![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/9ae322ec-dd52-4fe3-b114-f588097be095_rw_3840.jpg?h=6de26bbbc09d4bbb0955cb6da7e07605)
With demolition of the old buildings on site finished, we were ready to sink the 35 pilings.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/5d4e6a91-42bc-4d2b-8c3c-4b6bf3280ef3_rw_3840.jpg?h=2bdf6be37c581f5449a60054f80f69fb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/507896b8-df9f-4379-a1c0-2c4da837de54_rw_3840.jpg?h=f01e106c6cec9927039dc004f3870a60)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8bbfdd10-f070-4ee7-bc31-e01d0079871d_rw_3840.jpg?h=9b81a311dcc69df46dba9fd5e6c75456)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ae078175-fd1b-41e5-8a79-bb117de7e2be_rw_1200.jpg?h=2f7db2c5471d706f92ca1cd79648f421)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/f4809964-b4d8-4c5f-a053-fbd7fa14c354_rw_1920.jpg?h=8abb2a7f039f424ccd3e253d95348d42)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/b36cacb3-9df9-46aa-8544-9eccb8d9f14e_rw_3840.jpg?h=ec7ef875705d6ae437f343e54a2c78b5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/248dd1d1-3ac6-4fe4-9d3a-89908f417abd_rw_3840.jpg?h=c94da0dc62cf792f797c8f84f161d558)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/991cfdf6-ccb2-4a1f-9c01-f9402cdf5822_rw_3840.jpg?h=19fd552031104b29277e661923ba5905)
Nearly ready for the flowable fill
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8f11c1f6-186a-4912-a639-65a9e522c3dc_rw_3840.jpg?h=946863107c49d81c35cc36bd7ad8f53a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/62f9f1ba-985d-42ec-865f-67f38bcb96e7_rw_3840.jpg?h=cec2673d8efe7f8f372547cc404b08d0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ade528ec-47bb-44ad-a94b-ca73e245197c_rw_3840.jpg?h=341efbcbf8baf1d2a0f9a8cb2647ab2d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ccda0d40-5c49-4eb3-898b-32498922faa3_rw_1920.jpg?h=47dd18e690d95bbbadb1d49239e4d86f)
This boat brought the flow-able fill. They pumped it through a pipe from the canal to the site.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8d371ccb-6bdd-4ff1-bc60-b42424e2419c_rw_1920.jpg?h=a59322b1777678f575e7c4db87cead47)
Filling the foundation with the sand/water slurry
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/77991335-dbd8-4ca3-83d9-523eb3a17616_rw_3840.jpg?h=761e3eb1f134fff85e487c308a225618)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e788af74-7641-46b8-904b-9912536f20f9_rw_3840.jpg?h=47639e58501816f348bc9fd641a4ae74)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/d6948349-430c-4661-83e8-91958b1c1186_rw_3840.jpg?h=231f601e1da39246ef4e4018d14948b0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/7f6a3407-ea27-4593-ac8b-2d146c08352b_rw_3840.jpg?h=d541c3180c981f7350f0362562e53731)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8b1e1791-6434-4f83-a2cb-429f9cd286ea_rw_3840.jpg?h=87584fe38927bb6dea0e53bb4bc97777)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e33f60cd-07b0-486c-8e40-8f41244a9c93_rw_1920.jpg?h=2504eaed7af180db8429688a13bee1cb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/7508aeec-1b21-4124-bb69-8d9c8dffdbab_rw_1200.jpg?h=8166271770fbae53db9195ef9500fe0a)
220 Volts
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8eb9646d-61b3-49b1-9382-84cb8d24e42c_rw_3840.jpg?h=bb34c28bf4e8616c8e5ebac33a043dab)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/b7e126bb-c94c-47b5-bee3-88eeb0baf0c7_rw_3840.jpg?h=08471e6ce03b5fc8f7f19e63f92eae23)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/2352e057-2ecf-4868-adda-cfb5d802b69a_rw_3840.jpg?h=47e19a63f575cd824297269aa7ef2ea5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/0abde73b-2b92-4049-a790-fff3b7b56e34_rw_3840.jpg?h=06960aa88f1f63b2ab05ab841fb64f60)
