House design Philippines.

House Design

Now also joining our Team: Will Irwin

Consultant for retiring in the Philippines and/or getting a business started.
Also for Philippine ANNULMENT (divorce Philippines)
Spent 32 years building businesses in the USA and the Philippines.
Author of the book "Expat Tips for Building a House in the Philippines".
Author of the book “Retirement Living in the Philippines” (...more info here...)

Philippines

We can make Philippine house designs plus any other design needed for your investment properties. For example this 'mini hotel' which is a project of one of our clients.

Just contact us for a FREE meeting

Tips for Building a House in the Philippines
By guest-writer Mr. Steve Brall

After living here for more than 15 years I would like to share the following thoughts with you.

The Walls (basic structure)
If you want to test wether your architect/contractor is realy as smart as he think he is;
ask him why he build with hollow blocks?
Hollow blocks have a high thermal mass; they store the heat of the day and during the evening they give that heat back to you... not smart to use in a Tropical country is it..?
American companies in Cebu understand this problem and therefore are building callcenters with 'Insulating Light-Weight Concrete Panels'.
Electricity rates in the Philippines are at least 100% higher than in the USA.
Insulating your house with these light-weight concrete panels can also save a lot of money; lower electricity bills and a smaller aircon is possible.

Sound Insulation
If you dont want to listen to your neighbors Karaoke or noise from room to room or the loo flushing upstairs then the best solution is ICF.
There are a few local construction methods for insulated walls but only this one is used all over the world. It is also used in tropical regions like Africa so now they are starting to offer it in the Philippines.

Window Frames
PVC or wood or aluminium?
I know a Dutch ship-maker (with obvious knowledge about durable building-materials for the harsh sea environment) who let his contractor make wooden sliding windows (with quiet nylon wheels) for his beachhouse; salty air. Simple, affordable, functional.

Philippine doors window

Also he knows that durable door-knobs, hinges etc. (test it with a magnet) you can not buy in any shop here; there are only a few places where you can buy them in Manila, not in Cebu.

Consider screen doors and -windows
Ofcourse we all like a clear view to the surrounding of our house; open the windows and sit outside. But even one fly can spoil the fun, let alone hundreds (do not think this will not happen to you, you can not conrol this, they come from piggeries and chickenfarms miles away).
Also mosquitoes can be a pest; consider this in your design.

In the Philippines the humidity is very high so air movement is crucial to help perspiration to evaporate.
But we have mostly no wind and the screen windows will slow down any breeze even more.
So you will need electric fans at strategic places.
And if you realy cant stand the heat then (a small-) airconditioning is a must.

Roof
Almost all roofs in the Philippines are made of corrugated steel (galvanized sheets).
If you want to test wether your architect/contractor is realy as smart as he think he is; ask him what colour he advises for the roof?
Painting a roof white will reflect the sunlight; do not underestimate the huge difference this makes in heating up the roof...

Kitchen
Cooking inside a closed-windows house means the smell and the water-vapor stays inside.
Consider to make a 'Dirty Kitchen'.
It is the name for an 'extra' or 'second' Philippine kitchen where you don't have to worry about the smelly fish you fry or the smoke when you want to cook with wood or about the cooking-oil splattering all around...
Because the kitchen is built out of view and is not meant to have visitors checking what you do.
I can be four walls with a roof; that's all you need.
It's where Filipino's enjoy cooking with friends (and talk about us foreigners when we are not there) and it's not designed to be beautifull.

Cost
The cost to build a house in the Philippines depends on how you look at it.
Building with insulation maybe cost more at this moment but over the years you will save aircon-bills (and have the comfort of a quiet home).

If you want to test wether your architect/contractor is realy as smart as he think he is;
ask him to describe to you the 'standard floorplan' (it exists!) which incorporates all features necessary for tropical houses, like orientation of your house- and window alignment/positioning with the sun plus wind.
You can always email me his answer and I will tell you wether it is correct or not.

own home, cost price estimate or design plans just contact one of the Philippine architects at the end of this page.

