Shipping Containers

It would appear their starting prices for the small units (Maybe as little as 20ft by 10 or 6x3 metres?) are just under 1 million if that is the case? you are looking at more than P50K per sqm, of course there is the benefit of being able to take it with you wherever you go? for much less than that you could build a small Concrete home, I'm not talking Hollow Blocks, have a look at this guy Texas Filipino Builder, he builds in concrete using home made slip forms, it leaves quite a good finish and only requires a skim coat before painting also for a small one storey house there is no need for Pillars and beams. At a wild guess I think a small studio house can be built in this manner for around a half Million Pesos?

Philippines Beach House Build Day113 : Taking SHAPE - Bing video

 

Thanks for the video link. Where does this guy live?

IF anyone competent can be found to build a container-size house at around that half million price and read this, then PM me!

I noticed in the video that they poured concrete over the underground pipework - does it not make sense to build a conduit and put the pipes inside that for future replacement (unless they have side joins which cannot be accessed with a manhole)?

Also, the Texan talked about coco-lumber being hard and soft (written about before on the Forum but explained by where in the grass* it has grown) and how a soft piece can be rock hard a week later (so more than growing position).

I know my friend that you are a wee (Scottish word!) bit sceptical of Filipino building methods, so how much of this construction is the Texan and how much is the Filipino builders?

* For those who missed it: Recent postings established that the coconut is a grass and not a tree (as I had previously thought).

 

Deleted. Wrong thread

 

Anyway

He lives half the year in Texas, he has a Ranch there, the house he is building is on a beach near Iloilo.

His build is completely controlled by him, I did see one early Video where he actually set out and drilled the Phenolic board forms himself, I have a friend building here with this same method but he gave up early on as his Professional Filipino Builder did not understand the concept and he is now using CHB, I do not quite understand how this can be since the method is so simple?

Anyway my thinking on this matter of building here in the Philippines is; no matter what the method you use to build here, 100% supervision is required by a competent Foreigner that knows what he is doing, this Texan guy knows his stuff.

You make a good point about burying services in Concrete something I also have avoided in my build, all my plumbing comes out through the rear wall a bit unsightly maybe? but always there will be access too it for any future repairs or to tie in to for any possible additions in the future.

 

Although I mentioned building with concrete I never recommended it and it does not have my seal of approval Haha, only that it must be a whole lot stronger that a CHB house, possibly Typhoon and Earthquake proof, like the container house, but like all cementitious material it soaks up the heat during the day to give it off at night.
There is another alternative I've mentioned before and that is; a Steel Stud Frame House clad with Hardiflex, this can be done quite cheaply in less time, not so Labour intensive, simple to build and can be fully insulated (using cheap Rice Husks) I could well imagine this is possible to do within the budget price of a half Million Pesos, build this on a Monolithic slab it should withstand Earthquakes very well, this will not require AC, taking a couple of Beers out of the Ref will be enough to cool it down, only don't get drunk or you will die of Hypothermia.

 

Those container houses you can buy fully built out of China. Hundreds of company's do them.


https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...offerlist.normal_offer.d_image.3dd7135fWzPwo0



https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...offerlist.normal_offer.d_image.3dd7135fWzPwo0

 

There was a thread here before on using EVG panels - do you know how that compares with using hardiflex?

I know nothing about rice hulls (except what they are) and wonder about natural deterioration over time. Are they sterilised before being used to stop bacterial/fungal degradation? Do they dry out and disintegrate?

 

They are virtually fungal proof as they do not take in enough moisture that the Fungi requires, very difficult to set on fire.

Yes I have researched the EVG panels but unless you have a Shotcrete machine to apply the render to them around 1/12 to 2 inches, they are a no go, chucking mortar at them like the Pinoys do with a render is not quite good enough? also once again the inside render will hold the ambient temperature and give it off at night although not as bad as a CHB or CIP concrete house.

 

I was meaning to post this Link earlier, after reading this I think it will leave a good impression of Rice Hulls as insulation material; Rice hulls in construction - Appropedia

 

I have to respectfully disagree with this statement; I built my house with EVG panels and it turned out quite well. It takes a bit more oversight on the render process but if I had to do it all over again I would definitely go with EVG panels.

Shawn