednesday.

[00:17:10]Well, it was tough. recently became a widow shortly before Katrina and um it was kind of tough being on my own and there was no place to live. I had nothing and it was just u just a lot of devastation.

[00:17:30]You know, you wake up every morning, you're in your truck and you're out in the back on the tailgate brushing your teeth every morning. You're thinking all the things that God gives everybody and they take it all for granted. They really do. You become more aware when you're living like that, you know, become more um passionate about living.

[00:17:47]Um more sensitive to other people's needs.

[00:17:52]Can you give me a minute?

[00:17:57]>> You all right?

[00:17:58]>> Yeah.

[00:18:08]>> What's for lunch?

[00:18:11]Chicken, mashed potatoes, burgers.

[00:18:12]>> Chicken, mashed potatoes, burgers, and >> flies.

[00:18:16]>> Flies.

[00:18:17]>> And flies.

[00:18:20]>> Oh, looks good. I don't mind a fly or two at my dinner. Both of you.

[00:18:25]>> That's your third plate.

[00:18:26]>> My third one. That's my fourth one.

[00:18:28]>> You guys are catch up.

[00:18:35]>> We're going like crazy up here.

[00:18:37]Finishing the rest of the walls.

[00:18:39]Electrical is being run.

[00:18:48]We're running the pan drain for the geotherm. It runs from the ground about 6 in above the ground. It's going to run all the way to the attic where it'll hook hook into the pan drain where in case it overflows, it won't flood the house out.

[00:19:05]Getting our blocking in. Wherever we have our sheeting, we must have blocking. But if you remember, it's only for a nailing edge. So, we've we've purposely turned them because we're going to have drywall on this, which keeps our rafters nice and straight. This gives us more spray form across the rafter line.

[00:19:24]Okay, everything's going really good here. What's our rough 34?

[00:19:30]>> So, we're going to fire that up through the uh closet of the And what's our width of the wall here?

[00:19:37]What's the width? What's the width?

[00:19:39]>> 30 in.

[00:19:40]>> That's 30 in. It's got to be 32, doesn't it?

[00:19:47]>> No, he's got 30.

[00:19:49]>> Um, >> can you go measure the tub?

[00:19:52]>> We should have 32. Let's just measure the tub to see.

[00:19:54]>> Is it on the drawing?

[00:19:56]>> Uh, yeah.

[00:19:57]>> I'll bet you it's 32.

[00:19:58]>> You can't go full speed all the time and expect to have an energy level. We all hit a wall yesterday. I think it was a communal wall hitting yesterday. You're so tired, you get home and go to sleep.

[00:20:11]Wake up really early and do it again.

[00:20:14]>> So, let's find out what the tub is.

[00:20:16]We'll double check that.

[00:20:17]>> Doing good.

[00:20:19]>> What are we doing?

[00:20:20]>> Nothing. Waiting for the rod. We got to get the rod.

[00:20:23]>> We don't have the rod.

[00:20:24]>> No, no, the rod's coming. We have plays rod supposed to be coming as of Friday, but it never showed up. So, >> we need it in today.

[00:20:30]>> Yeah, it'll be here today.

[00:20:31]>> It's pretty hot today. It's pushing over 100° in the shade and so working the sun and the heavy lifting and you just got to be careful you don't dehydrate it also kind of makes your mind go a little screwy if you're in the heat too long.

[00:20:45]>> The hours sometime get to you like especially after like a long day from like 7 to 9 at night. You really like the next day you're I feel like a zombie anyway.

[00:20:54]>> They're not doing up here until Wednesday or Yeah. Wednesday.

[00:20:58]>> They're doing the bottom two tomorrow when they're spraying. We can't be in here.

[00:21:03]>> We're going to have to be, I think, for a little bit.

[00:21:08]>> What do you want to do?

[00:21:09]>> We got to try and get it done today.

[00:21:11]>> I do have Mike who says, you know, I want you guys to quit in a reasonable time. It's a contradiction. You can't expect me to quit at 5 every day and get this job done in the same at the same time. It's impossible. We'll be here for another month on top of the time we're already going to be.

