Construction 10: The First Trees, roof progress etc

The rains have come to north  Bali, thus it is time to plant some trees so that they can begin to establish roots before the next dry.

The water well has made substantial progress since drilling past some granite stone.  It is now at 110 meters.  This is a relief; however, the real relief comes when there is water found!

The roof is really beginning to shape-up now.  It was very slow and time consuming to get the frame joined together, but now they are at the stage where planks are being laid down and soon the wooden, Ulin or ironwood, shingles will be placed on top of vapor barrier aluminium and plastic sheeting.

The pool team is back and have been working on the steps and the pool equipment room.  If the rains keep up they will have a full pool too.

The first new trees, garage in the back

Roof over veranda and guest rooms

Roof over master bath

Pool steps in front, equipment room in back

The plaster man's son

Construction 9: Near and Far

Things are a bit slow now.  The pool crew has been on another job and the roof construction is slow due to all the handwork required.  The Javanese door that goes between the master bedroom and the dressing room has been installed and the plaster man has been completing the plaster work in there. The walls on the garage are nearly finished.

We drove around the valley that lies south and west yesterday and got some photos of the work from a new perspective.  Some rain has come and things are getting a bit green.

Villa Cengkeh from the south toward the Bali Sea

Villa Cengkeh from the west by Villa Kembang Kertas

Javanese door to the dressing room

The plaster man's soon

Construction 8: Roof continued

The construction of the roof continues.  It is a big job.  The timbers are cut and trimmed with hand tools, assembled on the ground to assure that they work together and have the correct dimensions.  Then disassembled and each piece are raised up one at a time.  Wooden pegs are slipped into the assembly to hold them together.  Subsequently, cross braces are bolted on.  Electric drills are used for the bolt holes; otherwise the tools are hand tools like saws, hatchets, chisels etc.

Everyday the wife of the roof construction boss comes with offerings to place in the newest parts of the structure.  This is a local Hindu custom.

Readying the column for the living room roof

Offerings to be placed in the newest roof section

Yes, those are stones on her head

East Roof

Final trim of the timber

Hand trimmed joints

The basic tools for fitting the timbers

Roof sections being assembled for quality control before raising

Construction 7: Starting the Roof

Did somebody say "swimming pool"?

We have returned to Bali and had a tour of the progress on the house with Roland yesterday.  Many things are happening, but the most obvious is that the roof construction on the house has begun.  In addition, we got to see first hand the pool.  The pool's concrete is setting still (one week old today) and soon the wood supports will come out and the water-proofing plaster will go on.  After that sets then the tiles are put into place.

The electricians have been burying the conduits for the wiring in the brick walls and the plumbers have been burying the pipings in the floors.  Plastering is going full tilt everywhere.  The well is still being drilled.  It is currently at 62 meters and cutting through stone.  It is a slow project all on its own.

The guest wing looking toward the sea (north)

Susan's pool from east to west

The drive coming up to the carport etc

Construction 6: Pouring the Swimming Pool Concrete

After extensive preparation for the past six weeks, Roland's crew poured the concrete to form the 25 meter long swimming pool that Susan has designed.  It is curved at one end to a nice swallow area for Dana and kids to play.

The pool form

The pool was dug down to paras stone and in some places even a half meter more.  Then a concrete block wall was constructed and a form built with wood.

They has spend the last several days bring in supplies for the concrete making which is done on site, including more than 30,000 liters of water.

Behind the scenes work

Don't miss the videos below.  They worked from dawn today, until dark.  All the concrete needed to be poured in one go without stopping to avoid leaks, Roland has said.

Construction 5

More photos today from Roland.  The pool now has a form for the concrete which will be poured next week.  The large garden walls are basically finished and now the short ones along the driveway and walkway are being made.  On the residence the plaster has moved from the rough to the smooth finish and the carpenters are assembling the beams for the roof.  Electricians have put in most of the tubing and wires.

There has not been any rain which has been good for the construction progress.  Once the pool concrete is poured, then the remaining villa foundation can be made and the pillars for the roof over the verandah put up.  The roof would then follow.  So November is a crucial month.  If the rain holds off for another month that would be good for the construction; of course, that is up to mother nature.

Entrance ot the driveway

Driveway looking toward the entrance

Driveway with walks to house on right

Looking over pool to master bedroom and study

Pool ready for pouring concrete

The entrance door from inside looking out to the east

A bar counter will go on top of these brick walls

Carpenters 

Steps from the carpark down to the well and water storage area

Construction 4

While Susan and I have been sailing from Bali to Belitung, the Tropis Living team has been working hard.  The stone walls around the perimeter are finished and the smaller walls demarcating sections of the garden are being built.  The pool work is moving forward too as is the plastering of the house walls.

Steps up to garden around the carport

Wall of carport garden

Driveway to carport

 

Swimming pool foundation

Guest wing

Another garden wall

Construction 3

We shall be sailing from Lovina tomorrow; therefore we had our last on-site visit to Villa Cengkeh today with Roland.  We plan to return by December.  Today, as most days when we visit the project we all go to Buda Bakery afterwards for a delicious lunch.

The work on the main stone walls is nearing completion.  This has been ongoing since mid-July.  See the pics below.

The swimming pool construction is in full swing.  It is a 25 meter lap pool with a curve at one end.  The construction is heavy duty.  It is done in multiple layers.  The first concrete block wall is being built, then a wooden form will be put in place, ironwork for re-enforcing will be added and then concrete poured.  The concrete pouring has to be done all in one go, around the clock so that there will be no joints and thus leaks.  Then tile made from a natural Bali stone will be placed over the concrete.

Lap pool

Lap pool

South wall

West wall

West wall 2

Steps down to well and water storage

West wall

Driveway

Front of house

Construction II

The dry season continues and the construction moves along.  Last week had a major muslim holiday, so many of the workers who come from Java returned home for a break.  Things are back in full swing now.

The swimming pool digging with the large CAT excavator has finished.  This step has to be complete so that the remainder of the foundation along the north side can be completed.

Pool in fore-ground

View from the north

The contouring of the property continues as does the wall surrounding the plot.  The work has now moved to the south side.

The big picture from the south

The east wall meets the south wall

Susan's ready for a swim