neither in nor out but in between

Work continues, with pictures.



To frame the windows we need lumber. Lumber pricing is fairly straight forward, its $1 per square foot. So a 1" by 12" by 1' piece is $1, and 2" by 4" by 10' is $6.67. This is for any kind of hardwood except Mahogany which costs $2.50 a square foot. Also, a 2x4 is actually 2 inches by 4 inches. Of course we are not using Mahogany, but things like Rose wood, Santa Maria, Sapote, and various other tropical woods.

Here is one of the local lumber yards loading up a truck with our lumber. It is important to check the lumber as one of the 2x4s was cracked end to end and several of the boards are pine or chaca, two woods we don't want to use for window frames. We sent the warped boards back, but missed the cracked one and the non hard wood ones. We can use them for shelves or something.



We found a local truck for hire for $15, and they carried the lumber to Chakha'asi.


The size of the most of the window frames is correct to accept the standard Mennonite louver windows, except for a couple of places where we squeezed a frame in an area too small for the full size. If needed we can trim the Mennonite windows to fit. But the plan is to make the windows out of either very dry Santa Maria, or some other pretty hardwood boards and protect the wood with clear varnish. This is not any cheaper than the Mennonite windows, but I think it might be prettier.


Framing the windows is quickly completed. The next job is to put on the tasiste or palmetto sticks. This is a very satisfying part of the project because for the first time we can do part of the work about as well and as quickly as the workers. Mostly they cut the tasiste, as they are able to chop the sticks with a machete far more accurately than we. But we can equal them when tying the tasiste on.




The tasiste is woven on with wire. We are careful to pull each one as straight as possible and as tight as possible. Of course there are always gaps and sometimes a gap is allowed for the sake of straightness and sometimes the other way around.


Later all gaps will be filled and everything plastered over. But for now we race the rains and work to get the tasiste finished.






Work with the tasiste progresses fast. Very nearly fast enough. The rains have begun. With the last little bit of momentum the tasiste is completed. From here on, however, progress will be enormously hampered by the rainy season.