Save up to 30% on Construction Cost in the Philippines

With the correct planning (design/blueprints) you can save up to $3 for every $10 that you spend on the total construction project.

Typically people let an architect make blueprints (design) and then ask a few contractors to quote (project bidding-tender) based on the same blueprints. BUT they forget that the highest impact on cost are found in the planning- and design-stage; NOT in bidding.

At the bidding-process you have to show all contractors (the same-) blueprints and they will count also the UNNECESSARY things if your blueprints are not made professionally; they have to follow the plans...

With the bidding-process you can save a few Dollars (and mostly lose quality!) but a GOOD design can save you up to 30% of the total construction project cost by optimizing the FUNCTION of ALL parts of your project.

Asking a friend or relative to make a quick-cheap design might NOT be a good idea if they do not have extended practical knowledge and design a building that is beautifull but not practical/economical/affordable to construct...
It can turn out to be costing up to 30% too much due to structural design-mistakes.

The solution is our 'Know-How Network' which includes experienced architects who work together with experienced engineers to make a planning/design which saves you money by using 'Value Engineering':

We do not 'cheapen' your building nor do we 'cut corners'.
We remove unnecessary expenditures and find alternatives.
We simply use knowledge which other Philippine architects and contractors fail to recognize due to lack of information, shortage of time, rigid application of standards, reluctance to seek advice, habitual thinking, failure to admit ignorance, poor human relations, resistance to change or they make decisions based on feelings rather than facts.

Spending a little more on planning, design/blueprints will save you much more than you think.
And our price for blueprints is the same as any other architect...

We do not offer free design; we can bid for your project if you show us the blueprints which are made by someone else BUT they are final (can not be changed anymore!) so we will not be able to remove unnecessary expenditures and find alternatives.

Just contact us for a FREE meeting

house design philippines

Sorry but we do not offer free design (only free advice); we try to protect the profession of Philippine architects.
Any Philippine architect or engineer has to go through many years of study and a very strict board-exam. Same like doctors and lawyers.
The reason why we mention this, is because there seems to be a common misconception amongst those who want to build a home in the Philippines; they expect an architect or contractor to make a sketch of the house and a floorplan...for free...
Doctors and Lawyers do not give free services...
Why would any self-respecting professional give free services? Is he maybe desparate to get a job? That would not be the best choice...
Our Nationwide network of specialized architects and contractors provides for know-how about all design-related aspects which is just not likely possessed by any individual (local-) architect/contractor. However we do not offer free services.

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The following prices are from licensed contractors; they keep up 'a certain level of quality'; if you want cheaper then you have to hire a non-licensed contractor.

The cost to build your house or commercial building depends on the exact location (is it possible to use a truck to bring the materials or do they have to be carried?), total floor area (make the house 2x bigger and the price will become 2x higher), the logistics/accessibility (city or province or island?), regulations/restrictions of the local government or subdivision ('they all have their own rules'), soil-type, site preparation (maybe backfill or retaining-wall?) neighbor-buildings, availability of local skilled labor, source of electricity/water etc. plus you have to select what construction methods have to be used (hollow blocks or other) and what level of finishing you want (low-cost, average or high-class).

But to give some guidance:

A 100 sq mt (10m X 10m) one-level middle-class house near Metro Manila, Cebu or Davao will cost very very roughly on average between Php 1.6M and Php 2M.
This is mostly including: building-materials (doors, windows, roof, kitchen, paint, tiles etc.), labor, electrical/plumbing, equipment, tools, professional fees (management, supervision etc.), mobilization, demobilization, temporary facilities, transportation, waste-disposal, blue prints, bonds, insurances and other incidentals to complete the work.
Not including (this is mostly seperately priced-) are for example furniture, fixtures (chandelier, bathtub etc.), appliances (aircon, refrigerator etc.), landscaping, fence/gate, pool.
Your blue prints and construction-contract will contain all final details.

