i am a young carpenter and movin to hawaii this year. i’m dreaming about building my own house soon. Although i will probably learn something from local builders when i get there, i am a construction nerd and want to take in some information on the subject now. i have seen books out there on building techniques for different climates, but not specifically for tropical climates. has anybody seen a good, practical book on building in tropical climates or have any other recommendations for written sources of information on this subject?
thanks
adam
Replies
"The Builders Guide To Mixed Climates" happens to be on sale from Taunton Press. (see Spring Clearance above this site). Havent read it but maybe you can let us know how it is.
For what its worth....the best information will come working with locals and dealing with local supply houses asking questions questions questions.
Be informed
Namaste
Andy
"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is."
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Do a little web-searching and you'll turn up lots of stuff. I recall some books from Oz that were very good and there's some good technical information available from the Philippines, Singapore, Bermuda, Barbados, and Hong Kong (and these sources would be in English).
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Hawaii?
I'd say bring big boxes of money.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I work with a carpenter who spent 4 years there. Jeff's right about boxes of money.
Don't use wood.
I lived there in the 70's/ early 80's. Bought my first house there. Bring money, and lots of it. Just about everything must be shipped in, so it doesn't take a calculator to figure out who pays for the privledge.
They do a lot of cinderblock construction; it's cheap, can be made there, and the termites hate the stuff. I left about 1982, so there were no HD/Lowes. They had the precursor to them all, however, a home improvement center called, 'City Mill.' Like a HD, only smaller, it had more of a selection.
The only places with air conditioning are the hotels to keep the tourists happy. Position the house so the prevailing trade winds blow through it, and you'll never regret not installing A/C. Nor did my townhouse have heat. It rarely got down into the 50's on the most 'brutal' of winter nights.
Sometimes I regret leaving, but I enjoy the New England seasons, though DW would move back in a heartbeat (we met and were married there.) If you get the chance, visit the other islands; there's a lot more to see than Waikiki. And learn to scuba dive. It will spoil you for anything north of the Florida keys.