Wood, stone, metal
As I mentioned before, prices of materials are quickly going up. The workshops are all loaded with work, companies will not accept new orders until the end of this year. This is the moment to act fast, decide, order, pre-pay, and arrange. Make sure all your orders are written down with the best conditions. And most of all: maintain your network of craftsmen.
Networking
When you need someone for a specific task in your project, you best rely on recommendations of people you already work with. They all work in the same circuit, know each other, trust each other and provide each other with new assignments. And for all the moments when you are frustrated, and need to complain about a lack of communication, you will be reassured by them. “Not to worry, I know him, it will all turn out well.” So far, this is how it turns out….
Benedita en Turquel
Every week we drive up and down to Benedita and Turquel. A couple of villages with a conglomerate of workshops and companies, craftsmen, contractors, producers and suppliers.
A stonemason’s yard that predominantly delivers to people in the Middle East and the United States for their luxury temples. Where the massive blocks are being carved in thin slices. With which you can also panel your humble shower cabin, for instance.
A contractor, building a giant hall for a company in metal.
The metal company where you can order emergency overflow drains, that are all weather stainless steel, sea salt proof.
A company in window frames that has very little time but is willing to think about cost effective and sustainable solutions. And that can produce your tailor made roof panels in the right color!
A wood yard where we could buy a large parcel of wood for the veranda decks and the area around the pool. And then we need to have the lot quickly transported to the hall of another befriended contractor, for safety reasons. There is such a lack of this product that you risk your consignment to be resold again on the spot, to some lunatic walking in, insisting that he MUST HAVE this particular wood at once.
The carpenter and his son, who will build a complete kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom cabinets for you. In the workshop next to their home in another small village. The first lot of material has been delivered and is ready for inspection.
Arabic tent
They are proud of their work and appreciate it when you come to them and get to know them. They are eager to explain their working methods and how they transfer their knowledge to the next generation. And they also come to our building site to get a better understanding of what we need them to make. One guy does not approve of the design of our house. Way too modern, these white blocks. Just like an Arabic tent, he mutters. But luckily he does want to work for us after all…