Week 30 January 28, 2012

Well, here we are the end of January already and at least 5 weeks to go (fingers crossed)

We start with the "X" spot photo such as it is since that spot has been removed by the landscaping operation.

And here is a shot from the right front

If we continue moving left we see that the last of the exterior walls have been skim coated up stairs in a shot from the back left corner of property.

The roof tiling has progressed the circle of waiting tiles is shrinking

This week the dramatic changes are:

Future kitchen island starts to take shape

and then hearths for fireplaces in office and master bedroom have been laid

here is the office hearth with heat exchanger waiting to be installed.

and here is the raised hearth fireplace for the master bedroom

The Master bath is where most of the drama happened this week with creation of shower and sauna walls

Here is Ane checking out the sauna (she can hardly wait on this cool rainy morning)

And most exciting of all we have the first coat of paint applied in the guest bedroom after the beams were hand scraped and steelwooled so they can be varnished.

Five weeks sounds like along time but after this week I am sure we will not notice it as our check list of items that need our attention continues to grow.

See ya next time:)



Week 29, January 21, 2012

OK here we go again.

This week the rainy season hit with a vengeance, we had heavy rains the last three nights. Not much rain during the day just a few scattered showers in the late afternoon. 

Here is as close as I could get to the X spot this week due to the mud.

Ane enters thru the Garage over newly installed cement floors. We got 90 % of the cement slab floors poured in two days this week.

Here from the far corner of dining room we see coated interior walls, concrete slab (we now have to wait 28 days for them to cure before the hardwood floor installer will start) also note the electrical and plumbing stubs for the kitchen island.

view from opposite corner in great room.

Here in the last area poured friday afternoon we have evidence of a fairly large dog visiting that evening.

Inside all the walls have been skim coated with cement and adobe mixture, while outside just a small area on the second floor and the outside of the circular entryway are left to do. The front entrance will have a small porch to shelter visitors waiting at the door probably will be added when the rest of the roof is finished with tile installation.

and from the front.

Meanwhile across the way our neighbors Julio and Paula's house is taking shape.

More to come.

Week 28 January 15, 2012

Well we have had quite a time with internet access here and I have not been able to upload for about 3 weeks so here goes with a current batch of photos.

First we have a couple of photos of the New Year Eve party we gave to the construction crews with our neighbor Julio who is building across from us in Santa Maria.

Here is Carlos our construction site foreman

Here is the X spot photo for Dec 30, 2011 or week 26

Now we move to wek 27 and show the roof tiles stacked creatively while they await installation

Our second floor room's floor is now ready for tiles

The floor on the 2nd floor veranda is also pored with drains in place and ready for tiling too

Roof tiles going on the first row is cemented in and then the tiles are laid on the wooden cradles.

Close up of how they build the roof.

Now we go to the photos taken this morning at end of week 28:

First though we have to show our morning greeters at the gate.

Here we now have a good solid base for the new street going into the development

X spot was a little hill which has been graded away in the preparation for landscaping here is my best estimate for the shot for this week.

From the same spot looking to my right down the property line we see how they are rerouting the irrigation/drainage ditch- they will soon pout large rock at bottom and cover it over. I think the outer property wall for the development will be built about on top of this line.

The ditch continues from the corner out toward the font of the development.

Here the walls are being skim coated in preparation for the white paint.

Here is a shot of the roof and flashing coming around the second floor Veranda.

Detail of roof edge next to upper veranda with veranda drain over the edge flashing.

Well thats about it for this week thanks for visiting.