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Trades & Labor Cement Support Posts Needed-Need Advice

Discussion in 'Businesses - Services - Products' started by horizon155, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. horizon155

    horizon155 DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor

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    I just wanted to get a quick opinion here.

    My wife and I own several cottages that sit on bamboo posts over the sea and many of the posts eventually rot away from the water, exposure to the ocean elements, etc. A more permanent solution are concrete posts dug into the sea floor. Now taking this into consideration I need the framework built into the sea floor with re-barb metal wiring extending about 5 meters up from the sea floor, then filled with concrete. I gave my Dad (being a Construction/Carpenter Business Owner, Now Retired) All the info and the quote but was shot back with an earful of ("I can hire a bunch of undocumented immigrants, to do this at half the expense, half the amount of time (more workers), and a better quality job"- Now, I don't want to be discriminatory at all and this thread is not meant to be however this particular job involves "family" and some ethical decision making on my part so I don't want any outside factors influencing my price quote.

    To sum up, I just wanted to get some personal opinions on what they would do in the situation of needing to find a permanent solution instead of bamboo support posts to structurally hold a cottage above sea level, if anyone has paid for cement support posts in the past and what the cost was, and/or what someone that has experience in the Dumaguete area would expect to pay for such a project...

    I appreciate any feedback

     
  2. Best Answer:
    Post #10 by ShawnM, Jul 20, 2017 (4 points)
  3. Brian Oinks

    Brian Oinks That's Mr. Pig to you Boy! :) Highly Rated Poster

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    Using Sahara with the Cement will make it water proof so that the concrete does not soak the water and rust the re-bar over time which happens. Another approach would be to use good wood posts as many Piers in many Ports around the world have support poles that are 100+ years old. Another thing would be getting the Poles into the sea bed, unless the ''Family' has the equipment to hammer in the poles to a suitable depth then they will be merely sitting on the surface of shifting sands which will play havoc on your investment.

    I think in this case it is like if you need an Engine rebuild, you do not approach the Auto Electrician to do it to make him happy or save a few pesos, do it once, do it right...
     
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  4. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

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    Scratching Head.jpg Hmmm I would be more concerned with the Kinetics of moving these bungalows onto new Posts
     
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    horizon155

    horizon155 DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor

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    Yeah its a lot to take in, I would hate to pour a bunch of money into this and then see it either A) Not Work, B) Done Improperly or C), Hurricane/Earthquake tears through the following year ruining everything. I mean I could just keep repairing the current bamboo posts but over time this is getting irritating and expensive. I would prefer to have a more permanent solution if the price is right.
     
  6. ShawnM

    ShawnM DI Forum Patron ★ No Ads ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor Veteran Air Force

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    Do you have any pics of the cottages, how they are currently supported. There could be many options but really difficult to give any advice without seeing what your existing conditions are. Pics looking at the underside of the cottages at low tide would help as well.

    Shawn
     
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    Last edited: Jul 18, 2017
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    horizon155

    horizon155 DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor

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    Here is a photo of our neighbors cottage. This is similar to what we want to do with ours (the first part having the cement posts), the rest of it is currently Bamboo Support posts which is what we currently have. (Although ours are much newer and more nicely placed)
     

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  8. ShawnM

    ShawnM DI Forum Patron ★ No Ads ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor Veteran Air Force

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    Are the columns still submerged at low tide?
     
  9. Dave_Hounddriver

    Dave_Hounddriver DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster

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    My friend has a resort on Biliran island and he uses the bamboo supports for all his piers and cottages over the water. He told me it is cheaper and less risk to use bamboo rather than concrete supports. Concrete supports rot in the ocean when battered by tides and storms and is expensive and difficult to maintain or replace. Bamboo supports also rot but he has a crew that is almost continually replacing the rotting bamboo parts. He said the trick is to use the right kind of bamboo. Seems there are at least two kinds and one of them is extremely long lasting and durable. So much so that he sends his guys on a 60 km trip to get the correct type of bamboo rather than using the local supply..

    Read more here:
    Types of Bamboo Poles | Bamboo Habitat
     
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    horizon155

    horizon155 DI Forum Adept Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor

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    no, low tide is the only tide the sea floor is visible and can be dug down into.
     
  11. ShawnM

    ShawnM DI Forum Patron ★ No Ads ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Blood Donor Veteran Air Force

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    Best Answer
    I have no experience with bridges or piers, but a bit with structural foundations. So take my advice as just that, advice without personally looking at what you have. The pictures you posted were from other cottages, so I assume that yours are similar.

    Driving piles is probably not in the cards as you say you will be using family members to accomplish the work. I would recommend some spread footers, minimum 3'X3'X6", thickened edges to 10"; 4' deep from the existing sand at low tide. From the cottages pictured they are not heavy but I would still go with 10" columns...8" would probably work but that would be your call.

    I would also recommend beams to tie everything together, at the cottages and a midpoint...6" should make a stout structure. Sahara mixed with your concrete (minimum of 3500 PSI) and with the salt water I would coat the rebar.

    I wish you the best with your project...fun but will take a lot of planning, but if done correctly I would think it would last for a very long time.

    Shawn
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2017
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