Progress on Patio Palapa

After several days of forced inactivity because of rain or things being wet because of rain, and just generally waiting for them to dry out, the past two days have seen a lot of activity.

Short Recap - the Old Thatch

In short, our old patio palapa thatch had deteriorated past the point of no return. We liked the way the parking palapa now looked with its new zinc roof and felt that was the way to go with the patio palapa.

We also thought it would be a short (ha, ha) project. A couple of weeks and we would be benefiting from having a quiet little retreat to read, meditate, zone out, or whatever.

So, of course, it has become one of those projects that seems - no, does drag on interminably.

Framing Added

Getting Angles

Mahogany Varnish Going On

Once the framing had been completed Mario's boys, started varnishing all the remaining wood of the palapa, a striking mahogany red varnish. This activity went quickly and was able to be finished before the rains started up again.

At first, we thought that it might be a bit too red, but not only does it grow on you, but the color darkens a bit and seems like the right shade

Varnishing All the Lumber

Add caption

Making the Screen Frames

Just like with the pool enclosure, the frames by themselves, look massive. Of course, those get the same varnish treatment as the framing pieces.

Screen Room Doorway

Looking Up to the Center

A lot of Wood to Varnish

Screen Panel Trial Fitting

Like Stretching a Canvas

Applying Varnish

Getting Ready for Screen

Another Can of Varnish

Looking Substantial

Pouring More Varnish

Anchoring the Doorway

Screens Up!

It seemed as though the varnish and the screens were installed simultaneously. They actually wern't, but it was a close thing.

Then suddenly, the zinc was here and they began cutting angles so the pieces would fit on the roof. No other way around it, there was a fair amount of waste, but surprisingly, a lot of scrap pieces were able to be used.

Zinc Has Arrived

And the First Piece

Being Fitted

Make Sure It Fits

Leftover Pieces

Showing Gaposis

Daisy Checking Everything

Checking the Work

Stuffing Foam Gap-Tape

Then we had a momentary distraction. On the front of our house was this huge tarantua. She was about 5-inches, wing-tip to wing-tip. And, she had a bright red behind that didn't really show up all that well in the left photo, but is really bright in the right. After taking a couple of pictures, we left her up to her own devices. As long as she stayed outside, we'd get along fine. They're actually pretty docile creatures.

Momentary Distraction

Nice Red Behind

Filling In the Holes

Endher Filling Ridge Cap

Better Doorway Shot

Fabricating the Palapa Cap

Fastening the Cap

Magnetic Screen Door

Now, we're just waiting for the wood screen door. We got a magnetic screen door from Amazon.com, but we need to have the wood screen door installed to be able to fasten the magnetic door to the wood frame of the wood screen door.

Thursday Was A Good Day... Friday Was Too

Hoo boy. Busy, busy, busy!

Here's some shots of the progress on the pool deck. John and the crew he supervises go like a house-afire!.

Mariano and Emir Applying Smooth Plaster Coat to Wall

Emir Applying Plastering the Wall

Manuel Keeps the Mortar Hawks Full

Here you can see the first real load of the treated pine for the deck framing and surface. Agusto is unloading it.

Agusto Beginning Unload of Framing and Deck Lumber

Unload Lumber

Mariano Carrying two heavy 1x4s

Here's Mauel and Mariano stacking the lumber next to the work area.

Manuel Hard At It

Mariano Doing the Same

Framing for the deck is beginning to go up.

John Checking Spacing

John and Mariano Supervising Agusto

Here's Mariano laying out an angle to take into account the complex shape of the spa.

Mariano Wood Working

The decking moves right along. As you can see, it's about 1/3 done.

Agusto Working Half in the Spa

One-Third of Framing Done

Here's another view of the completed deck framing.

Deck Framing Another View

Here's the backside of the pool, all finished smoothly.

Emir Finishing the Backside of the Deck Wall

Cody had a different problem to deal with. He ran into a small cave almost right under the wall at the back of the property by the canal. This is where he's installing the 3" drain from the pool overflow, back-flushing, and a floor drain in the yard.

Cody Hard At It

Today, Friday, I was out of town. Doug and I went into Belize City to visit Brodie's, Bennie's, and Court's. We were looking for household items, some electrical fittings (no white rheostats - only almond), and some tool pieces (a keyless drill chuck for Craig), plus whatever happened to catch our eye. I found a bottle Traveler's Five Barrel Rum. Hope it's good!

When we got back, a huge amount of progress had been made on the deck. It's completely framed out and they've actually started laying and screwing the decking. Woo hoo! Does it ever look good. They even added in a deck hatch so I'll be able to get underneath to install the sewer pipe, etc., for the guest house.

Big Ups From the Massif on the Deck Progress