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.
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 ?
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 ....
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?)
oh geez...I completely forgot about those flying butresses...thanks for reminding me amigo
pretty cool....maybe juan will consider it for our next addition!
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".
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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