Where Did the Demolition Debris Go?

During the first month of construction, the contractor ripped off all the cabinets, windows, ceiling and flooring. The outer walls were mostly still intact to keep the roof. Our architect explained that they will work on the foundation first and then remove the walls as needed.

There was a LOT of debris. The reusable items like the wooden flooring and walls were kept for future use. The chipped walls were set aside to be re-used as filling. Only the things that cannot be re-used like rotten wood, ripped linoleum flooring and tiles and broken glass were hauled out. 

I'm actually glad that parts of the original house will form part of our future house. The original foundation will also be kept to reinforce the new foundation. How'd that happen? We asked our architect to strictly follow the property line and easement requirements. That's what allowed them to move the new foundation and use the old one as reinforcement. 

My Mom told me that Tito Bert (the original architect) made the house earthquake proof. She said that the house moves as earthquakes happen. True enough, the original house barely had cracks in the 50+ years it was standing. I'm really glad we chose the right architect to work with because I don't have to worry about potential structural issues. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

First Few Weeks of Demolition

To be honest, seeing my childhood home demolished slowly was jarring. I cried when I first saw the cabinets from my parents' bedroom removed. I always had in my mind that they were just both home doing what they love doing. Mom would be doing some gardening, while Dad would be busy writing or reading on his desk at the lanai. 

Seeing their bedroom empty of all furniture and the cabinet doors removed felt unreal. I felt it was wrong and the thought of calling off everything ran in my mind. I comforted myself by thinking that I have happy memories of my childhood home and we'll build new ones in the same space eventually. 

The first few weeks of demolition focused on removing "add on pieces". All the cabinets,wall cladding and doors were removed. Space had to be made, so they also started removing window grills, sills and jalousies. It felt really weird to see the house stripped off of its coverings. 

We chose to demolish the house after getting several inputs from different architects and structural engineers. We could have opted to do a heavy renovation, but the cost would be the same and for our safety it would be better to have a structurally sound house with new electrical fittings and plumbing. The foreman explained to us that they will keep the original foundation as a reinforcement for the new foundation. I think it worked out because we requested to follow the property line strictly. 

Next week, I'll share where we sold some of the pre-loved items :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

Construction Fatigue

I thought a jackhammer was pounding besidey ear when I woke up. It was indeed a jackhammer, hammering the street. A team of Maynilad was drilling a hole for a new installation.

My ears probably have some permanent damage due to the construction noise we've been experiencing for more than two years now. Our property has also sustained damages, but our complaints have fallen on deaf ears of the owner. The association helped a lot, but the owner doesn't even want to acknowledge the responsibility. Maybe we should reach out to the Barangay already.

Today's jackhammering resulted in an accident. Maynilad finished drilling the street and just left a couple of hollow blocks to keep vehicles from passing. While watering plants we heard a loud crash. Someone didn't see the hollow blocks and crashed in it. A few minutes later we heard the homeowner's president berating the guard. I think ultimately it's the responsibility of the house construction owner to make sure no one is affected by their works.

Hope the construction ends soon.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Make Your Home Cooler

Summer is around the corner, but it's been quite hot already. We had issues with heat in our house and found ways to make our home cooler. We got advise from architects and contractors. The most important thing to do is to make sure that the heat trapped in your ceiling has a way to exit. 

Here are some tips I learned the past few years:

• 
  Cross ventilation - the key to having a cooler home is to make sure that the hot air is not trapped inside your house. Air should be able to flow across the house. 
• Put vents on the eaves of the roof - an architect told us it is better to have bigger vents on the eaves of your roof. Even better if the whole stretch is a vent. The roof usually has a gap from the wall and that's how the hot air escapes out. 
• Use high quality insulation for the roof - insulation is sandwiched between the roof and the trusses, so it's best done while your roof is being built. The only way to add insulation is to physically remove the roof again. So don't scrimp on roofing. 
• Attach indoor vents to your ceiling - I see this more often in offices, but it can also be done for houses. If your home doesn't have windows across each other to allow cross ventilation, installing vents on your ceiling will help release hot air. 
• Whirlwind - most commonly used in factories, but there are available smaller whirlwind for houses. We went for this since it's cheaper and less obtrusive than other solutions. We opted for the non-solar whirlwind since it's windy in our area. 
• Tint your windows (window film) - this helps if you have a lot of windows for your home. If you're just building your home, you can order tinted windows/doors. If your home is built already, there are options to have this installed. Of course, don't use reflective window film for your house. Be nice to your neighbors. 
• Use block out curtains or blinds - we use both for our home. We normally bust out the block out curtains when the temp starts reaching 32'C. I normally make our curtains at home, but have also used the block out curtains from Ikea. They're really effective. 
• Air circulator - we recently discovered the availability of air circulators. We got one for our sala and have been happy with it. We like its timer feature the best and it also displays the room temperature. 
• Airconditioner - I think this is the most expensive solution to make your home cooler.

There are so many options, best though to integrate plans to keep your house cool from the time you build your house. It will be cheaper and you won't have to find solutions post-construction. 

#BeKind #StaySafe