Building In Costa Rica, cont.

The building of my house has gone faster than I ever could have imagined. First of all, I sold new home builds for nine years. I watched and worked with a lot of really good builders. Not one could have done what this group of men have done so brilliantly and in such a short time. When I was originally told 4 months to build my house I knew from experience in the business that was not going to happen. Well, it appears I am being proven wrong.

My builder, Leonardo Quiros, and his workmen started my house the end of June. It is now September 2 and they are laying my floors! Everything is done by manual labor. They bent rebar to make the strong braces to pour the cement through to form my foundation. Hand dug all trenches and borders including septic tanks. Not to mention, not one time have I been out there that not everyone was working. No one just stands around, and all with a smile on their face. They are genuinely happy to be working.

The differences from building in the states and building in Costa Rica is the order in which they do things. The block walls went up before there was a slab floor. Just dirt. They ran the electricity and plumbing on the ground through PVC pipes and chipped into the block to place plugs and switches. After everything was in place they then poured the concrete for the flooring. I still do not have windows or doors, but they started putting the tile floors down today and will begin to paint this week. The windows and doors will be installed in approximately two weeks. Everything they have done has been to perfection.

I did not expect to be at this point in the build this soon, so I have not made final decisions on tiles, sinks and faucets. In this country if you find something you like you need to buy it then. Even in the big box stores they have it today and gone tomorrow. Last week I had to go into high gear when Leo told me they would be laying my tiles in the next two weeks. Luckily, I had already chosen and purchased my porcelain tile floors.

This past weekend my builder told me I will be moving into my new house in November. He expects to finish the end of October. I believe him!

They have done so much in just a little over two months that it is easier for me to post photos rather than to try to describe it step by step. All I can say is AMAZING!!!!

Pura Vida!