This climate doesn't allow wood frame construction. Our insulation consists, then, of the air within and between the bricks in our walls.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/5eba3e68-30c5-407a-8c47-5e8210d46627_rw_3840.jpg?h=7b0be9499804f0c71018cb89c3cdcd89)
We added a separate building as a summer kitchen to keep the heat out of the house.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/331e8ff8-ccee-4513-9145-e33da7bb452a_rw_1920.jpg?h=36a0e5493a3b47d4ac60c66e1712c00e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/79d0c972-660b-4cc5-99c8-64aef955cec2_rw_3840.jpg?h=d678e963a3b7a6e223be2a3203688505)
Welding the support structure for the garage door
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ef2ce948-2661-4d37-9bd5-6382e948f71a_rw_1920.jpg?h=b60d6a47c18ac110474854e6ad0d546a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/9c6988b7-5433-462a-b877-2dae9f737cb8_rw_1920.jpg?h=5b9d5dc423201df6e7c446a79cb9bb21)
T
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/fad8ee48-0866-47d4-a4f4-da84f979cf6a_rw_1920.jpg?h=7b886d06b4934a1b6a17e663eef71eb7)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/c3a5ed2c-9ad0-44f4-a9ae-c1e5db289941_rw_3840.jpg?h=f6e3dec92902cc4a66cecd283f1dc141)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ea8e770d-0338-47c9-b55b-698d7b3fa316_rw_1920.jpg?h=b6e053cdda9623383fc4c445bd83fcc1)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e809ead4-7f07-4979-b6e5-c18fbf93e8ea_rw_3840.jpg?h=dd7b7a44c11579b01b8467b13d082c12)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/cd3085af-e386-4a19-bd4b-de7b5e99a686_rw_3840.jpg?h=9fedc358ec19f41ca8c9781ed679659c)
This girl carried most of the bricks for our house and not one at a time.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8e362a26-1dfc-4b0f-bb22-9373940320f4_rw_1920.jpg?h=415ec5dfb560ad332b903677b849e8b7)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/9c051073-ea5c-462a-9db6-4864f093342e_rw_3840.jpg?h=a8802db15703af5c97934b2ad5d0c21e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/824386a7-ca9f-4da1-8006-b1d917b07149_rw_1920.jpg?h=97b1c2686217aa6d437ec13fef73ef0f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/91d0a88b-709a-434c-a923-aa06d8f67789_rw_1920.jpg?h=9e1d6abe033df059fc9784490cd5cd1f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/9264546d-4165-4be7-90a7-cb92b77c6641_rw_3840.jpg?h=c905709415d0f477948a7d053b96e18c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/b5f8d371-1f2b-4beb-b7ac-c65af78f0df9_rw_1920.jpg?h=bb815ef528bd848cb6d7d2262390f5b5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/43517ac9-9e1c-4377-91bd-7dc9b0cb4d48_rw_3840.jpg?h=d158aa154ca3bade7b11fc97ab0ccb78)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/02177bc0-0a4a-4089-a155-6f84d6be496a_rw_1920.jpg?h=a42a4e858d2593364a21e5247e313320)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/da20db00-b050-482c-822e-e75765dec709_rw_3840.jpg?h=34045a348a0decd4432b5613aa41700b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/2df67ed9-0a5d-474b-b3f3-c58fca148a3e_rw_3840.jpg?h=e00fd2bf5edde929c1e9c52b2743d5a5)
