Building a low cost concrete house in the Philippines – part 7
Windows and Doors and Finish work – The basic shell of the house has been completed, the roof is almost finished and the concrete floor will be wrapped up tomorrow.
Ormoc Glass Trading – 053 255 4519 located across from the Shell station near the Smart office – Aviles Street, Ormoc City. Dennis Dominic
The Aluminum frames cost a tad over 200 pesos per set. They were 56 inches in length and will hold 16 panes of glass each. The panes of glass will be cut to size and installed later – the cost around 20 pesos each – depending on length.
The mulit-cab brought 10 bags of cement and some plywood up to the site and we had 5 cubic meters of screen sand delivered. The sand was 5,500 pesos, the Portland cement 210 pesos a bag, and the 1/2 inch marine plywood 600 pesos per 4×8 sheet.
The floor is not quite finished yet because they ran out of screen sand while I was out of town. Sifted sand will be used to do the finish work on the walls and to set the aluminum in the window openings. I don’t want to use any wood because of the termite situation.
All this finish work should keep the guys busy for a few weeks. They work hard and once they are on a project they stick with it. I don’t like to have someone over my shoulder when I am working and they probably don’t either. The wages are very low so I prefer to let them work at their own pace.
note – this is not going to work for every crew – we share a mutual respect – they give me a good days work and I try to treat them fairly too. They are doing a good job and I am happy with the project even though it went over budget.
Finishing work on the interior concrete walls.
The guys put in the septic tank down down by the creek.
The pvc pipe has yet to be connected to the outside cr which has yet to be completed.
Things came to crawl when I when took off for 2 weeks but we are back in the groove now.
We ordered 200 more concrete block because the kitchen and cr are going to be located outside the back door.
Setting the aluminum frames for the windows. We are avoiding the use of any wood in the frames because the termites don’t need any places to hide while starting a colony.
Working on the windows.
The whole neighborhood stops by to check out the project.
Lucito shows the level window frame he just made.
Sifting screen sand.
Finishing the interior walls.
Building up the center post for the window frames – the build up process is somewhat intriguing. I had some extra re-bar out back and insisted they use 4 pieces in the center posts.
Center post.
Making the center support for the window was something like making a sand castle.
Small scoops of cement mix are flicked onto the pile and then powdered with a sprinkling of pure cement dust. This technique seems to be the standard building method around here, but most guys use only 2 pieces of re-bar (we used 4).
The workers tell me that my system is “earthquake proof”. This area does get a lot of tremors and the neighbors house sustained a fair bit of damage during an earthquake that happened about 6 months ago.
Lucito works his magic – he is a pleasure to have around – positive attitude and a hard worker!
T-boy is the man on the cement – a master of the craft.
The whole community gets involved in these projects.
The peanut gallery.
The aluminum window frames are held in place with screws set into plastic anchors placed into pre-drilled holes.
The neighbor “Rojet” installed the windows for 100 pesos per window. He is a fast worker and got all the glass installed in 3 hours. The 32 pieces of glass 19 inches in length, for this window cost 512 pesos.
Everyone in town has to inspect the work going on – this would drive me mad on a real job but you just have to go with the flow here in the province.
Armando Codilla has a metal shop that fabricated the steel bar window frame for the sari-sari store that in incorporated into the front of house. Many Filipinos supplement their income selling soft drinks, rice, junk food and cigarettes from small store fronts in their home.
The steel bar store front window cost me 1900 pesos. Armando gave me a pretty good deal because we used to be neighbors in Ormoc City. He is one of the most cheerful guys I ever knew. The irony of the whole situation is that there is only potato chips and cigarettes and candy being protected by these bars – but that’s the way everyone does it here in the Philippines.
The red oxide paint cost 130 pesos a liter at Mom’s Hardware. The bars fit ok and I was able to install the frame in about 20 minutes. I used concrete nails to secure it and am about halfway finished cementing in the flat bar.
Merry Christmas 2010 :)
Building a house in the Philippines – part 7
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
DP,
I really enjoy reading about your housing project. I’ve done the AC / Subic scene for a feeeeeew years… the last couple have been more for the Mates I’ve met, although the Ladies do still fit into the mix. I’m looking at taking an extended holiday and getting to know the real RP from the back of a motobike in the next 6 month or so (thanks again for the moto posts). Although I’m not quite ready to settle down and call the RP home, I do plan on sucking up the sights and sounds once I start my 2nd childhood (Retire from the Miltary) Great web page and thank again. DWH
Hey Dutch!
Am also trying to build a nest in Palawan myself. Was just wondering how much concrete, screened sand have you used for your structure? Also what is the size of that house and height of the walls?
Am trying to figure out if my smiley guy is trying to rip me off. Am sure he is but I want to see the magnitude. LOL!
Muchos Gracias!
hello mon,
We put that house up in Leyte but am taking a break in Palawan right now. I am not sure how tall the walls are – just look at one of the earlier photos and count the number of blocks. My footing is about 3 blocks beneath the surface.
I think it took 25 cubic meters of screen sand and around 100 bags of portland cement but I would have to check the records to be exact. We also had to get about 15 cubic meters of fill. We used quite a bit of re-bar too but I would have to check the records for that as well.
