NOTE: This meeting is on the SECOND Saturday, due to the 4th of July holiday

Join us at 1631 9th Street to walk through a house that is just starting the rehabilitation process. The interior demolition is almost complete, so you can see what is behind the plaster in some locations. You will have to put on your thinking caps to visualize the end result!

As always, DSMRC monthly meetings are free and open to the public! They are typically held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning. Each meeting is at a different location and covers a different topic. We welcome people of all skill levels whether you are a professional general contractor, exploring options for redoing a bathroom, or simply want to talk about renovation with other interesting people.

BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee) but donuts and juice will be provided.

Please contact Steve Wilke-Shapiro at swilkeshapiro@gmail.com or 515-710-3484 for more information.

Hope to see you there!

May 3 is the first Saturday in the month, and therefore the monthly meeting for the Des Moines Rehabbers Club. It is also the annual Rebuilding Together work day. Rebuilding Together rehabilitates homes for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly, disabled, and families with dependent children.

Did you miss the Sherman Hill House Tour? Never fear - the Des Moines Rehabbers Club is looking out for you!

A Sherman Hill resident has graciously agreed to open up his restored Victorian home to the Des Moines Rehabbers Club for our February 2008 meeting. The owners took care to maintain existing historic features of their while incorporating a contemporary aesthetic. The owners have performed much of the restoration work themselves and will talk about the ins and outs of a large restoration project.

Meeting details are still being worked out. Please check back here for the topic and location.

DSMRC monthly meetings are free and open to the public! They are typically held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning. Each meeting is at a different location and covers a different topic. We welcome people of all skill levels whether you are a professional general contractor, exploring options for redoing a bathroom, or simply want to talk about renovation with other interesting people.

The September meeting is canceled due to scheduling difficulties. Please mark your calendars for the October meeting.

DSMRC monthly meetings are free and open to the public! They are typically held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning. Each meeting is at a different location and covers a different topic. We welcome people of all skill levels whether you are a professional general contractor, exploring options for redoing a bathroom, or simply want to talk about renovation with other interesting people.

It's a BIG deal to move a 705-ton pile of bricks down the middle of the street, even if the final destination is only a few blocks away. Several months ago, Mike Kinter of Kinter Construction oversaw just such a project when the historic Murillo Apartments and Henshie-Briggs Row House were picked up off their foundations and moved to new locations in the Sherman Hill neighborhood.

Please join us in July for the next Des Moines Rehabbers Club meeting.

Does your house have wood windows? Despite what the salespeople tell you, replacement is NOT necessarily the best option... Before you replace them with white vinyl windows, consider the historic, economic, ecological, and technical benefits of repairing the ones you already have. The original wood windows in your house may have been there for 100 years already - with proper repair and maintenance, they can serve you for 100 more!

Have you ever thought about renovating a building to sell (hopefully for profit)?

NOTE THE NEW DATE!

Join the Des Moines Rehabbers Club for another "work in progress" tour on December 8, 2007, from 9:30 to 11:00 am!

The owners of a historic River Bend home overlooking the Des Moines River have graciously volunteered to lead a tour of their renovation in progress. They are taking on a variety of projects and doing most of the work themselves. No doubt they will have some valuable insights into the project planning and budgeting process (and how both can go by the wayside as work proceeds).

Where: 1961 Arlington, Des Moines

Don't miss the first Des Moines Rehabbers Club meeting of 2008!

Jennifer James is a historian, writer, and Drake neighborhood resident. She will be walking you through the process of researching your home's history using a variety of resources available to the public.

This month's meeting information:

Date: Saturday, January 5, 2008
Time: 9:30 to 11:00 - Please be on time so you don't miss any important information
Location: Mickle Center at 1620 Pleasant Street in Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood (see map below)

The Des Moines Rehabbers Club will host it's kickoff meeting on November 3 from 9:30 to 11:00 at 1622 York.

This will be a "Work in Progress" meeting at a 1918 bungalow under renovation. We will get to tour the project and hear about the work that is going on as well as plans for the finished home. You can see some pictures and read part of the story on the owner's blog at http://ournewoldhouse.wordpress.com/.

DSMRC monthly meetings are free and open to the public! We welcome people of all skill levels whether you are a professional general contractor or simply exploring options for redoing your bathroom.