Squaring up the Window Openings

This is how they square up the window frames after they have done the rough brick work and then finished the repayo on the inside and out. First they bend these clamps out of a piece of rebar, then they place 2 boards on either side of the wall and square and level up the frame. Then a guy comes and fills the gap with cement and smooths it and in the end it looks like a proper window opening. Rustic, but it works well. In this last picture you can see that he has done the upright part and is now working on the top and bottom. It is a bit dark but if you double click it to make it big it becomes quite clear. When they are done they leave the boards and clamps in place for about 3 days until the cement is well set up.

The ebanisteria (carpenter in English) who came yesterday to measure up the doors was surprised because every door was square and measured the same top middle and bottom. Only one was 1/4 inch out at the top, every other one was nearly perfect. A testament to our builder. Another friend who came to the house last week said that he has never in his 12 years of living in Costa Rica and Panama seen a house as well constructed as this one. He has seen 2 in Costa Rica that come close but he says this one tops them all. We are very pleased.