[00:21:29]The way they are built so strong and everything measured.

[00:21:36]We got to be precise.

[00:21:39]They're doing a beautiful job.

[00:21:44]>> We try and do as many things at once as we can.

[00:21:50]>> And uh we cockroaches already.

[00:21:52]>> And we have what?

[00:21:53]>> Cockroaches already.

[00:21:54]>> Cockroaches.

[00:21:54]>> Yeah. There's a couple cockroaches crawling around the ceiling over there.

[00:21:57]>> Really?

[00:21:57]>> Yeah. the big suckers. We'll get those out.

[00:22:00]>> Exterminator.

[00:22:01]>> I don't like talking about this.

[00:22:08]>> Be a matter of setting the beams for our deck >> and then it'll be a covered wrap around porch and then I'll finish off the framing portion of the house.

[00:22:15]>> Okay, I'm measuring uh 186 and 3/4. So, we'll cut it 186 and 1/2.

[00:22:20]>> I still think it's going to be pretty tight, but we can pull together and do it. We always have in the past. We will this time.

[00:22:29]You must be Justin.

[00:22:30]>> Yes, sir.

[00:22:30]>> I'm Mike. Pleasure to meet you. How you >> doing, Mike?

[00:22:32]>> Thanks for coming aboard here. Right.

[00:22:33]Yes, sir.

[00:22:34]>> Are you ready to spray? You're >> ready to spray.

[00:22:38]>> Okay. We have no problem spraying over wires, right?

[00:22:41]>> No, sir. That's what I want to hear.

[00:22:43]Now, what I'm thinking is, do I spray over the drains? They've already insulated the lines. I wouldn't mind hitting it. I mean, the more I can control everything on the inside, the better. And obviously using the wall tight will do that.

[00:22:54]>> Correct.

[00:22:56]How much are you doing on the floor?

[00:22:57]>> 3 in.

[00:22:58]>> 3 in on the floor. And that's equivalent to what?

[00:23:02]>> 21.

[00:23:02]>> 21. I like that. How long is it going to take you to actually set up?

[00:23:06]>> About 30 minutes.

[00:23:07]>> And how long do you think the whole job?

[00:23:09]>> Hoping to be done by Thursday afternoon.

[00:23:12]>> So, 3 days.

[00:23:13]>> 3 days. Okay, that's perfect. Well, thank you.

[00:23:15]>> Thank you. Yes, sir. Love bringing in the pros.

[00:23:22]>> Last week, we were on time for everything. We were just going like crazy to set for Monday, which was spray foam. Today is now Tuesday. And all of a sudden, we had one hell of a lot of rain come in on Friday. The plumbers put down their tools. They said, "We got to go."

[00:23:36]And we don't work weekends. We lost the day on it. Not a big deal. We worked on other things and it just to me, it's just the way it is and we go with it.

[00:23:44]Now we're spray foaming and that makes me happy.

[00:23:52]In plain English, spray foam, closed cell is the best insulation in the world.

[00:24:01]Closed cell means it's watertight. It's it's airtight. So a hot does not mean cold.

[00:24:06]By doing that, we actually turn this house into a cooler. So that means we can heat it with a candle or we can cool it efficiently with geothermal technology and easy.

[00:24:20]He's got to wear a fresh air mask when he sprays this. When he's putting it up, within seconds, it dries on the wall. No more issues.

[00:24:33]It's very important for the installer to constantly check that the proper depth of spray foam is being applied.

[00:24:40]If it's not done right, then it's just not worth doing.

[00:24:55]The Bible says that this is the day that the Lord have made. Let us rejoice and be glad to enter it gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Uh amen. We got some villices in the house. Uh Gloria and her family.

[00:25:10]Amen. They came to fellowship with us.

[00:25:12]Uh the Lord have blessed them real good.

