How to Build a WBO House!

While in Jamaica, our team built two houses! 

Each house is/has:

-about 12 ft x 12 ft 

-four cement walls & a cement floor

-two doors

-two windows

-a metal roof

We also laid two foundations for houses that were built by the team that came the week after we left.

Here are the steps to building a Won By One house in Harmons!

Step 1: "Marl haul"

Marl (pronounced "mall") is mixed with cement and water to make concrete, used for the foundations, as well as put on the walls of the houses. The truck dumps the marl on the side of the road, and since most Jamaican houses are up on a hill, we have to "haul" the marl up the hill! We do this by creating an assembly line up the hill, and pass bags full of marl up the line, then send the empty bags back down the line, to be refilled, and sent back up again! Repeat, repeat, repeat :) 

Morgan breaking up the marl, so it can be put in sacks & sent up the hill! 

Zach putting marl in a sack with Ganga, a Won By One employee

Me handing a sack of marl to Brianne, for her to send up the hill!

Cort having lots of fun throwing a sack of marl to Zach!

A shot from the top of the hill, showing off the maul haul assembly line.

Step 2: Foundation

This job, nicknamed "FUNdation" is done by making a box frame, filling it with rocks, and covering the rocks with cement to harden. 

Frame for the foundation (the wood gets taken away once the cement is hard/dry)

Filling the foundation frame with rocks. 


Me, shoveling marl into the sifter, to sift the rocks out :) 



Me, with Brittni, sifting rocks out of the marl :)




More sifting with Brittni! 

Ben, Joanie, and Kelsey using water to mix the sifted marl & cement.

Won By One employee, Austin, and Rob pouring cement on the rocks for the foundation. 

Step 3: Styrofoam walls

Walls up, with both doors (two) already cut out.  

Jack cutting out one of the two windows. 

Styrofoam walls almost done! Two doors & two windows cut out. Both doors have the wood frames around them, now just the windows need them! 

Step 4: First layer of cement on walls

Andrew adding water to the sifted marl (no rocks!) and cement.

First layer to go over the styrofoam! 

First layer done!

Step 5: Second layer of cement on walls

Cort (last year's trip leader) smoothing the second layer on wall. 

Me smoothing second layer on wall.

Brittany using a sponge to put the final touches on the walls, making them extra smooth/perfect looking!

Good picture showing how smooth walls look with the second layer on!

Step 6: Doors, shutters & a roof!

Josh & Tyler installing one of the two doors.

Helena installing shutters on one of the two windows. 

Sawyer installing the roof!

And finally....

Step 7: COMPLETION!