Gringos de Marimán

One of the reasons that I like living in Chile so much is the fact that time seems somewhat irrelevant. If someone promises to get back to you in the morning, they don't necessarily mean tomorrow morning. Completion dates and lead times should always be rounded to the nearest week or perhaps month. What the heck, my time estimates have always been a little screwy, so I feel very comfortable with this mas o menos concept. After all, sometimes other new and interesting things pop up to distract you. Speaking of that, I just realized that I took these photos over 3 months ago. Almost seems like yesterday.

Back in February I had written "Are we there yet??" in the calendar box for Monday October 8th (the start of week 34). Later in the week I noticed that someone had emphatically answered my question with "NO" in large letters. Clearly not everyone enjoys the flojo aspect of Chilean time. With this in mind I was especially happy when I arrived at the parcela to find Leo adding aluminum filter paper on the wall behind the escalera. Could we be nearing the end of the siding installation? We started the siding in week 24 and I remember thinking the installation would go much faster than the tejuela.

But wait, we'd had lots of other activity going on at the same time. Look, I spotted the coihue going up on the living/dining/guest room wall next to the terraza. Could the coihue installation finish before the siding?

Or what about the cielo, Jorge and Juan had only a few strips to finish.

Claro, I can't pass up the chance to mention the pizarra again.

So let's not worry about being mas o menos finished with things. Instead let's move on to something new and interesting, like the solar paneles. Here you can see the first one going into place above the terraza.

Each piece actually consists of a liquid-filled plastic panel, backed by a piece of wood, and housed in an iron bar. As you see, the paneles have two nipples on one end which will connect to plastic tubes circulating the liquid.

We'll have 12 paneles above the terraza angled toward the north, hopefully optimizing any available winter sun. By the way, as we look from the back side we can see the now terminated siding.

Well, the maestros will have to add siding around the solar paneles too, but we're mas o meno done.

Speaking of mas o menos, Kenny discovered the paneles extended about 4 centimeters too far beyond the edge of facade. Seems that when we widened the stairwell (now what week was that?) someone forgot to take the paneles into account. No problem, Valdovino and Leo can add another viga layer after they've marked the panel cutouts.

Hmm, so what was that angle supposed to be?

Ok, by the end of the week we were all set with the cutouts.

Speaking of vigas, Valdovino and Leo made a few measurements for the vigas supporting the upper terraza. This time we'll be sure of the dimensions.

Meanwhile, Jorge and Juan finished the cielo and they also headed up to the roof to paint the cubierta before the vigas arrived.

So why paint the cubierta if we're planning to cover it with a terraza? Seems that it rains here occasionally and rust prevention is advisable.

Did you notice the safety valve for the piso radiante heating system? Let's leave that explanation for a little bit.

Back on the ground, Juan had mas o menos finished the pizarra, lacking only the final section next to the door. Next he started cleaning the piedra prior to sealing it, prior to grouting between the pieces, prior to cleaning again, prior to sealing again. Ok, I did say he had mas o menos finished. Here's the entryway with the sealant drying. Unfortunately, the cool temperatures turned the sealant milky so Juan had to postpone the process to wait for a sunny day.

Not sure if this was cleaned, sealed and cleaned or just cleaned.

Woops, still too cool.

But the weather was definitely warming up, as indicated by the reviving pirca plants.

Inside, Ricardo and his crew had finished all the pasting prep work and started in priming and varnishing. They doubled-up on the workroom ceiling and walls.

Then they split up to tackle the bathroom and the bedroom toaster wall.

The week ended on a sunny note, providing another opportunity to enjoy the now clean piedra pizarra. I'll have the next update out shortly, mas o menos. Hasta la proxima!!!