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We thought it would be useful to guide you through the unique building process that exists here in St. Lucia. Tropical weather and steep slopes are the major factors that we encounter, and must adapt to them daily. Since this is a new section, pictures will be provided as the project continues forward. We will take you through the construction at a new home we call "Golf Park," beginning at the forming of the basement floor slab. Clearing, excavation, and the column pours have already occurred, but those preliminary sections will be added when other pictures become available to us.
The first phase of construction is prepping the site, and the first structure to go up is a workman's shelter. This provides them a shaded area for cutting and bending steel as well as a comfortable spot for breaks and to stay out of a passing shower.
They also put up a lockable shed for securing tools and building materials throughout the early phases of construction.
Excavation is generally the lengthiest phase of the process because of St. Lucia's steep terrain. A great deal of earth had to be cut down to create a flat grade to install the driveway.
the Columns are created by standing up long pieces of reinforcing steel and casting concrete around them. The steel must be exposed for a couple of feet to create an attachment between multiple concrete pours.
Before the deck can be poured, a system of bamboo chutes is used to brace the weight of the concrete slab. Once the concrete has dried, the slab and beams are able to support themselves.
The floor slabs are also a composite of concrete and steel, with the reinforcing steel being laid down in a grid, elevated to the center of the concrete.
While the steel is being laid down, the electricians and plumbers place conduit to run their lines through the concrete slab so that no post-pour cutting or chipping is required
Once the steel is placed the concrete is poured to create a rough, finished floor. The steel re-bar pointing up will then be used as a base form for the columns going up to the next level.
Wall construction is done with masonry, stacking concrete blocks over steel bars and filling with mortar.
When the walls are built, the ends are used as part of the concrete form for the support columns. This ensures that the poured concrete will be flush with the wall blocks preventing unsightly breaks in the wall or unnecessary bulges.
The areas over windows and doors cannot be supported by only laying block across them. A concrete Transom is necessary. This is created by forming the beam with plywood, reinforcing with rebar, and pouring the concrete. Very similar to the support beams of the main structure, but they do not require large columns to bear their weight.
Often times more specialized or artistic transoms are required such as an arch. The one shown below is an example of a flat topped arch, which are very popular in St Lucia and create a 'picture frame' type view. Any arch shape can generally be created using a smooth, flexible particle board as the form.
Once the walls have been built to their finished height, a Ring Beam is cast around the entire exterior. This beam caries the entire load of the structure above it, and transfers it down through the support columns in the walls. This creates a situation where the concrete block wall carry no substantial weight, as their structural integrity is not designed for such forces.
Following the ring beam the roof rafters are set in place. These are generally the only building members of the house made of timber, unless otherwise designed
Following the installation of rafters the house has completed its skeleton and is ready to begin finishing. The first step necessary is to 'button up' the structure by sheathing the roof and installing doors and windows
There are 24 beautiful homes for sale in the exclusive Cap Estate area of St. Lucia. These Caribbean Villas boast modern amenities and a classical style, by Sater Design and built exclusively for you by Flagship Homes.
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