[00:25:15]They getting their house built on Tennessee Street. Uh we just going to welcome you into the house of the Lord where we call ourselves the biggest little church in the lower night ward where prayers could be heard and mercy could be found. Before Katrina, uh the church was live and well. We had been here 3 years. It was a brand new church.

[00:25:34]And then all of a sudden, August the 29th, 2005, up popped Katrina and just destroyed everything. When I came in here, I opened the door and all the brand new pews uh all tunked over. Uh the organ tunked over. We had 13 ft of water in here.

[00:25:55]The smell was uh beyond imagination.

[00:25:59]Unbearable. It smelt like a a swamp.

[00:26:05]You know, when everything's messed up, you don't know where to start at. So, I just said, "Well, I'm going to start."

[00:26:10]said, "Well, let's start at the front door and work our way to the back door."

[00:26:14]So, that's what we done until we uh completed what we what we have right now.

[00:26:22]>> Before the hurricane, we had 85 churches in this area. Now, we have about seven.

[00:26:29]Uh this church is a a beacon light to the whole community. That's why we take pride in it. We make it look good for it can attract other individuals to come back in into this community.

[00:26:43]There's no place like home and this is home. I'd be glad to go in my house so I can enjoy and have peace.

[00:26:55]And when I go to the house of I say, "Glory, hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.

[00:27:01]Oh, you blessed me.

[00:27:03]for no more.

[00:27:07]>> By the time they're done and Gloria gets her house back, they will have applied over 6,000 lb of close cell foam. Now, hopefully Justin can finish on time.

[00:27:27]I'm still predicting the 25th. That gives me 20 days. We may be going non-stop, >> but you know what? Stress after Katrina, a lot of people are still dealing with it. You think it would go, but uh a lot of people is still dealing with the stress. But I look around me. All right, you're looking at empty lots. That's the past. I'm looking at the future.

[00:28:00]Oh, you want to see how Southern starts the truck? Huh? Come on. I'll show you how Southern starts the truck.

[00:28:07]First of all, we got to pop the hood, put it in neutral, turn the key on. Then we get our key and we go around to the front. Poor little thing.

[00:28:23]Enjoy.

[00:28:34]>> I'm sure the guys are going to love it.

[00:28:36]I'll come back and see you next week.

[00:28:38]>> All right, then.

[00:28:39]>> You keep smiling.

[00:28:40]>> Oh, LOOK. I SURE WILL.

[00:28:42]>> She's so cute.

[00:28:45]I love her. Look what Miss Leblanc made.

[00:28:49]Her specialty brownies.

[00:28:53]>> Awesome. Eh, >> those look delicious.

[00:28:54]>> We'll have to jump on those for dessert.

[00:28:59]>> Justin was right on schedule with the spray foam, so I took time to visit King Milling, considered an expert on the wetlands.

[00:29:09]Protect portions of this area out here.

[00:29:12]But what you're looking at right now in terms of this map is a reflection of the lower delta of the Mississippi River.

[00:29:19]It's the southeast quadrant of the state of Louisiana. And this whole area was built over about the last 6,000 years from floods of the Mississippi River.

[00:29:30]And that built this massive ecosystem.

[00:29:33]>> Wow.

[00:29:34]>> Some 6,000 square miles.

[00:29:46]This is a environmental treasure down here. It's one of the most enriched uh wetlands in the world. It's the seventh largest delta on Earth.

[00:29:58]30% of all the fish that we consume in this country by poundage comes right out of this area.

[00:30:06]a flyway about 5 million birds winter here every year.

[00:30:11]It's estimated that about 90% of the commercial fish in the Gulf of Mexico are dependent upon this system during all a part of their life cycle.

[00:30:24]after the 1927 flood was the the federal government for all the right reasons came into this country into this part of the world and built a massive levy system up and down the Mississippi River designed to protect uh against flooding.

[00:30:39]But there was an unintended consequence is the very substance which built this massive area down here that we call America's wetland was depleted of the resources essential to maintaining its strength. lodge since they built the levy it made a change to the environment.

