Pool Project - A Week at a Pop - 09/07/2016 - 09/14/2016

With this week, the project reaches about mid-September. And, it's become easier to see that progress is being made. Just like in a remodeling project, everything under the drywall is hidden from view, everything under the ground line or under a layer of concrete is pretty much hidden from view - even though it comprises about a hundred and seventy-five yards of rock, gravel, steel, and concrete. Very little of that will ever be visible to the naked eye.

Steel Frameworks Being Assembled

Some of the steel is in this shape, which will help define the columns and bracing around the pool

Steel in Position on the Backside

Here's some of those same bits of steel, each connected to a 'bed spring' of steel buried under a foot or so of rock and concrete. All this is on top of about four-and-a-half feet of rock.

Working in Close Quarters

Some of it necessitated working in close quarters. The guys have gone to great lengths to preserve as much of the Ereca palms as they could. I don't think we've lost any, although there were a couple of them that had to be relocated, but they're still doing fine, just somewhere else in the yard.

Remember, each five-gallon bucket full of wet concrete weighs around one-hundred-ten pounds. They passed these back and forth to help fill the excavation on the back side. Not to mention the tons of rock that they've already moved there.

Getting Column Forms Ready

Once all that is done, then the guys had to jockey heavy wooden forms into place in order for them to cast the columns. Nothing is ever easy. Remember, too, that this is September, one of the hottest months of the year, with commensurately high humidity levels. Truly abominable working conditions at times.

Deck Lumber Piled Up

I think I forgot to include this (or similar) photo earlier. It's all the treated lumber from our wooden deck. It's pretty much been spoken for, but I've held off distributing it, as I've said the constructioneers have first call for whatever their needs are for forms, etc.

In Position and Ready for Pour

Here's one of the forms ready for a pour of concrete. At this stage, the concrete will only go up to almost the top edge of the pool. After that at some time, additional steel will be tied to the stubs and then more forms, will run it up to around nine or ten feet.

Fastening Forms to the Structure

Of course each form has to be secured to something so that it doesn't move out of position during the pour. Endher is fastening the form and additional bracing to fulfill that purpose.

Positioning Rocks For Pump House

At the Pump house side of things, It's one of the last areas to be worked. Here, lots of rock is still being placed. The water looks overwhelming, but that's only because the guys dug down to firm rock/marl, in order to place three to five feet of rock. Because of that, the water pools in those low places until the rocks diplace it. The water is being channeled to go down the ditch through the patio to the canal.

First Pour On Top of Rocks

Once sufficient rock is in place then they start getting things ready to prepare a footing for the pump house. Here you can see the rock bed is pretty much done and a first bit of concrete is in place next to the pool, also helping to stabilize some of the piping for the pool.

Beginning the Pour

Here, they're beginning to set the forms and begin the pour for the footing of the pump house. Roughly the same shape as the first one, but about twice the floor space. Plus, all the valving and the pumps themselves will be elevated up off the floor, since us old fart folks just can't bend over as easily as we used to.

Bracing Columns Ready For Next Phase

I mentioned the stubs of the columns. Here is a good view of those. The lower part that you see here is fulfilling two purposes, one, the bracing to help secure the pool from any future shifting, and two, to become part of the column for the roof.

Removing Diamond-Brite Cap

Part of the project involved reworking the Diamond-Brite coating on the pool, and restoring the chain around the perimeter. Here, the cap of Diamond-Brite is being removed.

Cutting New Skimmer Opening

This last photo for the week shows the plumbers cutting a new opening for the skimmer. You can also see the footing coming along for the pump house.

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.

A 'Lee' Update

Just a short update on the planter boxes under construction in the shade house. The first  box is now ready to have the floor cast. That'll happen next Friday. Carlos ran out of time this Friday after getting the form constructed and rebar cut, positioned and tied in place.

Almost Done Building Form Bottom

After the floor is cast, the walls will go up two blocks high and will be made from four-inch thick blocks, so there will end up being about a foot of black dirt in each box for the veggies.

First Planter Box Bed Ready to Cast

Back to my 'thick' wallet and the family photos. Here's a couple more of April. As much as she zooms around the place when she's awake, she naps hard too - getting all that training for when she grows up and takes up napping as her full-time occupation.

It's Rough Being A Kitten

It's hard to be so cute, isn't it? Who could resist such a face. She went in to Dr. Sheila's yesterday for her second visit. Oral meds and a shot for something. She must have been a good little kitty. Dr. Sheila gave her a little white mouse toy.

Could She Get Much More Relaxed?

That's it for now. I have to start work to get ready for the Men's Group's Martini Meeting today. See, it's just all work and no play - ever.

