The structure is now 40% complete. To be clear, that gets you a building with exposed brick walls and openings for doors and windows. Plus, a roof, electric wires and plumbing lines in place. But no “finishes”: construction-speak for bathrooms,…
What is a vacation if we cannot feel refreshed, to perhaps see things with a new sparkle or walk with an unexpected spring in our step? Now there’s new research that can help those who can afford to get away,…
This week we were able to get most of the forms and beams in place to pour the first floor of the residential side of the building. In addition, all of the columns for the first floor of the guest…
Not every week is dramatic visually. Sometimes the preparations seemingly slow down construction, but in reality the project still moves along in a timely manner. This week the framing of the first floor (above the basement) of the residential side…
The construction crew is an extended family, from Bali. They work seven days a week and camp out on the property in very modest conditions. They work incredibly hard and yet they do not complain. They do require time to…
Well folks this week we went vertical, including the famed bamboo support posts that temporarily maintain the weight of freshly poured beams and concrete floors until they harden: Does it feel good? Oh yeah, it’s like totally awesome dude 🙂
It seems extremely odd that my Balinese builder would reference the TV show character MacGyver when discussing our hole-digging contractor. (Photo of MacGyver courtesy of Wikipedia) It would appear that MacGyver is as far from an Indonesian hero as possible…
Compacting soil, a concrete pour, then a layer of wire mesh, and finally more concrete. This defines a basement slab for the ground level. After the structure is complete a final layer creates the finish layer, such as tile or…
No concrete slab yet, but the small delays (rain, etc) gave extra time for Wayan, the builder, to add additional drainage pipes into the support columns. This will allow water to drain from the flat roof into four columns at…
A formula for success in the club-making business is: — find a magnificent cliff that’s not too far away from the crowds — spend ridiculous amounts of money and time creating an impossible perch for the bar — don’t cut…
Ok I know I mentioned some excitement around the idea of getting the concrete slabs in place for the basement and living areas, but then the workers went off to another Balinese ceremony for three days (it was supposed to…
There is so much going on in the early stages of construction that becomes completely invisible as the structure progresses. Just like so many things in life, it is hard to appreciate the unnoticed. Of course there is a good…