Week beginning November 27th 2006
Week 18 of project
This week all the blockwork to the camino wall was finished. The columns to the wall now have to be concreted in. Since the columns and partial slopes were done to part of the wall, it now has a very interesting design. It is nothing I could have come up with if I had tried. I think I will keep it like it is. [see picture this page]

The main area of land enclosed by the camino, which is to be the front lawn, was levelled and totally cleared this week. It is now ready for gramma. [see picture this page]. The same was done to the other side to the entrance and exit. So anyone entering or leaving will see a nice lawn.

The carpenter took away his shuttering for the roofs that were concreted and erected "andamio" under the various roofs. [see picture this page] This is a platform that someone can stand on to "limpio" [clean] the ceilings of any remaining wood, or uneven concrete.

Works on tiling the roof began. [see pictures this page] I had been waiting for the "tela asphaltica" to arrive. Whilst waiting I decided, in order to save money, I wouldn't have it to the roofs of the marquisina and the cassetta bomba. After all the marquisina is outside anyway, and the cassetta bomba shouldn't have any valuable things inside it.

I discussed everything about payment with the contractor who was doing the job. I gave him a good financial advance on the Thursday afternoon when he started. On the Saturday, he asked me for money, saying he has to pay the men on a Saturday. I don't know if he thought the advance was a present for him !!

Because the roof is at different levels, the highest roof has to be done first. Then the rendering to the walls beneath it. Then those walls have to be painted before the lower roofs can be done. This is to stop men walking on a tiled roof.

I was now able to try and paint the ceilings that didn't have panette. I had liked the imprint of the wood on the concrete, and had decided to keep it. My first attempt wasn't promising. It looked a bit of a mess.

The studio had commenced to have all its beams and lintels concreted in. [see picture this page]


Week beginning December 4th 2006
Week 19 of project
Well, I tried to do something different with the ceiling and it didn't work. I gave the instruction for all the cielings to be rendered. This meant that I had to pay again for the andamio from the carpenter. The rendering continued at a pace. This week he had more workers at my request. The quality of work was beautiful. [see picture this page]

The central area enclosed by the camino, was again levelled this week. This is the third time, and now it does look nearly perfectly level. This is a very difficult job for an area so large. [see picture this page]

The jardinaire who will provide the gramma measured it at over 800m2. This was a suprise to me, as I had estimated it at about 600m2. I think, after my experience with the carpenter and his measurements, I will have to measure it again. The jardinaire delivered 3 trucks of "negro tierre". He will spread it over the ground before he puts the gramma down. He says it hold the moisture better.

Pipes were laid under the ground to provide sprinklers at two points on this lawn. [see picture this page] .

The garden wall was finished. The inside was rendered in the "rustico" style. I still haven't decided how to finish the outside of the wall. [see picture this page]

The installation of the "tela asphaltica" was completed to all parts of the house, and tiles started to be positioned everywhere on the roofs. [see picture this page]

The beams and lintels for the studio were concreted in this week and the shuttering renoved. [see picture this page]


Week beginning Dec ember 11 th 2006
Week 20 of project
This week, in the garden, the small wall around the camino was rendered. [see picture this page] . 16 Trinitaria [plants] were planted around the front garden wall. Gramma [turf] was put down in the area enclosed by the camino and also in an area at the salida [going out]. [see pictures this page] The gramma looked a bit rough and ready at this stage, and many patches had weeds in it. I was told I had to weed it after, and that with rain, it would look great in 2-3 weeks. I was told this by a few unbiased people who knew the gardeners work.

Unfortunately it has only rained for 2 of the last 5 days !!

On Teusday I went to Santiago [the second city over here] with the plumber, to buy materials. I bought the tank and pump for the cassetta bomba, and also things for the piscina[swimming pool]. We went, because materials are up to 30% cheaper there. I am grateful to the plumber for this service. He has done it many times, and I have only paid him for the petrol. He is only employed for labour, and so doesn't have to do it. It is MY job to supply the materials.

On the Wednesday, the plumber, who is also the electrician, installed all the electrical appliances in the cassetta bomba. These are all the main controls for the house. When he had finished the concrete floor could be made. This was done on Friday.

