BajaNomad - Building a Boveda: completed photos

Building a Boveda: completed photos

Santiago - 9-13-2010 at 01:56 PM

See photos of completed jobhere.

Today on George's blog, he posted a video of building a boveda (arched brick ceiling).
Sheri: you gotta show this to Juan. The mason doing the work is pretty good.
I don't see these in Baja - anyone have one?
Edit:From a posting on George's blog a few minutes ago:

I asked Pedro, the bóveda man, to give answers to our questions:

Q: How does he get the correct arch without any template?
A: It requires a great deal of experience. When I first began as an apprentice at age 14, I had a great deal of trouble. Now I know how to start laying the bricks so that they come out at the correct height.

Q: What determines the height of the center of the bóveda?
A: My height. I construct bóvedas that are my height, no higher.

Q: How do you match one corner to the other.
A: At the center of the wall, the bóveda bricks begin going the other direction. You see the bricks zig-zag at the intersection.

Q: Why is the cement mortar so thin?
A: If the cement were thicker, it would be difficult to work and to clean. The cement does not need great strength because the bóveda is an arch, self-supporting.

[Edited on 9-13-2010 by Santiago]

[Edited on 9-14-2010 by Santiago]

[Edited on 9-14-2010 by Santiago]

[Edited on 9-15-2010 by Santiago]

Debra - 9-13-2010 at 02:01 PM

I think Nomads should start charging this guy a consulting fee. :biggrin:

Oops.............sorry Jim, you were sharing building stuff. :biggrin:

[Edited on 9-13-2010 by Debra]

dtbushpilot - 9-13-2010 at 03:32 PM

He could have saved a few hundred steps a day by locating his materials a little closer to where he was working......just an observation.

I would have liked to have seen the finished product....dt

bajabass - 9-13-2010 at 04:00 PM

I looked at a house in El Centenario that had that type of ceiling/roof. Very impressive, spacious, but scares me concerning seismic activity. :?:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-13-2010 at 04:04 PM

Hola, i have seen a couple of houses with them in the east cape. very interesting. there are also quite a few houses seen from the outside with domes but i'm not aware if they're bricked or not.

it would be interesting to see more progress like...1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and completion. what type of support mechanism does he use as he progresses ?

thank you for the post,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BajaBlanca - 9-13-2010 at 04:15 PM

so many domes in Italy and they survive earthquakes, don't they ????

it was very interesting to see how he builds - and it would be very interesting (as many wrote) to see the project half done and three quarters done and then the finished end product.... is it possible to ask "GEORGE" for an updated version ????

it seems to me that this shape, if well done, is very strong - at least that is what the Discovery Channel seems to say whenever we watch bldg programs ....

gracias for posting, Santiago.

Santiago - 9-13-2010 at 04:34 PM

I think George intends to post more as this is just what happened today. There is no supporting structure; as I see it, each row is leaning into the corner and he works very fast to get each row done because as soon as the very middle one is laid, then the arch is self supporting.
Pretty cool.
The builder, in an earlier video, states that the walls and foundation must be engineered for these as the ceiling is pushing the wall out and must be strong enough to hold this (remember the flying buttresses in the gothic cathedrals?)

shari - 9-13-2010 at 05:31 PM

oh geez...I completely forgot about those flying butresses...thanks for reminding me amigo :lol:

pretty cool....maybe juan will consider it for our next addition!

bajabass - 9-13-2010 at 07:56 PM

Good point Santiago! I think that is why I stick with nuts and bolts, and leave construction to the pros! The one I have seen was pretty large, maybe 20x30 to 40 ft. It did look like they had a good engineer, so I'm sure the walls are strong enough. Everything about the place said "solid".

Santiago - 9-13-2010 at 08:40 PM

George says that at the end of today, he had all 4 corners up. He will go there tomorrow and take more pictures - I'll post a link but just go to http://blog.vagabonders-supreme.net/. George has an interesting travel blog in a small class C motorhome and has been raveling in Baja and mainland Mexico for 6 or 7 years now.

