House Reform - Rest of Week 1

Day 2 Tuesday 3 October

We were awoken by electronic bells of the Church and got up @ 8.30 am, just as Ricardo delivered another 1,000 kilos of sand. We had a quick breakfast and J did washing hoping to dry it on terrace before they came, but Ricardo, Kurt and Juan arrived at 9.45 and started work immediately, mixing cement and the crane hoisting it to the roof terrace.

The main job today appears to be under-tiling the roof above the stairs leading to the terrace and creating a base for the water-tank to stand. Jun continued waterproofing terrace and putting starting to lay cement over the red waterproof stuff, over which will be laid the new tiles.

Back to house at 2 pm, but they had finished with us for the day, and probably gone to their other job for rest of the day. Not so much achieved today. Surveyed the scene and took pics , and realised could have had opportunity for a window overlooking orchard, which would have let in much needed light. Never mind.

Day 3 Wednesday 5 October

Ricardo and Franchico and Juan arrived early at 8.20 am whilst we were still in bed, so rapidly got up and had breakfast. Difficult to speak to him as he is so busy and distracted with all his tasks and supervising the men.

We discussed the door to the roof terrace and jobs for the day, which included laying cement on the roof and laying the stair roof tiles and building the base for the water tank. He also casually mentioned that we would have to move out for a week or so whilst they did all the plumbing and rewiring, without saying when.

Back to the house where a large hole on the first floor landing had been formed. Floor levels appeared a bit uneven , and we spent an hour or so discussing options, including totally filling in the gap and creating a patio at the end of the kitchen, with a toilet above the newly formed ceiling. This was nearly back to our original plans. J was worried this might be too expensive.

We took pictures of the days work, including the roof tiles above the stairs, and the new base for the water tank, and partially cemented terrace.

Day 4 Thursday 6^th October

Franchico arrived 8 am and Juan 10 minutes later, and did a bit of work waiting for Ricardo, who arrived about 8.30 am with 7 bags of cement. He wasn’t so stressed this morning and gave us time to discuss things.

He offered us a self contained apartment in his house for 220 euros per week, which may be a converted garage, but it solves a lot of problems of accommodation. Another option was his parent’s holiday home, but that would probably be 300 per week or more. We established that it may be Tuesday or Wednesday next week that we have to move out.

We discussed the hole and put to him the option of filling in the gap with a concrete floor, toilet on top, and creating a patio at end of kitchen, which he said was fine and not too expensive…….we’ll see. J spent rest of morning redesigning and drawing plans for new ideas.

Work continued on the terrace, although the crane was dismantled and taken away to the other job at lunchtime…..looks like they still need it.

Day 5 Friday 7^th October

Franchico & Juan arrived at 8 am again , and Ricardo a bit later with the crane, a water butt and a hose, and they proceeded to erect the crane on the roof again.

J buttonholed Ricardo early and discussed her worries about all the new work and its costs, and the danger of running out of money before the kitchen or front of house were completed. Ricardo took all of this on board, and agreed we could do some labouring and scraping work to help reduce costs.

After breakfast, we went out on roof with them and started scraping the walls. Ricardo told us the plan for today was to scrape the walls, seal them with a sealant, paint them white and then do as much tiling as possible.

He was in a good mood , cracking jokes at our expense, whilst raising tiles with the crane in a wheelbarrow, the crane precariously balanced with the water butt , and later with tiles and cement…….all a bit at variance with Health and Safety.

He asked me seriously if I liked working, to which I replied that I did, and he then took my scraper and scraped vigorously saying with a laugh “ …….this is working !!” , putting my feeble efforts to shame.

Later, he remembered he had’nt contacted the door and window man, and phoned him on his mobile, and the chap was there within half an hour. We went through all the window and door requirements for the house with no prior planning , having to make decisions on window and door types, shutters etc. on the spot.

Franchico laboured away, making cement and loading tiles to the crane, and scraping walls in between. Juan worked away finishing off the water tank platform, forming ,cement coving on top of the walls to prevent water penetration, sealing, and painting.

Ricardo disappeared at lunchtime, and Juan started laying the roof terrace tiles after lunch, and did about 2/3rds of the terrace in the afternoon. Franchico drilled away the front roof tiles , standing on the edge precariously at times, hopefully harnassed to the crane ……we just saw his shadow from below where we retreated.

We spent the afternoon scraping plaster and paint in the kitchen, and worryingly, found several “hollow” spots in the concrete ceiling.

The men finished at 4 pm as it was Friday, and we thought we ought to do the same and have a beer on the roof ……which we did, surveying the weeks work.