Coco and I went to one of the large metal yards in Gomez Palacio to get the material for the frames.  Later we'll return here for steel bars to make the security bars.
 
We bought 700 pounds of steel that has been specifically fabricated for building door frames and Mexican style windows with sliding panels.
 
Coco measures and cuts the pieces for a window frame.
 
Below left he is building an interior door frame from which a wooden door will be hung. Below center he is working on one of the curved windows which will be next week's topic.  The welds are cleaned up and smoothed with a grinder.  The cutting and grinding are really loud work.

Iniz is setting one of the living room window frames. After the frame is shimmed and carefully leveled, concrete is worked in by hand all around the frame.
 
The two outside panels will be fixed glass; the two center panels will slide to the side.  We'll install the glass after the plaster work is done.

Coco and Paco are installing the sliding panels in the kitchen window.

Work continues on the 2nd floor north.  Rúbin is mixing mortar on the floor.  It is easier to carry the dry materials up the stairs than to carry the wet mortar.  We tease Rúbin that he just doesn't have the head for carrying concrete. 

PROJECT COST SUMMARY TO DATE
in US dollars converted from Mexican pesos at 9:1
 

 North 2nd Floor Shell

Material

$ 1,652

Labor

500

$2,152

Electrical 

These five items are (will be) material only, Labor will be provided by the family and me.

Plumbing 

Iron Work

Tile

Paint

Social Security payments

Air Conditioning

Cabinetry 

Plaster

Stucco

Previous Phases:

North 2nd Floor Slab

South 2nd Floor Shell

4,759

South 2nd Floor Slab

South 1st Floor Shell

The cost of the form lumber has not been included because it has con-siderable re-sale value.  Its net cost will be included later.

North 1st Floor Shell

Property Walls

Property Purchase

$ 66,616

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