Roof Numero Uno January 13, 2012

Friday the 13th they poured the roof over the master bedroom and bathroom.  They had it all prepared and ready to go for first thing in the morning.  When they pour the roof they cannot stop or take a break of any kind until its done.  Once its done the tradition is that there is a party - food and beer for the workers.  They have worked very hard and fast for many hours and have a well deserved meal and a few beers.

Yesterday the machine built a ramp up the side of the house so they could drive up with a bucket full of concrete.  They have three wheelbarrows lined up to accept the concrete. 

The concrete is poured from the wheelbarrows and pushed into place.  The men all wear rubber boots and stomp into the concrete to "vibrate" it.  Pollo overseas the pour.

Below is a  video, hopefully it will come through.  I have not always been successful getting videos to work on my blog.  The video shows what a relay team these guys operate.  Manuel (68 years old) loads the buckets with gravel and dumps them into the mixer, Pepe pours in a bag of cement mix.  

Lorne is on top of the ladder having a look.  Below, Chapi is on the mixers and dumping the concrete into the bucket of the machine.  

The backhoe pours the concrete into the waiting wheelbarrows

The video below shows the men dumping the concrete while Pollo use his boots to move the concrete into the right places, and "vibrate" it.  

Pollo is the concrete maestro.  He is floating the final concrete.  Everyone else is cleaning up and waiting for him to finish so they can eat.  Carlos brought 150 beef burritos for the men plus some beer.  We also brought beer and coke.  These burritos were excellent - nothing like Taco Bell that's for sure.  They were the small corn tortillas rolled with a bit of pulled beef .  Salsa was added to taste.  They guys were finished work and eating by about 2:00.  Then they were off for the weekend.