Building In Jamaica Renovation Site Round-up

[00:00:00]I'm going to give it to you straight. We are exactly 3 weeks out from our scheduled finish line. And right now, I'm beginning to feel the pinch because there is still so much left to be accomplished. So, come with me and make sure [music] the jam family.

[00:00:26]>> [music] >> Come hang with me.

[00:00:32]>> Hello, hello, hello abroad. Welcome back to another episode of Life with the Dams. Now, we've been at this construction project for a while now and right now things are moving incredibly swiftly. So much has changed since we've started on this phase.

[00:00:49]However, we still have a bit left to accomplish from all the trade men that are on site. And they say the final 10% of a project takes 90% of the time. And right now that statistic feels horribly accurate. Now the build up at the front which is the veranga, the columns, the lintils, the belchings and the decking has taken a massive chunk of our schedule. It's highly technical work and therefore if a column is even a few millimeters out the structural integrity is compromised. It's the kind of craftsmanship that simply cannot be rushed. It demands its due respect of time and process. But because we poured so much time into getting the bones right, the clock has been ticking down in the background. With 21 days left, the to-do list looks less like a sprint and more like Mount Everest. We still have walls to cut, windows to fit, electrical work to finish, and tiling and plumbing to complete. And then we still need to do the painting and the professional cleaning. Looking at it mathematically, having five different trade men overlapping in a tight space is a logistical nightmare. I'm starting to ask myself how realistic this deadline actually is. Honestly, I'm slowly beginning to accept that we might not hit it. We were hit hard for the initial part of this process when we were doing the downstairs with all of that massive delay and we were then uh hit with the widespread cement shortage earlier in the program as well. So this absolutely compounded the issue for us and it has knocked us back by weeks. The good news, however, is that our contractor's current timeline, it is still solid and the team is working hard. But those earlier setbacks left a scar on our timeline. So, what's the strategic move forwards? We are being strictly pragmatic. We're meticulously scheduling the tradesmen on site day by day trying to maximize their efficiency to aim for the deadline whilst simultaneously adjusting our plans for the very real eventuality that we might finish late. So today I'm taking you through the different areas so that you can see exactly what has happened and what we have left that we need to do. So come along with me. I was waiting for so long for this front window to go in and it did and I can't even celebrate it cuz we have water in the place letting loose. So, we need to figure out and fix. But with y'all in the vessel, we'll manage to fix it. We'll figure it out.

[00:03:21]Between these very capable builders and plumbers, we'll look to a solution. And we have laying down in here as well.

[00:03:32]Yep. Yep. Yep.

[00:03:34]and kitchen counter.

[00:03:39]Yep, this is it. So, of course, them have the sink bit of cut out and then over this one and then do some splash back and all done. Can't wait to see the finished product. It's coming together nicely. Did already move out to sitting them from downstairs. So, downstairs never did as problematic to it because um other than the fact I said we need to go get this stuff and they take so long.

[00:04:01]the team that was working down there took a long time. Felt like it wasn't going to end. But um but that's that's just the issue that we faced with that one. Not sure >> down there.

[00:04:13]>> Down there is still not finished. So we still have some stuff that we're working on down there and we'll take you through that journey as we're going so that you can see the finished product as we work it out. So what what's some of your downside? So you said the noise and the dust and the blockage block up block up find new routin [snorts] your brain with how to travel through your own house but a cycle a cycle a cycle we'll get over it in the end so trust me we going to show you some stuff we gone and it's a combination of the phase that we did before um when we were doing downstairs and some of the things that were happening as we were living on the site and some of um the upstairs which is now as we've highlighted is even more in a face cuz we have to live in that space. We can't shut it off and move somewhere else like we could do for downstairs. So, we'll show that as we go through the process. So, let us know what you think about renovating in Jamaica. Would you buy something of an older more um economical buy and then renovate it? And if so, uh what areas would you contemplate buying in? And now they have managed to finish boxing up and put on the scanty lever.

