How to make your home cooler

Summer in the Philippines can really be hot. Unless you have money to spend on electricity for air-conditioning, 3-months of summer can be very uncomfortable especially for infants and overweight people.

Studies show that 75% of the heat inside your home comes through the roof. This is specially true to about 90% of houses in the Philippines which are constructed using metal roofs with low ceiling. Unlike in the provinces, homes are usually cooler because homes are near trees and the use of “nipa” definitely cools the house.

When the sun heats your roof, it radiates the heat energy into the house. In the evening, heat from the sun-baked roof and walls will begin to diffuse inside the house within a few hours. This will create a warm condition, even though nightfall has arrived.

Another reason is through heat and humidity. If you leave your windows open in summer, you will invite “hot air” to come inside your homes. If you combine this with high humidity, you will create your own steam room effect known as convection.

If you live in dense areas where you have neighbors that have low metal roof, the heat that comes from it is transferred to your house. The bake-hot concrete road also contributes in transferring some of its heat to your house. This is known as conduction where outside heat elements are transferred to your homes.

Thus your house gets heated in three ways… by Radiation, Convection and Conduction.

What you can do to reduce the heat?

1. Dress your home.

Use 2 layers of curtains, one dark to block the sun’s ray and light material when there’s less sunlight. Most household assumes that when the weather is warm, you should open your windows. This is not necessarily the case when temperature outside (full sun) is higher than inside your homes. When windows are open, heat from outside is invited to the inside when windows are left opened. The sun’s rays also should be blocked using these curtains. What you should do is to leave at least 2 windows open for ventilation and close all windows where you feel the heat are coming from.

2. Insulate your roof and walls.

Roofs should be provided with adequate insulation in order to reduce heat and conserve energy. There are insulation materials such as foam that can reduce your roof’s absorbed heat, giving you with much more comfortable dwelling. While it may cost you more to do this, eventually the savings you get from electricity will pay for itself.

Airofoam is a brand we can recommend. Its durable and high quality material will help cool your homes. Unlike other “cheap” brands, Airofoam is a composite material that combines the best of reflective and bulk insulation. Airofoam has one or two layers of reflective material and a micro-cellular polyethylene foam core.

3. Ventilate your homes 

Houses in the Philippines are relatively small. As a result, most houses increase their floor area by maximizing extensions.

Even if you have 10 windows located in one façade of your house, air cannot move enough. Windows should be situated farther apart. The best is to have windows located where the breeze is (observe this during nightfall) and add a window on its opposite end. (North and South or East and West sides)

If you cannot do this, be sure to add an exhaust either on the ceiling or on the farthest corner of the house, opposite the window.

You may also open a 1x1 meter “open enclosure” where you can get the air movement vertically. Use vertical ventilation and add an exhaust fan. You will surely feel the difference.

4. Plant trees

The most practical and easiest way is to cool your house by planting trees. If you have a small space, you can still plant within a 1x1 foot of soil area. Use Mahogany trees. It is cheap, has slim body, shady leaves that does not rot easily. Its root penetrates deep and does not destroy property if you plant the seedling at least a foot deep. You can also use grafted Mango trees which doesn’t grow too big to destroy your property.

If you want a fast growing tree, try Knife Acacia trees or have Bougainvillea plants grow a top of your metal roof.

You can also convert your outside premises into grass instead of tiles or concrete. An ideal house should be surrounded with soil/grass. If your outside area is a bit shady and has heavy walk traffic, Use “grass pavers” where there are wholes fitted for grass. Use Carabao grass as it can grow in a bit shady area.

Tips for getting a contractor, materials & what to avoid

Written by R. Locsin. This is a reprint from Construction Philippines Before even canvassing for a contractor, you should know exactly what you want. This will not only help the contractor quote, but give you total control of your project.
1. What is your time-frame?

 2. Make a list of specific things you want (Cut and paste pictures from magazines of things you want in your construction)

3. Set a maximum budget and a contingency fund (If you have set your maximum budget, you may declare this amount to the contractor less 30%, as your buffer or contingency fund should things go unplanned)

4. Make a rough sketch of your desired floor plan.

5. Without considering budget, what are the things you want?

6. Considering your budget, what are the things you could let go?

7. Pay a small fee to an Engineer, Architect or better yet a Project Manager to get his/her professional opinion on the contract your about to sign.

 Be aware of contractors who:
1. Those who quote prices before seeing the job.
2. Knock on the door because they happen to be in your area doing some other work and can give you a "special price".
3. Demand more than 40% deposit "to buy materials". Reputable contractors maintain charge accounts with their suppliers and large deposit is not necessary.
4. Will not supply you with a detailed written contract specifying what they say and what they will do.
5. They don’t have a permanent address nor have stayed in a permanent office in the past year. Chances are, these are bogus contractors or worst, they’ve just changed their name and location to avoid previous project disasters.
6. The lowest price is not always the best price. Check works they have recently done in the past.
7. Contractors who gives you low rates but uses inferior materials.

Materials you should not scrimp on:
1. Tiles – Never buy cheap tiles. It may look nice but its luster will disappear in few months and cracks easily. You can never go wrong with branded tiles.
2. Steel gauge in your foundation. When strong earthquakes happen, your house can actually collapse.
3. Exterior paint – Be sure that your paint are all-weather when painting the exterior.
4. Wire gauge – Your investment could literary turn to ashes with sub-standard wires.
5. Water proofing compounds – Always get the brand your contractor recommends 

6. Wall paper quality – If you cannot afford quality wall paper, settle with ordinary paint. You will only be peeling away your money within the next year. 

7. Cement – In most third world countries, there are unscrupulous cement supplier that actually repacks cement mixed with clay. These produce brittle cement work that eventually chips off or caves in. Look for warning signs such as (a) Cheap pricing, (b) delivered by a truck that has no company logo or signage that it came from a legitimate supplier and (c) observe curing time - Quality cement hardens quickly while adulterated ones take time. Remember! Check for at least three contractors to bid. Asking for referrals is a good way to decide. Lastly, never sign a contract on the first few meetings with the contractor, even though you’ve gained confidence with this contractor. Excitement to start your construction may get on the way of right- thinking.

Construction Philippines

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