Home   >   Front Page   >   Featured Articles   >   Our New Home – Week 10,11,12

Our New Home – Week 10,11,12

We had not returned to the states for several years so we just got back from 2 1/2 weeks there. Much of the time we did not have Internet access so we will now report on three weeks of construction progress. It is hard to believe that we only have 4 1/2 weeks left in the construction schedule but the builder assures us it will be done on schedule. At this time it seems impossible that it can be completed on schedule but the builder has not failed us in any regard so far.

While in the states we purchased a lot of doodads for the new home. I even bought one of those electrical outlet testers to ensure everything was grounded properly. You would be surprised how many outlets here are not wired properly such as we found out when we bought our colonial home. The grounding wire was present, just not connected. And several of our outlets were connected in a series instead of parallel which we discovered when we unplugged one item and the other items stopped working.  Note to the  buyers of our colonial home – everything was corrected so don’t worry.

Upon our return Amy had one day to select the outside paint colors. They want to paint the 2nd floor walls prior to laying down the first floor roof tiles to avoid having the painters walking on the tiles. She selected a grey-green which I have problems even picturing in my mind.

My challenge right now is getting Internet to the new home. In Granada we pay $34 a month for cable TV and 2 Mbs Internet which is sufficient for streaming movies. IBW visited the site but their quote was $80 a month for 2 Mbs and a whopping $130 for 3 Mbs. Monday I meet with the company that provides Internet to most of of the Pacific coast developments. I can’t see how they can provide a reasonable fee for one house but exploring all possibilities. Our friends in Charlotte get 39 Mbs and it is common in Europe to get 70 Mbs. Our fallback position will be to use the dongles from Claro that use the cellular network for Internet access. They cost around $25 a month each.

We are interested in seeing how much water pressure we will have since the tank is not near our home. If not sufficient we will install a water compressor.

The pictures will show where we are.

 

Week 10, 11, 12 (9)

This is a view of the kitchen ceiling. The cane is treated and varnished then cut to size. You can see the strips of wood that provide the means to lay down the cane between the metal trusses. The steel girders are painted to look like wood. Then the zinc sheets are put on the roof to eventually be covered by the tiles.

Week 10, 11, 12 (7)

The main entrance portal molds are being formed. The pipes being hidden are the runoffs from the 2nd floor patios.

Week 10, 11, 12 (8)

Here you can see the cane being put in place on the front porch. So much detail work as compared to construction in the states. Again, all the metal girders are painted to look like wood.

Week 10, 11, 12 (5)

Roof tiles have been delivered. Thousands of them and all new so the roof will be a bright orange.

Week 10, 11, 12 (4)

The floor tiles have also been delivered. These are fired terracotta tiles and will be varnished to create the look Amy is looking for, whatever that may be. Since men only know five colors I have to leave this aspect to her expertise. These tiles will also be used for border tiles rising up the walls for a few inches which is needed here, otherwise the constant mopping dirties the walls.

Week 10, 11, 12 (3)

The pool is pretty much done except for tiling and the concrete border. Due to the lay of the land, the one end of the pool is much higher so we will need some good creative landscaping. Since we will now be in the countryside, the local critters will probably use the pool as much as we do. Wonder what we will find in the pool some days since it will be the only water around?

Week 10, 11, 12 (30)

View of the whole house. Still looks rough but the walls are ready for painting. We still have not decided where the driveway will be.

Week 10, 11, 12 (29)

Near the house a colt rests while watching the construction. With the recent rains we are finally seeing pasture growth.

Week 10, 11, 12 (26)

The septic system is capped and covered. The drains for the rain water and grey water are being installed. Not sure I mentioned that we are installing gutters on the roofs. I don’t think we need them but I was overruled not only by my wife but also the wife of the builder. I’m still hoping I can control the look and feel of at least one room in our new home but the prospects are dimming.

Week 10, 11, 12 (24)

Being out in the country we need to put security wrought iron even on our patio arches. We loosely used the design we had seen at Hacienda Iguana for their front gates. Not wanting the Berlin Wall look we are very pleased with the design and the view is not obscured at all. The idea was to provide enough security to prevent patio furniture from being stolen yet allow the dogs to leave without having to open all the doors and portones.

Week 10, 11, 12 (25)

Another view of the security iron work. We like it so much we may use the same design for the individual doors and windows.

Week 10, 11, 12 (22)

The artist welder at work.

Week 10, 11, 12 (20)

Eastern view of the home. The fountain will be placed at the right bottom of this view. With the roof in place it is starting to look less like a fortress.

Week 10, 11, 12 (18)

Surprisingly, with so little rain the fence posts are already blooming so we will be surrounded by trees sometime in the future. The ground is so fertile. Looking forward to adding the fruit and palm trees next month.

Week 10, 11, 12 (17)

The roof extension over the garage. Not sure what the final look will be.

Week 10, 11, 12 (14)

Now we see what the roof extensions look like. Remember that the girders were all metal so carved wooden ends were inserted into the girders. Makes it look like it is all wood.

Week 10, 11, 12 (13)

Workers preparing to lay down the concrete apron around the pool. Not sure how we will hide the pump and filter. Probably more creative landscaping.

Week 10, 11, 12 (12)

Final part of roof being prepared. This is over the 1st floor bedroom. Note the pasture is finally starting to grow.

Week 10, 11, 12 (10)

I did not want the typical Nica concrete sink installed and asked for a corner sink instead. Using concrete block they created this which is a bit more than we needed. We may not survive a nuclear holocaust but the sink will not be affected. Amy can barely reach inside far enough for the drain plug. Dwarves would have a tough time using our home.

Week 10, 11, 12 (11)

Nothing special but thought it was a cool picture of the roof girders.