An Overview on Basic Construction Skills

The construction sector has become one of the most booming areas of business in every country - specially for developing countries. Philippines for example is one of the many developing countries that is seen with great potential for any business, which is why every year, there are a lot of investors that set up their business in many key areas of the county. Those businesses opens up a great opportunity for job generation - from the construction phase to the start of business operations.

Construction projects needs a lot of work force especially for the huge ones like skyscrapers, shopping malls, government buildings and other building and engineering projects. There is a great need for skilled workers that will take over several tasks to complete a construction project. A typical construction project needs various types of skilled workers - foremen, masons, machine operators, drivers, etc. Whether anyone wants to apply for any of the mentioned job titles, it is really important to have a great understanding about the basic construction skills. This will help the workers, regardless of their titles, become more proficient workers and also equip them with the new trends in construction which they can carry on throughout their careers.

The primary basic construction skills that a worker should possess is knowledge with safety and standards best practices. There are many risks that can cause danger to any worker in a construction site - this is why every worker should be cautious and understand every precaution and safety measures.

Another essential skill is being able to read blue prints. Blue Prints are basically a draft which contains the instructions on how everything should be done. Construction projects rely on blue prints in to ensure that a structure is built correctly and safely. It is very important for everyone, even for a helper in order to make every tasks go smoothly and more efficiently.

Finally, a general knowledge on the operation of a variety of tools and machine is a very important skill for everyone. Improper techniques of using such tools makes any work inefficient and dangerous that it may cause damage to structures, harm people and compromise the construction project.

Every contractors should provide trainings that will educate all employees about safety and standards, best practices and new trends in the field of construction. This will not only make them more effective but it will also contribute to the success of your construction firm.

Common types of Cement used in Construction Projects here in the Philippines

 By: Cedric Lee

When having a construction project, be it a small structure or a skyscraper, one of the most essential elements is cement. In the Philippines, there are mainly two kinds of cement that are generally used by most construction companies for any construction and engineering projects: Portland Cement and Blended Cement.

Portland Cement is essentially a general-purpose cement. This type of cement is more economical and environment friendly compared to blended cements. Portland Cement is a product of limestone, clay and other materials that undergoes grinding and hydration process. This kind of cement is usually utilized for creating concrete, mortar, stucco, etc. There also different types of Portland Cement that are specifically used for specific construction. There is one type or variation that is specially for constructions in water. There are also types that are quick binding and are made to resist heat and chemical reactions.

Blended Cement on the other hand are a variety of cement materials that are usually blended with Portland Cement to create a high quality concrete which is more consistent, less penetrable, more resistant to aggressive chemicals and with a higher compressive and flexural strength. There are also a wide variety of blended cements that serves different purposes.



Cedric Lee is the board chairman of Izumo Contractors Inc., the leading construction firm in the Philippines.

Construction Industry in the Philippines

For a developing country like Philippines, the building and construction industry is surely one of the most booming business sectors. Every year, an increasing number of buildings, establishments, public works and whatnot are being built throughout the country. There are a lot of established construction firms that handles various civil engineering and architecture projects.

Civil engineering works deals with the design, construction and maintenance of a physical environment which includes buildings, infrastructures, public works, bridges, etc. Architecture works on the other hand is both the process and end result of planning, designing and building. Construction projects are usually faceted into many different aspects that is handled by a project manager, architect, structural engineer, construction manager, etc.

Construction is the process of building or assembling an infrastructure in a certain area or land. In general, there are different types of construction: Building Construction, Heavy/Civil Construction and Industrial Construction.

Building Construction is the process of adding a structure into a real property. It can be a commercial or a residential building. From small scale to large scale and from houses to condo units or hotels. Commercial building construction is procured privately or publicly. Construction projects can also be renovations or reconstruction of certain structures.

Heavy/Civil construction projects are mostly involves government agencies for big projects in national or local levels. These projects are commonly government buildings and public infrastructures.

Industrial Construction is the process of building infrastructures for industries like automotive plants, food and beverage plant, petroleum plant and other buildings for different industries.

Types of Roofing Solutions

By Cedric Lee

Cedric Lee is the President of Izumo-Inc. A construction firm based in the Philippines.

If you are planning on building a new roof or renovate your existing roofing, there many options for roofing solutions that can help you find the one that suits your needs. Materials such as metal ceiling, cedar shakes, slate and others play a very important part.

You own concept and style is also significant. To name a few, the most common styles in roofing includes Gabled style, flat form, salt boxes and hipped form. Here's a brief information about a few options for roofing:

Gable Roofing - This type of roofing is the most common ceiling style that you see in most houses. This has 2 upward slopes meeting at the ridge, the typical proportioned triangle style of roofing. The good thing about gable roofing is that it easily ran off water. 

Flat Form - This type of roofing does not have much of a slope. Although some has a slight slope, most are totally horizontal. This type of roofing is layered in trays with joints. This type of roofing is common for some modern westernized designs of homes.

Hipped Form - Hipped forms have a trapezoidal side. With four faces, it often have slanted sides and the gutter is fitted all around. Constructing this type of roofing is kind of complex compare to gable and flat forms. But the good side about this is that it evenly distributes the load of the roof to each walls. This type of roofing is all very common in some modern house in the Philippines as these are proven solid, comfortable and more classy.

Cause of Unsafe Structures in the Philippines

Photo from flickr.com

Corruption in the construction business is not anymore an uncommon issue today. See for example the earthquake incidents in Haiti and Chile where many families and business are greatly devastated. It was said that the construction qualitiy of the houses and skyscrapers were questionable. 

Shifting to a local view, the likelihood of the Philippines getting struck by a calamity similar what happened in Chile and Haiti is highly possible. The DPWH or the Department of Public Works and Highways accounted that only 60 infrastructures in the whole Metro Manila are unsafe.  However, Mr. Felino, an architect and urban planner in the country, thinks otherwise. He believes that the damage   would be comparable to what happened to the mentioned countries.

He deemed that the extensive corruption from the construction industry would be the main cause of the dangerous, unsafe infrastructures built in the country.

The citizens are advised at all times to be all set in cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis. Everyone, as much as possible should be equipped with awareness of the necessary building safety guidelines and dealings.

Sentiency to ones environmental risk is a plus, like knowing if you are residing in a flood-prone area; or if you are within the 5 meters range from the fault line; and choosing a trusted construction service comapny. These things are often miss, but it will definitely save not one but many lives.

Reference: http://www.philstar.com/article.aspx?articleid=729143&publicationsubcategoryid=200