In Manila all the Condos are completely made of cement reinforced with re-bar. Even if they are 30 to 50 floors tall! Sure I love the fact that the cement interior and exterior walls make every unit private and you can't hear the neighbors. Termites don't eat it. It won't burn. It lasts longer. But isn't it more expensive than the way they are made is the States? Cement costs a lot of money. Back in the States 30 floor condo buildings are made of a steel frame with metal floors and cement poured over the metal floor boards. The interior walls are wood frame and the exterior walls are all glass. Why do they do it different? I think they way it is done in the States is less costly. Canada builds it the same way as the U.S.
Cost. Builders use the cheapest, most available materials. Concrete is cement mixed with sand or small stones. Reinforcing bars give it more strength for wider spans.
Maybe because good lumber is expensive. Then, they would need carpenters. With cement workers, they can use the same crew from beginning to end of construction. Cost effective. I'm just guessing. I really do not know.
Many third world countries (including developing countries) extensively use cement with steel bars not just the Philippines. But to answer, cement is cheaper in the Philippines because the Philippines manufactures them from materials that are mined in the country. And this goes the same with steel bars and all the other materials needed to made concrete buildings. Plus these materials when they are formed to make structures (to proper specifications of course) are proven to withstand the natural elements and the natural humidity and temperature ranges in the Philippines. Also in small to medium earthquakes (which is common in the country) these materials can accommodate the stress and so the structures made can withstand them. It is not wise to compare other countries in tropical countries and/or in the developing world to the US or Canada as in many cases (not all) it is unfair to do so as there is no comparison as several factors are different which will make certain comparisons illogical.
Everybody here goes with cheap--and unskilled labor. Now, go see for yourself a NEW building going up and see the utter shambles of what they call brick laying. The bricks themselves are made of the minimum content cement. The re bar is the smallest and thinnest money can buy and the render to hold it all together is so watered down it is like a hard biscuit in texture. If you stand and watch and see how buildings are actually built there, you wouldn't live in one. Buy a lot in your wife's name and build to your own specs and mix the correct percentage of cement to water and sand. The Philippines cement formula is--One really cheap bag of low grade quality ( called cement) but as I said , low quality, mixed with so much water and so much sand and so many really large rocks, not stones it is a wonder anything there holds together. GO LOOK FOR YOURSELF AT A NEW BUILDING GOING UP. You will freak out when you see the ridiculously poor level of construction. Sorry Filipinos but facts are facts.
Reinforced concrete is the best building material for any high rise building. Simple as that. Just look all over the world and see for yourself.
