In this video update, there’s exciting progress at our Italy house as the plaster crew arrives! They start creating the framing around the doors and windows and covering the walls that we want plastered. At the end, there’s a sneak peek at the next steps as the renovation project takes huge steps forward.
What You See in the Video
- See the plaster machine in action covering a wall.
- Watch as both layers of plaster get added to walls and frames throughout the house.
- Get a sneak peek at the guys starting the sub-floor!
The Story Behind-the-Scenes
With the work happening at such an amazing pace, there were exciting things happening almost everyday. But when the plaster crew got started, the house actually began to feel…like a house! It’s hard to put into words but I can only describe my feelings as a combination of exhilaration and disbelief after nearly 2 years of seeing our beautiful house in a state of demolition and renovation.
I never knew there was such a thing as a plaster machine. But I quickly became obsessed with watching it! Plus, with each new phase of the construction process, there were new realizations and things to learn.
At this point, I knew how specialized these workers are here in Italy. Everyone has a specific skill they’re good at. So, the plaster crew was made up of many new faces, except for a couple of guys who were quasi-overseeing the project when the head builder wasn’t onsite and working on other non-plaster related tasks.
Not everything went perfectly, though. I’d been worried about plastering a couple of walls in a few ground floor rooms because of moisture. It was a gamble and it didn’t entirely work out in our favor because even as the plaster dried the walls clearly had some staining. We left it, in part because moisture is something to contend with in most of the brick and stone houses in the area, but also the cost of the additional work to fix it wasn’t something we could do at that point.
After the plastering was done, the next step was the sub-floor. The builder and I, along with the plumber and electrician, walked through the house several times making sure everything looked right with the electrical lines and pipes. Once that sub-floor is poured, there’s no going back. So you have to be absolutely sure that there are enough outlets and that everything is where you want it to be.
When they started pouring the cement, I had to clear out. No one could be or go into the house for a few weeks while they worked and everything dried. I couldn’t wait to see how it would look with a smooth floor and plastered walls!
Where To Next?
See all the renovation updates in order by heading back to this renovation journey page.
Or watch more now using the navigation links below.
Previous update: Renovation Update Part 9: Ground Floor Milestones
Next update: Front Door Before & After
