Roof is complete Simply Beautiful! Plaster is moving along quickly as well!!!!

The roof is complete!  We could not be happier.  The two guys that installed it were flown in from Florida to install our roof.   They are the premier clay tile roof installers on St John.  They hung the 6" copper gutters, installed the downspouts and installed this entire clay roof in less than 10 working days!

Close up view of the clay tile and 6" copper gutters

Another Close up view.  Look closely at the caps that cover the plumbimg vent pipes

So backing up a few steps....This picture is the container that was  used to ship the clay tile from from France.  On St John it is known as the "Peter Bay" tile.  It is beautiful..We ordered the clay tile back in April just after we started construction to make sure it was able to be on site in time.  The container first had to make a pitstop in Jacksonville where it cleared customs.  Then Lester, our roofing contractor, met the container and loaded it with the custom 6" copper gutters he fabricated 1150 miles away.  The container was then shipped to St Thomas and then brought overon a barge.

We are very fortunate, as you can see by the picture to the left, that we were able to build a ramp onto the roof so we were able to access the roof very easily.  This was Denises idea and it was brilliant!

This is a picture of the gutters stored in the main floor bedroom.  We kept them safe until they were ready to be hung.  Pretty penny sitting there.  ha ha get it?

Ok so now onto the plaster.....We decided to start inside on the lower level so we can "work our way up and out of the villa".  Once we are done plastering  the inside, we can begin to lay our beautiful travertine and simultaneously begin to plaster the out side.   This picture is one of the lower bedrooms and already has the "scratch coat" applied which is the first coat of plaster.  Once that dries over a few days, two more coats of plaster are applied.  We decided to use a colored plaster and it has a Tuscan finish which tends to be more vintage.  

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Here is a quick video clip showing the three plaster contractors applying the first coat.  This first coat is applied and then allowed  to "set up" for an hour or two and then the final coat is applied.  This enhances the Tuscan look.  As of today, the entire lower level consisting of two master suites, 2 ensuite bathrooms with out door showers over looking Fish Bay and the Caribbean Sea, and the two story stair well are complete and we have moved upstairs to the main level.

This is a picture of the main floor master suite.  They finished this room today.  I took this picture just after they finished the first coat of the colored plaster but before the closet was plastered so you could appreciate the color.  It is gorgeous!  This Master Suite has 16 ft high vaulted cielings with the same ensuite bath and outdoor shower the other two Master suites have. Once the travertine is installed and the doors hung back on the frames, we will finally be able to see all of our hard work and planning come together!

 

One last view of the villa and the roof.  If you are sitting on the pool deck admiring the scenery (see the picture below) and you look to your left this is what you see. This beautiful covered veranda which is a short stroll  and only two steps to the fridge for another coctail!

Not much to say here except you could be sitting here this winter enjoying the breezes and the view.  Tomorrow we start plastering the remainder of the main level which will take a week or so to finish.  We will simultaneously be applying the scratch coat on the exterior.  We should be laying the travertine druing the month of November and also laying all of the chicago brick pavers on the veranda and pool deck.  Early  to mid December we will plaster the pool, landscape and get our cabinets installed.  They are due on island by the 8th of December.  We are flying to Florida to pick our granite soon so it will be ready for us by late December or Early January.  We should be 100% complete and ready for rent by January 15! 

The roof is complete!  We could not be happier.  The two guys that installed it were flown in from Florida to install our roof.   They are the premier clay tile roof installers on St John.  They hung the 6" copper gutters, installed the downspouts and installed this entire clay roof in less than 10 working days!