House Build

Jack...really appreciate Azon taking the time to talk to Cherry, cleared things up.

I designed the house to have a receptacle where I may happen to need one, plus trying to stay within code requirements. I hate extensions cords and surge protectors everywhere.

It is what it is and we'll (in 3 years) get the 34K back.

Thanks again,

Shawn

 

Ray,

Also call them fire ants since a kid when my Dad was stationed in Louisiana. These guys here are much smaller so harder to figure out when you are standing in an area where they decide to attack. Fortunately I have not had any for the past few months as backfill, construction and foot traffic is going on.

I won't be surprised if they show up again once construction is done and the advice from the past couple posts will do me well also to try and keep them under control.

Shawn

 

Some pics from Tuesday

Still have the kids' CR and the master shower room floors to place concrete. I plan to start on the neutralizer tomorrow for the master bedroom area and paint right after that (hopefully we can get the spray gun working correctly). The guys finally got all the wood off the roof slab, we will start on the EVG panels but the wife needs to go ahead and order some more. Quite a lot of room up there and it is going to be nice when we get everything done.

On the electrical side; decided to put my own pole in (only need one right across the street from the house). We will get going on that tomorrow, did some prep after getting back from Dumaguete as where we need to put the pole has a couple feet of water right now.

Went by Noreco in Tanjay before going to Dumaguete this morning; some pretty cool guys actually. The guy that came out last week only looked at the wire at the gate going to the panel (#4) and told the wife that the service entrance cable (they call it twisted wire here) needed to be #4 as well...I asked about that and explained that wire in free air had a higher ampacity and #6 would work, he agreed so that is what I will run. Also asked about why my meter needed to be at the first pole coming into the area and was told it is their policy as it is more convenient for them when checking meters. I can live with it. They were quite helpful when discussing on where to install the transformer. I looked at it closer this afternoon and there are two options, I know what I would do but will need to talk to them again as it is about 20 meters difference on secondary.

We found a transformer that should work out for us, had some help (many thanks again) on sourcing it. The wife will need to figure out how to get it transported to Tanjay...she still does not understand that a 25kVA transformer is not something a couple guys can just lift and throw on a jeepney, I leave those logistics to her.

Things are coming together and one reason I love this forum is that so many folks have experience/knowledge and are willing to help out and offer advice; really appreciate that.

Shawn

 

Yesterday's pics

The internet was a bit spotty yesterday so was not able to upload any pics. We put our own utility pole in yesterday, decided to put the secondary underground across the road so I put the conduit in the pole; also put a 3/4" pipe in as I am still unsure how we will get internet and cable...have some options.

Applying the neutralizer went well.

Shawn

 

Pics from today

Started with the prime coat of paint for master bedroom and kitchen and living room. Looking like some actual rooms now. Really brightened things up. Had the guys start working on the base for the rain collection from the nipa roof.

I was able to install the meter base and disconnect today and started running the overhead service entrance cable; it started some pretty heavy rain around 1430 so was not able to get the connection done at the first pole where the meter is located (just tied it up there for now). I need the electric company to come out and tell me where they want to put my transformer so I can run the secondary there.

We will go to Dumaguete in the morning to finalize what tile we will use so I can estimate how much we need, have most of the paint schemes figured out but the tile we go with in the master bath will determine that paint. Need to buy the paint for the bedroom and living room and kitchen tomorrow as we will be ready to get going on final paint. Since I decided to go underground on the service from the utility pole to the house I also need to pick up some wire for that.

Shawn

 

Friday pics

We finalized the tile choices today, I will sit down and figure out how much of each type we need and will hopefully work it to be delivered on Monday. Paint was a bit of a different story, decided to get the paint at Citi Hardware as they mix with a machine; I have 8 different interior paint colors so I want them to be consistent as I probably under estimated the paint. There paint chart is limited compared to the one I have, so after getting the paints as close to mine the kid said that he did not have the base paint needed to mix them so he won't have the paints mixed until Monday (or something like that, he will text the wife).

Since I am not going to be able to put the meter at the house as I thought, I took out the weather head (entrance cap) at the gate and put in a junction box...wish I would have known before as I would have run it straight from the pole to the panel. It is what it is and once the conduit and box is painted the same color as the perimeter fence it should not look too terrible. Will finish running the conduit under the road tomorrow and pull the wire, after that we will pull the forms for the pole.

Also moved the temp kitchen from my future garden area to the other side of the nipa, better as the rain comes in there and I want to get a garden started. I plan to put a clear corrugated polycarbonate roof over the garden so I can hopefully keep rain down so I can grow without issues with the rainy season. Need to source some good garden soil.

Shawn

 

great thread i have learned a lot by watching your build it will make things easier for me when my time comes.

 

Thanks, hope I've been able to show a few things here to help out, still learning as I go as things are a bit different here. There are some other folks that have had successful builds on the forum so when you get going on your build there should be a wealth of knowledge.

Please feel free to ask me anything, I'm a construction guy so working through things here is kind of fun for me...when I'm not frustrated that is.

Shawn

 

A hot Saturday

Really got a ton of work done today, electric is ready short of figuring out transformer location. Could have final interior paint colors tomorrow. Just a lot of work getting done.

Sorry so short but heading out to dinner with some folks.

Shawn

 

Sunday pics

Only 5 guys today, glad some guys took a day off as we've had some guys that have worked months without a break. They still work it everyday so it is up to them. Some paint, some rendering and moving some dirt was about it for today.

I like the flat white paint so that is what we are going with for the ceilings (I wanted white ceilings anyway). The kid from Citi Hardware called the wife yesterday and said the paint would be ready this afternoon, guess that did not happen but since we need to go to Dumaguete tomorrow we will follow up. I'm going to wait a few days after we get the final interior paint before getting the floor and wall tiles delivered...I just don't have the space to store it and the way the workers move things around I could end up with some broken tile.

Since it was a slow day I started 105 veggie seeds and 70 flower seeds, the older 2 carpenters will be working on the roof I want over my garden tomorrow. Since the nipa is pretty much done I will use these two gentlemen to work some special projects I want done.

The basic little rain water collection system I put together was full and had water from the overflow discharging from last night and early morning rain. I'm going to add a few barrels to that system. This was really a test for me, so I am really excited about what I may be able to do with a system off of the roof from the second floor, it is about 3 times the size of the nipa roof. I've got a few different ideas in my head but need to think a bit more about it...really encouraging so far.

Shawn