Parking Palapa Gets a New Top

The thatch on the parking palapa came to its end a few days ago. We had the roof restored with 'zinc' as they call it, sheet metal by any other name would smell as sweet, or something like that.

Just Getting Started

Even though the thatch was beginning to show its age, developing more holes everytime we had a heavy rain, taking it down was still not an easy task. The way the thatch is wrapped around the horizontal stick part of the frame meant that each frond had to be pulled apart individually.

It Doesn't Go As Fast As You Think

Now we're beginning to see the skeleton. Quite an impressive structure. We'll be keeping that underneath the zinc.

Starting Framing For Screws

And, just like that, the thatch is all gone. Now they're putting up board framing so there is something to screw the zinc into, and to even up the roof framing so that it looks smooth and the zinc panels don't look wavy from the ground.

First Piece of Zinc Going Up

I just made it out of the house in time to catch the first panel of zinc going up. Already looks impressive, eh?

Close to Being Done

Here it is, almost all done, complete with ridge caps, which are shaped strips of zinc designed to fit over the ridges and help provide a water-resistant roof.

Underside View

This is what it looks like from underneath. Really shows off the original structure. I like the way it looks.

Tricky Corner

This corner of the palapa always was tricky. We had to cut back the thatch here because the corner of the concrete house was a bit close. Endher trimmed back the zinc roofing to allow for that as well, in order to keep rain from running down the house wall. He said a bit of the gutter will be run around there to help with drainage.

Endher Fitting Gutter Sections

 Yesterday was a full day for the crew. Fitting gutter sections, digging trenches and putting it all together. It sure looks good as the end result.

Chillin'

Sidewalk superintendent taking in the view of the workplace.

Digging Trench for Floor Drain

Here's the trench for the floor drain going in. This will make number four for the floor drains along the driveway. Combined with the flow from the gate area French drain, the Mennonite house, parking palapa, the floor drains, and the new house gutters, there's a large volume of water shooting out of the pipe into the canal during and shortly after a rainfall.

3" Drain Everything Connects To

Here's the three-inch drainpipe that runs pretty much the length of the property (it's roughly 250 or so feet long.

One Side Done

The gutter (eves-troughs to those of you used to calling them that) is in place on the north side. Soon to become blue like the rest. The structure is really looking nice.

Fitting Clamps for Downspout

Endher fastening the downspouts to the brackets. I really like the metal brackets they use. I hadn't seen them before Endher and the boys used them. It keeps the pipe off the wall surface and facilitates painting too.

Positioning Floor Drain

The four-inch floor drain going in. A two-inch drain would work, except the metal top is exceedingly thin and wrinkles up at the drop of a hat. the metal on the 4" drain is about 1/4" thick so it's extremely durable.

View From Mennonite House

A much cleaner view now from the upper landing of the Mennonite house.

Making It All Pretty

Touching up the final coat of blue on the gutters.

View As You Approach

This view is as you approach the palapa on the driveway. Looks very nice. All that's left now, is for the crew to install a shelter for my bike so that I can come and go easily and the bike is somewhat protected from the elements.

A Helping Hand

Every now and then things happen. For instance, a couple of months ago, the floor drain in our pool somehow managed to make one of its two stainless steel screws come loose. It didn't go missing, it was just loose.

Well, then it did go missing. But that was only after we got Huey - our automatic pool vacuum. He cruised over the drain cover and sucked that screw right outta there. Of course, it shot on through his hose and into the filter. Which I don't really want to go through the process of opening that just to retrieve a screw.

Anyway, the remaining screw managed to work itself loose as well. Huey, on his travels, managed to swing the floor drain cover almost 180-degrees out of kilter. If nothing else, it looked bad and dangerous too. Of course, we have the floor drain turned off, but visitors don't know that and assume it's just careless management on our part. Which I guess it is.

So, that was why Cody and I braved the 80-degree water the other day to do a couple of things.

1. Retrieve the remaining screw, so I could take it and see if there was a comparable screw to be had at Lano's or National (a couple of hardware stores in town),
2. Purchase the replacement for the missing screw.

Cody had no problem removing the remaining screw. I took it and lucked out finding a replacement stainless steel screw at Villa's Hardware.

On my return, Cody was going to install the missing screws. At first, he tried using a screw driver and just himself to install the screw. No go. As soon as Cody put any pressure on the screw, it forced him back away from the screw.

Complicating the process, was Huey, our automatic pool cleaning specialist. Right after Cody positioned the lid over the drain, he came up to grab a couple of screws. While he was on the surface, Huey cruised over and attempted to make off with the cover. Cody had to chase him down and retrieve it from the little thief.

That's where I came in. Cody said he was having trouble zeroing in on the screw anyway. What with his one good eye and all, it's no wonder (he is missing an eye, just in case you're wondering) - and he's always talking about his "one good eye".

So, I braved the frigid waters and jumped gingerly from the last step completely into the water. I did have a snorkel mask with me, which I promptly put on. I asked Cody to hold me down under the water as inserted and tightened the screws.

As soon as I was underwater, I sensed an alien presence. Sure enough, out of the corner of my eye, I spied Huey, once more attempting to horn in and make off with the screws and/or the lid again. As you can see below, he's pretty persistant.

Huey Getting In On The Action

Eventually, this gambit worked quite well. Even though I had to come up for air a couple of times, it was no problem to communicate that fact to Cody (frantic thrashing around worked well) and he let me up to catch a quick breather.

Cody Holding Me Under

At the end, we managed to keep Huey from stealing everything and we got the two screws back in place, thus securing the drain cover, ensuring safety for all who use the pool.

A Job Well Done

That is, as long as you stay away from Huey. In addition to trying to steal screws and the lid, he loves to nibble on your toes and otherwise sneak-attack when you lease expect it. For a simple mechanical tools, he sure has developed a definite personality and has become quite popular in the pool - in addition to being the primary thing responsible for the sparkling nature of the pool.