House Build

Hello...figured I would share some pics from our current house project. We are still working on the exterior wall/fence and nipa hut that will be used as a guest house later but will give the workers a place out of the rain as well as store materials during the build.

Should be breaking ground on the house as soon as we find a roller to do a better job compacting than they were able to do with my plate compactor.

Shawn

 

In Afghanistan? Seriously though, where is it? Thanks for sharing. Please keep the pics and info coming. It is very helpful for those that want to build a house here. Did you bring in fill dirt? It looks as though the ground level is higher inside the fence than outside of it?

 

I haven't found anything that green in Afghanistan... We are building in Tanjay, quiet little town and where the better half is from.

Yes, we had to backfill quite a bit; not sure why so many people build lower than the road. We have some more backfill to do and then about a foot of topsoil once the house is done.

We will start excavating and compacting for the columns this week so I'll try to update pics every few days. This is my first "substantial" build in the Philippines, so it is working out to be a unique challenge, especially trying to manage things from here.

I was there over Christmas/New Years so I was able to physically make sure things were good getting above existing grade for the fence, retaining wall and the piers for the Nipa Hut. It will be tons of pics each step on the house before I let them move to the next step but the wife and workers know how I want things to flow.

Shawn

 

A few more pics

Started laying out the footprint of the house to include getting the footers dug and concrete placed for 3 of the columns. I think the wife went a bit overboard with the burning "design" for the bamboo walls, but it should look OK when it is all done.

Shawn

 

Shawn
How far down have you gone with the support pillars?
Just curious as to the required depth needed. Thanks for the updates regards JB

 

John...the footers for the columns are 4' deep and the rebar footer is 4'X4'...1.2 meters for the folks that speak metric.

Shawn

 

More pics

I'm hoping the bamboo "design" looks better once it is varnished, honestly not feeling it so far.

Shawn

 

Windows installed in Nipa Hut

The windows were installed at the nipa guest house today, I think they look pretty good.

Shawn

 

pics of your build look really good , I have a house in Tugas , Tanjay also , been going there for 10 or 11 years , be wary of white ants in that area , just something to keep in mind , regards Tony

 

Hello Tony,

By white ants I assume you mean termites? We've gone through 15 gallons of solignum so far on the nipa guest house and plan to use a marine grade varnish once it is done; hopefully that keeps the termites at bay. Next will be how to figure out how to get rid of those pesky biting little red ants.

We are building in Tugas as well and are renting an apartment 5 minutes away from the build. I like the area, but I'm a country boy at heart.

Shawn