I had recieved 2 estimates for connecting electricity from the street to the house. I decided on one, and he started this week. His work involves putting in a transformer and a counter. I expected him to finish this week but he didn't.

The roof tiler continued this week and nearly finished. He is the only contractor that has been a complete pain from start to finish !! This week, again I saw many broken tiles lying around where his men had been careless. At one stage I threatened to restrict his workforce to 3 persons !! The end result, was that even though I bought 500m2 of tiles for a roof that totalled 443m2, I had to buy 4m2 more !!

The pannette continued both inside and out, and should finish next week.


FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - DECEMBER 2006

As elsewhere there is a tradition here for an employer to give a Xmas bonus. I looked at the website www.drlawyer.com, which suggested that a months salary, was what was expected. This was actually for long term employees, not for employers like myself. I gave equally, what I thought was a good amount. Everyone was pleased exept the maestro who thought he should be given more than the others.

Another important employment factor is that if you employ someone for more than 3 months you are liable for all sorts of things. There is a need to seek legal, advice or go to the relevant government department in Puerta Plata, for information.

The roofer finished in December. I was dissapointed with the amount of unnessasary tiles that were broken. I realize now that I should have had an agreement regarding a limit to the number of broken tiles, that would be acceptable. I will do this when my floor tiles are laid.

During December I changed the working hours. I cancelled the half day working on Saturday. The men seemed to regard it as a rest day. Also, by now they were getting tired. Cancelling it reduces my costs and increases productivity on the other days when they are more refreshed.

Plumber/Electrician.
When I first employed him I thought his fee was high. I now realise it wasn't. He knew the amount of work involved. He has incorporated many features into the design that I hadn't thought of, and made many changes without additional cost. He has bought all the materials [with my money], which wasn't really his job. This has meant that on many occasions he has gone to Santiago to seek lower prices.

Garden supplyer. [Vivero]
I bought the gramma [week 20] by the m2. This included delivery and installation. I bought the palnts at unit cost. Again this included delivery and installation. There are many locally and they all seem to charge much the same price.

Windows and doors.
There is no doubt about it, wooden windows look great. I had been advise against having them by everyone, because of the maintanance that would be nessasary. I was actually put off by their cost ! So, I have decided to go for aluminium windows. They come painted in different colours. I have chosen white. I have decided to have them all sliding and with mosquito nets.

Shopping for aluminium windows here is similar to shopping for windows in the UK. There are many supliers who all seem to be selling the same thing, for widely different prices. I asked 3 diffrent suppliers but went with one that had a reccomendation from the maestro.

The doors, on the other hand, I have decided to have in wood. Again, these are very expensive. I have decided to have the kitchen units, all the doors, and any visible shelving made from the same wood, Roble. This is the Spanish name for Oak. The commonest wood used here is Caboa or mahogany. Oak is a much lighter wood.

There are very few kitchen units that are ready made here, all are made for you. The standard I saw was very high. They all claim that if you show them a picture of what you want, it will be made that way. So far I have asked 3 contractors but haven't chosen yet.

Last but not least, the men from the local authority came around looking for money. They came twice and each time went away empty handed !!


Week beginning December 18 th 2006
Week 21 of project
No the pannette wasn't finished this week, but continued steadily. The contractor now tells me certain areas he doesn't want to do some of it by the m2 bwcause it take too long. He wants to do it by time !! [make it up as you go along]

The roof tile were finished this week and I was very happy to see the contractors go. The job was OK but not great. [see picture this page]

The Cassetta bomba was now ready to have its horizontally striped walls done. After 5 minutes attempting it the maestro told me it couldn't be done. I had been waiting 4 weeks for this, and why he couldn't tell me before I don't know. I couldn't see how they could possibly do it, but I was told they could !!! He tried to do it on some new walls but again gave up. [see picture this page]

The cassetta bomba rendering was repaired. Now the roof tiles were done, you could see that the cement below the tiles was protruding. This area now had to be finished with more cement for the whole house !!

The transformer was installed this week. The contractor promptly disappeared. [see picture this page]

Works were done on the piscina by the plummer/electrician. He told me it was now ready for rendering.