[00:05:28]So it's getting ready for tomorrow. They will just finish um stealing it up. We got that ready for it to just steal up.

[00:05:38]Once it's steel up now, we can get on with doing the decking tomorrow. So I'm relieved.

[00:05:47]One of the problems that we're having is the sun. The heat, the intensity of it at the moment is really slowing down the process. Because for example, today they were up on there and because they're decking under the existing overhang of the existing roof, them literally had to be on their belly setting it up how they need to set it up. And so that is taking a little bit longer. And um so even though they've been working on setting it up now for what 2 days, it's taken them a little bit longer than it would have. They should have finished and steal up everything. But because of how hot the sun is and they right out in the direct sun working, it has slowed us down a little bit. But hopefully tomorrow we will be able to clear this bit off and get back to doing some of the stuff we need to do like the rough cast and rendering of this section. what couldn't be done before the decking get put up or cutting down some of the walls that we need to cut out um so that when we do cut it out the place can be um secure for example some of the doors we need to cut out and then getting it ready to put in some of the windows that we need to put in as well so I'm looking forward to seeing how it how it moves on from here and I'm still being optimistic with the deadline and I'm being pragmatic at the same time knowing that the realism is necessary to see that chances are we might not make make the full completion, but we're still planning ahead with that aim in mind.

[00:07:26][music] outside is buzzing this morning. After [clears throat] six, the electrician here come down um conduits up in the bed where them create do the um the decking the slab [clears throat] roof. And today is the big day when they're going to be doing the um m do it. So it's hiving food a cook um meat and other ground provisions on site carrying and pots and everything and everybody is just mulling around trying to get it all done because them gone over by a [clears throat] day because of the extenuating circumstances of the excessive heat that they've been experiencing up there. And so now it's like all hands on deck to get it done.

[00:08:29]That is just awesome feeling.

[00:08:33]Yay. Yay. Yay.

[00:08:38][music] [music] It's still very early in the morning. It is not It's after 8. And um the Mason team have about three more laborers out there in addition to their three men um team that they came with. Um not even when they do the rough cast and rendering. Then they have so much on site but say this thing need to do swiftly [clears throat] and get it done.

[00:09:22]So them out there set up ramp them out there all sort of thing for ramp setting up collecting car differently show up next coconut site mangoes chicken like it's happening them have additional jump side mix up there so that them can set it up and then we try to put up um scaffolding and everything. So, and the electrician simple most of his and people up there are on steel tie up steel.

[00:10:11]So, it's it's a busy morning.

[00:10:24][clears throat] >> [snorts] >> Frankly though, the hardest part of all of this is what feels like a loss of privacy or autonomy. When you live on a site, your home isn't your castle anymore. It's a public square. You can't just walk outside in your baggy house clothes or your head tie without making eye contact with three different masons laying blocks, flashing walls or mixing mart or with a plumber or an electrician hauling their pipe or their implements for their trade that they're going to be performing at that moment in time. And there is no trying to have a private phone call because you need to speak so loud just for the person on the other end to hear. And keep speak up phone on if earphones are not close enough to you or not close at hand. There's a person at the pipe who is collecting water and there is one who is at the window sill checking their work and another immediately outside your bathroom or your bedroom door. Your space is no longer your own. And after a few weeks of that, it really starts to wear on your mental bandwidth. And we just sometimes have to laugh. But listen, we fight through it. And through all of this, Elelliana has been a trooper.

[00:11:56]Although every now and again, she goes through a sneezing spell from dust particles. She's finding the fun in bits I find stressful and stays far away from bits that has no bearing on her functioning.

[00:12:12]>> [music] [music] >> Hey, [music] [music] hey, hey.

[00:12:47]The debris is now over there and this bit is cast off. So, it's ready for tile in too. So, we're just waiting. The window is framed up to put in. We're just waiting on this section to be rendered.

[00:13:06]And then once all of that is dressed up then window can go in, flooring can put in and door is just waiting for the jams and then that can be done too.

