schmeener
1/25/2017 01:46 EST
My filippina wife of 26 years and I purchased a house lot in Batangas near the ocean....We are going to build a house that looks over the ocean and want to know if anyone has used the Waffle Box type construction....I have seen many videos on the style and it looks very promising....Has help on this would be greatly appreciated...
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TeeJay4103
1/25/2017 06:20 EST
Schmeener,
On another topic by Msanti, "How's the real estate" you posted:
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" schmeener
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1/25/2017 01:35 EST
I am in the opinion that all you should do is rent...You can find a relatively cheap place to rent a house or condo...No worrying about repairs or a cheating wife....Don't marry the girl...Just keep a long term girl friend....Then if things don't work out...you can slit and no fuss....Just don't fall for the guilt trip and marry her. There is no financial advantage to marrying a local.....My opinion only.,...Good luck. "
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It looks like two completely different people? Someone else using you handle?
On the subject of Waffle box construction, I have not yet met anyone who has used it.
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GaryD
1/25/2017 08:40 EST
Don't complecate things just go with the tried and tested pillar and beam construction. At least the locals can do it and no big machinery needed.
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draks
1/26/2017 07:07 EST
Just looked online prefabricated concrete houses onel supplier looked quite nice designs the other was very basic but they seem ok. Big problems tho if you want to sell it they had a bad rep in the past. But they said they seemed to stand up well in a typhoon so who knows, considerably cheaper than a conventional house. And can be erected in a few weeks
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sherwood
1/26/2017 08:49 EST
I looked at this construction and it is based on unit sizes. The molds can be used over again, but to make a custom mold will add cost. A custom house probably can not be constructed with several sizes only. There is no insulation. Utilities are not in the wall. The foundation below the house is questionable.
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GaryD
1/26/2017 10:32 EST
I just hope they use better quality cement than they do in their hollow blocks.
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sherwood
1/26/2017 15:43 EST
I will not address the quality of cement, but I noticed that the concrete is poor. Cement is expensive. Water, sand, & gravel is relatively cheap. So is unskilled labor. Equipment is expensive compared to a barrel, shovel, and bucket.
So, they skimp in the Philippines. They use less cement, more sand & gravel. Not always clean water. Use unskilled labor and very really use a cement truck. Each mixture is slightly different because the mixtures are visually measused out. Also the hot temperature does not allow for proper curing time. They do not add anything to slow the curing down to get a stronger mix. The hollow block are only to act as a form to hold the cement mix and fall apart real easily or break in piece if you drop them.
That is the way it is in the Philippines.
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draks
1/26/2017 18:11 EST
So really as I always say rent don't buy. Build quality in hoses here is crap, unseasoned untreated wood woodlice galore your house is eaten alive.
The concrete they use in the prefab I would guess they would use a mixer, also if the prefab was so delicate it would probably disintegrate on the delivery truck. If you were going g to buy one you would have to go to the factory and see for yourself.
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seernai
1/26/2017 19:18 EST
Hi Draks the Deca Homes are not too bad once you have replaced the rubbish plumbing and changed the door jambs and external doors we live in a loft type house in a good spot where there is plenty of fresh air so no need for Air Con I agree a lot of houses here are terrible but there are some nice ones to be found
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charkee
1/26/2017 20:26 EST
I assume the interest in waffle box construction is about saving money and time. I have watched concrete block homes built and it takes months, up to 6 or 8 months to complete a home. They are in no hurry. Concrete homes are hot, the moment the aircon is turned off the home starts heating up again.
There is a stronger way and faster way by building an earthbag home. These homes have withstood earthquakes in Haiti and easily withstand typhoon winds. They are cheap but laborious to build. Walls are bulletproof and I heard a report from Saudi that they are also RPG proof.
I plan to build one "someday". hehehe
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draks
1/26/2017 22:02 EST
Custom-built houses will cost more but by all accounts still much cheaper than conventional build, as for insulation how would you insulate a normal house here?
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Sisibatac
1/26/2017 22:09 EST
Draks, you could insulate a wood house with foam. I once read it strengthens the house by 300% due to the glue-like properties. It is sold as do-it-yourself in the U.S. and send it here balikbayan. I knew a guy who worked with it. He said it has remarkable sound-deadening too. Obviously you would want double glass windows for sound if you will spend the money for foam. An American Architect here told me it was not a good idea to build with wood due to termite infestation. I cant imagine them being worse than in Virginia.
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TeeJay4103
1/26/2017 23:46 EST
Waffle box looks inexpensive and with a flat roof with no ventilation it also looks hot. With the plumbing and electric not installed during construction, it will be exposed unless money is spent to hide it, The foundation offers little support and walls butted together and secured with a couple of large bolts and does not appear to offer much protection against settling or minor earthquakes.
RFO houses abound and who knows from one to the next if the construction is of any quality or if mistakes were simply covered up and not corrected. A crap shoot.
Renting has little risk aside from what has just happened to another expat, the landlord has informed him that he has to move because he is letting a family member move in. No protection and a lease in the Phil is practically worthless at times. Though being thrown out by the landlord for a family member who needs to move in seems fairly uncommon.
If you don't have the resources or the time to commit to the somewhat tedious process of a land purchase (yes, expats cannot own land), and building a home, then renting is the way to go and also allows you to move around to other areas of the country and enjoy and experience something new, though short term rentals are also available for those whom own a home and have a bit of wanderlust.
My wife an I built our home, our choice, and I when I am gone I fully expect it to go to her family who are also now my family and some very good people who ask for NOTHING from us.
