BINDER PILOT PROJECT: WORK DAY PLAYBOOK
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
📝 A Note to the Village Keepers
Welcome, Village Keepers!
Thank you for lending your hands and hearts to Higher Ground Abodes. We are transforming this space, and today’s mission is simple: Prep for Drywall.
A few "House Rules" for our work:
The Site is Live: It’s a construction zone. Respect the debris, and it will (hopefully) respect you.
Arctic Conditions: There is no heat. Dress in layers like an onion—peel them off as you work, but start bundled!
The Footwear Mandate: Hard-bottom shoes/work boots are mandatory. If you show up in sandals, you will be promoted to "Official Sidewalk Clipboard Holder”
Armor Provided: I have "Cloud Suits" (our much more fashionable name for hazmat suits), hard hats, masks, and gloves ready for you, but feel free to bring your own.
ShopVac: If you have a shopvac and don’t mind bringing it, it would be extremely helpful.
Restroom: There is no restroom on site. Plan accordingly! Hint Hint.
Snack: Beef Hot Dogs on the Grill w/ Chips and Water!
🥷 The "Nail Ninjas" (Remediation)
Description: Search the house for any beam without blue tape. Check top to bottom for nails and pull them out, hammer them in, or level them with the surface.
Tools: Cat’s paw, back end of a hammer, pliers, or grinder.
Safety Measures: If the nail is stubborn, don't engage in a power struggle you'll lose. Watch those fingers—pliers don't know the difference between a nail and a thumb.
The Job is done when:
[ ] Every non-taped beam inspected
[ ] All protruding nails removed (not hammered in!)
[ ] Floor swept for fallen "ninjas"
🛠️ The "Break-Up" (Baseboards & Plaster)
Description: Surface Removal—Carefully pry baseboards and remove remaining plaster from lath/studs. Check the front entrance and side entrance stairs specifically.
Tools: Pry bars, hammers, heavy-duty scrapers, contractor bags.
Safety Measures: Treat the wood like a fragile ego—firm pressure, but don’t let it snap back at you! Press your hand on the opposite end of where you are pulling to ensure control.
The Job is done when:
[ ] Front entrance baseboards removed
[ ] Side entrance baseboards removed
[ ] All remaining plaster cleared from studs
[ ] Debris bagged and moved to the "out" pile
☁️ The "Itchy Situation" (Insulation Removal)
Description: Strip old insulation around ductwork in the upstairs bathroom.
Tools: Utility knives, contractor bags.
Safety Measures: Trust me: Insulation does not wear like silk. It is itchy, it is angry, and it wants to live in your pores. Protect yourself or spend the next week dancing the "fiberglass jig" in your Cloud Suit.
The Job is done when:
[ ] All old insulation removed from bathroom ductwork
[ ] Area vacuumed of small fibers
[ ] Old insulation double-bagged
🧹 The "Radiator Rescue" (Detailing)
(No Image)
Description: Clear all dust and construction debris from beneath and behind the radiators.
Tools: Shop-vac with crevice tool, stiff-bristled brushes.
Safety Measures: This is a deep-sea diving mission for dust bunnies. If you find any artifacts from 1920, they belong to the house!
The Job is done when:
[ ] Back of radiators dusted
[ ] Floor beneath radiators vacuumed
[ ] Debris cleared from radiator fins
💈 The "Foam Barber" (Trimming)
Description: Cut back excess spray foam until it is perfectly flush with the framing.
Tools: Long-blade utility knife or oscillating tool.
Safety Measures: Think of this as giving the house a very precise haircut. Keep your fingers away from the blade—the foam is soft, but the knife is not.
The Job is done when:
[ ] Foam trimmed flush around all windows
[ ] Foam trimmed flush around all doors
[ ] Trimmings bagged and removed
🪟 Remove Window Sills & Apron
Description: Carefully remove existing window sills to allow for new window casing and drywall wrap.
Tools: Hammer, pry bar, wood block (to prevent marring the wall).
Safety Measures: Don't just "Hulk Smash" the sill. Use a wood block for leverage unless you want to explain to the drywallers why there’s a new, accidental window in the wall.
