When we arrived at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Wednesday afternoon the first thing we noticed ( one of the problems of a muddy building site is that you spend a lot of time looking down to make sure you obtain safe footing) was a hoist at the top of a scaffold tower from ground level to the First Floor.
We saw very quickly that they were using this to lift concrete blocks and cement and Daniel Camal, our building contractor, was supervising things.
Blocks in the wheelbarrow ready to go up.
Coming up!
Load the bucket with cement.
Now we can lay some ‘blocks!
I was going to continue this edition by including more of the photos we took when we went to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize on Wednesday but when we went there today I decided to go for the more up-to-date news.
We saw the early signs of walls yesterday but as we got closer to the house we wonder(ed) how big the walls had grown. A quick walk up our new stairs and we saw just how much.
En-suite bedroom that Rose is going to have as a craft room.
View she will have through the sliding windows when she is not working.
Concrete blocks were being laid in every part of the First Floor and it was exhilarating to see so much going on. We have seen the guys working extremely hard before e.g. on the concrete pours, but it takes a while before you see the results. Not today because they were laying the ‘blocks very quickly.
The dining area flowing into the kitchen.
To the right of the dining area is the living room area.
Looking north to south across the dining/living room area from where the dining room wall will be. The veranda is to the right of the rebar rods.
Hall from west to east.
Mud room/closet in hall.
Veranda on the northern side looking west to east.
Veranda on the western (lagoon) side looking south to north.
Veranda on the eastern (road) side looking south to north.
Rose and I wonder how they got the walls up so quickly.
The headline is based on the 1995 single by Oasis which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and number eight in the US Billboard Hot 100.
Belize- building a new life . A Belize blog. 
Landing tomorrow at 12:00 John I’m check out the build on my way up north one day thia week . Ed
Safe journey and have a great visit Ed. You will definitely see the walls from the road now. Regards John
Wow John, just love seeing that beautiful blue sky in the photo’s!
Better still in real life!
It’s exciting to see the actual “rooms” emerging, John! What a thrill!
Yes Jane, definitely an exciting part of the build. Have to stop ourselves some days from rushing up there in the morning!
You would think these guys would have an inclined slider bed conveyor for lifting blocks to the upper level. Much safer and way more effecient
Have no experience of the piece of equipment you mention Larry but I am sure that it would very very efficient. Get the impression though hat very few of the building contractors here would make the capital investment. Think they were prefer to increase the labour cost ( which is covered by the client) and ‘throw bodies’ at it.
I friend on mine bought a used on in the states for $1700US. It was 20 foot long on wheels. 120V motor. He said it paid itself off the first project he used it on. That was five years ago!
I don’t doubt the business sense of such an investment Larry and I am sure that the ROI would be good. Just don’t think it is in the current mindset of a lot of the local building contractors.
Your walls are rising faster John, than the walls of Jherico came tumbling down!!! I see they have found a new invention…….the hoist!! Just watch the progress now. I see you are now in the mid 80’s with your weather, whilst here in Mass. we are bracing for one helluva No’reaster. Could be a record breaker, as they are forecasting 20-24″ of snow. How about them apples? Before you know it, you will be moving in. Keep up the good work…most interesting!!
Alan S.
Hi Alan. Yes, the walls are going up very quickly. So quickly that sometime next week I can see them being in a position to pour the Second Floor. Weather yesterday was in the mid 80s. Doubt that I could take the conditions you have heading your way. Regards John
They must have bought packets of ‘Instant walls’
Nothing instant about he concrete Robert. Saw it all mixed.