Then last week, they started the roof. First, supports went in and then a layer of wood upon which cement would be poured. Then tons of re-bar was tied in, a grid assembled.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOyRU4M2Kh56xAQ25yJ7TjbGBpFiQiY_c1FR-b_V5gUHJqXn-B4RHa1mhF5LjcLQ9bzzAnLdxHedZa9hFqKyKVKZsZxDL54ph-8hsOsarY2qa04xuVGplLouYvdZ2U8XO1jelCE0sseU/s400/Roof_1080.jpg)
Each day, there was an extra worker so maybe there were five at the end of the week. Then yesterday, a whole crew of maybe twenty showed up and it was on.
Trucks delivered sand, gravel and bags of cement and miracle of miracles, the first machine, a cement mixer. Then it was on.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoFkyFYvAzhEfRN_i1IFwyRloxMZbcEclwFh7_90hXk6lucWuAD__xz4QPnSpvZWmMWjsl_dHUkE7Gh-gKZ4VOcauHM350YyQe2C1ZXHSnoz0ptp1vtRAzkCn_FyKi8roVO1uUOHQ2Fs/s640/Roof_1076.jpg)
A roof must all be poured in one fell swoop with a constant flow of cement to insure strength and integrity with no cracks.
Please, please, please, never let anyone say or think that Mexicanos do not have an incredible work ethic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpfU-95iKOHM2-MuxdX06a3KP5XtsCXz1OJp5CVUSDzxTZkXjkXqUNaDFaGhRhOo_iEi9-rgRJ2j_du59-JZUfDU4nd1Q9gV_0fFgQSS3GQeyz733C4OgpAQDioSIGwkl9qq9YX5fMIU/s640/Roof_1067.jpg)
These guys were running up homemade ladders all day carrying five gallon buckets of cement....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gkt-k1AiDuDKwLdv3ZGxxBKxnPQ5pqPPI8hOt-bB5LG3CxYUGa9PNd39eVKjF_O8cG3-vNof36Ty7QqQetacEfiP3M6DR21ngosx4BqdceB5fbHtEMX6-Tubd-TicfRr83tVorlQrKE/s640/Roof_1079.jpg)
and laughing, talking, having a blast.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkroW5BkSWSGwvORFOm79xPhNFGIJ-jFEdQ-xVbcL4tIIa_sJwOomFuTeHspoZvMLsOk8Vyw3cCSLYisRlEGYqAy6wnjZmdDHf-mCF2tngPetdSj6rb3OSpq9riNbh6G2b2jhnEW-TFSo/s640/Roof_1085.jpg)
Of course, it was a family affair with a nice midday meal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgs8qnT2IExAE3-1ApNEGZ77bWQB-BmvKKrR2S66WD2eLezob_IIXFZYm1tV9nPXkm8Of_boUSN60FFw-MnHt7p1ZOhC-jXEVusBY7MBtZgEfVDbowW8QkK4ICBfLgoVay_pSwLStSoo/s640/Roof_1095.jpg)
Tamping down.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0g45vVH-YKbleBR1HkHgVN287cgYCH9CIRSI-lwiiLICOGiICD-hRpQuUajVdIrOnbQLz7-G_2-mS44JsaCFOQhptcEP_C8YRT2rBYm9b9E2w09UflfiXLG656mUMGOU9xlG_r7zHMg/s640/Roof_1094.jpg)
The finished roof this morning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FDMnTILxLTmLWIEFrTkfBJ6S26D3MxmiAxl6DGtrWFK7wAUG-VGPZC-XSFxVYE04xdx1fXQFONXn2umYJDwrHyHsjZNBeZkCxgy-eb2UJcSKWg1xJcu-ahPNkxLpnpgqkO3Pdp-2Cjw/s640/Roof_1099.jpg)
Note the flag in the background. There is a federal police academy just across the fields.
Once the cement is set and dry, the supports and wood layer upon which it was poured will be removed and there will be a nice, clean, strong cement roof. Earthquake proof, too.
3 comments:
This is almost a ritual in every mexican construction, called: "El Colado". This is the way we "build" roofs, and when the hard work is done, there is always a celebration with a huge meal, involving every worker that contributed to "el colado".
Fascinating! Gracias for the info.
You are very welcome! R.
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