Welcome back to Lot 45 at Lancet Island!
If you’ve been following along, you know we left off the last time with underground plumbing freshly laid and dirt still waiting to be packed back into place. A lot has changed since then — and today, we’re excited to walk you through all the major milestones that have taken us from rough trenches to solid block walls.
Let’s dive in! 🏡
Step One: Underground Plumbing & Site Preparation
Our last visit ended just as the plumbers wrapped up the underground work.
Since then, the concrete contractor came back, filled the open trenches, and compacted the dirt to make sure everything below ground was tight and ready for the next phase.
Before we could move forward, pest control stepped in to spray a termite treatment across the newly compacted dirt.
As one of the important (but easy to miss) steps, this treatment helps protect the foundation for years to come.
To “lock in” the termite barrier, the concrete crew returned and — as we like to say —
“Put six-mil plastic over the pest control treatment to lock it in.”
This creates a critical sealed layer before the next step: pouring the slab.
Step Two: Building a Solid Foundation
Next up: prepping the footers and laying the groundwork for the house’s strength.
We dug the footers around the perimeter and dropped in #5 rebar — a strong steel reinforcement that ensures the structure above will stand tall.
At this point, the electricians jumped in to install floor receptacles and the critical UFER ground.
This grounding system, encased in concrete, ties into the entire home’s electrical safety:
“Our UFER ground is encased in concrete and grounds the entire house.”
Once all pre-slab systems were in place, we poured the slab!
After a few hours, it was firm enough to walk on, and we began applying water to assist the curing process:
“It takes a couple of hours before it’s hard enough to walk on, and then we start putting water on it to help it cure.”
We gave the slab a few days to cure properly — an important patience step — before moving forward to block work.
Step Three: Going Vertical with Block Masonry
Now for the fun part: block masons arrived to start building up the structure!
They began where it matters most — at the openings for doors and corners — then worked inward.
Every horizontal row of block they lay is called a “course.”
And at the very top of the wall sits the “bond beam,” a hollowed-out block system reinforced with rebar:
“Every row of block is called a course. Your top course is your bond beam.”
At strategic points (like around doors and windows), vertical rebar was carefully dropped down from the bond beam, tying into the structural cage that makes Florida homes hurricane-tough.
You’ll spot little pieces of plywood here and there — they’re not random!
They’re temporary forms keeping the concrete inside when it’s later pumped:
“The plywood keeps the concrete in when they return to pump it.”
Step Four: Reinforcement and Hurricane Prep
Before pouring concrete into the bond beam, our carpenters came out to mark the location for hurricane straps — critical anchors that will later hold the trusses in place against powerful winds:
“Those straps keep the trusses secured to the block.”
When the bond beam is filled, the concrete crew installs these straps at the marked points, fully embedding them in the hardened structure for maximum strength.
Step Five: Special Engineering Touches
One area above the sliding west door needed extra attention — a cast-in-place L4 beam.
This custom beam was specifically called out by the engineer to handle additional weight from the future trusses:
“This was specifically called out by the engineer to support the load from the trusses.”
It was pumped just a day after the bond beam, using a specialized concrete mix designed for heavy structural loads.
What’s Next at Lot 45?
With the blockwork completed and the structural system locked in, we’re ready for the next big moment:
The delivery and flying of the roof trusses!
Framing is just around the corner — and we can’t wait to share the next chapter with you.
As always,
“We’ll catch you on the next one!”
About DePrima Homes: Building Luxury Since 1961
At DePrima Homes, we don’t just build houses — we build dreams, one block at a time.
With decades of expertise and a passion for quality, we continue crafting luxury homes across Florida that families are proud to call their own.
Stay tuned for more updates from Lot 45 — and beyond!