The Job is done when:
[ ] All window sills, throughout the house are removed
[ ] Nails pulled from the window framing
[ ] Sills stacked neatly
🏚️ Remove Plaster and/or Lath
Description: Strip remaining lath strips or plaster patches down to the bare studs in specified zones.
Tools: Crowbar, flat-head shovel, heavy-duty bins.
Safety Measures: Lath is a collection of thousands of wooden toothpicks waiting to poke you. If you start looking like a powdered donut, your mask isn't tight enough!
The Job is done when:
[ ] All lath removed from designated walls
[ ] Studs scraped clean of plaster chunks
[ ] Floor cleared of "splinter-land" debris
🧱 Add R-38 Insulation
Description: Fill the remaining open joists or wall cavities with R-38 insulation batts.
Tools: Serrated bread knife or utility knife, staple gun.
Safety Measures: Tuck it in like you're putting the house to bed. Don't compress it—if you squish it, you're just making a very expensive, very itchy pancake.
The Job is done when:
[ ] All targeted cavities filled
[ ] Vapor barrier facing the correct direction
[ ] No "naked" spots left in the wall
🧹 The "Radiator Rescue" (Detailing)
(No Image)
Description: Clear all dust and construction debris from beneath and behind the radiators.
Tools: Shop-vac with crevice tool, stiff-bristled brushes.
Safety Measures: This is a deep-sea diving mission for dust bunnies. If you find any artifacts from 1920, they belong to the house!
The Job is done when:
[ ] Back of radiators dusted
[ ] Floor beneath radiators vacuumed
[ ] Debris cleared from radiator fins
📐 The "Grid Maker" (Framing & Mapping)
Description: Blocking & Framing—Install wood blocking to provide a solid surface for the upcoming drywall.
Tools: Miter saw, impact driver, framing screws.
Safety Measures: Sawdust is just nature’s glitter, but it’s much less fun in your eye. Color-code carefully—if we mix up the blue and orange tape, the electrician might have a very "shocking" afternoon.
The Job is done when:
[ ] Blocking installed in all designated wall cavities
[ ] Framing verified for drywall attachment points
[ ] Mapping tape checked and color-coded
🪓 The "Angle Avenger" (Block Removal)
Description: Remove existing angle blocks to clear the path for new drywall sheets.
Tools: Hammer, pry bar, reciprocating saw (if needed).
Safety Measures: Watch your swing! These blocks have been hanging out for decades and might put up a fight. If you feel like you’re playing a high-stakes game of Jenga, back up and reassess.
The Job is done when:
[ ] All corner angle blocks removed
[ ] Studs checked for damage
[ ] Nails pulled from the removal site
🧤 The "Wall Blanket" (Sheathing & Insulation)
Description: Install 3/8" sheathing and R-38 insulation in designated cavities.
Tools: Staple gun, utility knife, tape measure.
Safety Measures: Keep your Cloud Suit zipped! If you start looking like a giant marshmallow, you’re doing it right. Just don't let anyone try to roast you for warmth.
The Job is done when:
[ ] 3/8" sheathing installed securely
[ ] R-38 batts cut to fit snug (no gaps!)
[ ] Insulation stapled into place
🧱 The "Chimney Cap" (Masonry)
Description: Remove the cover from the chimney and fill it in with cement to seal it off.
Tools: Hammer, chisel, cement mix, bucket, trowel.
Safety Measures: Ensure the ladder is secure. We are sealing the chimney, not sending you down it like a very soot-covered Santa. Keep the cement in the hole, not on your shoes!
The Job is done when:
[ ] Chimney cover removed
[ ] Void filled with cement
[ ] Surface leveled and sealed
🧼 The "Deep Clean" (Final Prep)
(No Image)
Description: High-level dusting (cobwebs) and a full-floor mop once the dust settles.
Tools: Shop-vac (HEPA), extendable duster, mops, heavy-duty cleaning solution.
Safety Measures: Keep your mouth closed when cleaning ceilings—50-year-old dust doesn't taste as good as it looks. Stay hydrated! Drink water even if you aren't sweating.
The Job is done when:
[ ] Ceilings/corners cleared of cobwebs
[ ] Floor mopped and sparkling
[ ] All "Village Keepers" are safe, sound, and accounted for!