Finally, the tile ordered for the kitchen counters
and trim arrived and we rushed to the store to pay and bring the boxes
home. Our clerk, Manuel, cleared the
parking cones as we approached and I pulled to a stop at the front of the
store. Dolores went into the store while
I opened the rear of our SUV to place the boxes. After several minutes Dolores and Manuel
returned and I found out that one-half of the ordered tiles were mismatched –
I´m still trying to unravel that result since all the tiles were special
ordered to insure that they were all done in one batch. However, we took what part of the order
remained and told our contractor it would be another 10 plus days. He only shrugged his shoulders the only
available reaction to such news in Mexico.
At least Manuel had checked the order so that the mistake was rectified
before I had discovered the mismatch on the job. Manuel said he would call as soon as the new
order arrived – no more than 7-10 days.
After approximately two weeks Dolores called Manuel
on the order status and he said it had been waiting for us to come pick it
up. Hmmmm! This time everything was OK and we returned
home and called our contractor to schedule a start day. We purchased a roll of clear Mylar and got
out all our old covers and the start day approached with a time of 5:30
PM. We were prepared by moving all items
on the tables into the guest bathroom and bedroom and then covering all flat
surfaces and vertical objects with the Mylar and other material.
 |
| Counter In-Work |
 |
| Completed - Note Backsplash on Right |
Why so elaborate?
In Mexico the counters and walls are cement and the destruction and
removal of the old tile requires both a chisel and hand-held jackhammer. Not only is the tile removed but so is the
underlying cement used to set the original tile. Noisy, dusty (cement dust), and tile/cement
chips everywhere. However, 6 ½ days
working days later the tiling was complete, Dolores re-hired the professional
cleaning crew who came on the 7th day, then we rested.
With the final remodel completed Dolores is very
happy, and when Dolores is happy I´m happy.
We are still wishing for more consistent rainfall.
We haven’t seen anything significant, or measureable in a week. Last evening we had the local niño’s over for
a late night swim. Within 15 minutes
thunder and some lightning-flashes occurred then within minutes the skies
dumped a heavy rain and with many adios and hand waving we all headed for the
cover of our respective casa´s. Changing
into dry clothes I went out onto the veranda and moved the furniture back into
cover then watched as the rain diminished, stopped, and patches of blue sky
appeared. Oh well, the niño’s had a
neighborhood party to attend and didn´t mind the foreshortened swim and we read
our Kindles – normal evening.