[00:30:56]>> That is correct. All fundamental and during the 30s and 40s and 50s a little bit into the 60s a lot of work was done in terms of oil and gas and that caused some further deterioration and clearly all this is man-made human activity which has caused this problem because the flooding was not going on.

[00:31:19]The sedimentary de deposition ceased.

[00:31:22]This whole area continued to sink.

[00:31:25]>> You're saying it's actually sinking.

[00:31:27]>> It's sinking today. We could lose another area in the next uh 50 years, 500 to 700 square miles.

[00:31:35]>> The more I am here, the more I am learning and the more I see.

[00:31:39]>> But it's all pretty logical once you kind of put your mind to it.

[00:31:43]>> It sure makes sense to me.

[00:31:44]>> Well, it does.

[00:31:49]The overall impact of the loss of this system is astonishing and is something quite frankly that I think no state in the union could by itself fix it or repair it. This is tens of billions of dollars. And what we're trying to do, working with scientists and engineers, not just from Louisiana, but literally from throughout the world, is to develop what is known as a comprehensive plan to restore and protect South Louisiana.

[00:32:20]>> This became a passion. I can see it and I I understand it. You live here. Uh this is part of your world, your business.

[00:32:26]>> Well, it's one of these things. It's kind of like grabbing an alligator by the tail. Once you've got it, you really can't let it go cuz you're going to turn around and bite the devil out of you.

[00:32:34]>> I look kind of like Am I using that one?

[00:32:41]>> This used to be a place we played ball in the street. We ran, we raced, we clown. And now it's like all washed away.

[00:32:56]Everyone stop for ice cream.

[00:33:01]Oh yeah. Ice cream time. So many choices. You got the cash today.

[00:33:06]>> I'm paying.

[00:33:07]>> Thank you sharers.

[00:33:10]>> Oh yeah.

[00:33:11]>> What a catch.

[00:33:14]>> Play basketball.

[00:33:23]>> I would love to have that house cuz I know what's gone into it. I mean, everything about it is awesome.

[00:33:31]>> So, we had a minor panic this morning that the windows were too big for the opening. And all it is is this is a different style window. We actually had to do a 1-in rough opening around all the window frames. And we thought that this area had to go within the window.

[00:33:44]It does not. It actually faces on the outside of the wall. So, we're going to have a whole day of window installation because we have to install the brackets on the windows, get the windows in place, lock them in, and there's internal brackets that wrap on the inside straight that actually wrap the frame. So, it's really like locking onto the inside and outside jam up the structure of the window to hold it from going anywhere. Not to mention, the glass won't break if it gets hit by a 2x4 at 80 mph.

[00:34:11]>> 1 2 3 As long as your uh framing is fine, these windows don't take much. As you can see, the flange allows you to screw in place. So, what we do, you basically instead of level to the bottom of this, you put it in. As long as you have a gap on the inside for your spray foam, I can actually level this window, push it up to allow my for my gap, and I can get Adam here to screw in every second hole.

[00:34:38]And the flange will actually temporarily hold my window in place. As long as everything's step by step, goes to plan, you're flying out, >> got the window.

[00:34:59]>> What we have here, it's a bottom flashing to allow for if any water gets in behind here, it'll actually hit that sill and want to drain out. What we do after the window is installed, we have another piece of flashing that comes down and it actually encompasses the whole flange on the outside again for water. So if anything hits it, just sheds right out. And again, we'll have, you know, drip edges on our windows everywhere. I mean, there's so much rain here. More preventative, the better.

[00:35:29]We're installing the double door here into the living room area. Just doing the final uh shim on the inside. Then we'll be ready for spray foam. Go on to the next one.

[00:35:43]I don't trust this six foot level because I saw it got dropped earlier today. So I'm using the 4ft the bubble on the 4ft level cuz I double checked it. So the 6T level may be out 16th or 32nd. I want to be 100% with this door.

[00:35:56]>> Where I'm from, we want our doors to swing inside the house, not outside. So, I said to uh the architect, I said, "Why do we have the doors swinging out?"

