Spiffing Up the Mennonite House

A good pressure wash and a couple of coats of marine spar varnish is just what the Mennonite house needs to bring it back up to par. it was looking kind of dingy on the outside.

A good marine-grade spar varnish (we use Helmsman UV-protected polyurethane Spar Varnish) will help add years to wood's life, in addition to making it look good. The down side of this, is that here in the tropics, even a top grade of spar varnish, like Helmsman, will only last a smidge longer than a year. We generally sand and re-brush the wood of the Mennonite house every year.

Kane Getting the Ladder Ready

 Part of painting or varnishing a wooden house that's nine feet up in the air is like only working on the second storey of a house. Up and down the ladder all day long. That part of the job is plain getting to be too hard for this old fart. Much better to let a younger man, like Kane here, do it. Besides, I know he appreciates the work too.

Results of Pressure Washing

 As you can see from the photo at left, the results of pressure washing. It removes all the grime and deteriorated varnish, leaving a nice clean wood surface for varnish to be applied. Of course, after the pressure washing, we let the wood dry out for a day or two, then a light once over with the sander and it's ready for a coat of varnish.

Brushing and More Brushing

 We've found that the only effective way to apply varnish is the time-tested brush. We've tried using Wagner sprayers. They just don't apply varnish thick enough, nor is it easy to control over-spraying, contrary to what the manufacturers say.

vive la différence

The difference is simply amazing. A good coat of varnish really brings brings the wood to life.

Altogether, the pressure washing of the whole house took Kane one day. The varnishing of the exterior with two coats will take about three days. Then there's the front and back porches that will each take a coat of varnish. A good week or so of work and it looks wonderful.

Tuesday, Tuesday

Here we are, at Tuesday, 22 November, 2016.

We got off swimmingly. Nelson was able to get into the basement for his daily constitutional. He's a happy camper. We have screens going in. It's starting to really look official now.

Shade Cloth Screens Going In

This view is looking outside on the west side from the ramp top landing. The shade cloth screening and frames really give it a finished look.

The View From Inside

Here's the same side, but from the inside now. Really gives a finished look to things, brings it all together.

Across the Back Side

This is the view along the back or north side. The last screen will probably go in tomorrow. They had to wait for the texturing to be applied to the wall right beside the waterfall to get the correct measurement for the frame.

Finishing Pressure-Washing

Pressure washing of the deck and ramps is almost done. Heading down the east ramp.

Pressure-Washing the Pool

And now in the pool. Quite a lot of chipping debris still in the pool. It all has to be removed before Diamond Brite can be applied.

Adding Hydraulic Cement to Cracks

The cracks that were cleaned out earlier are now getting filled with hydraulic cement before the Diamond Brite is applied.

Installing East Screen Door Transom

Doorway transoms are being installed as we speak. Those are screened as well. It is really starting to look finished now.

Theo Texturing Left Side Waterfall

The texturing I mentioned is being applied by Theo. That will allow the last screen frame to be installed on Wednesday.

Mario Actually Working

Our contractor, Mario Zettina, brought a case of glass blocks for the narrow notch next to the waterfall. He's beginning to remove the white paint band from the blocks. This will be replaced with blue paint and will impart a blue tinge to the blocks. Since the blue paint is the same blue we're using for the project, everything will match.

Theo Textured Window Area

Theo finished up the texturing of the window on the back side of the pump house. It's a shame this whole side will seldom be seen by anyone. It looks nice.

Block Production Line

Mario shanghaied a couple of his employees to help with the block stripping and re-coloring project.

Almost Done

As you can see, this part of it is almost done. Next comes the installation of the blocks in the notch. The blocks will give a nice accompaniment to the waterfall.

East Side Screens

Here's a view of the screens from the east side. Looks just as dramatic as on the west side.

Saturday - A New World Opens

Saturday, 12 November, 2016.

The deck and both ramps are supposed to get pressure-washed today. So, we're pretty excited about that. This will be the first time since work started on the pool that Dianna will be easily able to move around the pool area, down to the patio area, and her favorite location under the little palapa there, and down to the parking area.

Just to go to the truck has meant a significant effort on her part, of negotiating the front steps, over very uneven ground, climbing over a concrete curb at the parking palapa and then the exercise of getting into the truck. No mean feat in itself.

Now, she will be able to walk down a very gentle slope from the deck to the parking area, go over a fairly level surface to the passenger door of the truck. Quite a difference.

