A SINGAPORE-BASED home developer is betting on its fiber-glass-enforced polymer products to get a foothold in the local residential development market, targeting to service 1,000 housing needs in the first year of its operation.
Established by Filipino entrepreneur Jose Paolo Calma, Homeqube offers glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) solutions which make construction of homes fast and affordable.
GFRP is a lightweight but tough material that can withstand harsh weather conditions, including 310 kilometers per hour of strong winds. The material is also fireproof, termite proof, and rust-proof, making it transportable via boat, allowing island habitats to sprout, Homeqube said.
Calma said the abundant use of steel and cement for homebuilding, which is too bulky and complex for transportation, leads to elevated development cost.
Using conventional materials also expose homeowners to a longer lead time of about 18 months, and more expensive project costs due to logistics and middleman fees to build their houses.
Calma said with Homeqube’s “Home Delivery Service online,” individuals can build homes fast and at cost on any type of acquired land—from beach lots, and farm fields, to residential subdivisions.
Homeqube services cover the permitting phase, acquisition of materials over two to five months, and 30-day installation and delivery.
Homeqube has invested $1 million for the manufacturing plant for the production of the materials that would allow easy configuration and adaptation.
To ensure that the materials reach the targeted islands, Homeqube has also invested in a Carbon Kevlar Cargo boat, which boasts strong stability and carrying capacity.
“With Homeqube’s well-designed home kits, gone are the days when builders had to bank on steel and cement to make solidly built homes. As long as the buyer has land, a home can be erected for as low as P1 million,” the company said.
Homeqube’s assembled houses are priced from P1 million for a 35-square meter (sq.m.) one-bedroom unit, to P15 million for a 400 sq.m., six-bedroom unit.