Another bricklayer was bought in to render the other small camino wall.

I had to pay for the rendering to date and needed to measure all the areas rendered. This took me 3 days !! When I presented my results they were all accepted without question !!

I feel I have now turned the last corner in the process, and can now see the finishing post. It is a long way away, but I can see it.

I started to get quotes for windows and doors, both wooden and aluminium. I also started to get quotes for kitchens, and painting.

The gramma looks slightly better than before, but still not how I expected it.


Week beginning December 25 th 2006
Week 22 of project
Work with the pannette continues. This week they were doing the corners [cantas] for the windows and doors, and also the columns. [see picture this page] The head of the team had to return to Haiti for the new year. He wanted to finish this week but didn't.

The big clean up started in the house. [see picture this page] Mounds on concrete left on the floor by the rendering process had to be dug up. I decided to dig big holes and bury it all. This also helps with providing extra soil which is very much needed.

The cassetta bomba was painted with a white primer. I then painted samples of six different colours on the side from which to choose. [see picture this page].

The new maestro did an interesting thing this week. He went around the house with a long tube of water. He used this, at different points, to mark a line around the house 1metre below the tops of the windows and doors. This is now the new mark for measuring things.

Because this is Xmas week, the workers started work on the Teusday not the Monday. [they celebrate Xmas on the 24th not the 25th]. They also have new years day off.


Week beginning January 1st 2007
Week 23 of project
HAPPY NEW YEAR. !!

This week was much the same as last week. Again 4 days. We had a new team doing the rendering, and they should finish this week.

The big clean up continued around the house. I employed two extra workers for this.

I decided to knock the kitchen wall out some more and have a much more open plan kitchen. [see picture this page].

I decided on the contractor to put the windows and doors in the cassetta bomba.

I decided on the colour I wanted to paint the house, and proceeded to paint the cassetta bomba that colour. After seeing the results of that I decided to do the painting myself, and not employ a contractor.

No the pannette wasn't finished this week, but continued steadily. The contractor now tells me certain areas he doesn't want to do some of it by the m2 bwcause it take too long. He wants to do it by time !! [make it up as you go along]

The Cassetta bomba was now ready to have its horizontally striped walls done. After 5 minutes attempting it the maestro told me it couldn't be done. I had been waiting 4 weeks for this, and why he couldn't tell me before I don't know. I couldn't see how they could possibly do it, but I was told they could !!! He tried to do it on some new walls but again gave up. 

The cassetta bomba rendering was repaired. Now the roof tiles were done, you could see that the cement below the tiles was protruding. This area now had to be finished with more cement for the whole house !!

Works were done on the piscina by the plummer/electrician. He told me it was now ready for rendering.

Another bricklayer was bought in to render the other small camino wall.

I had to pay for the rendering to date and needed to measure all the areas rendered. This took me 3 days !! When I presented my results they were all accepted without question !!

I feel I have now turned the last corner in the process, and can now see the finishing post. It is a long way away, but I can see it.

I started to get quotes for windows and doors, both wooden and aluminium. I also started to get quotes for kitchens, and painting.

The gramma looks slightly better than before, but still not how I expected it.


Week beginning January 8 th 2006
Week 24 of project
All the pannette was officially finished this week.

The fino layer of pannette on the flat roof was also started and completed this week. [see picture this page] It was laid to falls away from the centre so that rainwater runs to the two pipes at the edged of the roof. The water then runs down the pipes and away. It rained everyday this week and so I had opportunity to see that it worked perfectly.

All the wiring was completed this week. It was put in tubes at floor level. The next stage will be to concret over the tubes, so everything must be right. [see pictures this page] The wiring includes telephone wires and also cable TV wires.

The stone facing to the front wall was started this week. Last week some stone was delivered that was substandard. Both the contractor and myself agrred that it was the wrong quality and had to be returned. Later two camino's [small lorry] of the correct stone were delivered. When the stone was delivered, it was very large and has to be broken down into smaller pieces. This was done with a mallet. It was then stuck onto the face of the wall with render. [see pictures this page]

Preparation for painting began this week.First any small bits of rendering were removed from the wall with a spatula, the walls were then rubbed down with a stone [specially for this purpose] and sandpaper. Any areas that needed filling were filled and sanded down. All areas were first given a coat of primer and then 2 coats of paint. More if needed.

