Electrical Panel Installation

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electrical-panel-installationElectrical panel is installed in the house because it is heart of your home’s electrical system and your distribution point for all the electric circuits in your home. If you have newly built house, it is important to hire a licensed electrician or a well-trained electrician or experienced to do the job. Your electrician should know how to install the main panel for your home because as you add electrical appliances and circuits, you have increase the demand on your power panel. The power panel may need to be replaced or a sub-panel in order to keep up with demand. The main electrical panel is the central distribution point for all branch circuits of the house.

Make sure that your contractor use and install high quality electrical panel for your home because all of the power for your homes comes through this panel. Verify and check its quality and durability. The main service panel distributes power to all the electrical circuits in the home and it contains devices which protect those individual circuits from overload as well as it provides a master switch which is used to manually cut all power in the home. Also, it contains major sections including the main breaker, the hot bus and the neutral/grounding bus. The main breaker will allows homeowners to cut all power in case of emergency to protect the house from external electrical overloads.

Installing Roof Trusses

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roof-trussesRoof truss is a framework of some type of dedication support materials that can traverse the free space above room. It provide support for a roof. A trusses are usually occur at regular intervals, linked by longitudinal woods or metals such as purlins and the space between each truss is called as a bay. It can be arranged into triangular shapes or depending on the design layout of the roof. It can be one or multiple triangular units that includes straight slender member with their ends connected via nodes.

The person who is responsible for installing the trusses should have a lot of experience and strength. He also know the right procedures of connecting or fitting of the trusses. The roof should be closed and protected against the rain and other types of damaging weather. Wrong installation of trusses can lead to terrible consequences such as roof truss failure if not properly mounting, positioning and fastening.

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Some home builders choose to order the prefabricated roof trusses from manufacturers and delivered to the house or building site because it can help them to save time, money and materials. But some home owner choose to build their own roof truss so that it is easy to properly frame the roof of the house and the angles can be measure and frame properly. A design layout of the roof trusses can be sketched by a professional architect. Of course, you should hire a person that has expertise in installing the roof trusses.

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Plumbing Installation

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dsc07371Plumbing is a system of pipes and fixtures installed in a house or building for the distribution and use of water and the removal of waterborne wastes. It is simple concept of water in – water out.  It has three (3) main mechanisms namely water supply system, drainage system and appliance/fixture set.

Plumber is one who is responsible for installation of plumbing and he must have a licensed. A plumber should be able to know the job required what needs to repair,  follow plans and drawings, and understand technical instructions, fix baths, sinks, radiators, etc to walls, in floors or ducts, cut and bend piping to correct dimensions, measure distances to work out the lengths of piping needed, join piping so that it does not leak.

If you have a new constructed house, it is necessary to hire a licensed and well-trained plumbers so you can prevent problems in the future.  Regarding the right plumbing material for your house such as plastic pipes, type of spouting, gutters and dra

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inage system that are suitable for your house, consult with your plumber. Just make sure that you explain or describe about the layouts of all the bathrooms in the house down to the kind of fittings you want.

Make sure that everything need to be tested for proper functionality and efficiency once the entire plumbing has been installed such as all sources of water supply, sewerage and bathroom fixtures.

Bungalow Style and Designs

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What is Bungalow type of house?

According to Wikipedia, a bungalow is a type of building which originally from Bengal region in South Asia but now found throughout the world.   A bungalow today is a residential building which normally detached and may contain small loft, which is either single-story or has second story built into a sloping roof usually with dormer windows. Common features of bungalow include verandas, and being low-rise.

Also, a bungalow is a single family house type which became popular in the Western United States because it offers low cost, simple living quarters with artistic style and design.  Other special features of bungalow includes convenience and simplicity.

Advantages of bungalow house includes living in bungalow is very convenient for the homeowners because all living areas are on a single-storey and very cost effective way of living since small maintenance for the house. Other advantages are the accessibility and it is ideal for those reduced mobility. Bungalow houses is also easy to maintain so the maintenance cost is very low.

Here in the Philippines, some couples prefer to buy or construct a bungalow for financial reason because construction of bungalow is much cheaper compare to two-storey house. Like for instance, an 85 sq. meter bungalow house included the garage with 3 bedrooms, 2 cr/bathroom, laundry area, kitchen, dining and living area may cost only  Php 1.5 M compare to two-storey that may cost Php 3.5M.

Things to consider when buying or constructing a bungalow, make sure that the house is elevated from the road in order to prevent floods even the place is already high. Also, you may consider to have a foundation of the house that can be also suited to two-storey house so it can be converted into two-storey house in the future if you have enough budget..