[00:36:06]Wind. Oh, they don't want the doors being blown in in a hurricane. Now, I get it. All right. They swing out.

[00:36:16]>> Okay. Actually, right there is perfect.

[00:36:18]>> Okay. I got 12 and a half. Sure.

[00:36:22]>> Little bit. Perfect.

[00:36:27]>> We're actually flying today. Uh it allows us to do our strapping for our siding as well. We have to get our siders in. Uh which means we have to get our windows in, our doors in. So, and it's like one of the hottest days of the uh week. I think the strips we see now are nailing edges.

[00:36:44]So, that gives us a nailing edge for all the board that's got to go up to allow air movement in behind it. Real simple.

[00:36:50]This is the core vent that we're actually using. You can see all the baffles in there. And it's protected with a mesh on this side. And we want to put it at the bottom and at the top to allow air movement up and or down. If we allow the air to move in behind the wall, if any moisture builds there, think about the humidity here. If any moisture builds there, the air movement will dissipate the moisture.

[00:37:15]Simple product that allows it to breathe, that is mesh, that no bugs can get in, bees won't make a nest. Just it's smart stuff.

[00:37:25]one step closer all the time.

[00:37:31]>> This is hardy siding. It's a cement fiber board. Rot resistant, termite resistant, and water resistant. Going to get a coat of paint on it and it'll last a long time.

[00:37:44]>> How long do you think this is going to take?

[00:37:46]>> A week, really?

[00:37:47]>> At most?

[00:37:49]>> What is it? One guy doing it.

[00:37:52]>> We'll have four out here today. Tomorrow we'll probably have maybe as much as six or eight and we'll run it all the way through.

[00:37:59]>> Okay. If I had a preference, I'd love you to start the front. Work your way around the south side. So, right after you're done, I'm going to go start the uh actual the front porch.

[00:38:08]>> Yeah.

[00:38:09]>> I'm looking for lowest lowest point of the house. So, we got to start with the lowest point and then work our way around to the to the highest point. That way anything we can cut off around the bottom, but everything at the top will be leveled.

[00:38:25]>> We're going to have a leveled board line right across 10 ft.

[00:38:29]>> As we go up, we're going to have a second level line starting somewhere about the middle of the house.

[00:38:33]>> But what about when it hits in the middle of one of those windows up there?

[00:38:37]>> Yeah, >> it won't.

[00:38:40]>> And it better not.

[00:38:42]>> That means we'll have three. Did we do a measurement from that point to the top of the window?

[00:38:46]>> That's what we're trying to pull, right?

[00:38:48]I don't know if that was ever calculated.

[00:38:49]>> The height of this stick, that's how high the water was here. 13T and they said it was 20T deep in some spots.

[00:38:57]>> The whole idea here is 10T 10T right to the fascia. And by the time we get to over 20 ft, we have another horizontal bat line. Got it.

[00:39:06]>> Got it.

[00:39:08]>> 67 and 3/4.

[00:39:15]First panel trying to get it plumbing level. The first one's the most important one.

[00:39:20]>> Your left got to go down. Brian, we want you to sit in.

[00:39:25]>> If we don't get this one right, the rest of them are going to not going to fall out right. So, this one may be a trial one. If it's not right, we're going to pull it off and and do another till we get it right.

[00:39:35]>> Hold it right there.

[00:39:36]>> Are you level to my right?

[00:39:41]>> How's that?

[00:39:42]>> Hold it right there. Don't let it move.

[00:39:44]Hail it.

[00:39:47]>> We try and do as many things at once as we can.

[00:39:51]Now we have a clear zone for the spray foam to continue today. We're on the outside. Let's finish off all the breathing zones that we have. We can see the vented edges on the bottom. Do the boarding. Get the roof done. We're actually now just prepping to get the stairs in.

[00:40:05]>> So, you want the concrete to go all the way?

[00:40:07]>> Yeah, I would like the concrete to go all the way. Otherwise, otherwise it's going to be a uh uh problem down the road. The way I drew it is not the way this form is laid out. And uh nobody has mentioned to me that they wanted to change my design. I sure appreciate a conversation about that.

