December 17, 2011

Exterior stucco finish is complete:

The first coat inside has also been completed. We can't do the second coat until after the windows are installed:

Upper patio:

We needed to find someone to build a hand rail for the stairs. Our builder had a friend in a town several hours away who did iron work. We took a chance and gave him a crude drawing of what we wanted, all the while prepared for it to turn out badly. Much to our surprise, his work was flawless. It turned better than we could have hoped:

The little circle is the symbol that the weather service uses on weather charts, to indicate a tropical storm. Since our best waves come from tropical storms, maybe it will bring us good waves this year (but no storms too close, please).

We also had him make a little handrail for the outside deck. We liked it so much we are having him continue it further. The rest should be done sometime after the New Year.

The white is pretty bright. The house is like a beacon. Unfortunately it is going to be quite a while (and another trip to the U.S.) before we can paint it.

Lots of windows and great views, but the down side is going to be the cost of installing hurricane protection.

November 27

As we get ready to make a trip up to the U.S., the plaster coat is nearly finished. If all goes well, we will find some tile for the master bathroom. Unfortunately, we've checked all the tile stores down here and have found nothing exciting.

By the time we return, they should be finished with the first coat of stucco.

October 17th

Plaster is going on much faster than we anticipated. The outside is nearly completed and they've begun on the interior walls.

What will be stairs to the front patio:

Roof drains and crown molding:

Living room view:

Second Story Roof Pour

At 6:15 a.m. workers began claiming their position on the scaffolding for the roof pour:

Concrete was lifted to the roof in 5 gallon buckets, passed person to person, until the pour was complete.

Bucket of concrete about to ascend:

Cement mixer operators:

Those at the bottom of the scaffolding took the brunt of the spilled concrete:

Finally done!

Maze of electrical wires:

Plumbing:

This week we poured the downstairs floors:

Getting closer to looking like a house:

August 11

Second story progress:

What will eventually be the stairwell windows:

Building the forms for the upper deck cover:

Internet was Down-Catching Up

Preparing to pour concrete that will form the second floor:

Five and a half hours later, hauling cement up to the roof, bucket by bucket...the job is done:

Because of weight considerations, one of the walls had to be constructed out of foam:

This is how supplies are lifted to the second story:

Second story is progressing:

Downstairs Interior arches and roof:

Upstairs foam wall is nearly complete, covered with 2 inches of concrete each side:

Looking toward the master bedroom from master bath:

The patio cover forms were removed today...it didn't fall down!

Here's what it looked like from the top before they poured the concrete:

Concrete crown molding made with styrofoam forms:

Arch forms were also removed:

Work has begun on the forms for the first story roof pour. It will take about two weeks to build the forms, tie the steel and do the electrical. After that it will take an additional two weeks to cure.