Framing with new and old

It's a reality, the house is being built, and still no dumpster!

Saving History

It took less than four hours, a 50 ton crane, the crew of ProGrass and Gregg and Ellis Landscape Design and a bit of luck to move our trees from one location to another. The REX Project, Reuse Everything eXperiment once again proves that you can make a difference. We saved 50 year old trees, preserved the history of the Westmoreland neighborhood in Portland Oregon and $15,000.00 dollars! That's right! According to Steve Varga of ProGrass landscaping we had $25,000.00 worth of original landscaping materials. To save everything, hire the crane company and move it all cost us $10,000.00. To me, that's a major duh! All win-win.

Come by and see our progress, 2030 SE REX ST. Portland Oregon

More to come

The beauty of embarking on something that has never been done before is knowing you are not following directions because there are no directions to begin with. Let me share with you some lessons I've already learned. Step one, deconstruct the house. Step two, inventory the materials that you have and know where they will be stored. Step three, design the house and landscaping with the knowledge of steps one and two. I did step three, then one, followed by two. Sounds confusing? Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. Not only will this save you time, but money too.

Currently we are in the middle of excavation and our excavator Brian Jackson, is dealing with more scrambled and out of order procedures. We pocketed thousands of dollars by saving the trees and plants instead of replacing them. However digging them up and transplanting them created huge holes that need to be filled before the foundation starts. Cost, around $4,000.00 and an extra week of delay. But this is construction and I've quickly learned that the phrase "set back" is as common as a coffee shop on our neighborhood street corner.

Green Thumbs!

Meet Christine Ellis and Carolyn Gregg, owners of Gregg and Ellis Landscape and Designs. I am beyond lucky to have these two top notch talented women represent the R.E.X. Project as my landscape designers. They dove in head first helping me cut the beast (former laurel hedge) down to size. It's new purpose will become baluster railings, fencing, and garden furniture. Any woman who doesn't complain about breaking a nail is a friend of mine!

REX Project Storage issues

My eyes were bigger than my site lot. The Rebuilding Center quickly filled the 27' long container with doors, windows, cabinetry, and salvaged wood. I thought that would be enough space to store a house...but nooooo. Had to rent another container. Next one, 17'long and true to the first, full in one day. A live and learn moment.

Recycling the R.E.X. house

Greg Gish from S & H Landscape Supplies and Recycling was the main man helping me out with mulching all my rotten boards. They were extremely helpful and accomodating in every way.

No looking Back!

Rain , wind freezing cold temperatures can't keep us down! The worst storm in over ten years hit Oregon this first week of December. I was hoping the mother nature would tear the roof off for us, but no luck.





The R.E.X. Project is in full swing and we are discovering some gorgeous tight grain wood, a killer kitchen corner cabinet with a lead glass door, and some rare bottles. On the yuck side, a gross toilet, junky air conditioner, and tons of lath that I haven't a clue what to do with. Any ideas? We also are having concerns as to where the heck are we going to store everything. Currently it looks like a bomb went off in the yard and our Contractor Adam Reed Cascade contracting is giving me "the Look" which is interpreted as "where is the new house going?"