Bic and our friend Tuan. He was the architect for our new house.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/5b152816-2c00-42c0-948b-45cfd974a1ad_rw_3840.jpg?h=28cf3b9874eba66ef6ab7d517e0e84ee)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/47399dad-5133-41f5-bedb-deedd45851b1_rw_1920.jpg?h=a7e049db49355eb840f336ba902f4d2e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/89944a67-6114-487d-bc3c-25e5a7313aae_rw_3840.jpg?h=157a1704b8355e08a151fc84fe59db05)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8ac02e57-53dc-4fcc-87c0-9f8583603926_rw_1920.jpg?h=74a0e6d97f95295c1048064724031ef0)
He was repairing a scaffold.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/b964d0ad-c150-4efe-9c60-e834fa64b49a_rw_1920.jpg?h=cf81bcb625252e45951b6d2477f7f8c5)
Concrete Comes From Heaven
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/a2a47363-3b10-46f4-8bb8-874c982deef1_rw_1920.jpg?h=5cfb23f4ee70dc70218eef29ba7a6c63)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/af009a9a-b0c9-4a6a-8643-e9224e34c40b_rw_1200.jpg?h=decedcc8986ce767e9de41240973d8c2)
Bic's sister, Thuy and her son in front of our house during construction
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/346cd360-f91c-4c15-9a75-3b4255f942ef_rw_3840.jpg?h=1164e6654280648b84ff38661087abc4)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/36508255-8e96-46ef-9e77-3649213edcff_rw_1920.jpg?h=df19909838d3acee366ac1d087980f29)
Here you see Bicky schooling the electrician.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/280b0b39-bc98-41a1-84e2-753c5b3cdfe5_rw_3840.jpg?h=8b753df60f2353ae95fb205de2c09591)
Each intersection of rebar had been carefully wired together before the 2nd floor concrete could be poured.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e19e7c0a-a642-40cc-8384-5d634d25c41b_rw_3840.jpg?h=e81725fbe33112eeb39269f1de0915d8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8d7ee733-eb11-4d35-8043-5483f2a5770f_rw_1920.jpg?h=9df7f9be498c6e7e536c18bfc2ce4eae)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/0293cde7-c553-4a9a-9d86-5fe4b22110f6_rw_3840.jpg?h=d40406649fe63b9de55bdc5db61b078d)
Pouring the stairway
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e81b2a0e-1d8f-45c6-935e-e7e94b44dd50_rw_1200.jpg?h=918fca083bc4f395c8c982587b6c497a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/0d2f640e-bc45-4f8b-b317-f5741995931c_rw_1920.jpg?h=aff91144bc36745cd0ab75aaf3a8c64a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/9353785b-e799-4ffe-8fea-cf5df4b4b80c_rw_3840.jpg?h=8fd70fab07da4f8a73c2095baef9668c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/81d5df57-b778-43ef-a9be-4dd44ed844ab_rw_1920.jpg?h=4134ab1bd0e13f513bf168a6cafcaa38)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/eca82e13-a5f3-4d80-8b27-0cc99c7f61f2_rw_3840.jpg?h=6f8912c75b34e1cde9dc4c924fd33598)
Bringing the Heat
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/2270c4a4-4b10-4cf1-aa63-e0f2a31131c3_rw_3840.jpg?h=0d01b40550d5cd33d33dabad329f734b)
This is little Chainsaw. She showed up one day and never left. The foreman adopted her.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/897fd10d-a7ca-4997-ab05-3c4d2292f4ab_rw_3840.jpg?h=4c4434ac776bc569a4d2fd927891e94a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/7e06d58c-5684-472b-883f-c289a48e14e7_rw_3840.jpg?h=4658c9e82e69ade12fee00e6632e8152)
Our foreman, Hung, in conversation with one of the workers
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/b2c03ce4-e425-4769-ba43-b1dbee3f411e_rw_3840.jpg?h=231a4d115f8cd54911050d564a733312)
