Building a Home in Davao

[Gas]

44 minutes ago, jimeve said:

 

You're got the cowboys and navy boys.

YMCA 

At least the house is debt free, so the Indian won’t be round.

[Tommy T.]

Okay... I will try to get the house finished by page 75!

Meanwhile... 

Now all the lights are connected and working!

Check out the under stair lights....

And the hanging "ball" lights too - still protected from dust.

The terrace lights.

The master bedroom lights.

Roof deck flood lights. And I checked today and there is definitely some water pressure there...enough to fill the toilet tank and wash your hands.

The cute little 500 liter water tank, already hooked up and filled.

The master's CR now lit up and much brighter.

Needless to say, we spent a LOT of money on the lights and wiring.

The Boss is checking how supports will be fitted to the gate. I already contacted Altech regarding gate openers and as somebody related in a previous post, they contacted me and told me to buy one through Lazada. However, they said to send them the particulars of the gate and they would tell me which one to buy for our application. They also said they would recommend some qualified installers...Yes!

Lastly, but not leastly, the aircon guy came out and gave us good and bad news. The bad: After he installed the units some time ago, one of the workers on site apparently hit one of the copper pipes when chipping out cement to install an awning and ruptured it in the wall. All the gas leaked out. He did not realize this (or maybe just did not say?) and so that pipe was covered again with the cement veneer. So the contractor will chip out the cement veneer to expose the pipe so the aircon guy can repair it. Of course, the contractor will pay for any repairs.

By the way, the aircon guy told me how he charged up the systems. He does not have nitrogen gas so, instead, he purged the pipes with R22 gas, then vacuumed them, then finally charged them up with gas.

But the best news was.....Two of the aircons were tested today and fit for operation! So, L had an online teacher conference and did that in the library - with aircon running. She was delighted!

I turned on the big living room aircon and could feel the air blowing 2/3 of the way across the floor to the kitchen. It was very cold and, even with some doors and windows open, I could tell that it will easily cool the ground floor spaces. The two we tried today are very quiet - we could hear them, but they are sure lots quieter than the window units we are accustomed to.

The guest room has its own unit and I am confident it will also cool very well when up and running. I did my own calculations for determining the aircon power to use and think I did a good job - if I do say so myself.

A side note... I chatted with the aircon installer a while. He really likes the Panasonic line. He said that with Samsung, they do not offer parts support after five years. I don't know this for a fact, but that is what he told me. He said Panasonic supports their equipment for a long time. He said Daiken is good but very expensive...

I was like a kid running around turning on all the lights and playing with the aircons. This was one of the best days yet.

However, we both wandered around a while and found (as is normal in a home build) a number of relatively small things that need to be adjusted or fixed or changed. We intend to walk around with a roll of tape (like I saw on a TV house flipping show) and place pieces of tape next to everything that requires attention - so nothing will be missed....but I cannot find blue masking tape anywhere.

Edited October 3, 2020 by Tommy T.

[jimeve]

Looking awesome Tommy. 

[Tommy T.]

We were going to buy a small "bar" refrigerator after a while but, today, I had a brilliant idea. I will go to S & R soon and buy one and we will just place it in the library for now (my Man Cave!). I will load it up with a few bottled waters, a few San Mig Lights a few Cokes and a shorty Tanduay. L liked the idea too except the Tanduay part...

[Tommy T.]

22 minutes ago, jimeve said:

Looking awesome Tommy. 

Thanks, Jim... I enjoy the view from behind L all the time...

But what do you think of our home???

Edited October 3, 2020 by Tommy T.

[KC813]

On 9/30/2020 at 9:02 PM, Tommy T. said:

The section with the holes is not on the island, but rather on one of the hanging cabinets next to the sink.

Facts:

1)  Someone did not remember where the unnecessary holes were located on your cabinetry.

2)  I did.

Preliminary conclusion:  I have been following this wonderful build story so closely that it has become part of my own life experience. 

Final conclusion:  I need to get out of the house and get a life! 

[Tommy T.]

Oh... I forgot to mention that OTR had been out to the home a couple days ago and finally finished the cabinet repair and installation... No more pink, and the panel that had the three holes has been replaced. Amazing! We did not have to wait two months for replacement!

So I just think about how easy it would have been for them - and cost effective - if they had done it all right the first time, rather than the ....fourth time? Honestly, I have lost track...

We both hope they at least learned something from all this, because we are certain they did not make much profit.

Edited October 3, 2020 by Tommy T.

[hk blues]

10 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

Oh... I forgot to mention that OTR had been out to the home a couple days ago and finally finished the cabinet repair and installation... No more pink, and the panel that had the three holes has been replaced. Amazing! We did not have to wait two months for replacement!

So I just think about how easy it would have been for them - and cost effective - if they had done it all right the first time, rather than the ....fourth time? Honestly, I have lost track...

We both hope they at least learned something from all this, because we are certain they did not make much profit.

From my experience, the thing they will have learned is that foreigners are too picky and want everything to be 100% perfect.  Of course this is unfair as we don't actually ask for perfection but do want a quality that matches the price we pay.  From what you have said, the cabinets were not cheap so you are entitled to expect a better than average finish. 

In short, it's not their fault for the numerous cock-ups, it's yours for expecting things to be of a good standard!  - not my opinion b.t.w. 

[intrepid]

11 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

We both hope they at least learned something from all this, because we are certain they did not make much profit.

My guess, from my experiences, is the only thing they learned is there are some customers who demand and expect good work and good product which they paid for.  Like most others, they will more than likely go back to the normal practices where most customers are willing to accept whatever they provide without complaining.  There are few who really learn to change and do better, are are willing to accept a loss from time to time.  Sad to say that is the way it is.

[Tommy T.]

41 minutes ago, intrepid said:

There are few who really learn to change and do better, are are willing to accept a loss from time to time.  Sad to say that is the way it is

I think you are probably and sadly right...