Construction Under Way....well Kinda...

[RBM]

Started a new thread as unable to find a previous one where Jack requested me to post pics and details of our project.

 

Was convinced would be hassle free as hired an experienced engineer whom has built expats homes here and had good reports. Thought I knew best....

 

Will try to briefly describe the first couple of weeks of hell...stress...what ever.

 

1...After title issues we left the city for a couple of weeks,  Speaking with engineer he informed us will take couple weeks to finish blue print and upon return we decide exact location of house, which is critical. We did briefly touch on location sun wise as we have  large section. 

 

Arriving back after about 10 days house was started, holes in concrete posts up....Engineer decided where house goes in our absence, nice....Stopped work instantly, read the riot act...checked everything. The location was not exactly what we wanted how ever close so let it go, back to work.

 

2..Two weeks on all go 20 workers I was there most days until a visit to Bacolod. My GF remarked, Bruce we have the large shower enclosure, maybe the bathroom is tight. Upon checking the plan, yes agree, a seemingly simple task with a fluent english speaking engineer.Lengthen bathroom by half meter, widen bathroom by half meter. I told him by fone, GF told him by fone and text, all good no problem he said as blocks just a meter high will not cost us to much.. We agreed pay additional costs. All wonderful..so we thought.

 

3...Arriving back yesterday, what do we find......not only the bathroom but the whole side of the house from one end to the other has been widened by half meter. So now have 2 block walls with solid foundation half a meter apart.

 

yes Jack I know TOLD YOU SO.... true one must be on site every dam day....

 

Sorry if i rambled on and will keep members posted if there is interest to in my project which may well see me in the loony bin before completion.

[Old55]

You must be on the worksite every day all day. How much cement was used in the mix did you watch? 

[RBM]

You must be on the worksite every day all day. How much cement was used in the mix did you watch? 

Correct in this respect I have zero knowledge. Hence spoke to two expats whom same engineer built their houses, both spoke well. The foundations were a meter deep and from memory 12 mm bars used. The other expats told me no worries in this regard, I did get hold of a concrete mixer for them. Its a contract price, stagger payments.

[Jack Peterson]

yes Jack I know TOLD YOU SO.... true one must be on site every dam day....

 

 

 No! my friend, not going to say "I told you so again" I won't kick a man when he is down, Lesson Learned I guess. Like a Carpenter measures, lines, then check measures again, before cutting. With Engineers (and they do tend to think they know it all)  sometimes,  when you have/need to say something, you have to Check he heard, Say it again, check he understands, then activate. Yes they are the Engineer but you are the Client and as long as it does not veer to far from Plan your instructions should be followed.

RBM I wish you well on the Project. If there is anything that us that have built and can help you with (From our mistakes) shout and the Louder you shout the better you will be Heard. 

 

Happy Building, I guess if you are missing more than usual we will know you are, on Site  :thumbsup:

 

BTW where are you Building, Dumaguete or over on Cebu?

 

JP :tiphat:

[Lou49]

This is how they do it when you are not around.

 

 

[scott h]

RBM, I feel your pain. We were fortunate living right next door during construction. We had about 20 workers also. It is really amazing how fast they can go once started. If possible you really need to be there all the time to catch any mistakes. The foreman I noticed will do the things he is used to, and not really take into consideration that we might think differently then them lololol.

 

Good luck

[Guy F.]

This is how they do it when you are not around.

Do they really use hearing protection? Wow, never thought I'd see that in the PI.

 

We will be using http://solidcon.ph/ to build our house. They send photos every other day during construction. Talked with 2 satisfied expat customers, and I'm convinced it's an honorable and competent company. They promise to stick to the price agreed upon at the start, barring modification of the plan.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Guy F.

[RBM]

Thanks to posters all input appreciated very much.

 

Yes Jack was on site a lot yesterday will be most days. We normally travel at least 50% of the time so this will be on the back burner for now.

 

After speaking nice and slowly, clearly, to the engineer yesterday he agreed reluctantly to shoulder costs of removing the extended wall leaving us with just a bathroom extension as requested. 

 

Its not an easy task however now the blocks are all at knee height and the outline is OK. next drama will be having the windows where I want them not where they want them. There is their way and my way....If I not around......

 

We are situated in Negros Occidental and pretty much sheltered from the bad elements of mother nature. When we were considering a purchase of an existing dwelling none of the houses we checked had any noticeable damage from the earthquakes of a few years back. With this in mind and my repeated requests to the engineer to ensure a decent correct concrete mix we trust all be OK.

[Dave Hounddriver]

There is their way and my way

 

It is interesting to follow your story.  It reminds me of getting my first house built, in Canada.  The contractors seem to feel superior to the customer and seem to think it is their obligation to 'persuade' the home owner to do things the 'right' way.  It takes a stubborn and persistent homeowner to get what he wants.  Many of us just go with the flow.

[jpbago]

Do they really use hearing protection? Wow, never thought I'd see that in the PI.

 

Likely headphones on loud.