Reflection in the granite slab that was to be applied to our front façade.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/4b71558a-37b5-427b-b39f-a96cf17ca4aa_rw_3840.jpg?h=fc6d2c9c2a82f20a1539aa8bd6d21d21)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/264b0d29-1271-4c10-83c3-ac5cd3538f33_rw_3840.jpg?h=a51051ab3cfc57abb2f1c3616741fe61)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/c03b6221-e607-40d4-b6dc-54dcacb903dd_rw_1920.jpg?h=ae9fcea8c1049ae7e0c9acfdcfc31a1c)
Another Friday afternoon party on our front porch featuring flammable wine
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/648b25cf-ff09-4327-9a05-b4d4c8ab5cb9_rw_3840.jpg?h=d5d1f519c7989dcc00aa0841c544ec60)
Chainsaw didn't want to let go.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8abaafc5-f84e-4411-8d93-43decfc2fd6f_rw_3840.jpg?h=10d25f6afad0fe74c6e558120d78ed94)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/1a699c2e-e147-4528-b598-1d050440c537_rw_3840.jpg?h=0d20c8c555ea4d136a5aed8d9c48146f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/499199ff-c0e0-4788-827a-b15a3b61cef7_rw_3840.jpg?h=3ed53e63f4c0d029906d55c4d431b558)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/878be324-1f07-443d-81c4-6a1b02468768_rw_1920.jpg?h=7633bbd130607ab85a7b54a4d08e4a9e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/69195f60-e0ad-4367-811b-d5199b375b57_rw_3840.jpg?h=fffc1f9a0415d4395db1393faffe5de6)
Bic and Thao talking about the progress
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/3ebe07bc-3dda-4390-8fa3-00f8579a5da5_rw_1920.jpg?h=e4c124c249f3d28d6a29ba3e2c654549)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/60ea0d80-7c10-4920-b868-83d7e97d6ee7_rw_1920.jpg?h=9a2ca06f4d9381408010a8de8ba6246c)
Our bedroom wall was finally done.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/e88ece0d-586f-4b78-880c-8b613b893927_rw_3840.jpg?h=8bc1dc7d062d1b259fa18f8edee1840c)
I was testing the shower.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/889bc433-ad51-4498-8b20-481be4558baa_rw_3840.jpg?h=52c8abd6f23b9cfa47799a6aed0c3c99)
Choosing a toilet would seem like no big deal, but when we saw the Toto Washlet at the showroom in Saigon, we were sold on it.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/a68fdb30-82d7-4926-a4b6-526de0108e96_rw_3840.jpg?h=868e5592b0bf79bac7daaba7eba842cc)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/ebf30256-1f92-4de8-b06f-38179cba3251_rw_3840.jpg?h=8f1c90d1ac0dba483ab9f4384202ad95)
Our bedroom
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/49377941-ca47-4837-a744-b4100fa56c43_rw_3840.jpg?h=e6e83cf5ee50fba58696def335eec3de)
Our bedroom was finally ready.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/785a160c-43aa-47e5-bd79-46178579b7a9_rw_1920.jpg?h=867d39bb79c9cd20416f022e113afd15)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/8c0fa8c8-01e2-4c9f-9dcd-31df40468728_rw_3840.jpg?h=6219f9a60103ffd949509ad24d504e28)
The design on the living-room wall echoes that of our bedroom.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/d00666bf-87e3-41c7-9838-d4e036fcccb5_rw_3840.jpg?h=bd87fa3a597bbedb3bf67f7418ea9f28)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/363b5599-8929-464e-adf7-f092b594b4f0_rw_3840.jpg?h=3e477ee079e857497004f0cc8417c481)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/6b113da1-ebf1-482c-8c38-923513a913d8_rw_3840.jpg?h=570ec3df5d9da5475740d2bdf7bf1072)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a8cb5940-a69d-4258-b473-f022d7443dcd/af87304c-565c-4266-b08b-9b327a21219d_rw_1200.jpg?h=70f1cb49e3a835318976e71b2317b489)
Now there is a large tree in the front yard. We also installed moveable, outdoor shades.