[00:40:26]>> Yeah, let's make something purely architectural out of wood to appease the architect.

[00:40:34]>> 45 and A2.

[00:40:35]>> Yeah.

[00:40:41]Shoot it.

[00:40:48]>> Well, it doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. So, uh I plan to uh sell my house when I get back and uh redevelop something even better and bigger, more modern. I really like the modern touch here.

[00:40:59]>> Every 4 in >> 33 45 and 12 We're going to make it. It's going to be tight, but we're going to make it.

[00:41:15]Everything's in. We're spray foam. The plumbers are just getting the tub in.

[00:41:17]The rest of the rough end done.

[00:41:22]>> Is it hot in here, guys? Little bit. A >> little bit.

[00:41:24]>> Might need a little bit of air conditioning soon.

[00:41:26]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:41:27]>> It's too bad it wasn't in and then you were doing your work, eh?

[00:41:34]We're just finishing up all the hardy board on the outside of the house.

[00:41:38]They're going like crazy out there. We get the fascia up. Probably start the roof today. I have a tarp just in case.

[00:41:46]Just in case. I don't want anything to do with any leaks.

[00:41:50]Man, Gloria's coming home.

[00:41:57]This is my birthday. I was told we were going to a dinner.

[00:42:02]>> What's going on here? It's a party.

[00:42:10]It turned into the second line parade and a night that I'm never going to forget.

[00:42:16]>> Wow, that was unbelievable. Seeing him, you know, really surprised, overwhelmed is uh is very rare.

[00:42:32]And we start going down the street. We cut off Chopatulis. We stopped Canel Street right onto Bourbon Street.

[00:42:41]We got police here.

[00:42:44]We could be in trouble.

[00:42:47]>> It's amazing that everyone actually kept it uh from him.

[00:42:52]>> You got to be kidding me. You got a police escort?

[00:43:01]I love you all.

[00:43:04]>> Great seeing everyone on the sides of the streets actually getting into it and taking pictures and laughing and dancing.

[00:43:12]It was a lot of fun.

[00:43:17]>> The party where we close the streets down and have a parade through the streets. I mean, that was wicked.

[00:43:28]It put a smile on everyone's face. If you were tired, totally the adrenaline kicked right in and it's just overwhelming, you know, to uh to be able to enjoy something like that.

[00:43:41]>> I love you guys. Jeez.

[00:43:43]>> My god. Could you ever have a party like that? I'll never ever top that in a million years. By the time I got there, I was sweating. I played the drums.

[00:43:51]>> Are you going to do this?

[00:43:56]Okay.

[00:44:02]>> Was it good? Oh my god, what a happy birthday that was big into his ass.

[00:44:09]>> Oh my good god.

[00:44:12]>> Thank you very much. That was a surprise.

[00:44:21]I think most people would say it's impossible. You can't do it. Yes, we can. I have drywallers coming in. I have the roofers. I have everybody with us.

[00:44:29]Enough people coordinated properly. No sweat. Do I have any issues coming in my way? Mother nature's one of them.

[00:44:40]Oh, it's coming over the roof now. Look at it's coming fast. Stop everything and get that tarp tied down. is flipping up.

[00:44:48]Hurry up. You got about 60 seconds.

[00:44:57]>> Well, welcome to New Orleans again.

[00:45:00]Everyone's in the trailer. No one's in the house. Look at those guys under the house there.

[00:45:15]The bad news is is that we will be working 7 days a week from this point.

[00:45:19]>> I can't wait to go in that one. That is beautiful.

[00:45:27]This might not >> Looking forward to moving into the house because this house is too small where I could have space to hang my clothes and do the things I wanted to and I'd be happy.

[00:45:42]>> You're flying over what what was and is considered to be the seventh largest system in the world. I don't think I could build a house here. I don't think you could either. It would be a little tough.

[00:46:12]Heat. Heat.

[00:46:18]Heat up here.