Below are some images of bungalow house here in the Philippines:

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Checklist for Hiring an Electrician

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It is very important that you should hire a skilled electrician to avoid all electrical faults and repairs in the future.

electricianThe following are some checklist when hiring an electrician:

  1. Take references from friends, neighbors, relatives and friends before hiring an electrician and share their experiences about repair works and electrician work skills.
  2. Find out the prices and work experience of electrician, take note that a cheapest electrician may not be a good electrician. A good and skilled electrician can cost you little more but it saves your money in the future.
  3. Verify electrician’s work he had done in previous projects and confirm the quality of his work.
  4. Get skilled electrician even his rates are high compare to the others but of course have a little research about him.
  5. Describe and explain to your electrician the details of his work before making an agreement with him
  6. Get an estimate of cost and estimated completion date.
  7. Have an electrical work contract on labor rate.
  8. Clarify to him for completion of work in time before signing a contract
  9. Keep your payment schedule aligned with the pace of work.

Here, take a closer look for a characteristic of a good and reliable electrician:

  • Fully licensed or certified
  • Fully trained and experienced
  • Should have good reputation
  • Has good communication skills to address your needs
  • Honest and trustworthy
  • Updated to current technology

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Documents Required Upon Pag-ibig Housing Loan

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housing-loan-documents

The following are the documents upon housing loan:

1. Housing Loan Application (2 copies) with recent  ID photos of borrower

2. Membership Status Verification Slip (MSVS)

3. Income Documents:

For Locally Employed, any of the following:

a. Notarized Certificate of Employment and Compensation (Employer’s format) and for government employees one (1) month payslip, within 3 months prior to date of loan application

b. Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) for the year immediately preceding the date of loan application, with attached W2 form, stamped received by the BIR/Certificate of Tax Withheld (BIR Form No. 2316) For Self Employed/Other Sources of Income, any of the following:

c. ITR, Audited Financial Statements, and Official Receipt of tax payment from bank supported with DTI Registration and Mayor’s Permit/Business Permit

d. Commission Vouchers reflecting the issuer’s name and contact details (for the last 12 months)

e. Bank Statements or passbook for the last 12 months (in case income is sourced from foreign remittances, pensions, etc.)

f. Copy of Lease Contract and Tax Declaration (if income is derived from rental payments)

g. Certified True Copy of Transport Franchise issued by appropriate government agency (LGU for tricycles, LTFRB for other Public Utility Vehicle or PUVs)

h. Certificate of Engagement issued by owner of business

i. Other document that would validate source of income

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), any of the fol
lowing:

j. Employment Contract (with English translation if in foreign language)

k. Original Employer’s Certificate of Income (with English translation if in foreign language). If document submitted is photocopy, it shall be duly certified/initialed by Pag-IBIG Fund Information Officer assigned in the country where the member works.
l. Other Proofs of Income, whether original or photocopy, shall be duly certified/initialed by Pag-IBIG Fund Information Officer assigned in the country where the member works.

4. Photocopy (back-to-back) of one (1) valid primary ID of Principal Borrower and Spouse, Co-Borrower and  Spouse, Seller and Spouse and Developer’s Authorized Representative and Attorney-In-Fact,  if applicable.

5. Authorization to Conduct/Credit Background Investigation

6. For OFW members, Special Power of Attorney notarized prior to dateof departure or duly certified and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the country where the member is staying, if abroad. If SPA is without the red ribbon of Consulate Office, the SPA must have a duly stamped notarial seal.

7. Insurance Coverage

a. Health Statement Form (Medical Questionnaire) OFW members over 60 years old Loans over P2.0 M to P6.0 M and for borrowers aged up to 60 years old

b. Health Statement Form (Medical Questionnaire) an d Full Medical Examination Borrowers over 60 years old

8. Marriage Contract  (For all married borrower/s, co-borrower/s, spouse, family member/s included on the  computation of aggregate income)

9. Birth Certificate or any proof of relationship, if with co-borrower/s or family member/s included on the computation of aggregate income

10. Certified True Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) (latest title)

11. For Condominium Unit, Certified True Copy of present TCT and CCT

12. Photocopy of Updated Tax Declaration and Updated Real Estate Tax Receipt

13. Location Plan and Vicinity Map

14. For new member or member with less than the required number of contributions, photocopy of Pag-IBIG Fund Receipt (PFR) representing lump sum payment of contributions.

