In the construction of a structure you do in fact have many options available to you in the material used. If you are the type of person whereas money is no object to you then all this plays no importance in the whole scheme of things. If, on the other hand, money is a major obstacle then you are limited to the materials that are available to you. Regardless as to whether you are rich, poor or in the middle you will want to use material that has a decent lifecycle and therefore last a long time and is safe for your family.
Living here in the DR we have a number of things that must be taken into account when deciding on a building material. Because of our heat, humidity and yearly rainfall we are susceptible to things such as Brown-rot and white rot fungi, mildew as well as subterranean termites to include Formosan termites, Drywood termites, Lyctid beetles and Bostrichid beetles. Storm damage protection as well as fire resistance and air tightness when the house is battered up to withstand a storm should be taken into consideration when thinking about a dwelling for your family.
Because of those aforementioned items the use of wood for construction purposes should be kept at the lowest minimum possible. It has been said that there are some woods that are resistant to such things as termites and mildew but my research shows that there are 4 that fit this category and they are Greenheart, Jarrah, Lapacho, and Brazilian rosewood. Even then the experts say that due to its variable and inconsistent nature of natural durability no specific recommendation for exposure can be applied even to woods with reputations for durability. There is the possible use of treated lumber but because of the chemicals used in its treatment you risk toxic fumes. Wood treated with preservatives that are oil based is messy, non-paintable and the oily residues from them can contaminate water and fumes can injure plants. Note that fungus and mildew contribute to health aliments including chronic fatigue, asthma and throat infections.
Block and cement on the other hand is resistant to fungus, mildew, insects, fire, provides air tightness, storm damage and if sealed provides protection from water and moisture penetration.
Building with masonry is a timeless art form that goes back to the great Egyptian pyramids and they are still standing.
In another thread Chris mentioned the use of clay and rocks as construction materials that could be used and this is true as it is another form of masonry and has all the advantages that blocks and cement have. I?m partial to rocks as they are very ornamental when used in construction but the problem lies in their availability and transport.
When building a house you should take into account the availability of trees nearby or the planting of same as they can offer protection from the overhead sun. The direction your house faces so that you can use the local breezes for maximum ventilation and cooling. The possibility of extending the eves on the sides of the house, those that get the most sun, so that you have added protection for the windows on those sides.
Those are my thoughts on the subject.
Rick
Living here in the DR we have a number of things that must be taken into account when deciding on a building material. Because of our heat, humidity and yearly rainfall we are susceptible to things such as Brown-rot and white rot fungi, mildew as well as subterranean termites to include Formosan termites, Drywood termites, Lyctid beetles and Bostrichid beetles. Storm damage protection as well as fire resistance and air tightness when the house is battered up to withstand a storm should be taken into consideration when thinking about a dwelling for your family.
Because of those aforementioned items the use of wood for construction purposes should be kept at the lowest minimum possible. It has been said that there are some woods that are resistant to such things as termites and mildew but my research shows that there are 4 that fit this category and they are Greenheart, Jarrah, Lapacho, and Brazilian rosewood. Even then the experts say that due to its variable and inconsistent nature of natural durability no specific recommendation for exposure can be applied even to woods with reputations for durability. There is the possible use of treated lumber but because of the chemicals used in its treatment you risk toxic fumes. Wood treated with preservatives that are oil based is messy, non-paintable and the oily residues from them can contaminate water and fumes can injure plants. Note that fungus and mildew contribute to health aliments including chronic fatigue, asthma and throat infections.
Block and cement on the other hand is resistant to fungus, mildew, insects, fire, provides air tightness, storm damage and if sealed provides protection from water and moisture penetration.
Building with masonry is a timeless art form that goes back to the great Egyptian pyramids and they are still standing.
In another thread Chris mentioned the use of clay and rocks as construction materials that could be used and this is true as it is another form of masonry and has all the advantages that blocks and cement have. I?m partial to rocks as they are very ornamental when used in construction but the problem lies in their availability and transport.
When building a house you should take into account the availability of trees nearby or the planting of same as they can offer protection from the overhead sun. The direction your house faces so that you can use the local breezes for maximum ventilation and cooling. The possibility of extending the eves on the sides of the house, those that get the most sun, so that you have added protection for the windows on those sides.
Those are my thoughts on the subject.
Rick
If you havent seen the photos of the place Mirador is referring to, you are missing something. If and when I ever get a farm here, I would like to have guest houses built along the same lines.