RENOVATION OF EDSA-AYALA FOOTBRIDGE, MAKATI CITY

October 1, 2010
MABUHAY!

My former employer assigned me to do the renovation works of the EDSA-AYALA FOOTBRIDGE located on top of the most busiest highway in the Philippines. I was only given 45 days duration to complete the project. So my team worked 24 hours a day with morning and evening shift, for 7 days a week. The Ayala Property Management where we get our contract stipulated that we cannot close this footbridge while undergoing renovation. The safety of the pedestrian walking and the running vehicles underneath is a major challenge that put  my construction management skill into really tough test.

INSTALLATION OF SCAFFOLDING

NIGHT SHIFT WORK

 INSTALLATION OF GI PIPE PURLINS

INSTALLATION OF GI SHEET ROOFING

INSTALLATION OF PLANTER BOX FRAMING

INSTALLATION OF HOMOGENOUS TILES

INSTALLATION OF COLUMN CLADDING

PLANTER BOX WITH ALUMINUM COMPOSITE PANEL CLADDING  

STAIR LEADING TO SM MAKATI SIDE

 STAIR TOWARDS TELUS BUILDING SIDE

This is our lay down area whenever we have delivery.

VIEW OF EDSA HIGHWAY SOUTHBOUND

VIEW OF EDSA HIGHWAY COR AYALA AVE NORTHBOUND

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF EDSA HIGHWAY

INNOVATION: DUSTLESS ELECTRIC RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER

June 23, 2016
MABUHAY!
Have you been doing rub concrete in your construction project using traditional grinders? Most likely, it looks like this.

Dirty.
Full of dust.
Hazardous to health.

When I attended World Building Expo (WORLDBEX) at World Trade Center Manila on March 2016, I visited the booth of Globe International Distributor Center Inc, (GIDCI) distributor of MIRKA dustless sanding machine from Finland. They agreed to conduct a product demonstration in one of our project.

 CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Enhancing Construction Education by Attending Philconstruct 2016

DEMO OF MIRKA ELECTRIC ORBITAL SANDER ON CONCRETE SURFACE

Sanding on Reinforced concrete column

Sanding on Reinforced concrete wall

Sanding on beam and slab soffit

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Concrete Construction Productivity Bootcamp 2018

This innovative tool is effective in sanding the concrete surface already applied with a skim coat, removing small concrete laitances or smooth finishing of joint putty on drywall partition and ceiling. With the sanding tool attached to a vacuum, the dust is already controlled thereby making your work very clean and hazard-free to your health.

For the tool specification and variety of sanding tools and accessories, you can visit their website by clicking this link MIRKA ABRASIVES

We should never stop innovating, inventing, discovering, educating and making things if not better, the best.


CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Quality Issue: Paint Peel-Off

TILE INSTALLATION: CONCRETE DRY PACK METHOD

June 14, 2016
MABUHAY!
I did a weekend construction project to install tiles in my garage. Tiles are commonly installed in 2 ways. The most common way is the THIN-SET INSTALLATION, wherein the tile setter mason applies a 6mm to 10mm tile adhesive using a notched trowel. This method is applicable for flooring with concrete topping and the finished level is already established. Another method is the DRY PACK INSTALLATION, which is applicable for the finished floor level with more than 25mm of mortar grout.

TILE INSTALLATION SHOP DRAWING

Careful study must be done to determine the final layout of the tiles. First to consider is the tile setting point (TSP) which is the first tile to be installed by the tile setter mason. The TSP will affect the rest of the tile layout especially if your tiles have floor pattern design. For this project, I added a raised floor level with a floor drain to place my washing machine. I also place the exact location of the hose bibb/faucet. This drawing will aid you in counting how many tiles you will purchase. Make sure to add 3 to 5% additional pieces to your quantity for breakage and attic stock. For the dry-mix mortar grout, the ratio is 1 bag of Portland Cement (40 kg) to 3 cubic feet of fine sand aggregates.

The tile installation shop drawing

MATERIALS

For this particular project, the materials to be used are:

• 300 X 300mm Ceramic floor tiles with two varied shades for the field and two different designs for the border.
• Fine sand aggregates-already screened
• Portland Cement- 40kgs/bag
• Tile Adhesive
• Tile Grout
• Clean water

Vibro sand and Portland cement

Tile adhesives

300 X 300 ceramic tile 

Tools to be used are:

• Angle grinder with 4" tile cutter disk
• 24 inches Level Bar
• Tape meter
• Nylon string guide
• Level hose
• Rubber mallet
• Tile spacer
• Notched Trowel

Tape measure and angle grinder

Check out this cool cordless angle grinder from DEWALT. It's a no-nonsense tool that helped me get my DIY project done.

METHODOLOGY

• Layout the floor to establish the reference dimension as per the tile installation layout drawing.

• Establish the perimeter finish floor level. This will determine the thickness of the mortar grout.

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Tile Installation: Notched Trowel Comb Technique

RYDER Tools Notched Plastering Cement Trowel with Teeth (280mm x 120mm) TR-12

• Prepare the dry-mix combination of cement and sand aggregates for mortar grout use. For the dry-mix mortar grout, the ratio is 1 bag of Portland Cement (40 kg) to 3 cubic feet of fine sand aggregates. When thoroughly mixed, add water slowly then mix again to attain the desired result. 

• Establish the tile setting point (TSP). The TSP is the first tile to be installed serving as the primary guide for the vertical and horizontal layer and the rest of the installation. Careful study must be done for the final location of the TSP. Wrong placement of the TSP will result in an off-centered layout meaning your edges will not be typical or most likely tapered or slanting edges.

• Dampen the floor surface with clean water. Pour cement grout. Place the dry mix mortar to install the TSP with tile adhesive using a notched trowel. Secure the horizontal and vertical layout of the TSP and the level by carefully hammering with a rubber mallet.

50Pcs Level Wedges Tile Spacers For Flooring Wall Tile Spacer Carrelage Tile Leveling System Leveler Locator Spacers Plier

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Construction of Duplex Resort Villa At Clark Freeport Zone

• Install the succeeding tile layers with 2mm spacing. Use a tile spacer to achieve consistency in spacing. If you have 2 tile setter masons, they can install the vertical and horizontal layers simultaneously. 

• Always check the level with the level bar layer after layer.

• Continue the tile installation until reaching the wall edge.

• Put in place first the embedded pipes when doing the raised flooring for the washing machine.

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Work Inter-Phase: Why Proper Coordination Very is Critical in Construction

• Complete the installation of tiles between the wall edges. Since this is a garage, a ramp is needed. 

• Clean the surface of the tiles from concrete splatter from time to time. When concrete dries on the tile surface, it will be very difficult to clean. If the concrete dries and is removed, it leaves a disgusting dark spot on the tile surface. Allow the concrete mortar grout to cure for 24 hours before applying the grout.

• Our weekend project would never be complete without my wife's serving a special dish for our lunch and spaghetti for our break-time snack.

For a 👉heavy duty 👉dust-free 👉precise 👉safe👉fast tile cutting tool - THIS IS FOR YOU😀