Building a Concrete Block House in the Philippines – part 5
The roof – The roof is going to be a coco wood and tin. We cut our own lumber to save costs.
This wood is very heavy because we just cut it 3 days ago. One nice thing about it is that the nails drive easily but when the wood dries the nails are really set and very tough to remove.
The view from up here is great because you are overlooking the valley and the sugar cane fields. There is a steady breeze and the temperature is more comfortable up here in the mountains than it is at sea level.
Banana puso – heart or flower of the banana plant – a bit off topic but this is what the flower of a banana looks like.
Banana tree.
We got all the wood for the roof for around 150 dollars US.
4 and 5 inch nails run 50 pesos a kilo and the 040 corrugated galvanized sheeting cost 272 pesos per 30 inch by 8 ft sheet. Umbrella nails used to attach the tin to the coco wood run 75 pesos a kilo.
I have to get some sort of sealant to put over the nail heads or they will leak – typhoon style rains are common here. The most common brand used here is called Volcasin.
Safety inspector testing the bamboo.
Can you imagine working with all these kids running all over the place.
We decided to paint the rafters with used motor oil to keep the termites out. A commercial insecticide called “Solignum” is used by most fancy construction outfits but I am running low on money and am using the budget mix. I landed up buying “Woodsaver” – a similar product with the same ingredients but it cost 900 pesos a gallon whereas the Solignum was 1,300 pesos a gallon.
Noly with paintbrush. We landed up using a blend of used motor oil and Woodsaver.
Junior worked 4 weeks on this house.
Jose has some real talent and a desire to work.
You have to have a kid test the scaffolding to make sure it’s safe – he he. Really I don’t know what all these kids are doing on the job site. You just gotta scratch your head sometimes over here!
Building a house in the Philippines part 5 – making the roof
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Hi DP,Hope all is well!Here in the States. What did you use on the Coco lumber to take care of the insect infestation? Just curious! I’m going to be doing the same next year & wanted a non-toxix alternative. All the Best & enjoy the upcoming Holidays!!
I really enjoyed viewing your posting. Thanks for including the prices. That is so helpful to understand the difference of there -vs- here. I am now excited to see your next posting. So are you American? I am from Dallas, TX. I hope to visit that area this Dec, or Jan. I am a construction project manager. I find this very interesting.
Keep up the good work,
Ran
Hi DP
This is great post. I like the pictures.
I was wondering if you can give me permission to copy the
series and post over at my RP building website. I will give
link back to your blog, but want to save this article.
Thanks so much
Lloyd
Hello Joe,
Solignum runs 1,250 pesos a gallon and is a powerful insecticide targeted at boring insects.
Motor oil is widely used but is toxic as well. I bought a gallon of Wood Saver today to mix in with the used motor oil. I can pick up used motor oil from the gas stations and garages for 10 pesos a gallon. The “Wood Saver” cost 900 pesos and has the same ingredients as the “Solignum”
I don’t know of a “safe” natural way to keep these bugs away and I have been warned by builders to be sure to use something to keep them at bay. A friend that has done a lot of building in this area uses used motor oil exclusively with good results.
good luck
dp
Hello Lloyd,
I greatly appreciate your interest and support but request that you do not copy the pages from my site and put them on yours.
I believer you to be very honorable person, but i ran into a situation where I allowed a major site owner to use two of my pictures and then his group took 50 of my pages and ran them on their sites – a major operation with about 30 powerful domain names.
I had to do a cease and desist because I was in effect doing an enormous amount of work for them for no reward.
I hope that you understand.
dp
Dutch
I understand and will just link to your webpage.
i appreciate the work you put into this blog.
Keep posting as I enjoy reading every new article.
Lloyd,
Thanks mate!
dp
nice house dai..
Very interesting article, lot’s of lessons to be learned here, thanks!
By the way, I think the sealant you mention is called Vulcaseal. You can get it in hardware stores and in the malls. Good for fixing leaky gutters too.
Richard
Where is the finished product and how many square meters? Also, do you have a list of all materials used, the amount as well. that would help. WE have properties and I would like to build something like this as well.
Victor
Hello Victor,
I do not have a list of all the materials used. Just be aware that the cost can easily exceed the estimates. It seems that you are going about it in the correct way – that is – starting with a complete list of materials needed and then figuring the cost before you begin. In my case we kept making revisions to the original plan, which added cost.
also – try to keep control of labor costs – they can get away from you as well and tear into the budget. Have a reserve fund for handling unplanned for things that could have an effect on costs as well. example- hard rains when you plan to pour concrete etc
good luck
dp