July 12th posting....

More on our July trip. The last two posts showed the view from second floor, and the "wildlife" that we saw this trip. And then showed some samples from our shopping trip.

This blog is to show some of the actual contstruction from the trip pics. When we got to the job site we thought the second floor walls would be in place. In fact, they generally weren't, although there were a couple of upright posts. However, when the first ones went in, they were in the wrong spot anyway, so we made some adjustments before work continued. It was really this part that was so very valuable. Whether our project manager Rob had intentionally planned it (I think he did) the timing was in fact perfect.

With all the wall uprights going in correctly we needed to do two specific things before we could begin the roof project. First, we needed the 1 meter bump out on the second floor for the kitchen. While I was disappointed that Gerardo had not built that into the floor structure - we got around that and so even though welded on - Gerardo put in good supports to ensure that is a sturdy floor. We also needed to extend the upper veranda space to create an upper landing spot for the stair going up.

To properly do the upper veranda space, I needed to calculate in detail the stairway. And this was something I really needed to do while actually there since I needed to know the EXACT distance from ground entry level to veranda level. I settled on a 15 step stair (14 stair pieces plus the veranda level or 15 risers. This meant we needed to span 420cm for fourteen 30cm steps (they will actually be 32cm but overlap by 2cm). And a rise of 17.1cm for each step (15 risers total). Knowing these figures, I was able to know exactly how far around the corner the upper extension had to run. The other "on site" change made is that we extended the extended piece a total of 110cm vs the originally planned 100cm. All of this was critical knowledge before we could work our the detail of the upper tower that will be in a future blog. This picture is of that extension in place.

The other set of changes we made were in details of both bodega and some first floor details. First the bodega level (basement, or the 'zero floor'). In prior posts I had mentioned that we had an opportunity of potential space below the first floor. Once there and checking that out, the estimate of 5 by 9.5 meter floor space is false. In fact, we have 2.5m X 9.5m space with a bit of opportunity for a 1.5 x 1.5 meter entry pad under cover, plus a 2m X 5m space one step higher than the bigger pad. If you view the photo above, the entry would be right below the extension - but of course downhill.

So using this for anything other than storage made no sense. Our plan is to create a fully enclosed 2 x 5 room (the step up) to be our new secure and dry bodega; and to use the back part of the 2.5 x 9.5 space as an open (think jail cell) bodega to hold the mechanicals (generator, compressors, gas tanks, water filters) which are a theft risk. the front 7m X 2.5m space will just be secured (more jail cell) place for other storage of larger objects such as furniture items, tools, etc. Potentially we could use it for a sitting deck, but neither of us thinks anyone will really want that. There is plenty of space higher up.

So, as we left on Friday, July 4th to return to San Jose for our flight back to the states on July 5th, this photo is what we saw. Generally good progress, many things left to do. I think the casa progress in the week following this post will surprise you.

I'll describe the other alterations to plan in my next post.

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/