Best Posts in Thread: A couple projects around the house

Thanks for your kind words...I think one great purpose of the forum is to help each other out. Most of my construction experience is US military or US embassy construction so anything I can pass on for the sometimes unique building techniques here in the Philippines is my pleasure.

We had to figure some things out as we went, especially materials. There were also some forum members that were quite helpful in our journey.

Shawn

 

Building here is the first time I saw structural stucco!

 

A few pictures...short a couple tiles for the outdoor CR, I did not estimate that and looks like we will have to wait finishing the tiles as they are out of stock. The wife decided to wait until I get home to work the plumbing. They started working on sanding down the Nipa hut today, should bring new life to it once we redo varnish.

Looking forward to getting home soon to take care of some things we need to get knocked out.

Shawn

 

Some more pics from the past few days.

We discussed a concrete sink for the outdoor CR so this is what they came up with. No pics on the rebar for the sink as the ones the wife took came out badly, so I'm not even sure how they did the rebar but she says where was quite a bit of rebar and the workers have a clue on rebar now.. Same mix design as everything else so it should be stout. She wanted it free standing so it is attached to the 2 walls. I think I probably would have built it a bit different but this is the wife's project so she has free rein.

Also painted the exterior, a bit darker than I expected but looks OK. She also painted a couple of the interior walls with the banana crème colored paint. The walls by the sink needs much more work before paint.

Slowly coming together.

Shawn

 

The guys are working on the skim coat. For something as small as this, a skim coat was not needed or necessary; but I wanted to see how it would turn out. When we built the house I wanted "smooth" interior walls but could not find the right product at the time plus the wife said the "rougher" finish was common, I didn't like it but she was happy with it and I've honestly gotten to the point I don't notice it as much as I did years ago.

Other than landscaping and fixing my back yard I think the wife's next priority will be to sand down the Nipa hut and new varnish application...our couple of workers have some job security going forward.

Shawn

 

Still working on the outdoor CR; the wife picked out/bought the floor tile and the interior and exterior paint. I like the stone pattern for the floor tile, similar to what we put in our master bath.

Shawn

 

The wife picked it up at Matio in Dumaguete. Vinegar must have taken a long time...

Shawn

 

A few more pics from the past couple of days. Slow going as we only have 3 workers but the wife is pressing on with the drainage ditches.

Shawn

 

A few pictures from the past couple of days. I am not happy with how the concrete turned out for the upper half of the outdoor CR...it is solid but will take a bit more than just grinding and a skim coat to finish it.

Progressing on the drainage ditch the wife wants, not as high as the rebar stands as it will be bent down and cut. The new water pump rocks but tough to keep the water down in that area, will suspend showers and sink usage when we are ready to place concrete.

Shawn

 

It has been pretty slow rolling since I've been home; weather and finding workers has been a struggle. The excavation has been dug for the water collection system, the rebar cage is looking on its final stages, cement, sand and gravel have been ordered and delivered. The cement mixer is up and running as well as the water pump...still need to get the plate compacter running well...starts rough.

Set-up with the miter saw, table saw and the always handy circular saw so should be able to make the formwork.

Also plan to put in a small CR (6'X8' interior) next to the Nipa guest house; was not an issue before but we have someone staying there on a fairly regular basis so running into the house at night is a bit inconvenient.

Like I said a bit slow but expect things to be picking up in the next few days.

Shawn