Rib and Block

Or ribbonblock as I first heard it!  This is what our slab first floor roof is made up of.  Quite an interesting procedure.  They order premade long lengths of reinforced concrete ribs, which are laid on the brick work at first floor level.  Then into that they drop specially made blocks that wedge into the ribs.  These things all weigh a ton - it is quite scary to think about the weight of the roof just above our heads.  But, as my mom said, dad isn't worried, the builder, Esrom isn't worried, so nor will I.   We might just be like chicken licken for a while worrying about the roof falling on our heads!

This is how the ribs look:

Then they put the blocks in between.  This is what it looks like from below.  The support structures apparently have to stay in place for 2 weeks.

The wood at the front of the house forms a structural beam across the front of the patio.  We have others elsewhere but this is easy to see.  They make a box out of wood, put steel reinforcing inside, and then when the first floor slab is laid, it gets filled with concrete and forms an incredible strong beam.  Please admire our pillars at the front of the patio.  They are erected as hollow pillars, and they too get filled with concrete and steel.  This house is surely going to stand for a loooong time!!

I braved it up the ladder to the first floor and this is how it looks from above.  Next step is to pour the 100mm slab of concrete on top of this.  There was a mad scurry of builders, electricians and plumbers to get all their piping laid before the slab went down.

Ground Floor Slab

Apparently it goes by a different name, but for all the other lay people out there, I'm sure you know what I mean when I talk about the ground floor slab. 
As usual, I am far behind on my updates, and by now the ground floor slab is old news.  However, it was such an exciting process, and a landmark moment in the building process that I have to still write about it.  Actually, I'll let the pictures do most of the talking....
Firstly, before the slab went in, there was a scurry of activity - we laid polystyrene for insulation, then a layer of plastic, then mesh.

 Then the plumbers and electricians had to get busy and lay all their pipes ...

Then finally the cement mixers arrived and spilt their guts all over my new house.  It was an amazing process to watch. 

All the builders were given a new set of gum boots and they stand right in the cement and move it around with spades and rakes. 

Once that is done, it gets smoothed over and levelled out with a long metal rod (probably also has a fancy name!).  What an incredible thing to witness.   

It was early evening and they were still busy at work.  I caught Megs in the most beautiful light.  Not to mention the mielies in the background!!