SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Building a house takes lots of time.
Unless you're Habitat for Humanity.
They plan to build a house in just five days.
Flora Schmidt of the Home Builders Association of Iowa is on a week vacation.
But instead of going somewhere tropical she's here.
"It's kind of nice to be outside and doing something with your hands again. It keeps me connected with the trade I represent," said Flora Schmidt of the Home Builders Association of Iowa.
Schmidt and dozens of other professionals are participating in the Habitat for Humanity's "blitz build."
Their goal is to build and furnish a home in five days.
"Get all these framing crews together, stand it up and be able to turn the structure over to all the subcontractors that need to do the work inside," said Willie Delfs, president of Able Home Builders.
"It's always nice to come in, start from scratch first thing on a Monday morning and by Friday night you're turning the keys over to some new homeowners," said Schmidt.
About a month ago, volunteers laid down the foundation and installed floorboards.
Now the last of the four walls are going up.
"It's pretty phenomenal to think you can do it that quickly. But it does take and extremely coordinated effort to start," said Schmidt.
"When you see how they all move around each other and use their tools and each is working on a different part of the house, it's really interesting to see that come together," said Teresa Wolff, development director at the Siouxland Habitat for Humanity.
Even competitors are working together, including carpenters who work for rival building companies.
"You think that would be a big deal because we are competitors, but we all have a goal in mind. We want to get to a certain point in this project by the end of the day and we're going to do whatever it takes to get it," said Delfs.
For Schmidt this blitz build vacation will add meaning to her job.
"I walk through a lot of houses when they're done and I walked through several while they're under construction, but to see it through the entire phase is actually a phenomenal thing to experience," said Schmidt.
It'll also be phenomenal for the family chosen to receive the home.
"We as an association think it's important to give back to the community as well," said Delfs.
Electricians, plumbers, and dry wall installers will finish this job.
