http://www.grandbaymen.com/blog/2011/09/10/baymen-garden-completes-building-as-second-floor/
Grand Baymen: More Than A Development
More Than A Development: A Community to Call Home
Baymen Garden Completes Bldg A – 2nd Floor
Posted on 10. Sep, 2011 by Valeria Espinoza in Ambergris Caye, Baymen Garden, Belize, Building A Construction Progress, Grand Baymen, San Pedro, San Pedro Club
Thursday, September 8th, was another big day for Baymen Garden’s Building A. Last week I heard that the contractor would pour the second floor soon. This past Wednesday two cement mixers appeared, in our backyard. And we had to navigate around two large mounds of sand and gravel whenever we were going or coming to the property. At 5:00 AM on Thursday morning, we were awakened by the familiar sounds of the construction crew, 2 hours earlier than usual…
Completed 2nd Floor with Background Water View
This time there were too many workers to count. The construction manager confirmed that there were 55 guys on site that day! Look closely at the picture and you’ll see why they hired so many workers for the day. The entire floor had to be completely poured in a single day.
Bucket Brigade Approach to Concrete Pour
The Belizean method for pouring upper level concrete floors is the “bucket brigade” technique. Not exactly high tech, but functional… Notice the lines of guys. They actually set up two bucket brigade lines – one for each side of the building. This was required in order to complete the pour in one day. Each line extends from the cement mixer up to the 2nd floor. The workers loaded buckets with cement. Then they passed each bucket up the line, to the second floor. Then it was dumped and evenly spread across the floor.
This is demanding physical labor, performed under a blazing sun. August and September are the hottest, muggiest months of the year on Ambergris Caye. When the wind dies down, the mosquitoes are at times fierce. That was the case on Thursday, when the floor was poured. God bless these local construction workers. They started at 5:00 AM and worked from dawn until after dusk (around 7:30 PM). They couldn’t stop until the job was done. They deserved more than a few Belikin beers that day!
Our Backyard View of Second Floor Pour
On Friday morning (September 9th) we woke up around 6 AM. The workers would be arriving at their normal 7 AM time that day. So we scrambled up the partially finished staircase, to check out Building A’s finished concrete second floor. I was able to snap a few shots before the workers arrived.
We were pleased to see a well finished floor, and a nice view of the distant back bay from the 2nd floor that faces west. The sunsets on this side of the building will be delightful. And the third floor view will be even better…
If you didn’t see the post on the prior progress for Building A, click here for the blog update and pictures…
Baymen Garden Using Special Panel Construction System
A few weeks ago the panel shipment arrived. It took a while to get these special construction materials, since they were coming from outside of Belize. The Building A walls and floors are now being built with a specialized approach to construction, that I’ll describe below.
I am not aware of any other condominium development on Ambergris Caye that is using this M2 technology. My husband Mike used a similar precursor technology – Covintec – to build the San Pedro Club building, pool, and the duplex we live in on the Baymen Garden site. We have been very satisfied with the Covintec product, especially the sound proofing and insulating properties.
M2 Panels Used for 2nd Floor
This specialized panel construction was chosen because of its track record for strong results. This system, if applied with the appropriate panels and building technique, provides a building that is energy efficient, and resistant to hurricanes, fires and seismic events. The panels are known for their high insulation and acoustic attenuation properties. They provide advantages not found in the more commonly used materials in Belize: block, drywall, and wood. Although block and drywall are adequate for hurricanes, these panels provide a broader range of advantages than block.
The panels can be used for both walls and roofs. The base element of the building system is a modular panel composed of two electro-welded galvanized steel meshes. The steel meshes are reciprocally joined by connectors. In between is a shaped foam polystyrene plate.
The panels are clipped together and then sprayed or coated with concrete. Once the concrete is applied, the structure is strong in three dimensions. The base element of the building system is the foam polystyrene, suitably shaped, used both as a disposable form and as an insulating layer. The neat thing is that these panels can also be shaped to form rounded surfaces.
Once the panels have been installed, they are anchored and finished with the application of light concrete on both of their sides. In this way we have the advantage of a building that has load-bearing walls consisting of two reinforced concrete plates with an integral thick network of connectors, and an insulating core.
Touring the First Floor
A Baymen Garden Resident Inspects Progress
Once the first floor was completed, and enclosed, we were able to walk around the shells of each unit one Sunday, when the workers were off for the day. The doors and windows have not yet been installed. But we were able to get a feel for what the units will look like inside…
While on this tour, I snapped a picture of one of our four legged neighbors, who is relaxing on a Building A veranda… The Baymen Garden property is a refuge of sorts for these protected iguanas. They are harmless creatures, and often entertaining.
Only a Few Units Still Available
Bldg A Pool and Back Bay View from 2nd floor
Most of the Building A units have been sold. Owners are now anticipating their move in dates next summer.(Click to meet one of our Baymen Garden owners who is anxious to move in…)
But there are a few units still available, at the pre-construction prices. Click here for information…
Note that this building is close to the lovely San Pedro Club pool, athletic facility and tennis courts. If you would like to know more about the remaining units, click here… Visitors are welcome anytime. Just contact us to set up a private tour of Grand Baymen, the Baymen Garden development, and the San Pedro Club.
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