Rebuilding Sonoma County: Larkfield couple oversees own rebuild to stay within budget

At this stage of his life, Richard “Dixon” Cheal didn’t figure he’d be carrying two-by-fours, wielding a nail gun and scrambling up and down ladders.

But that is how Cheal, 71, a retired distributor and manager in the mobile tool business, has spent many of his days rebuilding the home that he and his wife, Renee, lost in last year’s Tubbs fire.

In the aftermath of the massive, wind-driven blaze that destroyed thousands of homes and also obliterated the Larkfield Estates subdivision where they lived north of Santa Rosa, the couple considered selling their cleared lot and buying another place.

But “there was no way we could buy a house around here that would be even remotely comparable,” Cheal said, adding that the amount they would get from insurance if they moved probably would only pay for “a two-story (house) sitting on a postage stamp lot.”

The Cheals decided instead to stay and rebuild their one-story, custom-designed home on their relatively large, 10,000-square foot lot where they lived for the past 30 years and raised two children.

To save money, Cheal chose to take on more work and responsibility as the “owner-builder,” essentially acting as the general contractor on the project, obtaining estimates, buying materials and arranging for subcontractors’ labor, including plumbers, electricians, floor installers, heating/air conditioning specialists, and more.

It’s been challenging, even frustrating at times, but so far, worth it.

“I’ve learned more about building a house than I thought I’d ever need to know, “ said Cheal. “There’s more to it than I could ever possibly imagine.”

The Cheals also never imagined that their home with its cement tile roof would burn in the early morning hours of Oct. 9, 2017, when the fast-moving Tubbs fire raced over the hill from Calistoga and bore down “like a freight train” along Mark West Road.

Renee, a semi-retired nurse, said she had been unable to sleep and had smelled smoke, when a neighbor pounded on their door and warned her to wake up her husband and get out immediately.

“I looked to the east. The whole mountainside was on fire, “ she said of the approaching inferno.

The power was out and they scrambled in the dark with flashlights to put on clothes and grab a few belongings - a purse, a phone, a laptop computer. In about five minutes they were out the door, but because the electricity was out, the garage door wouldn’t open and needed to be lifted manually.

They jumped into their car, but had to negotiate around lines of backed up vehicles before making it onto Highway 101, heading south toward Santa Rosa.

There was more pandemonium as they approached the city, with shooting embers and fire now on both sides of the six-lane freeway.

“Cars are coming back north, in the southbound, diamond lane,” Dixon recalled, forcing them to turn around and head toward Windsor.

In the meantime, other evacuees who had stopped on Old Redwood Highway near Larkfield Estates would later tell them they saw the whole subdivision go up in flames, “almost explode in one giant ball,” he said.

About 700 homes were destroyed in the greater Larkfield area.

The Cheals lost not only their home, but a travel trailer, small sailboat, vintage motorcycle, car and pickup. Dixon also lost $100,000 worth of mechanical and woodworking tools, and a 1725 grandfather clock that had been in his family for generations.

A musician with the longtime Harvest Band, his musical equipment and stalwart bass guitar burnt in the fire.

A former amateur race car driver, he also lost a collection of racing memorabilia, including items from NASCAR and drag racing legends.

Wedding photos, jewelry and other cherished possessions were reduced to ashes.

Despite the loss of their belongings, “I consider us to be lucky in a lot of respects,” said Dixon Cheal, who overcame a battle with cancer and related complications several years ago.

Five days after the fire, they were already relocated in a nice rental home along the Russian River in Guerneville.

Their insurance company, Allstate, treated them well, the couple said, immediately giving them money for living and rent expenses. The company also backed off an initial requirement to inventory all their belongings and cut them a check to cover the loss of contents.

When it came to their incinerated home, the company paid about $400,000 on the claim, which also went to pay off a small mortgage.

But most importantly, the Cheals had insurance coverage for up to 50 percent more over the loss of their Brighton Court house, if needed to meet the cost of rebuilding and upgrading to current codes and standards.

That provided the incentive to rebuild in their tight-knit community, now a swarm of activity and new construction.

Cheal’s assuming the role of owner-builder also helps cut expenses.

“How much will we save? I’ll tell you when it’s all over,” he said on a recent Friday as he stood on the newly laid sub-flooring of the home with wall frames and rafters taking shape around him. “I believe I’ll bring it in at a cost where insurance will cover everything.”

Once they move in, perhaps by the end of March, he expects to own a home with no debt on it.

His role as owner-builder was made possible with help from a neighbor, Joel Chandler, a general contractor.

Chandler and his two sons are busy rebuilding the home he lost across the street as well as one belonging to another neighbor down the block.

Chandler is being paid to work on the Cheals’ new home, for things such as framing, exterior finishes, installing windows and consulting, while Cheal coordinates the subcontractors and is able to order materials at wholesale cost through Chandler.

“It’s not our normal thing. We had to do it, to get houses (constructed),” said Chandler. “Everyone’s buried.”

“It’s a way for me to help our neighbor and a way for them to help themselves,” Chandler said.

Cheal estimates there are upward of 30 or 40 homes currently being rebuilt in Larkfield Estates. “It seems like every other day another one starts,” he said pointing toward a cement pumper about a block away. “They’re pouring someone’s foundation.”

Earlier, Cheal, who does some limited physical labor, was up a ladder nailing brackets between roof trusses and the walls. He figured he had gone through 3,000 nails and said inspectors will scrutinize each bracket.

“It not only saves me money. It also keeps me involved,” the retiree said of his new endeavor.

Chandler orders some things like lumber, but Cheal writes the checks and arranges for purchases of everything from sheet rock, to gutters, overhead sprinklers, floors, kitchen cabinets, major appliances, light fixtures, and toilets.

Cheal had to start at ground zero developing blueprints for the house with an architect. He also had to deal with engineers and getting building permits from the county.

“There’s a lot of code stuff you wouldn’t believe,” Cheal said. “You have to make sure stuff is compliant.”

One issue has been a shortage of concrete in Sonoma County and delays in obtaining it.

The new foundation required 11 truckloads worth of it. Cheal has been meeting with concrete purveyors to install the driveway, garage floor, porches and walkway.

He’s had to badger subcontractors with phone calls and emails requesting estimates.

“One of the challenges is a lot of subcontractors are really busy,” he said. “Trying to get a flooring contractor is almost a nightmare these days.”

“It’s a lot, a lot for Dixon. I don’t know how he does it,” his wife said of his dedication and many hours of work. “He has a spreadsheet that doesn’t quit.”

“On and on, it’s an ongoing process, Mentally it’s just exhausting,” she said. “We’re both in it together. He draws me in.”

The Camp fire in Butte County, the deadliest and most destructive in California history, also brought back some distressing memories along with the smoke that it carried to Sonoma County and the Bay Area.

Renee took advantage of some free counseling to help cope with residual effects of the disaster.

“It took more of a toll on me. Sometimes, it creeps in there,” she said.

Dealing with construction issues and delays can also be burdensome.

“There are so many different variables in the building process. It’s kind of like a roller coaster,” she said.

To maintain hope and optimism, she said, you have to focus on the journey, not reaching the destination.

“You live each day. You count the little things, the positives,” she said.