Today's message from our Project Manager Rob stated that support posts for the second floor are all in place, and so building that floor can start.
He included some excellent photos that not only let all of us enjoy the structure, but also the setting for Casita Torrente de Agua. This first picture does a great job, I think, of capturing the first floor view as it currently stands. Much of this vegetation are wild vines that tend to close off the view. Once the casa is done, and we're past the October heavy rains, we'll have our talented crew open up the view by pulling out all the vines, and then selectively pruning the other remaining branches to create an enjoyable vista.
This next photo shows both the support posts (and wall structure) going in. Ceiling height downstairs will be about 8 1/2 feet - so a bit more generous than typical US homes. We are doing this to allow more room for ceiling fans in the two bedrooms on this level. The white material on the floor has been temporarily placed so that Gerardo and his crew can walk safely while doing all this setting and welding. Once this basic frame is done, there is considerable work welding in big X's at corners, and other points between posts to add rigidity to the structure and make it a more stable place.
This final photo of this blog appears to me to be a morning photo of the substantially completed field of posts which
will be the primary support of the second floor (bath, master sleeping area, great room and very large outdoor veranda).The stairs going up will be from the foreground concrete (turning a reddish color due to natural staining of the local soil). It will start there, and go up that wall you see on the right. Technically "outside", but well under the roof structure. Remember that it never, ever gets either too hot or too cold. If this building site were in easy sight of other structures, we might have wanted a sort of mesh wall outside of it with some privacy louvers, but that is really unnecessary - but could be added later. The stairway will be one meter wide. Immediately to the right of the stairway going up, will be concrete stairs going down to the lower floor level.
PLEASE HELP US out by suggesting what we might do with this 5 x 9.5 meter (about sixteen by thirtyone feet of floor). We have plans to create a small bodega - essentially a cage - to hold the backup generator and most likely the AC compressors. But the rest of that floor will remain unfinished until we figure out how we want to make our best use of it.
So please friends, post your comments to THIS BLOG on what you think we should consider for this lower level floor... Feel free to return to this blog, and add ideas as you think of them... Thanks in advance for your ideas!!!
So, that's today's blog. We hope to hear from each of you.
Gracias!
Ricardo y Jeeeem
ps - Jim set up a NEW BLOG which will set about to give the history BEHIND this construction project. Part 1, 2 and 3 are posted; others to come over the next several weeks. Link is: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/
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