Roof

It’s been about 3 weeks since we received any photos. Anne asked Kevin if work was progressing, and he responded with a bundle of photos showing a lot of different projects underway.

The front of the house is looking very nice. Work is continuing on the retaining wall up the hill.

Front from Kitchen Side
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Base of the Retaining Wall
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Tile is going in the kitchen area of the main room and on the marciapiede that surrounds the house.

Tile Along the Back
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The terrazza tile is done, and the views from the terrazza looking southwest are wonderful.

From Terrazza Looking Uphill — Terrazza and Roof Tile
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Southwest from the Terrazza
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Inside, the stone wall is grouted and the heating control box is connected to the underfloor tubes.

Interior Stone Wall Grouted
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Underfloor Heating Pipe Connections
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Also, the interior is being prepped for painting, some of the bathroom fixtures are in, and utility connection boxes have been set in the ground outside.

Here are all the photos of the various projects underway.

Front from Kitchen Side

Looking Across the Front

Looking North

Looking West

Retaining Wall

Looking Up to Retaining Wall

Rubble to Backfill Retaining Wall

Marciapiede Before Tiling

Tile Along the Back

Tile Outside French Doors

Working on Marciapiede Tile

Tiling Near Master Bedroom

Tile on Portico

Kitchen Tile

From Terrazza Looking Uphill

Terrazza Tiled

Roof Near Terrazza

Southwest from the Terrazza

Looking Southwest

Hills and Mountains

Interior Stone Wall Grouted

Heating Pipe Connections

Underfloor Heating Connections

Utility Room Connections

Ceiling Upstairs

Upstairs Bathtub and Shower Base in Place

Shower Tray in Master Bath

Windows Ready for Room Painting

Front Bedroom Prepped for Painting

Exterior Utility Connection Boxes

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Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

A Lot of Exterior Work Roof Sections, Grading, and Terra Armata

Ed Building a House October 6, 2017Exterior, Land, Roof, Slope

Nearly all the smaller roof sections are complete. All that remains are those near the upstairs terrazza on the north side of the house. Also, the solar and photovoltaic panels are installed. Anne is happy that they won’t really be visible, even from behind the house, given our slope.

Nearly All Roof Sections Complete
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Solar Panels Installed
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The slope in front is looking much better after more grading and soil movement.

More Gentle Slope in Front
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Behind the house, grading and terra armata installation work continues.

Across the First Slope Below the House
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Terra Armata Material in Place
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One important remaining issue is drainage. Given our slopes, we want to be sure rain water won’t run down the hill and into the house or the pool. I suggested some drains connected to underground pipes to channel the water away. Kevin has asked Francisc to look at that and at other drainage options.

Here are the slope and roof pictures.

Corner Near the Study

Close Up of Roof Section

South Side with Roof Sections in Place

Nearly All Roof Sections Complete

Solar Panels Installed

More Gentle Slope in Front

Grading Near the Kitchen

Across the First Slope Below the House

From House Level Down to Transplanted Olive

Terra Armata Material

Terra Armata Material in Place

House From the Pool Level

Some Windows Delivered

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Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

Starting Another Round of Earthmoving Plus Some Interior and Roof Work

Ed Building a House, Designing a House September 9, 2017Bathroom, Exterior, Heating and cooling, Interior, Roof

I can’t say earthmoving is my favorite topic, but I’d bet it’s the one I’ve written most about, given that it’s caused a lot of headaches and expenses.

In the post Positioning the House from November 7, 2016, describing our decision on house placement within the property — in retrospect, the cause of all the rest.
In Excavation Begins from November 29, 2016, with pictures of some initial earthmoving.
In Lots of Earth to Move and Add from March 29, 2017, showing grading work around the house.
In Extending the Land Terraces from March 31, 2017, with pictures showing some of the grading behind the house down toward the pool.
In Working to Tame the Hillside from April 3, 2017, where Kevin lays out the situation and offers some ideas. Here’s when the problem became clear.
In A House in a Hole? from April 7, 2017, showing and describing the sense of the house disappearing behind the earth piled in front up the hill.
In Buying More Land? from May 12, 2017, talking about how additional land might help solve the problems.
In Oh, My! The Slope is Steep in Front! from May 28, 2017, showing pictures of the situation in front of the house.
In Oh, My! The Slope is Steep in Back! from May 29, 2017, describing the problem behind the house and possible solutions.
In A Proposal to Address the Slope in Front from June 18, 2017, showing Alessandra’s design for the uphill side and access down the driveway.
In Land Slope Redux from July 20, 2017, recapping our on site visit to discuss the method for earth stabilization and an alternative idea for car parking placement.

Again, we’ve started to move earth to work on reshaping the slope, for better access from up the hill, for appearance as you approach the house, and for functionality and pool access on the downhill side. I hope this time we’ll get to something workable. Whatever happens, it’s probably the best we can do without more land.

Extending the Terrace Beyond the Portico
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Machine grading land behind the house — Behind the House, Down the Hill
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Other Progress

We also received some pictures showing more work on the roof sections, more work on the underfloor heating, and the bathtub being delivered.

Working on Installation of Photo-Voltaic Panels
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Bathtub and Shower Bases
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Here are a few more shots.

Equipment Arriving

Bathtub Being Unloaded

Extending the Terrace Beyond the Portico

Reshaping the Terraces

Machinery Down the Hill

Digging on a Slant

Underfloor Heating Base in Main Room

Installed Underfloor Heating Base

Bathtub and Shower Bases Delivered

Roof of Master Bathroom Ready to Finish

Starting to Install Photo-Voltaic Panels

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Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

A Little Here, A Little There Portico, Roof, and Stone Wall

Ed Building a House August 28, 2017August 26, 2017Construction, Exterior, Interior, Portico, Roof, Walls

Today’s pictures show progress in a few places around the house.

Portico

Since the portico has supporting pylons and columns, we’ve been surprised that these weren’t dug and built when the house foundation was being prepared. I’m guessing that maybe these elements would have been in the way of building and finishing the main part of the house.

Now it is time for this work to commence.

Bore Ready for Support Steel
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Inserting Portico Support Steel
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Two small steps were taken toward finishing all the roof sections. The photo-voltaic panels, which go on the back of the main roof were delivered, and the underlay for the partial roof elements is being put in place.

Roof Underlay In Place
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Interior Stone Wall

Part of one wall of the main room is going to be covered in stone. The stone setting for this element has nearly been finished.

Here is the photo gallery.

Moving Hole Boring Machine in Place

Column Steel Ready to Insert in Bores

Bore Ready for Support Steel

Inserting Portico Support Steel

Portico Column Steel in Place

Roof Underlay In Place

Bad View of Roof Underlay

Photo-Voltaic Panels

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Roof Tiling Progress And Some Interior Work

Ed Building a House August 6, 2017August 6, 2017Construction, Exterior, Pictures, Roof, Windows and doors

Despite the temperatures that have regularly exceeded 40°C (104°F) and reached at least 43°C (109°F), they have been continuing to work on, of all things, the roof. You have to admire our crew’s commitment and perseverance.

They have completed the tiling of the main roof on the front side of the house. It’s great how they used older tiles for the top layer, giving the house an older look.

Front Side Roof Finished
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I think work now moves to the back side, where the solar and photovoltaic panels will be. That may be a longer process, and even more in the afternoon sun, being on the west side. Fortunately, the heat is supposed to subside, at least a little bit: only one day over 35°C (95°F) during the upcoming week.

Work is also continuing inside, installing window and door frames.