Building vs buying?

Interesting thread. 15-20,000 pesos per sq meter? what sort of materials were used? finished construction/turn key price?
thanks!

 

The biggest cost decision for my house was the roof. Do you want metal, shingle, tile, nipa, do you want wood or steel to support the roof, if steel, do you want bolts or welds. The there are the other options, types of sinks, toilets, tile, granite, solid or hollow doors, etc.
I wasn't anywhere near knowledgeable to build myself or oversee the construction so my costs were higher using a builder.

 

I'm currently having built in Dauin a house...bought the LOT and its gone on from there. Dont expect european quality or standards. Beware you will get surprises at almost every stage, however most now are coming out of the woodwork for me when finishing detail is being added. I have now my Filipina wife living close to site and overseeing everything.
What we take for granted in europe often is unheard of in Philippines, what is accepted by Filipinos as OK is definitely wrong for expats.
Electric wiring under concrete floors not in roof spaxce
Electric cables under bathroom floors
Light switches inside bathrooms
Waterpipes of very light gauge steel and where threaded almost paper thin.
Grey water drainage just to spew outside
Materials substituted from that specified...you will get apology but not a rip out and do again!
Waterpump from UK 600GBP similar pump from Philippines 1100GBP.
etc etc!!!!
I am still smiling just!!!

 

I recently finished a beach house of 260 square meters and after reading the posts here I consider myself fortunate; however, when I added a bathtub to the master bathroom apart from the shower the workers had a hard time trying to tell the overflow from the faucet openings and they couldn't understand why I wanted a hot water heater. When I showed them the garbage disposal they all gathered around the kitchen sink to see how it worked.
My suggestions would include dictating exactly where you want your outlets to be both inside and out and understand that if you don't personally chose the items to be installed they will definitely fail within a year. My lot is over 5000 square meters so if you plan to add a wall you need to consider the cost. The electric company will also be pricey if you have to run a separate primary wire any distance. Finally treat your concrete walls before painting and I suggest using oil based paint since my attempt at latex resulted in some peeling in places so I had to repaint with enamel. Good Luck.

 

Price per sq meter?

Could you offer a price per sq meter for the home you constructed?

Sounds like you built a really nice home.

Lakotamoon

 

Remember when you're building here, whatever you do, don't let them run the downpipes for the roof gutter in through your house.

Keep those pipes on the outside of the structure or you'll regret it later.

The birds drop seeds that will start to grow in those pipes, the root mass will plug up the drainpipes completely. If they're routed inside the house expect flooding in the attic whenever it rains.

 

Price

I added a lot of wood inside so the price per square meter probably reached 20,000 pesos. The wood is mostly lauan but the Filipinos don't talke the time to cure it so adjustments were required and the finish work was not a stong suit. I had an attorney draft the documentation and walk away from anyone who can't hand you a title to the property before you do anything.
Oglala or Hunkpapa?

 

thanks for sharing swampstar. sounds like you included some western amenities... garbage disposal... as well.

how did you treat the exterior exactly please.

Lakotamoon

 

Exterior

I'm not sure what you mean? If you are referring to painting concrete I'm sure there are others here more qualified than I to answer that question but I had the builders skim the exterior and I can't recall the chemical they apply before painting. You can look up "painting concrete" online and I have seen concrete paint in the stores; however, I scraped where it was peeling and used enamel. I have 4 split type air conditioners and one bleeds a little to the touch through the outside wall but it's so minor and dries right away so I don't bother with it and it hasn't lifted the enamel.

 

Concrete sealer, you need to apply after six weeks or later in dry weather conditions. Better sprayed on, other than that rolled on. Inside the house and out. Let someone else do the job for you, it stinks.