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.

Pool House Expansion Project, Day Eight - 29/09/15

This cave-in, which occurred adjacent to the 2nd gate and driveway, required some prompt action.

Day Eight - 29 September, 2015

The guys were expecting several deliveries of sand, gravel, large rocks and cement. None of it light (in weight) stuff. In the picture below, it's been cleaned and readied for a small load of rock to fill it. After it's filled, Carlos (our caretaker) will cover it with marl and after a while, you wouldn't know there was ever a cave-in there.

Cave-In Being Remedied

Before the trenches can be filled with concrete, steel rebar must be added.

Cutting Rebar to Length

Along with cutting the rebar to length, there's a need for smaller diameter rebar (like 1/4" stuff) that is bent and formed to make a sort of collar for the rebar that helps give it some 3-dimensional qualities, like in the rebar columns. Here's Omar forming up a bunch of those for just that use.

Omar Bending 1/4" Rebar As Frames For Heavier Rebar in Columns, etc.

The rebar part of the project moved right along, as you can see from the photo below. And already the vertical pieces for the columns are set, making use of Omar's frames.

Rebar is Already in the Trenches

The shot below gives you a little bigger perspective of the whole project. if you're wondering why the rebar runs up so high for the columns, keep in mind that our ceilings in the new part are going to be 9-foot 6-inches. Nice and high. They appear more so right now since the floor level hasn't been cast yet.

Big Picture of the Vertical Rebar Pieces

One thing I had never seen before is the use of concrete standoffs to raise the rebar in trenches up to the mid-point of the pour. Oh, sure, everyone uses bits of concrete block to use as standoffs, as well as whatever other material may be on hand.

This is the first time that I've seen purpose-built standoffs. These even come with a length of tie-wire molded into the standoff, in order for it to be married to the rebar, so there is little danger of the rebar becoming misplaced during the pour. Pretty cool idea.

Deeohgee Inspecting the Concrete Standoffs

One of the tasks that's very important from our perspective, is keeping a handle on the spending for a project, especially something that's fairly major - at least as far as our bank account is concerned. Dianna loves doing this, and dove right in. She set up a notebook, and has everything organized. Tracking invoices, receipts, and estimates, is right up her alley. I'm so glad she likes doing that, and she's good at it too.

Dianna, Reverting to Her Past Life, Keeping the Books

Of course, we've found another small cave-in. It's right next to the round one that we patched up already. This one's a lot smaller. As work progresses, any leftover concrete the guys have, goes into the hole. For now, that seems to be sufficient. We've had heavy trucks run over it with no problem, so it seems to be under control. We are keeping an eye on it. Just one of the hazards of living on a limestone coast. We're lucky in that none of the cave-in activity around here seems to be on a par with the really scary stuff like up in Florida.

Another Small Cave-In. This One is About One-Foot Across

One of the real treats whenever we have a construction project is that the breakfast man,  'FatBwai' (Fat Boy in standard English) shows up and sells hot dogs, tamales, hamburgers, patties, all the good breakfast stuff to the workers. He doesn't have everything every day, but the menu varies a lot. He also sells bags of juice and some bottles of juice too. The mornings he doesn't show up, the workers all complain that FatBwai is starving them.

FatBwai Bringing Sustenance to the Troops

If you'd like to see more photos of our project as it moves along, check out this link. Click on https://www.flickr.com/gp/winjama/GwZ9si to see the complete album of the Pool House Addtion Construction. It'll get added to daily.

Sunday's Work Done Quick - Right Now

Here's where I catch up for the week. Below is a shot of the outside of the utility room with its fresh plaster coat. Looking good. The columns and beams will also be plastered.

Fresh Plaster on the Utility Room

The front stairs for the house (in reality the stairs closest to the canal) are really taking shape here.

Looking at the Landing

Saturday morning, the same that we got stuck on Friday, delivered 10-yards of sand for us with no problem and no stickage.

To the right is the 200 2-hole 8" blocks we had delivered. These were hard to come by. I originally wento Bel Block and they had no 8" blocks, 2- or 3-hole and wouldn't until Wednesday run - which meant the blocks would be available on Thursday. Way too late for my needs.

I then went down to Mefil Block and they had 2-hole, so that's what I went with. 3-hole give you a bit more flexibility, but what's available is what's available.

Successful Sand Delivery

Successful Block Delivery

The pour crew assembled by Isidoro on Saturday had to go home early - no mixer was available. So, they all came back early on Sunday and completed the pour in about 45 minutes - about the time that Dianna and I were at breakfast at the Oasis.

The Pour Crew At the Ready

Here's the trench for the canal-side fence with the rebar all set to go.

Views of the Trench and Rebar

Views of the Trench and Rebar

Finishing Tying the Trench Rebar

Just for info - here's the view from our house looking at Bob's (white with red roof) and Jim and Melanie (thatch roof in the distance).

View From Our Bedroom

Here's the completed pour. The exposed rebar will be the taller columns of the fence.

Completed Pour

Completed Pour

More of the Pour

Here's a view of the house from the street. That's Franz pressure-washing the wood deck.

Street-side or back view of the house

And a parting shot - the pile of tools and what-not left by Franz's crew. Moved out to the front porch because of the pressure-washing.

Tool Pile

So, now you're up-to-date. Monday, or tomorrow, I'll be taking part in Citizens On Patrol or COP training with the Corozal Police Department downtown at the police station. I have no idea what to expect. I'll take my camera along and if I can, I'll take some pictures, and let you know what I've learned. I'm looking forward to it (as if I don't already have enough to do...).