If you want a contractor to build far from the big cities than expect higher avarage costs; for the same example maybe between Php 2M and Php 2.5M.

Make the house 2x bigger and the price will be very roughly 2x higher.
You want solar panels? Vaulted ceilings? Double Glass? Ceramic Roof Tiles? Decorative stones on outside walls? Higher quality kichen and bathroom? Then you pay more.
A 100 sq mt one-level high-end, first class home might cost between Php 2.3M and Php 2.7M

Be Aware: if you want to build far away from the big cities then a local contractor can offer a lower cost estimate BUT they build with the old-style hollow blocks (PLUS local workers mostly just do not have the skills that 'city-laborers' have) while contractors who are located near the city will mostly be exposed to more projects and therefore have more experience and can offer better construction-methods. (but you pay more...)

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home design philippines Construction trades workers are employed in a large variety of occupations that are involved in all aspects of the construction industry. Boilermakers make, install, and repair boilers, vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases. Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons build and repair walls, floors, partitions, fireplaces, chimneys, and other structures with brick, pre-cast masonry panels, concrete block, stone and other masonry materials. Carpenters construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood, such as framing walls and partitions, putting in doors and windows, building stairs, laying hardwood floors, and hanging kitchen cabinets. Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers lay floor coverings, apply tile and marble, and sand and finish wood floors in a variety of buildings. Cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers smooth and finish poured concrete surfaces and work with cement to create sidewalks, curbs, roadways, or other surfaces. Construction equipment operators use machinery that moves construction materials Philippines, earth, and other heavy materials and applies asphalt and concrete to roads and other structures. Drywall installers, ceiling installers and tapers fasten drywall panels to the inside framework of residential houses and other Cebu buildings and prepare these panels for painting by taping and finishing joints and imperfections. Electricians install, connect, test, and maintain building electrical systems, which also can include lighting, climate control, security, and communications. Glaziers are responsible for selecting, cutting, installing, replacing, and removing all types of glass.

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Create a home that’s authentically you; find, share, touch and feel, and act on home design ideas and options. Whether you’re working on a new house, a major addition, room renovations, or a redecorating project.

You have a unique vision for your house design Philippines. To make it real, you need to show your contractor or construction company exactly what you want. It’s all about communication and collaboration.

Treat yourself to better home design choices.

Most of us say, “I’ll know it when I see it.” And until we do see it, many of us can’t really say what it is that we want. So being able to see and share pictures is worth thousands of words. That’s why it is better to show your architect some pictures and together house design Philippines your dream-house.

Choose wisely: Discover the ideas and options that are right for you. If you choose wisely, your Philippine home design investment will serve you well for years to come. If you choose poorly, in six months you’ll want to rip out your brand new tile floor and start over.

Philippine house design

A construction crew; in the modern industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of paper or computer based designs into reality. A formal design team may be assembled to plan the physical proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts of house design Philippines.

The design usually consists of drawings and specifications, usually prepared including architects, interior designers, civil engineers, cost engineers (or quantity surveyors), mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and structural engineers. The house design Philippines team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the property owner. Under this system, once the design is completed, a number of construction companies or construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based directly on the design, or on the basis of drawings (floor plans, blueprints) and a bill of quantities provided by a surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner will typically award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder.

The modern trend in house design Philippines is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially among large firms. In the past, architects, interior designers, Philippine house design, engineers, developers, construction managers, and general contractors were more likely to be entirely separate companies, even in the larger firms. Presently, a firm that is nominally an "architecture" or "construction management" firm may have experts from all related fields as employees, or to have an associated company that provides each necessary skill. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as "one-stop shopping" for a construction project, from beginning to end. This is designated as a "design Build" contract where the contractor is given a performance specification, and must undertake the project from design to construction, while adhering to the performance specifications.