Stickers - 9-13-2010 at 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari

pretty cool....maybe juan will consider it for our next addition!

Shari, living in 'earthquake central' I wouldn't consider having a few tons of bricks overhead.
I would feel better with palm leaves for my roof!

:biggrin:

Santiago - 9-14-2010 at 07:44 AM

This photo was taken last night. George will interview the mason today and post the video - I'll provide the link when he does.
[img]

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vandenberg - 9-14-2010 at 07:49 AM

Only thing I ever liked about the Loreto Bay townhouses were the vaulted brick ceilings. Watched the craftsman put them up. Very impressive and beautiful, especially with the small red brick.

[Edited on 9-14-2010 by vandenberg]

Santiago - 9-14-2010 at 11:53 AM

bump for interview with mason in first post.

BajaRat - 9-14-2010 at 12:42 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
How fantastic was that watching the Master mason. That skill comes from working with another pro for years. Watch how he tosses the mud and sets the bricks in seconds. dt
with a mason that talented I think i'd let him leave his mud board where ever he wants to.

lionel

shari - 9-14-2010 at 01:48 PM

I watched that first video several times and it was like watching an artist at work...that man is so skilled...so quick and smooth with the trowel and how he places each brick perfectly....he made it look soooo easy...I was really impressed...but is the "cement" just watery cement or is it some kind of special adhesive or redi mix or something like that...how come the bricks dont fall?

I LOVE that brick dome idea but wouldnt want it in my bedroom in case of earthquakes for sure.

Santiago - 9-14-2010 at 02:27 PM

If you notice he lays the entire side of the brick in the soupy mortar and then throws a little mortar on the bricks that are already up. I think the wet surface tension is enough to hold them in place until he gets each row done. Once each row is done, it won't fall as it's slightly leaning back into the corner. Pretty neat stuff.

Mexitron - 9-14-2010 at 06:27 PM

That is very cool! Thanks Santiago.

I thinks its surface tension but also some "flash" setting of the mortar that keeps them sticking---if you've worked with saltillos or brick you know how quickly they can suck the moisture up.

Santiago - 9-14-2010 at 08:41 PM

bump for the completed ceiling - see photo link in first line of first post.

CATAVINA RESTAURANT

BajaBlanca - 9-15-2010 at 08:45 AM

just amazing - such talent. A Prime example of a huge dome is at the restaurant at the Desert Inn (old La Pinta) hotel in Catavina ... we stop by to marvel every time we drive by.

@soulpatch - point well taken ...

[Edited on 9-15-2010 by BajaBlanca]

durrelllrobert - 9-16-2010 at 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
oh geez...I completely forgot about those flying butresses...

don't think I'd want any of those on the outside of mi casa:

butt maybe one of these inside :lol:

desertcpl - 9-16-2010 at 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
I watched that first video several times and it was like watching an artist at work...that man is so skilled...so quick and smooth with the trowel and how he places each brick perfectly....he made it look soooo easy...I was really impressed...but is the "cement" just watery cement or is it some kind of special adhesive or redi mix or something like that...how come the bricks dont fall?

I LOVE that brick dome idea but wouldnt want it in my bedroom in case of earthquakes for sure.

I agree Shari,, it was an artist at work,, I dont think this was his first rodeo,, WOW,, I still dont understand how it really goes up without falling down

BajaNuts - 9-16-2010 at 08:34 PM

The master craftsman works with confidence. Notice how he hacks away sides of the brick to fit the edge?

as with any craft, a thing of beauty to watch....and amazing results!

Iflyfish - 9-17-2010 at 08:04 AM

Shear genius!! Wonderful video of a great Mexican traditional art form.

Iflyfish

mcfez - 9-26-2010 at 07:34 PM

Santiago .... excellent! I'm passing this down to a few buddies that are into Sand Bag building....this was awesome.

I agree dtbushpilot !

Santiago - 9-26-2010 at 08:11 PM

See here for more photos of house under construction;the tops of the bovedas are grouted in.