Living in the Fills

[PeterB]

Building maintenance? I guess that part of that is down to the standard of the build in the first place.

Most construction is done on a very low budget, using 'sub-standard' materials. I am endeavoring to use best quality materials, for example, load-bearing, machine-made concrete blocks instead of the rather weak hand-made ones (We have some hand-made blocks which have been lying around for a couple of months - they crumble in your hands as you pick them up).

Another factor is that much construction is left incomplete for long periods, as the budget runs out - I'm sure that this cannot help the longterm durability (eg leaving rendered concrete unpainted for a long time).

Another factor is that most buildings are painted concrete and if the paint is not maintained it will become 'tired' looking.

In the UK, we are used to solid, brick-built, houses which have stood for 100 years. It comes as shock to learn that buildings in Phils have an 'economic' life of 25-30 years, after which the expectation is that they would be demolished. We discovered that we couldn't easily get a renovation permit for a house which was 30 years old, so it has been demolished to make way for the new house. Local friends, who see the standard of construction of our new house express the opinion that it will stand for 100 years!

[andypaul]

Building maintenance? I guess that part of that is down to the standard of the build in the first place.

Most construction is done on a very low budget, using 'sub-standard' materials. I am endeavoring to use best quality materials, for example, load-bearing, machine-made concrete blocks instead of the rather weak hand-made ones (We have some hand-made blocks which have been lying around for a couple of months - they crumble in your hands as you pick them up).

Another factor is that much construction is left incomplete for long periods, as the budget runs out - I'm sure that this cannot help the longterm durability (eg leaving rendered concrete unpainted for a long time).

Another factor is that most buildings are painted concrete and if the paint is not maintained it will become 'tired' looking.

In the UK, we are used to solid, brick-built, houses which have stood for 100 years. It comes as shock to learn that buildings in Phils have an 'economic' life of 25-30 years, after which the expectation is that they would be demolished. We discovered that we couldn't easily get a renovation permit for a house which was 30 years old, so it has been demolished to make way for the new house. Local friends, who see the standard of construction of our new house express the opinion that it will stand for 100 years!

A very intresting post.

In a town next door to where the missus lives there were "Spanish Houses" which were very old (but not by european standards) and they seemed to have in the main coped quite well. As you say good materials used and being maintained well.

I can see what you mean about the choice of materials a aunt has a house which i cant see last for more than a decade or two more and its only ten years and she has contacts in the buliding trade (although not sadly huge amounts of money us brits might invest)

I would say keith if you do move out its a point to consider how good will this Gaff i intend to stay in be in ten twenty years time?

Having to knock now and rebulid a home may hit the finances. Which I think is what hit some of the older memebers of the wifes family.

A nice house was constructed during the better years in phill and then when the big renovation was needed the money was not there in all cases. For some in the family it caused big problems i can think of at least one great uncle of the wifes who has what must of been a lovely house and lands but cant afford the dough to keep it as he wishes.

[jimeve]

Building maintenance? I guess that part of that is down to the standard of the build in the first place.

Most construction is done on a very low budget, using 'sub-standard' materials. I am endeavoring to use best quality materials, for example, load-bearing, machine-made concrete blocks instead of the rather weak hand-made ones (We have some hand-made blocks which have been lying around for a couple of months - they crumble in your hands as you pick them up).

Another factor is that much construction is left incomplete for long periods, as the budget runs out - I'm sure that this cannot help the longterm durability (eg leaving rendered concrete unpainted for a long time).

Another factor is that most buildings are painted concrete and if the paint is not maintained it will become 'tired' looking.

In the UK, we are used to solid, brick-built, houses which have stood for 100 years. It comes as shock to learn that buildings in Phils have an 'economic' life of 25-30 years, after which the expectation is that they would be demolished. We discovered that we couldn't easily get a renovation permit for a house which was 30 years old, so it has been demolished to make way for the new house. Local friends, who see the standard of construction of our new house express the opinion that it will stand for 100 years!

If that was the case, how do the condos stay up in Manila or any major city,

Iam building a three story house and I know exactly what materials they
use, the hollow block I think you are talking about are filled in with concrete
and the main structure are made of reinforced concrete post,
and if it looks tired after a few years paint the

[KeithD]

If that was the case, how do the condos stay up in Manila or any major city,

Have you been in one that is undecorated? Cracks everywhere.....one major earthquake they all come tumbling down.

[jimeve]

Have you been in one that is undecorated? Cracks everywhere.....one major earthquake they all come tumbling down.

Major earthquake rattles Manila
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A major earthquake rattled the Philippine capital Manila on Friday night, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage so far, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The quake, measured at 6.2 degrees on Richter scale, occurred at around 10:35 p.m. local time (1435 GMT) and lasted for about one minute. The jolt was initially soft but progressed into brief wild swings.

the cracks are mostly small and not on load bearing post.

yes seen loads that are left unpainted, seen worse in UK.

btw thats my job

[keithAngel]

jimeve[/LEFT];83337]Major earthquake rattles Manila
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A major earthquake rattled the Philippine capital Manila on Friday night, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage so far, said the Philippine Institute of

Volcanology

and Seismology.

The quake, measured at 6.2 degrees on Richter scale, occurred at around 10:35 p.m. local time (1435 GMT) and lasted for about one minute. The jolt was initially soft but progressed into brief wild swings.

the cracks are mostly small and not on load bearing post.

yes seen loads that are left unpainted, seen worse in UK.

btw

thats

my job

Seismologist

?

[keithAngel]

If that was the case, how do the condos stay up in Manila or any major city,

Iam building a three story house and I know exactly what materials they
use, the hollow block I think you are talking about are filled in with concrete
and the main structure are made of reinforced concrete post,
and if it looks tired after a few years paint the

If your building yourself I agree you will know what was used the problems can arise when you don't follow the construction process hourly.

Portugal has similar methods except they use hollow clay bricks a lot of which are pre-cracked lol

With steel frame work attention to the steel size,connecting and the pack of cement in the shuttering are very important especially if you are by the coast where the saline is very corrosive and can weaken the steel I was shocked that vibrators were not used and realised you have to give a lot time to ensure continuity and packing to avoid air pockets.

Steel mesh is needed to tie upper cement floors together and the screed should always be poured in one consecutive application not over days

[IainBusby]

If that was the case, how do the condos stay up in Manila or any major city,

Iam building a three story house and I know exactly what materials they
use, the hollow block I think you are talking about are filled in with concrete
and the main structure are made of reinforced concrete post,
and if it looks tired after a few years paint the

When I was in Cagayan De Oro in 2006, I went out with an Amercan guy I had met to see how his new house build was progressing and I watched them building with these hollow blocks you mentioned. They do indeed, after cementing the blocks in place, fill in the blocks with mortor.

As you said, the main structure consisted of reinforced (manufactured) concrete posts, but the blocks also had steel rods running through them which I think would make a very solid structure once it was rendered both inside and out.

The American guy did say however that the only way he could be sure that they didn't scrimp on cement in the mortar mix and other things like leaving out the steel rods, was to visit the site at least twice a day and call at other times to say he was just on his way there.

Iain.

[jimeve]

I am there all the time mate, 8 till 5 cracking the whip.
I pay the men weekly and fire any slackers.

just the way it is.

[jimeve]

Have you heard that saying, built like a brick sxxthouse,
well mine is built like big shxthouse ony 4 bathroms thou