Progress On the Day of Christmas Eve

What is that called? Pre-Christmas,... Christmas Eve Day,... what? Probably something really elegant in some foreign language. Sometimes English just is lacking in what something is called and the "work-around" is awkward at best. Anyway, Christmas Eve is tonight. So, this is what's happening today, before tonight. Ok?

Isidoro and his brothers work hard too. When I first glanced at the hole for the tank, I thought they were going to make a dual tank affair. That was wrong, as you can see below, with the wall coming out.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Incidently, the digging of the hole, and casting of the floor all occurred last night. And of course, now that we're in the "dry" season, it rained most of the night, so they had to bail out the hole before beginning to lay the blocks. Of course, it helped settle the fill in the foundation of the guest house, so pluses and minuses.

In the final bit of digging, they hit the water table, so there's a fine layer of mud at the bottom.

Finishing Dig of Septic Tank

While they were finishing digging, the rest of the crew began cutting rebar to place in the bottom of the hole. Here, they're using Bob's cutter with a wired on stick as an extension for additional leverage to cut the metal.

Rebar Cutter in Action

More of the Rebar Cutter in Action

And, here, the rebar is being formed and tied into a rectangle to be placed in the bottom of the hole.

Tying Rebar

Then, you have to get it into the hole, so, they're carrying it and putting it into place.

Moving the Rebar

Positioning the Rebar

Of course, the rebar can't just sit on the floor of the hole, it has to be supported up a couple of inches. Here they're positioning rock under the metal to reach the correct height.

Raising the Rebar

Then comes the pour. Using the machine (as opposed to hand mixing on the ground) really makes things move along.

Mixing and Dumping

More Mixing and Dumping

Ah, the first load of concrete makes it's way into the floor of the hole. And Isidoro is using the precarious path to precision-dumping of the mix.

Pouring Underway

Bombs Away

This view shows the main foundation also near ready for pouring.

Almost Ready

This morning, the blocks began going up in earnest.

Blocking the Tank

They may get the roof of the tank ready to cast by the end of the day. We'll see how that all goes.

While the guys are working up a sweat, here's Lynn and Dianna dealing with the sweat on their rum and Cokes. Life can be so rough.

Relaxing On Our Front Porch

Tonight, we're doing a traditional thing for Christmas. Dianna and I, along with Elsie, are going to a Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, as they say. It's going to be at the Oasis. There will be two seatings (3:30 PM and 5:30 PM). We wanted to get the earlier one so we didn't have to drive in the dark, but we procrastinated too long.

It looks like others will be joining us - Mae and Craig, Robert and Lynn, and several other folks we haven't met yet.

We'll be bringing a nice bottle of wine to have with dinner - one of the case we bought on our last trip to Belize City.

Then it's home to wait for Santa. I hope we have some good cookies for him.

Work, Work, Work

Well, not really. None of the workers showed up yesterday. Not surprising, since if was a national holiday. Cody had the day off anyway, so he really didn't count.

Also, yesterday, the thermometer on our front porch topped 100° (f) for the first time since we've been here. Global Warming?? Who knows?

Today the workers showed up at 6:30 AM, while I was still out walking the dogs.

Here's a bit of a refresher - We left off yesterday's exciting episode with Mr. Backhoe digging a big hole in the ground...

Manuel and Agusto Watching Backhoe Finish the Hole

And then he made a really big hill near the hole.

That'sa Some Kinda Big Pile

The Pile Has Become Tesmentdous

Here's where the action picked up this morning. Smoothing the sides and leveling the floor.

Mariano and Agusto Making It All Nice And Pretty

Is This the Right Shape?

Around the same time, I had Cody, our Caretaker, start a small trench so we can add more water pipe and the new electrical run. It'll all go in the same trench terminating with a stub so we can run water over to the guest house when it gets built.

Cody's Trench

Here's the floor of the pool and the walls - all getting nice and smooth and level.

Pool Is Really Shaping Up

A Big Hole in the Ground

Some of the supplies that came in today, a nice load of white, hard 1/2" gravel from Orange Walk, lengths of rebar, each 40' long, and bags of cement, stored under the parking palapa.

Gravel Arriving

Rebar is Here

Cement in 80 lb. Bags

Now, with the sides and floor smooth, the guys laid down a covering of polyethylene. It doesn't matter if holes are in it or not. Waterproofing is not the idea here, it's simply to slow down the concrete once it's been poured, by preventing water seeping out of the mix, thus keeping the mix from going off too soon.

Polyethylene or Visqueen Lining The Bottom

Polyethylene or Visqueen Lining The Bottom

Then, when that was done, the guys began positioning rebar on the floor, getting ready to cast the floor on Saturday.

Mariano and Agusto Laying Rebar

That does it for another exciting episode of Workers in Paradise, or How I Learned to Relax and Watch Someone Else Do It. Stay tuned for further adventures as our intrepid crew work up a sweat...