Comments on: A Visit To Rancho De Caldera http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Ron http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41257 Ron Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:14:38 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41257 Kim and I stayed there in March and enjoyed it. Chris and Gina are wonderful hosts and the place has some great views. Did you mention that they are off grid and most of their electricity there comes from the sun or the river? (Yes they do have a diesel backup generator). So Chris is also a wealth of information on solar and mini-hydro power. We look forward to another visit when we can get in the pool. It was out of commission temporarily when we stayed there. Kim and I stayed there in March and enjoyed it. Chris and Gina are wonderful hosts and the place has some great views. Did you mention that they are off grid and most of their electricity there comes from the sun or the river? (Yes they do have a diesel backup generator). So Chris is also a wealth of information on solar and mini-hydro power. We look forward to another visit when we can get in the pool. It was out of commission temporarily when we stayed there.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41234 Don Ray Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:40:09 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41234 Caldera is beautiful country. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Caldera is beautiful country. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

]]> By: Kayra http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41233 Kayra Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:37:00 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41233 Wow, that places looks great. My father's family is from Caldera, and still have family who lives there. The rest of my family lives outside of Caldera, about 20 minutes further up, a place called El Cope. Wow, that places looks great. My father’s family is from Caldera, and still have family who lives there. The rest of my family lives outside of Caldera, about 20 minutes further up, a place called El Cope.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41213 Don Ray Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:59:47 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41213 To take them or make them? Yes to both. To take them or make them? Yes to both.

]]> By: Reed http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41212 Reed Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:54:28 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41212 Looks Great!! Good place for kids?? Looks Great!! Good place for kids??

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41209 Don Ray Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:49:19 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41209 It is the earthquake reputation that attracts it growing following. It is the earthquake reputation that attracts it growing following.

]]> By: tuxi http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41208 tuxi Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:03:38 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41208 An even better resource on M2 is http://www.m2panel.com/. I see at this site that this is a Panamanian product (manufactured by Hopsa). The construction is not what I thought I saw on the link from my other comment. Actually, the foam is the core, and concrete is placed over the core with gunite (spray gun deployed concrete). For those of us who've watched concrete swimming pools being built, it's the same process as placing the concrete for those. There are claims that this is very good for earthquake, and I expect it is better than a lot of concrete block construction. Concrete block construction often has insufficient reinforcement, but the M2 has continuous reinforcement inside and out (including the roof, apparently). Color me impressed. An even better resource on M2 is http://www.m2panel.com/. I see at this site that this is a Panamanian product (manufactured by Hopsa). The construction is not what I thought I saw on the link from my other comment. Actually, the foam is the core, and concrete is placed over the core with gunite (spray gun deployed concrete). For those of us who’ve watched concrete swimming pools being built, it’s the same process as placing the concrete for those.

There are claims that this is very good for earthquake, and I expect it is better than a lot of concrete block construction. Concrete block construction often has insufficient reinforcement, but the M2 has continuous reinforcement inside and out (including the roof, apparently).

Color me impressed.

]]> By: tuxi http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41207 tuxi Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:49:22 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41207 Here's a link for M2: http://www.advancedbuilding.ro/html/sisteme/caracteristici_en.htm I think I've seen something similar at home shows here in the States. I found the insulation and concrete form in one to be interesting. The claim in the link is that curing the concrete within the insulation actually helps the concrete itself be a better insulator. Here’s a link for M2: http://www.advancedbuilding.ro/html/sisteme/caracteristici_en.htm

I think I’ve seen something similar at home shows here in the States. I found the insulation and concrete form in one to be interesting. The claim in the link is that curing the concrete within the insulation actually helps the concrete itself be a better insulator.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41196 Don Ray Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:31:57 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41196 It is a new construction that doesn't use concrete block. It is a new construction that doesn’t use concrete block.

]]> By: Omar Upegui R. http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/04/28/a-visit-to-rancho-de-caldera/#comment-41195 Omar Upegui R. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:27:14 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/?p=2285#comment-41195 Hi Don: What a nice place to spend your vacation. Everything looks first class. I have one small question. What is M2 construction? Regards, Omar.- Hi Don:

What a nice place to spend your vacation. Everything looks first class. I have one small question. What is M2 construction?

Regards,

Omar.-

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