I was torn between two colours. In the end I decided to use both. One at the front and one at the rear. The colours look very different from morning to night, and from bright to dull days.

The cassetta bomba was painted and also the marquisina. [see picture this page].

I had decided on the company that was to provide and install the aluminium windows and doors. I decided that I was only going to do a few at a time in case there were any problems. His first job was to provide 3 windows and a door for the cassetta bomba. They were installed this week. All went well. [see picture this page] Later this same contractor provided me with an estimate for the rest of the house. It was a good job I checked it, because many things were wrong including a window that wasn't there !

This week I also decided on the contractor to do all the wooden doors and make the kitchen units. I am having them made of Roble [oak].


Week beginning January 15th 2007
Week 25 of project
This week the front gaden  stone wall was finished. [see picture this page].

 

The chapapote [the final concrete screed in the house] was started this week. [see picture this page]. Whilst this was being done no other works could be done inside. Since it was raining everyday now, I decided that there would be no other works this week. I  told the workers this.

 

 

FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - JANUARY 2007

All of this month I have been going to Santiago on Saturdays, looking at bathroom,  kitchen,  and electrical fittings. Furniture also.

 

When I am ready, I will have a separate  section as a "SHOPPING GUIDE". Suffice to say that at this stage I have bought my refridgerator and oven from Plaza LLama, my taps and shower heads from Ochoa, my wash hand basins and WC's from MacKervan, and my sink from Iberia, Plaza Texas.

 

With some of these stores, if you see something you want, you have to buy it there and then, or you may never see it again in that store. 

 

Labour Problems.

I have had 5 workers, working for me exclusively, since September. I had been advised by a lawyer, that if they worked for me for more than 3 months, then I would be liable for all sorts of things like sick leave,  vacations etc. The 3 months was reached on December 23rd, and I was faced with the prospect of sacking them the week before Xmas, and also not giving them any Xmas bonus. I just couldn't bring myself to do it, and so, carried on employing them.

 

At that stage I sought legal advise from one of the top law firms here. They told me that the implied contract I had with the workers, was that the job lasted for the duration of construction of my house. When the construction was over, their work was over, and I had no need to pay them redundancy. [liquidation]

 

In January when I asked the workers to cease for a week because the chapapote was being done, 2 of them served papers on me saying I had fired them, and that they wanted liquidation pay. They had both been acting strange for a couple of weeks before, and not doing much work. It was then after discussing it with many people that I found out that this was a well known ploy by workers. When they realised work was drying up they forced you to sack them, or said you had sacked them. They then went for liquidation pay. Depending on whom you spoke to,  you would get a different remedy to this problem.

 

To cut a long story short my new lawyer advised to to pay a reduced amount. He offered them half of what they were asking which they accepted.They then signed a disclaimer he had prepared. It felt like a stab in the back but I got over it after a week. The lawyer suggested I should have a meeting with the others at that stage, so any future labour problems could be done with a bit more civility.

 

In the last week of January my "best" worker went on at me for about 20minutes after recieving his pay.It was hard to work out what he  was saying, since he was Haitian, and his Spanish wasn't much better than mine. It amounted to, he wanted more money. I said "no", and he should discuss that before he starts work not when he finishes. Later he smashed some of the sabaleta that had been prepared. I asked him to leave. He refused. He eventually left. I then decided that he couldn't be permitted to return to work.

 

The following week he sreved me with papers as well.

 

The Ebanisteria

An ebanisteria is a cabinet maker. You need them for any fine woodwork you are doing. I had decided that wooden windows were just to expensive for me.  So, I needed an ebanisteria for my kitchen units, my doors, and shelving. They will also do all types of wooden furniture. The traditional wood used over here for this purpose, is mahogany [Caboa]. I had decided to go for a lighter coloured wood called Roble, or Oak.

 

These hardwoods are the most expensive option for wood, then softwoods such as Pine, lastly you could have plywood, which can be painted.

