Pool House Expansion Project, Day Nine - 30/09/15

 Everything up to now has been preparation for this.

Day Nine - 30 September, 2015

Sand, gravel, cement, blocks, all coming together in this next stage to actually make the foundation and the house.

Here's the first of two loads of sand, just starting to dump. It'll all be over in just seconds.

First Load of Sand Coming Down

Our hard gravel arriving. This also comes from Orange Walk. I don't think it quartz, but it's certainly harder than the local limestone gravel we usually get here in Corozal.

Hard Gravel Arriving

A load of block coming. Now, these may look like normal block, and they are. But here in Corozal, there's block, and then there's block. By that I mean, pretty much all the block available in Corozal is made with local materials, which makes for a poor quality block. I know. I've had more than enough of them fall apart on me.

Blocks Arriving

I mean, there's nothing like grabbing a block off the stack and only coming away with a small hunk of the block. It literally crumbles in your hand. Sometimes, they just crumble sitting in the stack. They're just terrible quality. and at about $1.50 BZD each, nothing like paying for nothing.

On the other hand, there's these blocks. Not only are they very well formed, they're properly cured. They've been allowed to age - not long, maybe a day or so, and the important part, the stone used in them is from Orange Walk. Granite. Makes all the difference in the world. These are some nice quality block.

Once you've been around block for a bit, you can tell at a glance, that these are not your average Corozal block. The edges are crisp and sharp, the color is slightly different, the feel of the block is different too.

I mentioned earlier about the concrete standoffs. Here's a photo demonstrating just how they're applied. Not only are they placed under the rebar, just like you'd do with any old hunk of concrete or block that you're using as a standoff, but with the built-in tie, you can anchor it to the rebar so that it stays in place, and can resist the forces applied when a wheelbarrow load of wet concrete comes crashing down on it. If the rebar shifts, the standoff is coming with it, improving the integrity of the pour and the materials used.

Demonstrating How the Standoffs Work

I've felt bad since this project started, that I've had to chain up the girls all day while construction is underway. I'm looking at how I can make some sort of pen for them while this is going on, so they don't have to remain chained.

The reason they're chained is two-fold. One, so they don't interfere with any of the construction going on, and two, so there is no familiarity developed between the girls and the workers. It's all part of the ongoing security process down here. You have to be very selective about who you let get close to your dogs and thereby develop familiarity. It's best if they know and are friends with a few people and alert with the rest.

Yes, they're pets, but the primary purpose for them is alert and warning, and a certain amount of intimidation for strangers coming around. The fewer the dogs become familiar with, the better your security picture is maintained. They are your alarm company. Security here is way, way different than security up north.

The Girls Being Patient

Well, I think that's about it for this post. This was mostly to get us current with the project. and we're almost there. The next step is actually pouring concrete and setting blocks. I think that's a good place for a new post. It'll be a couple of short steps and you'll be all caught up and current, as long as I stay caught up and current with my posting.

There's many more photos than appear in each posting. You can see all the photos of the construction project on Flickr at: https://www.flickr.com/gp/winjama/0wVc3s. There will be new photos added each day of the project.