Latest update April 17th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 14, 2013 News
By Leonard Gildarie
The fourth edition of the International Building Expo has come and gone and like I promised, we will look to examine, in a broad way, some of the issues that came to the fore.
I loved the barbecue and cookup that they had. There were some downsides for me, though. On Sunday, the last day of the expo, we were forced to park way down the road from the National Stadium at Providence and then the kids decided they were tired and walking would be too much of a bother. The crowds were there early.
According to the Housing Ministry, over 60,000 persons visited the expo over the three days it was held. The tassa drummers were there too. And it drew the carnival-like crowds. However, it was clear that the turn-key homes, the Housing Ministry booth and the banks were the biggest attractions.
Over 4,000 applicants signed up for the low to middle income house lots while over 1,200 persons passed the qualifying stage for mortgage financing.
While no names were given, there is news that two overseas companies are looking now to build pre-fabricated units. That is supposed to drop the cost of construction in a significant way.
This is an area that I would love to see some movement on, in a pretty quick way.
Because of the quirky manner used by 90-plus contractors in Guyana, I would be bold enough to say that much is wasted in materials and with hapless homeowners forced in some cases to order extra, because of miscalculations by the contractors. These are precious dollars, especially if you have taken a mortgage.
Many countries, especially in Latin America and Asia, have been experimenting with materials that come in standard sizes and are easy to assemble. The walls, roof, ceiling, doors with locks…everything is there.
With the country’s abundance of wood and other raw materials, I would hate to think that we have to look to another part of the world for pre-fab homes.
I know that the Bulkans, who have an operation along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, have been manufacturing the wooden shingles for exports. These are in hot demand overseas because of its beauty and resilience. The company has also unveiled a full wooden home that it says is cost effective. I love the shade and use of different kinds of wood.
Barama Company, at Land of Canaan, has been manufacturing plywood for the longest while. I am not sure how much tweaking can be done to their operations, but maybe the development of a sheet-rock type internal wall, made from local wood, would not be too far out for the imagination.
I know BK International has been experimenting in tiles made from waste materials. So, yes, we don’t have to go too far.
There are literally hundreds of wood types in Guyana that are not being used in any commercial manner. Yet they are beautiful and if treated correctly, can help construction costs come down a notch. Greenheart, mora, kabakalli and purpleheart have all been becoming more expensive in recent years as demand grows.
On one occasion, on an assignment for the newspaper, we were visiting the Niamatallis’ sawmilling operations located in Region 10, up the Berbice River. The family’s home was built with the traditional types of wood. But it was the porch overlooking the Berbice River that caught my eye and others who were on that trip. The contractors used what the experts in Guyana would refer to as “lesser known species” of wood.
I am sure that the wood was baked and left to dry for a while. But the finished home was breathtaking. It will take a company that is thinking outside of the box to really bring this in a big way to Guyana. I do believe that concrete homes are beautiful when finished in the correct manner, but can never compare to wooden ones.
Another factor that may have turned people off over the years with wood is the fact that the majority of sawmillers and lumber yards – and I have no reservations in saying this – have been ripping Guyanese off royally. Not only is poor quality wood being sold, but homeowners in many cases are the ones left in the lurch with bends, cracks and host of other problems cropping up in the months that follow after moving in. I must also point out that the wood sold overseas has to meet certain specifications, including length and moisture content. Yet, little protection is offered to the many that depend on the sawmills and lumberyards for wood.
So yes, I do believe that now that the Housing Ministry’s showpiece is over, the attention should be placed on this important issue.
Pre-fabs, in light of the rush for the ‘turn-key’ homes, would take more relevance with the Ministry’s plan to open up at least 500 acres of lands along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway for a new housing settlement. The plan, a brainchild of Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, will include turn-key homes, and commercial and industrial zones. The project will be one of sheer magnitude as it will mean creating a whole new urban centre in the sand hills. With materials like sand and saplings readily available, it will bring construction costs down. The Ministry has already said that it will automatically approve applicants once they meet the necessary criteria.
Again, I do believe that, if the new Diamond Housing Scheme, one of the largest in the country, is to be used as an example, then ‘Silica City’ will catch on fast. The reasons are obvious…there is a demand for housing and there are no other lands available in the East Bank Demerara area.
Things like pre-fabs homes and the use of lesser known species of wood could potentially take a leap into the spotlight with ‘Silica City’. The trick is to make it available, and more importantly, affordable to Guyana.
In other countries, you can call a particular company and tell them size of rooms, height, and other aspects and they will ship the walls, doors and other parts of the framework. It reduces construction time. Some of the simple homes are futuristic in their looks.
I like the idea of the chicken and animal farm in the ‘Silica City’ setting. With the creeks and trails, the highway area has literally become a weekend getaway for families.
The building expo also served up a few indications of how Guyanese were thinking. On the opening day, the Housing Ministry booth was jammed with persons who had been called to collect titles and transports and who were pre-qualified for one of the turn-key homes.
Although they were there early, the actual process did not start until a few hours later. Nobody budged and it was almost like a feverish buildup.
There was the Chinese fence and gate for $1M that was an attraction. So too were the beds and mattresses. I can’t afford the $1.6M for one of the four-poster beds. My little son liked it because it felt like the trampoline he had been on earlier.
There was one company which had a product that I really liked. Elite Crete is working with an alternative to the traditional flooring of tile. The smooth concrete finish comes in various colours and resembles the finish in an upscale hotel with quick installation time, the company said. It reminds me of trowel-tex, the colourful, rough finish that many homeowners are now turning to.
I am heading up to the creek today to scope out the area to see whether I may want a piece of ‘Silica City’ for a chicken farm.
So enjoy the weekend and don’t forget to drop your suggestions or comments to [email protected].
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