 

Doors are charged by the unit depending on size. Kitchen units are charged by the square ft. All measurements are in feet and inches for some reason, not metric.

 

All the ebaniterias I saw, told me that if I showed them a picture of what I wanted, then they could make it.  I had a British kitchen catalogue, and knew what design of kitchen units I wanted. The door designs I got from a catalogue the ebanisteria had. For the front door, I am still looking for a special design.

 

I interviewed and received estimates from 3 different ebanisterias. I was only able to see previous jobs from 2 and only got one written estimate. I chose the one who gave me a written estimate, and whose previous work I could see. He was also the cheapest.  I paid 60% up front, the rest to be paid on completion.

 

IN the kitchen, there are 3 different types of worktop used here.  Marmalite, Granite and Silestone. Silestone is the most expensive.

I decided I wanted granite. The granite comes in many different colours, all with different prices.   

 

Windows and Doors.

I couldn't afford wooden windows, and so  had decided on white painted aluminium windows, and white painted aluminium doors for the 3 doors, which were not really part of the living area of the house.

 

Again I interviewed 3 contractors. They all seemed to be selling the same thing within my price range. It was called P65 style. I went for the one with the recomendation. He was also marginally cheaper. On of the other contractors is now always telling me he will reduce his price if I switch to him.  

 

Unlike colder climates, the main reason for windows here, is to keep out the rain and sometimes mosquitoes. The rain at times can be torrential and can find its way into the smallest of cracks. I have been advised to put silicon underneath the windows when installing them, that would prevent the entry of rain. Having said that, most of the places I have stayed have had this problem in one way or another.

 

Ceramics

I interviewed 3 different contractors to do my ceramics.

 

The first gave me a price without a breakdown. He was the most expensive.

The second gave me a price/m2 for the floor and a price/ml for the socolo [skirting]. and then a total price. His price was similar to the first.

The third gave  a price for the floor and the socolo. He then gave a price for each bathroom. His price was 25% below the others.

 

They all could show me there work. It all seemed reasonable. None of the charges were cheap. I chose the third cotractor.

 

Painting

I interviewed 3 different painters efore deciding to do it myself. None of them gave me  price.

 

With painting, most of the work is in the preparation. With concrete buildings there is a lot of preparation. I had no idea what amount of preparation they would do, that is one of the reasons I decided to do it myself. In the end I employed a contractor on a dayrate. His work was very poor. After 3 days I stopped him. Doing the painting myself I definitely see the benefit of the "Rustica" style. It allows you to ignore most of the hard and costly work of preparation. There is a tradeoff though, the rustica style uses a lot more paint.

 

Week beginning January 22nd 2007
Week 26 of project

 

This week, the chapapote was finished. 

 

 

 

The plummer started to put the shower fixtures in, but didn't finish. For the last few weeks I have been going to Santiago to choose and buy all my bathroom and kitchen fittings. I bought all my shower fittings in Ochoa in Santiago.

 

A ventilation duct was put in the guest WC as it is internal. [it doesn't have a window]

 

There was a national holiday on Monday and work wasn't permitted at HEC. On Teusday a new painter started. He was charging much more than the average. His painting was very rapid but not satisfactory. He painted what he wanted to paint and not what I told him. He also didn't do any preparation of any finishing off. He also never painted any corners. When I pointed this out to him he seemed oblivious. If the roller didn't go there then he didn't do it !!

 

The swimming pool pannette was completed this week. [see picture this page]. It was done very well. When completed the contractor started working on the steps. He completed them within 2 days. [see picture this page].

 

The problem with the saboleta noted the week before was solved by knocking it out where not correct.

 

The first set of windows that I ordered were installed  this week. I forgot to tell the contractor that I didn't want them in the centre of the wall untill after he had put them in there. He said he would change them at no extra charge when he put the next batch in.

Because I am having blinds, not curtains, and I want the blinds to rest on the inside of the cill, that width needs to be larger than normal.

 

All this week I have been trying to find the right colour to paint the inside of the house. Unfortunately they don't sell the very small swatches of paint for you to try out. The smallest you can buy is a gallon ussually.