[00:13:22]And now that wall is down and we can see hallway. Yep. So we have that door for block up, this door for block up and this door for block up. We're still using them. So that's fine. I think they're going to block this one up shortly because we're using that one now that this open. And we're still using the front door here. So Mhm. And look here.

[00:13:49]Yes, sir. This it out too. Uhhuh. So we take out bathroom wall and open up the space a little bit. So now that's it.

[00:14:02]And then one what's left is for this window to be cut out. So that will be done next week.

[00:14:08]And then only thing I got left now is when we need to cut out over here. A door over here and a door over here. But part of that is the wind some of the window space. So we just going to need to trim a little bit. But you see the arrow over there. So and the same thing from this side where you see the arrow right up there. So So we're looking forward to seeing how that goes as we progress through. So, we're still watching the time and seeing how it tick across. We have one we have one other window to cut on that side over there.

[00:14:44]Let me just show you at all. So, I can't see what I mean. It might get a little bit darker. But one window left to cut right there. So, and the wall here left you come down and trim back up to the top. And the same here. And then that will be all the wall cutting what we have left to do. So it's coming along nicely. But we're still wondering are we going to meet that deadline? That is the big big big question now where everybody askked. And so far I've been told that we're going to. So we'll see.

[00:15:18]Been told that by the electrician. I've been told that by the mason contract, masonry contractor. I've been told that by the plumbing crew. I've been told that by the tiling crew. So, I'm just trusting that that's where it goes.

[00:15:31]If you've ever lived through a Jamaican build, tell us some of the stories to add to our reassurance that we aren't alone in this kind of experience. Just want to give you Jamon tribe a little bit of an update about our battery situation. Yes. So, um yesterday morning got up after battery got conditioned and everything turned on, couldn't start. So fortunately um the contractor was there and gave me a start. So I just like I'm going to go right to buy a battery now.

[00:16:02]So I drove straight to the auto shop to get it. So as I got out of my car, there was this gentleman coming out of his vehicle. He had pulled in just before me and then I pulled in. So I said I I don't know what battery to buy because you carry cargo only can tell us you need one battery if it does and they order it and put it back in. So here I am now going to buy a battery and have no clue which battery to buy. So I then said to him um because I didn't ask the guys who had given me a start in the morning what battery to get. So I said to them to him um could I just open my booth and you tell me what battery it is that I need to buy as a replacement as I'm going into the store. So he came over looked at my battery and said to me um your battery is on green which means your battery is perfect if I need to replace it. So then he took out um this instrument he had in his car and he came and he was and test my battery and said your battery is in very good condition.

[00:16:52]if you need to replace it. Um maybe you need to go and check out the electrical out to see what and or maybe the alternator isn't charging properly. So then I went back and um he said to me um he tightened the negative side. He said, "Oh, this bit is loose and so it's probably causing the problems." So he tightened it and then when I had conversation with my father later on, he said, "Well, maybe it was loose and as such is not recharging the c the alternator." So, it turned out this morning heading out. It turned over um and so we're going to watch and see and then um we know that we have a summer um mechanic that we want to get some stuff sorted on the car. So, plan for the summer. So, we're going to watch and see and then see what the mechanics have to say about all of the other things um with it and see if everything is fine.

[00:17:39]So, we're at a monitor agency and it was like, you know, divine providence getting to see um [clears throat] bump into this person who then looks at it from a more technical lens to see what the issue is. So, we'll see how it goes.

[00:17:53]So, we give you an update on that situation.

[00:18:08]I [music] living the good life.

[00:18:14]We royal cruising through the western leaves.

[00:18:21]Having fun, [music] enjoying the good life.

[00:18:28]Done from family.

[00:18:30]We're done from family. Yeah, come [music] and hang with me.

[00:18:45]The jam found family.

[00:18:52]Jam fam, [music] come hang with me. [music] Thank you so much for staying with us here on this another episode of Life with the Jam Farms. Want to say bye for now. Do take care and we look forward to seeing you in the next one. And until then remember, Wwood [music] [music] >> [music]