Trades & Labor Best Posts in Thread: Cement Support Posts Needed-Need Advice

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

 

In the case I posted a pic of, the owner needed a foreshore lease and permission from DENR, which reminds me of another reason its all made of bamboo. He can call it a temporary structure and get permission from DENR. For a concrete foundation that's a whole 'nother permit.

 

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

 

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...