 

NOW WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. The plummer cannot continue because he wants to test the system before he concretes everything in. He cannot do this without electricity to pump the water around. Also the ceramics man wants to start. He also cannot start without electricity for his cutter. I have been told that the electricity is ready but just needs connecting by the only electricity company in the area. Eden Norte.

 

This process should be done well in advance of being required.

 

Week beginning February 5th 2007
Week 28 of project

 

The final levelling of the camino was started this week. Over the previous 6 weeks the previous levellings have been compacted. Again calichi stone was use.  [see picture this page]. When completed gravel will be the final covering.

 

The front steps were started and completed this week. The contractor did them completely different to how I wanted them, even though I had drawn a design for him. He also reduced his price by 80% before I agreed he cvould start work. The surface material hasn�t been put down yet. That is a separate contract. I have decided to have laja [a local stone], but haven�t chosen the colour as yet.  [see picture this page].

The same contractor also completed the saboleta around the house. Again the job wasn�t as good as it could have been. I don�t think I will be using him again. [see picture this page]. 

 

The gramma that I had installed 6 or so weeks ago, now resembled a tropical rainforest. In desperation I found 3 gardeners from another house on the project and they started to rectify the situation. They had an immediate affect, and the gramma looks much better now. Almost every plant imaginable was in there , including potatoes and corn. [both of which they were reluctant to move]

[see picture this page].

 

Again I have been doing outside work instead of inside. Its so much cheaper and easier.

 

I decided not to use the painter I had employed last week. I interviewed another who would only work by the job and not by the day. I gave him the job of doing the remaining ceilings. He reduced his original price by 60% and I said yes. He did a fabulous job in a day and a half. I then realised I should have paid less. Anyway I was very pleased with the result. [see picture this page].

 

This week I was told the my electricity plans were approved by Eden Norte. The site should be inspected next week and I should have electricity the week after. Hurrah !!

 

Week beginning February 12th 2007
Week 29 of project

 

Still no electricity.

 

This week I did the final levelling of the road, again. The next step is to put gravel over it. [see picture this page]. 

 

I bought my ceramics last year thinking that I would begin construction earlier than I did. They were kept on my land. Now it was getting near the time to use them, I bought them into the house. They were filthy. Two workers this week started washing them individually by hand.

 

The tall grass over my land was cut this week. I can now see what a lot of it looks like. [see picture this page]. 

 

The doors that I ordered from the Ebaniter are now nearly finished. Only one problem. I orderd 6.  5 of one style and the sixth [the main front door] to be different. They have made all 6 the same !! Oh well .  Somehow they don't look as I thought they would. The quality of the wood is less than I expected. The don't ;ook that different fron the Pine, which I don't like. They asked for them not to be installed until all the painting and tiling is done. 

 

The second set of 6 windows were installed this week. No problems. [see picture this page]. 

 

 

Fortnight beginning February 26th 2007
Weeks 31and 32 of project

 

Still no electricity. An inspector from the company came and said that I needed to put three covers to 3 registrys in the road and then I would be connected. I did this. [see picture this page]. 

 

The painting of the inside of the house was completely finished this week. The outside was started straight after. On the inside, I did a primer coat of white, and then two coats of the colour chosen. I have been advised not to do the final coat until I have totally finished all the work. I went ahead with the final coat because the painter was so reasonably priced and so good. Later on I realised I should have taken that  advise.

 

The outside started with a primer coat and then the first coat of the chosen colour. [see picture this page]. 

 

Levelling of the land at the rear of the house started around the swimmimg pool. [see picture this page]. The gardener doing this is very good.

Meanwhile another of the gardeners crew was cutting all the long grass. [see picture this page]. Cutting long grass is done with what I always called a machete. Over here it is called a Colin. [Sounds like Coleen] A machete is another cutting devise used in the garden as well.

 

The Ceramicera [man who does ceramics] started this fortnight also. He progressed rapidly with another ceramicera and ayudante [helper]. They started in the sala [living room] and progressed rapidly down one side of the house. [see picture this page]. Because I had bought the tiles a year before, I had forgotten exactly how many I had bought. When I calculated how many I had now, I realised I had enough to do all the walls in the bathrooms. Some of these had been painted now. Before these painted walls could be tiled, they had to be "picked away" with a "pickete" [see picture this page]. 

