Deadly myths of homebuilding
By Alexis A. Acacio, contributor
Inquirer News Service

I have compiled a long list from our readers who have been asking me regarding their beliefs (or should I say superstition) about the construction process. It is best that we discuss and clarify these myths for these are unfounded and oftentimes deadly, only serving as a deterrent to quality construction.

These deadly myths are:

Myth No. 1: The more steel that I put in the concrete, the stronger the house will be.

Some owners, when they visit the site, always instruct the construction crew to increase the amount of steel to be placed in the columns and beams without the knowledge of the structural designer. They feel that the rewards of the additional expense are great but this will only give them a false sense of security.

In structural engineering, there should be a maximum number of steel bars for every concrete cross-section. In simple terms, it is safer to have a structure that has the right amount of steel than to have one with too much steel reinforcement. Too much steel also would not allow concrete to pass through during concrete pouring. The result would be a concrete structure that is full of hollow spaces, which is structurally unsafe.

It is natural for the human mind to think that more is better. But this is certainly not true when it comes to steel reinforcement. There is an optimum balance of steel and concrete that will give you a structurally sound home which only your structural engineer can design.

A certain characteristic of a structure is called ductility -- the ability of the structure to deform during an earthquake. If it is not ductile enough, then it can crack and even collapse during an earthquake.

I feel a little nervous when I meet a house owner who boasts that the steel in the foundations, columns and beams of their house were doubled. It may imply that they have made an expensive and unsafe home.

Myth No. 2: After pouring concrete, you should not make it wet for it will only weaken.

Immediately after pouring, it is bad to make concrete wet. But a few hours after it sets, then effort should be done to keep it wet. Wetting concrete with clean water on regular time intervals is called "curing." This process will prevent moisture loss and prevent cracking, allowing it to set properly according to its design specifications.

Concrete should not be loaded and used until it sets fully. For normal mixtures, it takes about 28 days for concrete to reach its design strength.

Myth No. 3: It is OK to move this column a little bit.

When owners visit the site and when they feel that they do not like the location of a column, they ask that it be moved without consulting the designer. This practice can be dangerous since the framing of the house will be changed and its structural behavior will be affected.

If you will change the sizes and location of the columns in your house, make sure that you have it done with the consent and redesign of your structural engineer. The designer will have to analyze the house framing again and assess the effect of the column relocation.

Myth No. 4: Animal blood will make the construction site free from accidents.

Construction sites, especially in the provinces, are sometimes accompanied by the ritual of slaughtering chickens or even bigger animals as an offering at the start of a project. But this is more of an excuse because after the slaughtering, the animals will be eaten by the construction crew.

The offering of animal blood has nothing to do with the prevention of accidents at the construction site. A well-planned and well-communicated safety program is necessary to ensure a safe construction site. Workers should have adequate safety gear to protect them in case accidents occur.

Myth No. 5: If I can negotiate for the lowest price, I will have a well built home.

Having a house that is completed on budget is not about a test of your negotiating skills. It is about acquiring professional, reasonably priced, quality services. Builders will give you a discount only if they feel that they can still deliver your requirements with the budget that you are giving them. Try squeezing them on price and you will be very unhappy with the outcome.

Myth No. 6: It is only a house so I will just ask my nephew, who is an engineering student, to design and build it for me.

Never ask someone who is not qualified and licensed to design your home for the simple reason that they should not be doing it in the first place. They may try to show off that they can design a house but they need training, experience and, most of all, a license to do the job.


If you think that you can save a few thousand pesos for the job, are you willing to compromise the safety of your home and your family? This is one of the best examples of false economy.

Always ask a competent and licensed engineer to do the job for you. These engineers have the knowledge, education and experience that will help you build the house of your dreams.
 

"The homeless make up a group that is still poorer than the poor; all of us need to help them. We are convinced that a house is much more than a simple roof over our head. The place where a person creates and lives out his or her life also serves to be found, in the same way, that person's deep identity and his relations with others."
                                                                    --- POPE JOHN PAUL II

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