Footings

The footings for the house are complete:

Below they are pouring the bond beam that sits on top of the footings. The footings are 2 feet deep and three feet wide (About 16 tons of concrete):

In order to run electrical and plumbing, channels had to be molded into the bond beam to allow space for wiring and pipes to enter the block from under the floor. We cut 2 1/2" PVC in half, then poured around them to create the hollow space. It was difficult anticipating all the areas where the channels needed to be located. If we miss one, there will be a lot of work chipping out channels with a chisel:

(The black coating is a type of tar to waterproof concrete that will be below ground)

At every location where wires or pipe enter or exit the foundation, we had to leave 4" pipe, or foam blocks (that are later removed to create a hole) molded into the bond beam. We had to be absolutely sure they were in the correct location. There's no cutting through 8" of solid concrete and steel:

It took 5 truck loads of dirt to fill the raised foundation.

They used 5,000 gallons of water to soak the fill dirt. It will soak for three days before being compacted:

These are bags of tiny foam pellets that will be poured into the hollow cells of the block for insulation:

Now work begins on the footings for the patio. Under the mound (in the middle of the trench) is a giant rock that they've been chipping away by hand for a couple of days now.

This will eventually be the morning view from our bedroom:

Footings

While we're up in California getting supplies, work progresses. Footings will be poured in a few days

Finally!

Twenty months late - We've finally started construction. One year dealing with fixing the property lines, then nearly 8 months waiting for environmental approval and change of use permit.

Before we received approval, two inspectors, from two different agencies had to scrutinize the property. One inspector from an organization called SEMARNAT did a plant inventory. They somehow determined we had to pay the equivalent of U.S. $2000.00 to "reforest" another area to make up for the damage to the environment that we're doing. I'd just love to see where what area we're paying to reforest!

Our builder was ready to start a long time ago and wasted no time procuring materials. We received final approval on Friday. Everything was ready to go the following Monday!

Eleven tons of cement unloaded and stacked in the garage by hand:

Rebar and Sand. Unfortunately, the local sand is a bit too fine for mixing concrete, so we had to have sand brought in. I believe it comes all the way from La Paz. They mix local and imported sand 50/50.

All these rolls of steel....

Will be cut and bent into these:

In order to make these rebar cages:

Which will become the main structural supports for the building:

Meanwhile, the two helpers continue to dig the footings by hand:

It's hard to believe that after so long we're finally building!