 

The electrics continued. More toma corrientes [sockets] were put in. 

 

I bought some 3inch plastic piping and made a rainwater discharge pipe so water from the flat roof discharges away from the wall.

 

One of the conditions before I could get electricity was that I bought up to standard facilities for electricity in the street. To this end I did panette to the sides of  3 registries in the street, and made 3 tapas [tops] for them. This is in addition to the first 3.

 

Certain rooms in the house  need additional piscos [floors]. This is so anything placed on top of them doesn't get wet when the floor is cleaned. The traditional way to clean a floor here involves tipping water all over it. If you have wood touching the floor in these circumstances it would rot. Another floor, therefore, about 7cm deep, is put on top of the original floor, where you intend to have closets or kitchen cabinets eg.

 

This is done by the ceramicera first putting up socolo [7cm cut tiles that act as skirting] and the albania [the man who does concrete] putting in a concrete floor that hight. This was done in the bedrooms where I am having closets, and in the kitchen where I am having cabinets. [see pictures this page]. The ebinistre [cabinet maker] had to be there to make sure it was done correctly, and see that the fridge and cooker would fit in. Fortunately I had the fridge and the cooker at the time. I was therefore able to make sure the gaps were correct.

 

 

The ebanistre made 2 arcs of hardboard [carton piedra] that were used to outline the shape of the curves for the small windows that are at the front.

 

Every Saturday I now go to Santiago to buy lights kitchenware, bathroom fittings, and look at furniture etc.

 

SEE SHOPPING GUIDE 

 

FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - FEBRUARY-MARCH 2007  

Labour problems contiued.

Of the 5 workers I had employed for more than three months. Two had gone with liquidation pay, and another had served liquidation papers on me. The same solicitor advised the same solution with this other worker. He was offered and accepted reduced liqidation pay.

This is a lose lose solution for both parties. The worker has to pay for the liqidation assesment from the "Secretary of Trade" in Puerta Plata. He then has to wait at least 10 days, during which time he cannot work. If the matter then goes to court, he would then have to pay a solicitor. [The solicitor will probably work for 1/3rd of the money won]. In my case it would be much better for them if they waited for "notice to quit". They would then get some moneyt straight away.  

 

Fortnight beginning March 12th 2007
Weeks 33 and 34 of project

I have a new Albania. He started by lowering the wall between the kichen and sala. It will now be open plan without a breakfast bar. [see picture this page]. 

 

Next he worked on the surface of the front steps. I had decided to do the front steps in a dark laja [local stone] that would match the colour of the gravel in the driveway when I get it [see picture this page].  The risers would have small tiles in them to give a Morrocan feel.

 

I had another albania to build the shower walls in the bathrooms. I told him exactly what to do and gave him the plans with the measurements. I didn�t stay and watch him, but I should have done. At the end of the week when I checked everything, it was about 70% correct. I think he just couldn�t be bothered to do it right. [see pictures this page]. 

 

The ground at the rear of the piscina is higher than the piscina. I decided to build a small ornamental wall to contain the higher ground and at the same time build a shower for the piscina on one side and a concrete table on the other. I started this wall by excavating for the zapatas for all 3 areas. [see pictures this page]. 

 

The ceramicera who had dissapeared for Week 33 returned and started working on the bathroom design. All my bathrooms are white with one other colour which acts as a border. [see pictures this page]. 

 

For one bathroom, I told the ceramicera 3 times how I wanted it, and each time he got it wrong. It was during this process that I discovered that the ceramicera couldn�t do mitred joints !! He didn�t even know what they were.

 

The painting of the exterior finished was finished. Both undercoat and topcoat. I experimented with a different colour for the front wall. [see pictures this page].  Later I decided to abandon this colour.

 

When the treads to the front steps were completed the small tiles were put into the risers. [see picture this page]. 

 

The drain run for if and when the studio becomes a guest house was put in. First the line was marked out. [see picture this page]. 

 

Again, shopping on Saturdays. Bought handles for kitchen cupboard doors. Very large selection available.