UNDER CONSTRUCTION "Tico Style" Our New Casa in Costa del Sol ~ Stage 2 - Foundation to Roof in 4 Weeks!

After 20 years working in new home construction sales and marketing I have come to understand time frames and scheduling and what is typically considered to be a reasonable time to complete a home.  Sometimes when everything falls in to place, material are delivered on time, workers are readily available and the weather is co-operating, you can defy the average and accomplish your goal at a much faster pace.  
"Rapido" has been the most often heard word when talking with the locals about our casa that is being built.  The new home construction time for a home of this size is typically 4 - 6 months but we have moved along so fast that we have gone from foundation to roof in only 4 weeks!  
This could mean that we may be complete in only 3 months!


Welcome to Stage 2 of the construction of our new casa in beautiful Costa del Sol in Costa Rica!

If you missed Stage 1 you may want to click the link here to catch up on the story of building a home Tico Style.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION "Tico Style" Our New Casa in Costa del Sol ~ 
                               Stage 1 - The Foundation
  
As the walls were built the plastic conduit was placed in the walls where the electrical plugs and switches would be window and door openings were formed and when they reached the top the walls are filled with concrete one bucket at a time.  No insulation is needed here.  Next comes the metal roof trusses which were built on site to support the metal roof sheathing with the clay tile overlay.

I am still amazed at the many different construction processes and love to watch the guys working. Not only do these guys work hard but they do it with a happy spirit with smiles, singing and some occasional laughter when someone shares a joke or two.


 I am constantly reminded of why Costa Rica is considered to be the happiest place on earth!

These pics show you the process that they use to prepare the sand for the stucco mortar mix called repella.  The sand is shoveled into a framed screen and rolled back and forth and shaken to remove all of the big pieces of gravel and retain the finer sand.  This repella or plaster is then applied to the full exterior of the home and also used to form the window frames called moldura or molding.  Once complete you then apply the colored stucco of your choice which is purchased from the paint store.

I am fascinated by the artistic abilities to perfectly sculpt 
the mortar to form the molduras around each window! 

This same process is used to finish the interior walls.  The walls are wet down with a hosepipe and then the mixture is troweled over the entire surface.  It is later sanded to an amazingly smooth surface and then painted the color of your choice.


And then comes the roof!  
There is just always such a great feeling when you reach the stage of topping it off with a rooftop and the home is protected from the rain.  In the states this is referred to as "dried in".  Oh, and did I mention that it is the "Green Season" in Costa Rica?  There is usually a nice refreshing rain shower most everyday!
Now it is safe to add any the finish products that can not get wet such as interior sheet rock and in this case it is limited to the ceilings and one area in the kitchen where the refrigerator will be built in.

Please enjoy our video medley below of pictures during Phase 2 of construction!

                To view full screen click the square of 4 arrows  ^       

Next is the fun part....making it pretty!  Stay tuned for our next post which will include the mechanical features such as Windows, Air Conditioning, Appliances and the decorator items that make it shine....custom cabinets, bath fixtures, paint, tile and lighting!  You are going to love the pebble flooring in the guest room shower!  And don't forget....the pool which is the best part of the outdoor living spaces!

Pura Vida from Costa del Sol at beautiful 

Playa Bejuco in Costa Rica!

Interested in a vacation home?  

Let us build one for you!  

Visit our website www.CostaRicaNewHomes.com