Renovation Week 9: July 12 - July 17
Over the last weekend, thanks to our volunteers (Chris, Daisy, Katlyn, Nelson, Bradley, Eric, Stephan, Edoardo, Mauricio, Luisa), we made significant progress to get the dojo ready for use, but much still need to be done.
First thing Monday: Install the outside sign
The only thing I salvaged from the old place before us is the clock. I found this clock from the left over of the previous tenant. I changed the movement and custom-printed some stickers in Chinese numbers to put on the glass.
After few modifications, this unique clock is a nice fit on the column.
I wanted to setup a raised floor which gives a better impact-absorbtion compared to the concrete, but our permanent mats are not going to be here for another two months. So in the meantime, I decided that we will just put plywood under the mats and put the 4cm puzzle mats we are borrowing on them.
Getting ready for the first test practice: July 13th. Edoardo Paccone and Pedro Neta helping set up.
The old tile floor is ugly and ruined, but since most of it will be covered by mats, there is no need to spend the extra time and money to replace it. However, in few exposed areas, I decided to put linoleum floor material to cover it. It's much work which I had to do myself, and took much longer than expecting. Putting the glue down and cutting them in the right size is a laborious process.
Putting the glue on the floor, a slow process.
The end result is markedly improved look.
The new look is so much better.
Linoleum flooring at the entrance. You can see where it stops and the plywood and mats being.
With the plywood and mats covering the old tile floor, the effect is seamless
Gyms and martial art school in Italy don't have air conditioners. They usually close during the hottest period of the summer, from mid-July to early September. I wanted to be the only judo school with an air conditioner, to keep the temparature moderate during the hottest time in the summer. Not only that, because we don't have any type of heating system in the place, this is our heating source as well.
In the summer it's not easy to get a technician to come and install the air conditioner, but finally one came.
Installed and working.
