Earlier this week they started putting the pieces in place to create the reinforced concrete slab that acts essentially as the ceiling of the ground floor and the floor of the top floor. This slab, which is 25cm (10in) thick, is supported at the edges and around the stairway cavity by 40cm (16in) thick beams, giving us confidence that the house can survive the earthquakes which will inevitably happen.
A key component in the construction of this slab are the Poroton blocks. These are sort of like cinder blocks, but made of clay: strong, with an internal cross structure, like a honeycomb but with mostly rectangular rather than hexagonal cells. Here’s a picture with the block enlarged:
Click to Enlarge
Another thing I like in this photo: it shows our driveway with the olive trees on the side.
In the picture below, they have nearly completed putting the Poroton blocks in place. Soon, the whole layer of rebar and Poroton will be ready to be encased in concrete.
Click to Enlarge
Finally, this picture highlights the stairway cavity and shows how the structural columns are closer together, so this opening doesn’t create an earthquake risk.
(It also shows the olive trees that are to line the path to the front door.)
Click to Enlarge
Here are all the photos from today:
Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure
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