15. Approved letter request to re-avail of a Pag-IBIG housing loan (for member/s with housing loan that was foreclosed, cancelled, bought back due to default or subjected to dacion en pago)

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Tie Beam

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What is Tie Beam?

Tie Beam

A tie beam is an intermediate beam that is used at floor levels and roof levels which provide lateral continuity of the masonry and to tie the tie columns or end walls to avoid lateral movement.  It is a soil level beam connecting two or more vertical load carrying elements usually column.

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What are the purposes of tie beam in the construction of house or building?

Purpose of Tie beam

  • Tie beam is used to prevent two structural members from spreading apart such as roof rafters
  • Also, tie beam is used for establishing elements particularly in the context of high seismic motion
  • Ground beam is used to connect 2 or more other foundation elements to support a slab or walls that would otherwise not be supported by the soil.
  • Tie beam can be on the ground to carry axial loading mostly tension
  • Ordinary tie beam acts to bear all the loads come from the wall which constructed parallel with the beam
  • Tie beam stretches over a columns to bind both of the columns to support stability of structure.
  • Tied foundation are implemented as a way of exploiting to advantage opposing forces by linking them together via a tie or tie beam. To reduce the horizontal force requiring to be resisted by the ground.

Pag-ibig Housing Loan Technical Requirements

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pag-ibig-loanPag-ibig help their members to have their own house by allowing them to apply for Pag-ibig Housing Loan. Pag-ibig interest rate is much lower and cheaper than other housing loan and financial loan offered usually by banks. It is important to prepare all documentary requirements as well as technical requirement in order to avail Pag-ibig housing loan.

Aside from the documentary requirements needed to apply for Pag-ibig Housing Loan the following Technical Requirements are need to prepared:

  1. Certified true copy of TCT/CCT by the Registry of Deeds (latest title)
  2. Location Plan and Vicinity Map
  3. Photocopy of Tax Declaration and Real Estate Tax Receipt

There are also additional requirements depending on the loan purpose

For Purchase of Residential Unit; Purchase of Lot and Construction of House, Purchase of Lot

  • Contract to Sell or similar agreement between the buyer and the seller

For Refinancing

  1. Statement of Account on outstanding loan balance, indicating loan purpose
  2. Any of the following documents: Official receipt for the past 12 months, subsidiary ledger, any valid proof of payment for the past 12 months

For Purchase of Lot and Construction of House, Construction of House, Home Improvement

  • Building Plans, Specification and Bill of Materials duly signed by the Licensed Civil Engineer or Architect.

Source: Pag-ibig website

Site Preparation for House Construction

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site-preparationSite preparation is one of the first step to be done before starting construction works. It is very important to be prepared such as ready all the materials needed as well to clean the site before the construction process. It consists of clearing away all the trees and grasses from the site and doing whatever rough grading and staking the house location in preparation for installation of the footings and foundation.

The factors to be considered that will affect by the placement of the house includes setbacks and easements, sun’s exposure, driveway, septic tank location, distance to run for utility, trees you want to keep, water sources and electricity sources.

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The following are some things to consider during site preparation:

  • Be sure to remove all the brushes or trees if there exists any on the site of construction
  • Trees and grasses should be cut properly and totally uprooted
  • The area should be roughly leveled
  • If there are holes at the area, it should be filled with sands or rammed earth and leveled off
  • Permanent bench marks should be established at a suitable point at the construction site
  • As part of site preparation, it also includes the fixing position of the site office and labor shed as well the access and existing roads for trucks, carts, etc.
  • The location for the storage and stacking of the materials should be also set on the ground in the site properly

Site Layout for House Construction

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Site Layout is the first step done in the construction site if clearing is already finished. Clearing is cleaning the area such as removing trees and grasses at the construction site.  Site layout is an important stage of any construction activity from beginning to end. It is done as part of proper mobilization activities before work on site.

site-layout

Activities involves in site layout are identifying and sizing the location of the house as well as placing temporary facilities for the duration of the project within boundaries of the construction site. It will outline the size, dimension of the structures as they build as well as the proper location of each area of the house. Site layout is done based on the floor plan in the house plan. The site layout is done in accordance with the design plans and specifications. Lack of proper site layout planning will lead to incorrect sizes of rooms, and other areas of the house.

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After the site layout is finished, the next work will be the excavation of the area and steel forming to be used in the foundation of the house such as concrete forms, pour foundation wall, concrete slab pour including gravel, water barrier, rigid foam, rebar and pour concrete for slab.