House Build

This is all rather amusing and brings back memories. When we were building our first Nipa hut, I had set the framework for the botom of the windows 40 inches from the floor. I returned one afternoon to find all my work torn down, and the bottoms of the windows at about 28 inches. "More air flow", says Papa. After an hour of explaining to him that we run around the house naked, and didn't particularly want the entire neighborhood to see everything that was going on inside, it took another lost half day to put the windows back right.

Papa also installed the shower head, at 5 feet. Papa is 5'8".

Larry

 

Monday pics

The paint for the gutters was mixed a bit lighter color of beige than the color chart showed...need to get another liter of paint for touch up so I will see if they can match the color they gave us. The workers were ready to start on painting the plywood that will support the gutters after lunch but as soon as they got ready it started raining. They decided to build "scaffolding" around the nipa since it was raining.

Went to the window shop in Tanjay today to go over the quote, came in just under 67K peso which was less than I expected for the windows I want. Met with the owner to discuss a few things and will have a sample window (kitchen) in 2 days so I can approve their workmanship before giving them the down payment. Was impressed with their shop and willing to meet at the end of the normal business day.

I want to place the floor slabs in the Master bedroom, closet, CR and shower this week so had some items on the rendering I wanted fixed ASAP. Need to go to Dumaguete in the morning to get the gutter touch up paint and look at some tile, so I told the workers to not put down any vapor barrier before I get back...should be ready for that with a bit more backfill and compaction.

Shawn

 

Larry...quite funny about your reasoning for the windows, but it is interesting how folks go back to how they have always done things even though you have specific reasons for doing things a certain way.

Had the wife and plumber both in the CR the kids will use and had the shower head set at a level she thought would work. We have some leeway on the master bath as we bought a shower unit with flexible hoses so we will be able to adjust for final placement, but did the plumbing rough in at a height that should accommodate either of us.

Shawn

 

Some pics from today

Rendering is moving along quite well, happy to get going on floor slabs pretty quickly.

Shawn

 

A few pics from Wednesday

Gave the electric meter to the electric company here in Tanjay, trying to find out if they can calibrate it or if needs to go back to Dumaguete. Need them to inspect the electric install before I can get power ran to the house, they were supposed to stop by today but that did not happen.

Shawn

 

Pics from today

For the past couple days have not been able to upload more than 3 pics at a time....

 

Thursday part 2

Let's see if this works or not...

 

Could not upload all the pics I wanted...really want to place some floor slabs tomorrow and think it will happen. The window folks are a no show so far but the wife talked to them and they are finishing up the sample window to include glass, screens and paint. It is what it is and thought 2 days was probably more than I should expect.

The wife was in Dumaguete today taking care of a few things so, while she was gone the electric rep showed up, I was on-site all day so he was quick as he only spoke to my mother in law, was told later that he did not want to talk to me because of his English. Got very little info from the mother in law so the wife needs to go figure out exactly what we need for the meter, poles, secondary etc. Not sure what type of inspection was done as they did not open the panel. I'm at a bit of a loss on what the procedures are here, but my electric is tight so just need to get the service installed.

Still trying to figure out how the electric guy was in and out without me seeing him...

Shawn

 

A rainy Friday

Placed the floor slab for the master bedroom and closet. Blocked off the kitchen window and door as rain comes in and will do the placement for the kitchen and living room next. The interior rendering is almost done, only the kids CR and our son's bedroom still have a bit left to do.

Getting an electrical service here is the most screwed up thing that I have ever come across and I am completely baffled at their procedures/requirements. My house is not big, but I did put receptacles where it makes sense and to follow code (the Philippine electric code is similar to the NEC) and when calculating total load I have an 80 amp main, though I know I'll never pull that much. There are 4 houses so far that have an electric service and they all come off of a 15kVA transformer on the other side of he highway that also feed at least 10 other houses. The electric company says I have "too many switches and receptacles", so I need to buy my own transformer and also have to pay 34K peso as "insurance" in case any appliance is damaged due to their power fluctuations. I'm not stressing over having to get my own transformer (though it is unclear what it is going to cost to install it as well as who will provide the cut out switch and lightning arrestor). It will also have to be installed off the primary on the highway and the meter needs to be located by the entrance to the subdivision, not at the house. It is what it is and I won't get electric without following their demands; but I do not understand the 34K peso.

Shawn

 

Shawn, I bought a used General Electric 25kva transformer 3 1/2 yrs ago from Polaris for 55,000p. Noreco installed and maintained it. So far, no problems.