Why do new buildings in the Philippines
Extreme weather conditions. Depending on where they construct, builders and owners must expect the following:
Humidity. This causes mildew and leaves black stains on roof tiles, shingles and other porous surfaces. It also causes some varieties of wood to rot.
Rain and sea water. This induces corrosion in exposed metals, such as gates, gutters and other architectural and structural metals exposed to the elements.
Diesel fumes in the atmosphere. The continuing importation of smoke belching buses and the failure in enforcement of emission controls, plus uncaring factories and their smoke stacks pollute the air. Their crime is seen in the grey haze you see floating on the horizon. It isn’t just harmful to your health; it is likewise bad for the finishes of your home. These hazardous fumes contribute to the dullness of the colors of your paint.
Acid rain. The rain water that passes through clouds of polluted air results in acid rain. It could actually corrode your exposed concrete and glass surfaces. This is responsible for the watermarks you see on your glass windows. So unless you can clean your windows every time it rains, you could end up with watermarks that are very difficult to remove from your glass panes.
The sad thing about all these is that we are already aware of these cases. Why then are most structures not built to counteract these scenarios? Again, there are several reasons, the first of which is cost. Usually, the cheapest and most common materials are used to satisfy the basic need for shelter, and to make the structure easy to sell. But then, the occupants are left to worry about maintenance later and to just upgrade the finishes when they have the budget.
Another reason for the haphazard construction is ignorance. There are some builders who have not seriously considered the maintenance issues. Some believe that if a type of design works in other countries, it would also work here, only to find out later that it has turned into a maintenance headache. Filipinos want to stand out and be different. There is nothing wrong with adapting foreign designs, as long as the basic principles in designing for maintainability are considered. Poor design contributes to the premature deterioration of structures.
The elements are here to stay and, unfortunately, could get worse. This is all the more reason that maintainability must be everyone’s concern. Being aware of the real situation out there already solves half of the problem. The second half of the solution is in addressing them. Most of the time wide eaves, proper specifications, and using the right proportions would already do the trick. Wide eaves give a measure of protection to the entire house from sun and rain, limiting many maintenance concerns. Proper roof, gutter, and storm drain designs can address other serious problems. Houses must be designed with the end user in mind: how often can you clean it, service it, and maintain it? Preparing for easy maintenance need not be expensive, it must simply hinge on proper design. Your architect is not just there to make your house look good. He is there to make it work for you!
Themed developments have evolved from Spanish, to Mediterranean , to American, and only recently, to Asian styles. Five years ago, when I proposed the Asian theme for one project, the developers were apprehensive, saying that the local market is not ready for that kind of style and that most buyers still have illusions of the west. Today, however, due to the openness of the local market to current Asian design trends, Zen and Balinese motifs that appeal to the different segments of society, we are moving closer to a design more suitable to our conditions. I believe that unlike the previous popular themes, this one is here to stay, barring any drastic change in our climatic conditions. I believe this will just evolve into something more practical, more Filipino. We will re-learn to appreciate the use of eco-friendly materials that are abundant on our soils. Clay, brick, stone are just a few of these.
Here are a few practical tips on designing for maintainability. When deciding on your wall finishes, identify which areas would easily get dirty and which will not. Use a different finish for the areas that easily get dirty. Preferably natural materials like stone or brick. However, if your budget is limited to paint finishes only, use a darker shade of paint for these areas. The termination or separators between two tones of paint may be treated with a molding. Usually, it’s the lower portions of houses that easily get dirty. These should receive the darker coat of paint.
When talking about roof design, I have found it quite practical to do away with inside gutters. These are gutters that are placed above an interior livable space of a house. Storm drains must always be away from the house. Avoid windows that are unprotected from the elements.
Areas prone to wetness must be designed to work without waterproofing membranes. Decks and slabs must be monolithic, with the proper drain slopes.
Identify areas that could collect dust and be aware that when it rains, rain water must not carry these dust particles to your façade. Indoors, try to design out areas that collect dust altogether.
Minimize the use of wood for external finishes. There are a lot of alternatives available in the market. If you cannot forego it, invest in wood preservatives.
You must always plan for expansion and flexibility. It is oftentimes the poorly planned expansions that cause all the maintenance problems.
Your new house does look great today but the real question is: how will it look a few years from now?
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