Waterfall Reaches Full Height

The waterfall block work has reached full height. Now they will work on finishing the sides. Then will come the tiles all the way up. And, as I described earlier, the slanted tiles to keep the water from spraying out. Then the big test, to see if the water actually cascades down the face the way that we're envisioning it doing.

Endher Pressure-Washing the Deck

Endher is pressure-washing the deck. They first swept, then vacuumed the deck and ramps. Even after that and one time over with the pressure-washer, it still needs another go. After that, the plan is to put a protective sealer on the deck.

Deck is Looking Clean

I love the color of the deck. It's got a hint of gold in it.

Dianna took it for a test drive with her walker this afternoon. It got two thumbs up. She was quite happy being able to move around on the deck with ease.

Ramp is Looking Inviting

She even tried this ramp down to the middle landing anyway, as they are still working on the lower part of the ramp. Dianna had no problems negotiating the ramp - either on the way down or the way up.

Patio Patch Cleaned

The patio just keeps getting cleaner and cleaner. Even the white mold release that was resident over the patch for a long time is gone. Looking good, very good.

Applying Finish on Ramp Walls

Rene applying the finish coat to the west ramp walls. Next he'll apply the same texture and colorant as on the columns and that'll be done.

End of the Work Day

As they're heading out of the driveway, Rene, in the passenger seat held up a gorgeous white with pink trim cake for me to see. Too fast to get a photo of it. I don't know if it's for a birthday or what.

Doggies Check Lunch Area

Every day at quitting time, as I let the girls out of their pen, the very first place they go to every time is the place on the patio where the workers eat lunch - unless they're fishing. Then they eat out on the dock. But they keep their lunch debris with them, so the doggies feel obligated to check the area out.

One Dirty Pool

Monday, Endher said he's going to start working on the pool itself. He's also going to lay a layer of plastic on the deck so they don't screw that up as they move back and forth working on the pool. I thought a couple shots of the pool would be in order. So we can do a before and after thing.

Dirty the Other Direction Too

Here's the other direction. It's pretty filthy. I'm really looking forward to seeing it done, done, done.

Endher also said he's going to begin measuring for the screen framing. It's getting very near the end, folks.

The Very Next Day

The very next day would be Wednesday, 26 October, 2016. And the activity is heating up a bit. All kinds of stuff is happening.

Scaffolding Going Up For North Side

A veritable hubbub of activity here today. Starting as usual with a couple of guys plastering columns and parts of the beam. Then with Erwin and Daniel knocking together some wood scaffolding to plaster the north side of the columns and beam. It's going to be one continuous run. It's a good thing we saved the lumber from the old deck. That has really come in handy.

Daniel Bringing in More Lumber

Here's Daniel bringing more lumber over to be added to the scaffolding. I'm guessing that Endher wants to get all the plastering done this week so that next week can be devoted to pouring, coloring, and stamping the pool deck, ramps, and probably the patio, We're really looking forward to getting that all done. It will seem like it's in the final stages then.

Endher Pressure Washing Patio

Endher is busy pressure washing the patio. There's the big ditch that will be covered with concrete, plus they're going to patch the crack that parallels the ditch. It will all look so nice when it's done.

Now There's A Serious Manifold

Now, like the caption says, this is one serious manifold. All 2" pipe so it should be able to run some large amounts of water. These guys really know their pool stuff. I'm impressed.

Timer and Water Fill Ready

Here's the utility room where the pump timer now lives, along with the pool light, and the pool filler valve. it's going to be so nice to have all that in one convenient location.

Now, I have to get busy and clean the utility room out. I want to move all the pool maintenance stuff down to the pump house and pretty much just keep the utility room for pool toys and the like.

Pool Deck Faucet Ready To Clean

Here's the pool deck faucet I asked them to install. Now, all I have to do is hang one of the fancy metal hangers our Godson, Isaiel, made for us and put a decent hose and nozzle on it and this will be complete.

Another View of the Scaffolding

This is a little different view of the scaffolding. It'll be impressive when they're using it. That will happen tomorrow.

It's really starting to feel like we're in the home stretch with this project. I can't wait till the pool gets turned on for the first time. That manifold, using 2" pipe, wow! There is going to be some serious water flow through the filter and through the spa jets. Maybe they'll work as advertised really for the first time. It was always hit or miss and very low key before.