5-22-2015 to 8-4-2016 Home Construction in Belize

We were still staying downstairs at our friends' place when construction began on the lot next door. I (Cara) began taking pictures of the process from roughly the same spot (just for fun, I guess). So, this shows the general progression of construction.

(Note: please excuse me if I get any of the construction terms, etc. wrong - I'm no expert, I'm just noting what it looks like to me.)

22 May 2015 - They begin clearing the lot next door using a backhoe.
This was difficult to see at first because I had grown accustomed to seeing lush, green jungle outside the window as I worked.
But, we later became friends with the super nice owners who were building next door, so now it's all good.  ;)

22 May 2015 - Lot clearing

22 May 2015 - Lot clearing

22 May 2015 - End of the first day of lot clearing

23 May 2015 - Finishing up the lot clearing

27 May 2015 - Lot cleared, filled and leveled

20 July 2015 - They begin driving the pilings (quite the sound next door)

26 July 2015 - Pilings driven in, laying the groundwork for the house

2 August 2015 - There is a lizard perched on the wood box in the middle of the picture on the right

11 August 2015 - Framing for the concrete pour

5 September 2015 - Concrete foundation and pillars

13 September 2015 - Framing and building the rooms with concrete blocks

I can hardly believe it myself, but somehow I failed to take any pictures for an entire two months! Sadly, I didn't get any pics showing all the bushwood sticks that are used to support the roof so they can pour concrete up there. You can see just a few of them in the photo above. So, anyway, there is a bit of a time jump here...

8 December 2015 - Concrete roof poured and set, inside room divisions done

8 December 2015 - The hole for this pool was dug by hand using shovels.

31 December 2015 - Smoothing the exterior of the house

31 December 2015 - Pool concrete done, and concrete floor of swim-up-bar ready to pour

8 January 2016

8 January 2016 - Concrete floor poured for the swim-up bar

19 January 2016 - Preparing to pour concrete around the pool and bar

19 January 2016 - I'm sure they removed that juice bottle before they poured the concrete.

28 January 2016 - Concrete poured around the pool, and rough concrete pillar for the palapa over the bar

28 January 2016 - It's looking more like a dipping pool and swim-up bar

20 February 2016 - The railing for the roof deck is up, and the scaffolding is in place to add the palapa over the bar.

20 February 2016 - View of the pool and bar from the roof

15 March 2016 - Palapa being added over the bar

15 March 2016 - Work on the palapa

19 March 2016 - Palapa is finished and trimmed, windows and doors are in, and the base coat is on most of the house.

2 April 2016 - Starting to tile the patio around the pool. Lots of work is being done inside the house as well.
Actually, the house was supposed to be completely done at this point because the owners were coming for a brief stay.

14 April 2016 - Starting to paint the house, but only some trim work is done here

16 April 2016 - The house is painted except for the top deck.

22 May 2016 - Progress on the patio tile work
(By this point we had moved into the village, and I didn't get over here to take pictures as often as I would have liked.)

20 July 2016 - Everything is done, just in time for the owners' next visit. Congrats on your new place, Dean and Janine!

4 August 2016 - Our first chance to enjoy the pool a little  the day after Hurricane Earl!
Dean and Janine were gone by then, but they did get to stay at their new house and enjoy their pool during their visit.
They are looking forward to their upcoming permanent move to Hopkins.