The Exterior is Done with New Sod!!!
- Ryan Corrigan
Blue Cedar Landscape donated the time and materials for yard prep and new sod installation! Check out the video below! At the end of this post, you'll also find a video interview with Megan Criniere about the Extreme Home makeover.
Kansas City has been in a drought which has been hard on sod companies. The company that pledged to do the sod installation had to back out of the project due to a shortage of sod. We felt pretty desperate as the Criniere kids were constantly covered in mud. But Megan was so patient as we waited. But we started to pray very intentionally for God to raise up someone to provide the sod. My wife, Sally, contacted Susan Manda, the co-owner of Blue Cedar Landscape (bluecedarlandscape.com). Years ago, Sally connected with Susan when I coached her son Luke in soccer. Sally asked Susan if she knew of a good sod company, not knowing they actually had their own sod farm. To our surprise, Susan said they would gladly do it themselves! A few hours later, I received a call from her husband, Will Manda, the company owner, who said they would start yard prep the following day and then install the sod! Wow! What an incredible answer to prayer! As the Blue Cedar Landscape team worked, the Kansas City temperatures soared to 100 degrees with 80 percent humidity for nearly the entire three days they worked. The conditions were definitely not optimal for laying new sod, but thankfully, we had a sprinkler system installed previously, which has been running night and day since the sod was laid. It was amazing how quickly Blue Cedar responded to our call! We are forever thankful! Thank you, Will and Susan Manda and the Blue Cedar Landscape team!!
Check out the new page dedicated to the project. Since our last update a week ago, someone donated the money for a secondary shed for the backyard. So in the next few weeks, the two sheds will be installed. We have two very small items to finish on the exterior then we will start on the rest of the interior projects. To put the final touches on the outside, we want to:
Install exterior shutters around the windows ($500)
Pull some weeds and put down 2 cubic yards of river rock in the front yard ($250) Next, We are looking for contractors/companies to:
Finish the garage space into a living space that Megan can use for a homeschool room for her kids. ($16k)
Install new flooring throughout the house. ($20k)
Install new doors and trim throughout the house. ($7k)
If you know a contractor or company who could get involved, please call or text Justin Jeffries at 913-286-3020 So far, Megan has not had to use any of her own money for this project! Incredible! Let's keep that going!
Here is an updated list of everything that has been done.
A brand-new roof was installed (https://www.nationsroofingandsolar.com/)
Her old driveway and two back patios, and two retaining walls were removed (https://www.trubluellc.com/)
Old shake shingle siding was torn off by people from Grace Point Church (https://gpchurch.us/)
A massive dumpster for demolition was donated (https://www.kcdumpster.com/),
Garage doors were removed, and the exterior wall was finished with windows (to finish the garage into a living space) (https://www.bizapedia.com/mo/owb-carpentry-llc.html)
Twenty-six windows and two sliding glass doors were donated and delivered within one week (normal lead time was 6-8 weeks) (https://www.coronetwindow.com)
Windows and new sliding glass doors were installed (https://www.bizapedia.com/mo/owb-carpentry-llc.html)
A lot of electrical work was done to add floodlights around the house (https://purelightelectric.com/), (https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/gj-electric-inc)
A Ring doorbell system was donated and installed
A porta-potty was donated for the construction workers
Brand-new vinyl siding was installed (https://maverickexteriorskc.com/)
Backyard lower patio with pave stones and a band new retaining wall was installed (https://hopkinshardscapes.com/), (https://www.keystonehardscapes.com/)
A massive amount of overgrown shrubs and an old fence were torn out of the backyard. (https://www.trubluellc.com/)
The front yard was graded and prepared for a new circle driveway (https://www.trubluellc.com/), (https://trifecta-contracting.com/)
A massive concrete circle driveway was installed (https://trifecta-contracting.com/),(https://quicksilverrmx.com),
A mini-split HVAC system was donated for the garage conversion into a living space. (https://www.lennox.com/,)
A brand new furnace and AC unit for the home were donated and installed. (https://tmi-stl.com/)
The bathrooms have been remodeled. (https://www.thinkbordner.com) (https://www.realtor.com/realestateagents/56d6cb14f384a201005fd07c)
There was a sewer line repair (and a scheduled replacement) (https://allens-electric-hvac.business.site/)
A company donated a really high-quality concrete sealant for the new driveway (https://specchem.com/specshield-wb)
Outdoor drains have been added around the house to mitigate standing water (https://hopkinshardscapes.com/)
Massive truckloads of dirt were donated for grading. (https://www.facebook.com/people/Summit-Trucking/100057155001603)
The backyard was professionally graded. (https://www.trubluellc.com/)
A beautiful deck was built by Doug Fields, the deck guy (https://www.facebook.com/dougfields23?mibextid=ZbWKwL)
Privacy Fence Materials were Donated - (https://www.oakiq.com/)
Backyard concrete - a deck sidewalk, a shed pad, a pool pad, and a new lower patio pad. (https://www.bizapedia.com/ks/stay-down-concrete-llc.html)
A sprinkler system was installed and paid for by donations from individuals - $7,500
The privacy fence was installed! (https://www.trubluellc.com/, (https://www.bizapedia.com/mo/owb-carpentry-llc.html)
Money for the materials and labor has been donated to build a really nice 12x16 outdoor shed!
New Sod installed by Blue Cedar Landscape (bluecedarlandscape.com).
Beyond this list, permits have been pulled and paid for, and hours and hours of planning and coordination to get all of this done! Praise the Lord for raising up such generous people to participate!
Here is an updated flyer with the remaining costs we are seeking to raise:
Below is an interview with Megan Criniere about the Extreme Home Makeover. It really is amazing to hear her unpack her journey as a widow and how meaningful this home renovation has been to her and her children.