A little project that we started at the end of april , not quite finished but stopped work about a month ago , had to come home to aus to sort business matters out , and to be honest I prefer to be around and hands on when we are doing stuff there , things happen way faster with less headaches when you are controlling and contributing to work schedules . It all started with a little sketch . The pictures in this episode are of the area we had to build on Tony View attachment 10864 View attachment 10865 View attachment 10866 View attachment 10867 View attachment 10868 View attachment 10869 View attachment 10870
The original back porch was never completed , and by the time we re-visited that part of our scope of works our idea's had changed on what to do in that area , you will see in the previous pictures that we now had 5 hurdles/issues to deal with , 3 concrete posts , 1 septic tank and a rear property line that was not square to the property with limited room between the house and the property line . With our minds now made up , in went the footings . Tony View attachment 10871 View attachment 10872 View attachment 10873 View attachment 10874 View attachment 10875
Moving along with hollow block walls , you will notice the hollow blocks are 6" , personally I don't like or use 4" blocks , particularly on exterior walls , hollow blocks are only boxing for concrete , so with the wall thickness of the block , 1", at best , either side , you have left , with a 4" block , 2 inches or 50mm to core fill with concrete , which is not enough , and the wall of the block does not add to any structural integrity , crikey you can brake apart every block I have ever seen there with your fingers and it is not all just to do with the lack of cement in the making of the blocks , lack of proper compaction has a hell of a lot to do with it also , Tony View attachment 10877 View attachment 10878 View attachment 10879 View attachment 10880 View attachment 10881 View attachment 10882 View attachment 10883 View attachment 10884 View attachment 10885 View attachment 10886
Some further progress with the block walls , if anyone has ever wondered why the blockwork looks so untidy during construction in the Phils compared to your own country , you would understand if you tried to lay blocks there , the mortar they mix is lifeless , it just doesn't flow off the trowel like you want or expect it to , a lot do with the type of sand , and not having lime to mix with it , also no proprietary additives available , like plasticiser , which gives the mortar more workability , a little bit frustrating that they spend so much time rendering , and applying so much render all because the blockwork is generally all over the place. (note to self ; move on my boy) Tony View attachment 10887 View attachment 10888 View attachment 10889 View attachment 10890 View attachment 10891 View attachment 10892 View attachment 10893 View attachment 10894 View attachment 10895 View attachment 10896
Tony, You could not be more right on the block here...we bought the "best" block available within the local area and, after knocking holes through it running electrical it is sh*t (all the block used coming up on the house is 6"). Much harder time getting through the concrete fill and mortar. Fortunately the concrete beams and columns are structural for the house...actually have more faith in the EVG panels to resist cracks and structural integrity than the block here. There is a stack of block from someone when you first turn into the area that weather has almost turned to nothing...sand and small river stones is what they used to cast them. I honestly think a lot of places are held together simply by a couple inches of rendering...and maybe some pink or orange paint. Shawn
With some block makers you an specify how any blocks that are made per sack of concrete. 50 or so per sack gives a very good strong and solid block. I would never use what they want to initially sell you. If it breaks when dropped from waist high it is too weak. The same goes if you an break off a corner with your hand.
Thanks Knowdafish , I have always wondered what a reasonable ratio would be concerning block to cement quantity , 200 peso / bag of cement puts that @ 4 peso / block , each 4 " block (standard) cost's 8-9 peso , so even if the improved cement quantity block was 10-11 peso each with a far better end result , it is quite reasonable . Shawn we get all our blocks , which are far superior to any that I have ever seen in Tanjay , especially 6" , from Pamplona , 6" delivered are 15-16 peso each , as you head into the main street of Pamplona just on the right hand side , you can't miss it . Pamplona from your place is only 15 minutes on the scooter , bit longer in the pedicab. 10 degree's celcius and raining here in Melbourne , Australia , so will put a few more pics of the extension on , instead of mowing the lawn . (max temp of 13 predicted for Melbourne today and Darwin is 30 degrees) Some pics of the concrete beams and floor , which is a 5"thick slab , on fill but tied into the existing porch slab and the exterior walls with steel dowel bars , the rest of the structure has been done the same way , would be interested to hear other versions or methods on this , we have had a few earthquakes over the years and not a hint of a problem anywhere , and we are a 2 storey structure. Tony View attachment 10914 View attachment 10915 View attachment 10916 View attachment 10917 View attachment 10918 View attachment 10919 View attachment 10920 View attachment 10921
Then of course the roof and rendering follow. Tony View attachment 10923 View attachment 10924 View attachment 10925 View attachment 10926
And this is the end , unfinished , result . Will load some more pics of this little project when I dig them out , the dirty kitchen area , bathroom/toilet , laundry area and entry/exit points. Tony View attachment 10927 View attachment 10928 View attachment 10929