Good luck!
dp
Hi Dp i was wondering how much would it cost a rough estimate to build a two or three bedroom in Palawan and maybe later expand that to a four bedroom later on , would 10,000 us in budget would it be a feasible thing to try and i am in the process of buying the land to build it on it will be in my wifes name as you know the rules of us owning land there any way it would be in bulwang on a 20 x 40 cu meter lot and should i build it with wood or will i be better off using concrete and wood especially due to all the storms of the seasons, i am very interested but since this will be my fist time at this i don’t want to get into a bad thing as far as planning and building it since my skills are minimal and i will find some help there as far as family and friends but it leaves me to asking you on this before i do this was looking for any good ideas and input, Frank
Hi Frank,
Building in Palawan is expensive. People wanting a house to last will go with concrete but you can get a few good years out of a nipa style house. I think a real carpenter will run you 400 pesos a day plus lunch. The house I put up is way up in the hills of Leyte where labor is very cheap – plus it is basically a gift for the family but it was still very difficult to do it cheaply.
I think that 20,000 – 25,000 usd would be a more realistic low end and even that would be tough in Palawan. Assuming you are looking to put up a western style house. It is easy to go bust in he Philippines!
A friend put up a 3 bedroom in the Minglanalia suburb of Cebu and it cost around 70,000 USD and of course he lost it in a divorce anyways :) Quite a common scenario unfortunately.
Another friend put up a nice place in the country in Palawan for 20,000 usd – and lost that as well in a divorce :) he he – happens – I gave mine away before I started to avoid the hassle :)
dp
im interested to build a house in ormoc city. please email me back.
Hello Rusty,
I am out of town right now but can offer this advice.
Move slow and expect everything to cost way more than you planned.
also be aware that land ownership can be tricky and the ownership is often contested. If you are not a Filipino you are likely aware that you can not legally own land in the Philippines anyway.
dp
Do you know what you paid per square meter/foot?
I will be retiring on Bantayan Island with similar labor cost was hoping to come up with a general estimate of my cost.
Thanks
Roger
Hello again Roger,
I really did not keep very good records of the actual costs – I participated a big with the construction but most of the workers were local relatives of my girlfriend so my cost estimation would not be a good estimate anyway.
I did not build this small house as an investment but rather as a gift.
best wishes
dp
is it possible you could put me in touch with you builder I am planning on building soon and could use some help and advice. thanks
Hi Steve,
Where do you plan to build? I feel that it is a good idea to get a local guy.
In my case we took a random approach and some local guys from Nueva Vista and some neighbors all pitched in. This small concrete house was built in the mountains behind Ormoc City using local suppliers from the city. We were very unorganized but the place got built and has survived several earthquakes and typhoons so far. I attempted to keep things going but we ran into the occasional snag. We even cut most of our own lumber and treated the wood for termites.
dp
we will actually be building not far from where you built. I was looking for some local builder to help. your house looks good and sturdy.
steve
There are some good workers there in the area. I think that it would be best if you had a general plan and then talk with them about doing the work. One guy who does a pretty good job is Jose from Nueva Vista – originally Samar.
I organized the metal roof, re-bar, windows, cement etc from the suppliers there in Ormoc City. The concrete blocks, sand and gravel will have to be ordered from local guys too. Be sure to include the delivery charge in your costs. Some people frown on using coco wood but i used it with good success.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/leyte/building-a-concrete-block-house-part-5.html
cutting the coco wood
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/leyte/building-a-concrete-block-house-part-4.html
Jose does not speak English but is a good craftsman – if you wanted to get in contact with him I can put you in touch with Beth who speaks English and can help you get in touch with him.
I will text her about it – do you have a contact number ? I will not post it on this site
cheers
dp
that would be great my number is ——– that’s a Canadian number. thanks for the help we have purchased the lot already and I have plans for a modest home I have done masonary work for many years but I would like some local guys who are familiar with the way things are done their. anyway thanks for the help and great site lots of good and interesting info -steve
steve
sounds good – sent you an email with phone numbers
dp
Love can always take a turn for the worst. The common Older man with the younger woman in the Philippines, there is going to be disagreements just on the age difference. Unless you just want to pay to build a house and you have money that is disposable, I would just rent to own or just rent period. Not too many worries that way. You are not stuck giving away a house that way, unless you have money that you just want to risk. Good luck.
Renting an apartment or house seems to be a good idea but I think “rent to own” is a bad idea. Thanks for your input.
dp
I want to build a small apartment over my wifes families house in General Santos phase 2. Twenty feet long—fourteen feet wide–eight feet high. Any idea what it would cost me US dollars?
Hello Tom
Check with local contractors about what is involved and how long it will take. Will they attempt to raise the existing roof or replace it completely? It will be important to use workers with a good track record. It will be best o be on site and pay wages by the day.
good success to you
dp
hi sir,
i want to build a 3 bedroom house and two bathroom in a 100 floor area. a simple bungalow house. how much could it be? thank you po. good day
Hello jhane – location would be a big issue.
Where are you planning to build? Is it near a city with building material supplies outlets?
What were you planning to build it of ? Concrete – wood – etc ?
type or roofing (tile – metal 0r what)
what are the labor rates in your area ?
I suggest contacting a contractor and getting an estimate and go from there. Do you already have plans made up ? Do you already have the land ?
There are many considerations to look into
dp – also on dutchpickle facebook
how much you cost this house?
not sure – had to rebuild it after the typhoon :) Yolanda
dp
I have enjoyed reading this because I am considering building a similar house about 10 minutes outside Ormoc, Leyte – not far from your location. It would be the ‘first house’ and one day be joined by the ‘homestead’.
I would have recommened using tek screws for the roof instead of nails, because the screws wont ‘lift’ during a typhoon.
I am also very much into insulation to help control radiant heat. Are you lining ceilings and fitting insulation?
Also, have you wired it for electricity?
Thank you. Peter.
…good idea about the screws !
dp