|  Register
MAY 06 2011

ProjectNOLA -- A Day of Rebuilding Homes and Lives Devastated By Hurricane Katrina

Oldcastle Building Products Donates Product, Expertise and Labor

On May 11, building industry professionals from across the nation will come together to donate products, expertise and labor in support of ProjectNOLA, a community outreach project designed to help rebuild New Orleans' homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Oldcastle® Building Products is sponsoring two of the five homes to be renovated.

Belgard® Hardscapes by Oldcastle is donating Eco Dublin permeable pavers to create a safe and easy to use pathway from the front door to the side yard of one resident on Tricou Street. The resident is legally blind and the pathway will help her safely navigate her way through the yard, out of the way of holes and tree stumps that could cause a fall. In addition to a new pathway, the home will be completely renovated by Operation Helping Hands of New Orleans and the help of ProjectNOLA volunteers, including a team from Belgard.

"This is a great opportunity to use our knowledge and products to support a worthy cause," says Ken O'Neill, vice president of marketing for Oldcastle Masonry and Hardscapes. "The permeable pathway is perfect for this home because it will not allow water to puddle on the surface, potentially causing a slipping hazard, and will provide a sturdy path for the resident to easily follow."

O'Neill looks forward to getting his hands dirty on May 11 with the other volunteers.

Another parish home, located on Rayne Street, is getting a face lift with new cladding from Suretouch® Veneer System. Suretouch Morency Stone in Light Granite made by Adams Building Products, an Oldcastle Company, will don the exterior of the 1800 square foot home. In addition to emulating the look and feel of natural stone, Suretouch will provide the home with increased energy efficiency and acoustical comfort as the system provides an insulation value of R-13.5. The durable exterior is also easy to maintain and allows water to drain away from the exterior cladding and frame of the house.

"The resident at Rayne Street has had a few unfortunate experiences with contractors who have taken advantage of her situation," says Michael Rohrer, product manager for Suretouch. "We are glad to be able to help rectify the issues the family has faced and to help rebuild a safe and comfortable home for them."

In addition to product, Suretouch is sending a dedicated team to instruct volunteers and oversee the renovation of the Rayne Street home.

ProjectNOLA partners Operation Helping Hands of New Orleans, Reed Construction Data, the AIA Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) and Hanley Wood (HW) unified as an AEC Cares team along with corporate sponsors, including Oldcastle Building Products. Follow the progress of ProjectNOLA and both the Tricou & Rayne Street homes on the Belgard Hardscapes blog at belgardhardscapes.wordpress.com.

About Oldcastle Building Products
Oldcastle® Building Products, formerly known as Oldcastle Architectural Products Group or Oldcastle APG, is North America's leading supplier of concrete masonry, lawn and garden products, and a regional leader in clay brick for the commercial masonry, professional landscaping and consumer DIY markets. The group also produces packaged cement mixes, lightweight aggregates, bagged decorative stone and lime and concrete roof tiles. With more than 206 operating locations and 7,000 employees, the company operates across 38 states and two Canadian provinces. Each company works autonomously to service their local markets, while leveraging the group's best practices and resources. Oldcastle Building Products is a U.S. subsidiary of CRH plc, www.crh.ie one of the top five international building products companies. For more information visit www.oldcastleapg.com.

    
Back to News Releases