Putting up the foam

Foam (helio secco) makes a lighter roof and is good insulation and it's too bad I didn't do that to mine. Two of those blocks will fit in each of the squares. There is chicken wire on the wood and they will put a heavy mesh over the top of the foam. First time I've seen this done and will visit at least every other day.

Already working on the roof

Laying the wood to support the cement and the maze of posts to support it. They will use heilo seco (foam) on this roof and I'll get to see it done for the first time. Should be interesting.

The building continues

The Canadians are back for their second year of construction. Got a bit of a late start so this is only week three. Oscar thinks they can get the roof on before the end of January when they head back to Canada. I sure hope so. This place is in Melaque, across the canal at the foot of the hill on Bugambilias.

Sane construction

2 1/2 floors up

What sane person would build something this tall that's dangerous and expensive to work on .... but nobody has ever accused Crazy Jimmy of being sane. Now he's screening in those huge openings, mosquito screen in the top sections and shade screen below. His airplane wing did survive Hurricane Patricia last year but we'll see what happens to all that screening in the storms.

He's also built on the lot line on two sides so if he ever wants to work on his house he will need to ask permission for access through neighbors yards. Their property is the size of five lots so why he wanted to "paint himself into a corner" I can't imagine. 

Give it a sloped roof so it does not look like a Mexican house but your slop dumps water into neighbors yard ..... so you have to build drainage and use a 10" plastic pipe down the front of the house to handle the water. He's also got a window that looks into a neighbors yard which is illegal.

Until next year

About 2000 bricks are moved inside, a new door is installed and malla ciclon (cyclone fence) on the windows. That work was done in only two months because of a hold up getting Seguro and problems with a Presta Nombre from hell.

Last Saturday for construction

Four more days starting Monday and then the Canadians will head back North  A tiny bit more than two months and they got a lot done. It was planned for a full three months but much confusion about Seguro and a crazy Presta Nombre that had to do things her way even if they made no sense. We're hoping next year in November things will be a lot smoother.

Building my house we had many Carne Asada parties and we figured their last Saturday was a good time to have one.  Good food, fun time and lots of beer.

Working on castillos

Four or five castillos up and should have most up this week. House owner wants to have a carne asada feed Saturday after work because next week is going to be a short one .... finishing up Thursday. Very productive 2 months.

Up to 2 meters

Oscar is a brick laying fool and Hugo is keeping up with him mixing mortar. They will be able to finish the walls to 2 meters all the way around and should have enough time to pour the castillos. I hope so anyway because next week is the last bit of work for the year.

Lots of brick in a week

All that brick is one week's work. They will finish the first one meter today and next week will start on the second meter. Then they put forms around the castillos (rebar) and pour them. Too bad they can't work for a few more months but the Canadian owners leave at the end of the month.

Dala work last week

Last week was only about week five and the dala was finished all the way around. This week it's cleanup and starting laying brick on the back wall. Muy bien trabajo and everybody is happy except for the Presta Nombre from HELL.

Four weeks on the foundation

Moving right along again. Filling up the spaces and ready for the section across the front. They waited on that so the backhoe could get in and out. About 3 more weeks to go until next year.