Finishing the roof

Saturday and Sunday were important days for our construction project. I had done all I could do without the help of a professional - uncle Ricardo - who makes his living as an albanil (brick mason). Saturday was spent installing the "tarimas" which would support the concrete of the roof. Tarimas are like heavy wooden boxes and one rents them along with the "puntales" (wooden posts) which support them.

Ricardo installing the tarimas that will support the concrete roof while the cement cures.

Mixing cement in the street.

On Sunday there were eight of us - Pacito's dad and two uncles, three neighbors and myself. We would need a lot of hands to install the "barrillas" (steel reinforcing bars) and mix three hundred buckets of cement, all of which would be transported by hand up to the rooftop to be poured into place.

The block and tackle for lifting the cement is not OSHA approved. But it worked flawlessly.

Each bucket was lifted with a block and tackle, hooked with a "gancho" (metal hook) tied to the end of the "soga" (rope) which ran through the block (I don't know the Spanish for this rig). I was the "chalan" whose muscle pulled the rope that hauled each bucket up to the roof. I figure it was 15,000 lbs of cement. My arms aren't sore today but I could barely close my hands this morning.

Paco and his brother Ricardo are installin the "magera" (plastic hose) for electric wiring for lights, all of which will be securely buried in the concrete roof. Supported by a gridwork of metal rebar.

The roof is partially filled with cement.

Recorded for posterity in the fresh cement - the names of all involved.

Relaxing after a long hard day's work.

Paco ready to go to his security gig Sunday evening. He works 6pm to 6am.