Progress on Two Fronts Earth Moving Continues as Column Construction Begins

Work continues on the major project of moving earth, trucking in earth, and resculpting the hillside into terraces, and making the transitions between them as smooth an gentle as possible. It’s not an easy task on a hillside like we have.

I don’t think any of us, including the geometra Jimmy, the contractor Francisc, or Kevin realized the actual steepness and the need to move so much earth. The original budget for buying and moving earth was €800. Having revised the plan, even with the earth being zero cost, the expense is planned at €3,000, due to the greater need of heavy earth moving equipment.

We did get some nice pictures, not only of the activity, but of our cherry tree and the hill down toward the pool. It looks like the cherry blossoms with we saw a few days ago have already disappeared and that the tree is now making leaves.

Work has begun on the top floor columns that will support the roof. They have started to attach the rebar column cages and build the concrete forms around them.

This activity had been on hold, because we needed approval from Primo, the structural engineer. He needed to certify that the top floor base slab had cured enough for work on top of it to commence. That certification was received a day or so ago.

I’m expecting that this column construction will proceed quickly.

It’s exciting to see both the progress and the wonderful spring weather. We’re starting to wonder if we will want to be in Italy for spring, summer, and fall.

In today’s pictures, you can see that more Poroton blocks for the walls have been delivered.

Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure