TGIF

It's hard to be real excited about Fridays when every day is Saturday... Well, at least for us it is.

Today began as usual - dog walking at 6:00 AM, John and the workers arriving at 6:30 AM. They don't start the day drinking coffee and shooting the bull about the past evening. Not these guys - they get right to it, cracking on with the pool. John sets a good example.

That's why there's been such good progress so far.

We did have some rain yesterday that brought work to a halt a bit early. No such problems today. Below is a shot of the pool, all covered up, from our front (canalside) pool, showing the tarps covering the fresh DiamondBright.

Tarps Over the Walls

Now, we move progressively in so you can see the tarps over the latest work.

Closer and Closer

Much Closer

Ah, this is more like it. Sunshine is beginning to take over for the day. The tarps have been removed and work is underway.

Last of the Tarps Removed

Mariano Mixing DiamondBright

Finishing the top cap of the pool is the logical place to start. Then they work progressively down to the floor.

Emir Applying DiamondBright

Manuel Cleaning Tiles

Here's another view of the pool, looking toward the east. This wall is just about finished, and man, does it look good.

Mariano and Manuel Working on the Wall

This One's Done

Lumber for the deck has begun arriving. This wood is for bracing the deck. It'll run along the pool edge as well as along a wall, yet to be built.

John and Agusto Talking Lumber

John Showing Manuel How to Apply Wood to the Pool Wall

Now, it's really starting to look like a pool. Here's Mariano finishing the top edge right up to the spa area. This is the one area of the pool remaining unfinished until we get the jets and controls shipped in from California and Florida. California from the manufacturer who sends the items to the pool supply company in Florida, who will in turn, ship them via US Post Office, to us here in Belize.

It seems convoluted... and it is. But here's why. After days of searching online, I finally found a pool supplier (Inyo Pool Supply, http://inyopools.com) who will ship out of the country. I ordered the jets, fittings, and controls from them. They in turn, had to contact Waterways (http://www.waterwayplastics.com/main.html), the manufacturer, in California. Waterways doesn't deal directly with consumers, so that's why everything had to be shipped back to Inyo. Once Inyo receives the stuff, they'll send it via USPS to us.

I had checked on prices to have FedEx send it. Try $450 US, vs. $125 US with the Postal Service. We need it soon, but not that soon!

Mariano Finishing the Top Edge

Dianna Supervising the Step Work

Not being one to waste time, John checks fitting lumber to the pool sides to support the deck.

John Checking Fitting of Deck Bracings While Emir and Manuel Work Tile

Diamond Briteing the spa seating area

Here it's just about completed. Some cleanup, and if it doesn't rain tonight, in the morning, the guys will be Diamond Briteing the floor with 8 to 10 bags of it just for the floor.

Pool Getting Very White

If you click on the below picture and look close, you can see some yellow nylon line strung alongside the pool - actually, going over the rubble pile. This marks the boundaries of the deck area. So, it will be a very generous-sized deck.

Yellow Line Marks the Boundary

Here's a shot showing Mariano's skill with the trowel on the pump house, and the wheelbarrow width we left between it and the fence.

Now, I have to say, regarding the rough finish. To Belizeans, it's a sign of poor workmanship - everything should be smooth. Boring. It's taken some time to teach them to apply it rough. We like it, they don't. I'm still trying to find a book or catalog or something that shows examples of the many different standard textures used up north to show them what can be done.

Rough Texture and Wheelbarrow Width

Here's Agusto digging small trenches for the pool overflow (foreground) and filter backwash (rear trench).

Taking Care of Trenching

And lastly, heres a couple of shots of our hard working girls. They do work hard. Good watchdogs all night long, then I make them go for a brisk three-mile walk into town and back at 6:00 AM every morning that it doesn't rain. They manage to sleep most of the day since the walk pretty well does them in for a few hours. Even then, during the day, they still keep tabs on who comes by the place and even into the property. They know they have a job to do and do it very well.

