Swooshy splashy from a silo

December 1, 2021 0 By Claudia

Next, there is a week full of utter frustration and tension. In the end all problems are solved. But if the master of the house could change this silo into a spaceship and transport himself into the future, he would immediately do so!

We spend hours and endless meters of tape and foam tape to cover the beautiful new façades on the inside. And to create a small edge between floor and walls. This we do ourselves, just to be sure of the exact attachments and measurements. But not for our poor muscles and the speed because of the tight time schedule. What an awful job! But it is necessary, because the material we need on the floor is very fluid and splashy. It will guide the heating in a very good way to the upper polyurethan flooring that will be laid in the end.

On a Monday evening they bring the silo for the Fassa Bortolo. This one is now empty. As soon as it is filled up with powder, mixed with water, the material will be pumped through a hose into the house.

Day 1: crisis, crisis assembly and steep raising emotional temperatures

There are a whole lot of people on the premises. People from Fassa, a team that has to apply the material, people that have to learn to work with this new stuff, the architect, amongst others swinging by for consultation. Soon there is confusion and disagreement about the way of working and applying. The executing party insists on installing metal reinforcement. This was not planned and calculated. There is a disagreement on necessities and responsibilities. Dilatations need to be formed. Also not planned and calculated. And besides, not wanted. We want an ongoing floor without any hiccups. Can it be made or are they not able? The applicators and the people from the factory in Italy have different opinions about execution and responsibility. It escalates into a day full of frustrations, accusations, discussions between Italian and Portuguese bosses and underbosses, and accumulating emotions. The upper boss of the project is being ripped apart and I am so so worried…

By the end of the day they finally reach a consensus, and this is the only task fulfilled. It is almost dark. The men go home, which leads to more anger. They are expected to carry on elsewhere the next day. But they refuse to continue this job in the dark. They want to execute a proper job.

Day 2: the job is finally executed

So, they install the metal reinforcement. Measurements are carried out. Because the material is so fluid, they can predestine the exact height. Because next a layer of polyurethane defines the exact horizontal connection to the thresholds.

All holes are filled up, so the fluid does not get spilled. They install small anchors for the exact heights.

Finally, in the run of the second day, the hose enters the house. They need quite a few hours to fill her up to the exact height. 22 tons of material goes in. Just like that. The house is ever so heavily stuck on it’s position. Will never ever walk away anymore! By the end of the day the boss is completely frozen. These were very early and long hours, and he could hardly take a break. But now his energy is finished. The workers need more hours in the evening to clean up and clear up before they can leave. But Luís has already crashed on the sofa. At least this should be one of the very last super exciting and mega significantly impacting jobs on the whole project.