Each day I can scarcely follow the progress that happens with the house project. So many people are doing so many things all around the building - all at the same time! While I do my best to do actual physical work, a lot of my time is spent making sure things are going according to the plan that largely lives in my head. Janis and I tour the site a number of times each day to look things over and to discuss changes and modifications, ideally before the project is started.
Up on the roof the Penfold's Roofers are busy nailing on the recycled rubber shinlges. They are doing a great job payng particular attetion to the curved eyebrows. I watched for a while as one of the fellows worked on the curved roof over the entry. He carefully test fit each piece, trimming as necessary and also careful not to put any joints near the valleys of the roof. He explained the why's of everything he was doing. I learned lots! We are confident the roof will serve us well for many, many years into the future!
The carpenters were busy tidying up the various bits of framing of the walls through the house. They also finished the high soffits on the back patio roof. They will be finished this stage of construction in a few days.
Our crew were busy through the day mixing and applying the fiberglass reinforced concrete in many paces around the house exterior. We sculpted the first of the trees in the carport.
We also mudded the high facia on the front gable. We used a snorkle lift to reach as it was the fastest and safest way to get way up there.
I get many enquiries about the process we use to do the sculpting of the concrete on our house. We sculpt with a special concrete mix that is called FRC - fiberglass reinforced concrete. It is trowelled on the expanded steel lath about an inch thick and allowed to set up until it is cured enough to carve. This generally takes one to two hours depending on the wind, sunshine and humidity.
We then use a variety of special tools to carve and sculpt the concrete to the shape and texture we desire. It is important that we carve quickly, at the same rate we applied the concrete, for the open time for carving is very short. It will become rock hard soon!
It was a great day today! Much was done on the house and we are all eager to get goong once again tomorrow. Stay tuned...
-grampa dan