Carpentry students to benefit from house build

 

By EMILY CANNING-DEAN

BGNN staff writer

DOYLESTOWN  After nearly a year of hard work, the house constructed by the Four Cities Compact senior carpentry class is almost ready to be auctioned off. 

Bill DiMascio, director of the Four Cities Compact, said last month that just a few things needed to be finished up and the house was expected to be ready for the first open house, which was last week. Interested buyers can take a look at the house during the next open house event, which will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 18. An auction for the house will take place at 6:29 p.m. July 23. 

DiMascio said carpentry students started digging the foundation on the 1,384 square-foot single story house last July. The house is located at 405 Thorn Way in Doylestown. 

While the compact worked with contractors to install things like plumbing, electric and HVAC, the senior carpentry students completed the building of the structure including siding, drywall, flooring and the roof. 

“The contractors do talk to the students and allow them to get a look at the work they are doing,” DiMascio said. 

The main floor includes a living room with vaulted ceilings, a kitchen with granite counter tops, a dining area, three bedrooms and a full bathroom. The basement includes a full bathroom and a laundry area. 

“There is a lot of room in the basement and the homeowners could likely finish the basement,” DiMascio said. 

The house also includes a deck and a garage. DiMascio did say that appliances such as a refrigerator and stove are not included.

“We will be working with our treasurer to determine a minimum price before the auction,” DiMascio said, adding that the winning bidder will need to have at least $10,000 for a down payment. 

This year is DiMascio’s first as director of the compact and he said he is impressed with the skills the carpentry students have shown during the build of the house.

“There is so much for the kids to learn, plus they get the opportunity to be exposed to other trades like plumbing, electrical and HVAC,” he said.

DiMascio added that any profit made from the sale of the house will benefit the carpentry program.

DiMascio said the carpentry students build a house each year. 

“We have obtained some land close to Wadsworth High School,” he said. “Next year I think the class is going to build either a duplex or a triplex instead of a single family home.”