Cindy and Secret On Guard

Cindy Hiding Among the Flowers

Almost Day's End

Towards the end of the work day, I managed to capture a few more shots of the progress being made. The tile really sets off the pool. It is really beginning to look complete now. I'm ready to jump in. The crew have done a really nice job on the whole project.

Steps Receiving Their Final Shaping by Emir

The texturing on the pump house echoes the same "rough" texture on the house. After we get done painting the exterior, it will really look unified.

Fore and Aft Views of the Pool

Which Way is This?

Here's John showing how to do tiling the hard way - basically setting tile upside-down.

John Tiling the Steps

Now the steps really look official - their tiled edges just look wonderful.

Pool Steps Look Great

A view from our front porch of the pool. Our rubble pile will be moving very soon. Cody was moving it, but he was out yesterday with a touch of the flu, or something.

Upstairs View

The guys from Vasco Doors and Windows came yesterday, late in the morning. I wasn't expecting them till the afternoon. But, after some welding and grinding, the door fits great. Now, I just have to modify it (Isn't that the way it always is?). I've ordered a louvered window to fit over the grill of the door. I misunderstood John when we were discussing the door. Ventilation without any water getting in. Now I understand! That should be ready this next week.

Pump House Door Almost Completed

TGIF

The best minds in the business were nearly stumped. But, in true "best minds" fashion, they came through in the end. Dianna had asked for an arch to be constructed with straight sides and a nice oval top - sort of like an upside-down "U".

The problem is, getting rebar and PVC pipe to cooperate for that shape was harder than it looked. Cody and Francisco finally had to compromise on a semi-shaped arch. Here they're working on achieving that shape.

Putting Finishing Touches to Basic Arch Shapes

Entry Way For the Front Garden

Once the two basic shapes had been achieved, we needed a way to join the two together. Cody thought the metal wire fabric left over from casting the basement floor would fill the bill.

Cody Cutting the Wire Fabric

Romero is one of Abraham's friends and one of the more highly paid craftsmen around. He's very good and very fast applying stucco (or plastering) to walls. Below on the left everyone is watching him plaster a small wall section to see if he can get the "rough" technique down that Dianna wants.

Watching Romero At Work

Romero and George his Helper

Here's a shot that has gone a long ways to putting my mind to rest regarding the fragility of the sewer pipe. I don't think we'll have problems with it now.

Sewer Pipe Embedded in the Wall

Part of any work project requires taking a break now and then. I managed to capture Dianna, Cindy and the kitties relaxing.

Dianna and Cindy During A Break

Blue and Midas Enjoying the Tile's Coolness

Now to the cool bit. Romero, once he got the knack of the technique of applying "rough" plaster to the walls, went like a house afire. Here's a few shots of his progress.

Romero Doing some initial touchup Plastering

Romero Applying Plaster

Turning and Burning on the Streetside

Now, That's What I'm Talking About

Even His Assistant Has a Hard Time Keeping Up With His Work

All Done

Even though we borrowed the "machine" from Jim, for most work, the guys felt that mixing mortar or concrete was simply faster with the old-fashioned manual way. For one thing, they could mix much larger quantities than the machine could handle. Like up to 2 bags at a time vs. 1/2 a bag max for the machine.

Mixing Mortar Under Cover

Meanwhile, Cody has started running a trench so we can extend the water main and current down to the end of the drain field. From there, we'll be able to run a stub over to the parking palapa so we'll have a water spigot and lights in the palapa.

Cody and Abraham Taking a Bit of a Break

Oh, I didn't mention the palapa? Well, we're getting one installed that will be about 15' x 30'. Enough to hold three vehicles. Abraham says, the "bay leaf" for the thatch has mostly been cut, and that they will probably deliver it with a large truck this Sunday. They will most likely bring the timbers for it some time early next week. Something to look forward to in the construction process.