We oversaw the construction of the home, the quality of the block, the mixing of mortar, the welds, the rebar sizing and it's installation, the foundations, the drainage, the PPR welded plumbing, the electrical, the steel roof and the epoxy coating, the height of the gable roof for air flow, the insulation in the roof, the windows, the doors and all phases of the construction and the materials used. Our architect charged a reasonable price for his time and a friend along with the architect took care of most all of the permits required.
The process was not without issues and we overcame them all, we had some long stressful days and some rejected materials and redone work. The house has withstood typhoon Glenda which hit the area as a strong Cat 3 storm, without damage or flooding.
The construction methods were researched and not left to chance as was the entire process. For those who see building and buying as foolishness, then don't buy or build, your choice and I do not see your decision as foolishness or folly, I simply see it as your choice.
For us the home is a place of peace and our area was searched for for 4 years before deciding on where to build, it is clean, quiet, peaceful and relaxing. Right now I am looking out across fields of waving grass and palm trees with no barking dogs, roosters or loud noise in the background. When I die the house and all that it contains goes to my family, the family of my wife who have asked me for NOTHING and offered only smiles and friendship and help whenever we need it. If we want to explore we simply go to a website such as Flipkey find a place and rent it for a week, two weeks or a month and go. We then come home to our comfortable, quiet and clean home in a area that in my view can be considered our little paradise.
To each his own.
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draks
1/27/2017 00:17 EST
Teejay good for you mate. You did thorough research took your time and made sure everything was done properly. My only concern is for those who visit here area times have a house built in their absence, with a woman they have only known for a relitively short time. You took 4 years to find the place you like have a proper plan made up and then made sure everything is hunky dory. Brilliant. I dont have money to build so we rent a two bed house brand new, on suite bathroom built in wardrobes, very very nice house in a quiet area for 6k a month plus bills.
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TeeJay4103
1/27/2017 01:00 EST
Draks,
Agreed and you also have a great find at 6k a month. We've both done well as far as homes go.
We have an friend near Tagaytay who made the mistake you referred to, building a home long distance.
He hired a "trusted family member", an architect who then proceeded to steal money and materials from him and what was constructed was of such poor quality that most of it had to be redone. He has since gone through two more overseers for the construction of his home and 3 years later it is still not complete, though close. In the meantime he has lost a ton of money.
It was suggested to us while we were still in the states that we build our home long distance through a recommendation for a builder from a family member. My wife and I both said thanks but NO thanks. Neither of us are that naive and pursuing fraud in the Philippines most often bears little to no fruit and simply wastes more money on an incompetent lawyer and a legal system which is at best questionable. Even if you do win, you will most likely not see a dime of your loss as the one who made off with your cash is broke and you cannot get blood from a turnip.
On another note, another poster here is in the process of losing his rented home and is looking for something in the Silang area, If you know of something, please send a PM and I will tell you who it is and maybe you can contact him.
Cheers,
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Oldgrape
1/28/2017 23:11 EST
The company that builds the Waffle Box houses also lists examples of what they have built. Try asking if those owners will talk to you about them. Nothing better than first hand reference. Also I emailed the company about insulation and interior finishes. They can do both. As for the foundation, you can have it built as poorly or as good as you want it.
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gelynch52ph
1/29/2017 01:06 EST
While I don't know anything about waffle box construction and because I have no plans to ever own a house here won't comment directly.
However, many people recently are buying shipping containers and converting them into nice housing. If a person is interested they can find either plain containers or already converted units online. It would be pretty hard to be more typhoon proof than a couple steel 40' containers bolted or welded together and made into a house. The only thing subject to termites or ants would be any wood window sills or doors etc. In Tagaytay I've seen a couple such houses built, and one of them I know was built from just plain containers delivered to the building site. I can remember the ground being empty, the containers delivered & sitting there for a couple months, and then eventual conversion being undertaken.
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GaryD
1/29/2017 04:12 EST
You must inspect any reference properties very closely because the owners will know as much as a pig knows about Sundays about what they have got.
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schmeener
2/6/2017 02:42 EST
Waffle Box construction is a type of building system....The walls are pre made to specific requirements....You then have all the pieces transported to the building site and they put it together like a lego kit....The videos on youtube explain alot about it.....supposed to be alot stronger and much faster to build....
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schmeener
2/6/2017 02:47 EST
The problem I have with the old tried and tested method is most of the bricks are hollow....They don't fill all the bricks with concrete when they build....also...some friends had built a house and the contractor switched out the good materials with cheaper stuff so he could pocket the difference....When the house was done....it only lasted a year when they found all the flaws....They had to tear the whole thing down and do it right the first time....My wife wants me to set up a lawn chair on the sidewalk across the street and watch the builders during construction...lol....I am just doing alot of research on the subject right now....I think the waffle box method has merrit....at least I will go with the waffle box for the foundation....That looks like it will be much more durable.
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schmeener
2/6/2017 02:52 EST
On the coast in the Nasugbu area of Batangas is windy and cool in the evenings....When we stayed there it was perfect.....that is why we chose that area to buy.....I dont think that insulation is neccessary as we dont need to heat the home....single room AC units and ceiling fans should do the trick....
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schmeener
2/6/2017 02:58 EST
I thought if the shipping container idea too....I dont think my wife wants me to go total prepper, philippine style...lol.....plus the lot location is in a gated community with CC&R's for construction.....
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GaryD
2/6/2017 08:45 EST
With the tried and tested method the bricks are just a filler they are structural so don't worry if they are not all filled. Too much concrete is a bad thing it makes the structure to rigid and will crack and crumble with too much movement. That would be my worry with waffle box, too rigid and difficult to maintain. Getting the heavy lift equipment could also be problematic as most thing in the Philippines are hand balled.
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GaryD
2/6/2017 08:46 EST
Should have said NOT structural. It's the beams and pillars that hold the building up.
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