BajaNomad

cost on building

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 12:11 PM

Hi All
does anyone know what it cost to build there in Baja ?
price per sqf.
Thanks for your help

comitan - 4-29-2007 at 12:40 PM

La Paz

$80-90 sq.ft.

DENNIS - 4-29-2007 at 12:41 PM

There are so many variables.....location.....labor costs.....etc.
I'm building and I keep every receipt. I keep them in a cardboard box, uncounted. I'm going to have to be good and drunk before I tally it up. The thought scares me. I'm doing it myself and it still scares me.

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 12:47 PM

hi dennis
My husband & I will build on our own, like we did here in Honduras. How big of a place are you building & how long has it taken. We want a small place, 2 br/ 2b about 850 sqf.
We are looking at property around BOLA or south of Mulege

DENNIS - 4-29-2007 at 02:54 PM

House --- 912 feet

Wrap around deck ----- 1250 feet

I started my project, well.......it seems like about three wars ago but actually one year. I work half days. That's enough for me. If I worked harder, I'd have to consider it a job and I don't want a job. I'm retired.

It seems you're trying to get quite a bit into 850 feet. Good luck.

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 03:21 PM

I ment 950 sqf

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 04:06 PM

Check this out:

Large 2-Car Garage With Apartment - Plan #1008-1
Address:http://www.behmdesign.com/garageplans/1008-1.html

I got this plan off the net. This is aprox. what I want to build for my first structure. As I am not retired yet it will be my weekend getaway.
Later it will be the garage/guest quarters for the casa grande. I will need to adjust the dimentions somewhat for bigger garage doors and a little shorter.(less than 36 feet)
Eventually I will have two garage structures like this.
My lot is 90 feet across and I'm required to have a 10 foot setback on each side but I'm going to fudge that to 8 feet.
I'm need a space between the 2 garages for the entrance to the house. Probably 6-8 feet or so.
Anyone care to guesstimate the cost of building this garage structure?
What is the cheapest material and what about block construction?

[Edited on 4-29-2007 by fishbuck]

[Edited on 4-29-2007 by fishbuck]

Bob and Susan - 4-29-2007 at 04:06 PM

yea dennis...
that makes it 38 feet BIGGER than yours:lol:

you WON"T find wood like you have in honduras here:no:

better get used to CONCRETE!!!:lol:

Bob and Susan - 4-29-2007 at 04:12 PM

fishbuck...

the garage is too small...

the garage is ALWAYS too small:lol:

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 04:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
fishbuck...

the garage is too small...

the garage is ALWAYS too small:lol:


That's why I'll need two! I really like your garage on you website.
My plan is to make the garage tall enough for a small rv and a 21 foot or so boat. I think I'm allowed to go as high as 18 feet.

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 04:32 PM

you know they dont just build with wood down here, they do use concrete here on the Island just like they do in Mexico.;)

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 04:37 PM

Fishbuck
Thank you for showing me your house plan. I will try to scan mine & send it to you.
M

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 04:42 PM

Here is a plan for the casa grande:
House Plan ID: chp-19816 - COOLhouseplans.com
Address:http://www.coolhouseplans.com/details.html?pid=19816

It needs a little adjusting to fit and will have more glass to face the bahia. Might need to tone it done a bit for cost.
The garages will go in the back.
Ya, I know. Very expensive.

[Edited on 4-29-2007 by fishbuck]

Which Island???

bajaguy - 4-29-2007 at 04:49 PM

anmdivers....which island were you on???? A guy I worked with had some property on Guanaja, near the Columbus Park (reserve). He got hit hard by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Bob and Susan - 4-29-2007 at 04:49 PM

"Ya, I know. Very expensive."

come and be MY neighbor...

we like neighbors WITH money:lol:

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 04:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
"Ya, I know. Very expensive."

come and be MY neighbor...

we like neighbors WITH money:lol:


Now you know why I'm not retired yet! Hey I'll be lucky to finish my garage to live in.
I certainly do plan to come and visit you. I've only ever driven through Mulege. Flown into Chavato a few times before it went upscale. Caught a marlin there once. Catch and release(long distance release).

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 05:19 PM

We are on Roatan. Been here 3 years & cant wait to get back to Mexico

DENNIS - 4-29-2007 at 05:19 PM

In Ensenada these days, good quality wood is available. Canadian White Pine, clean, straight, good length. Home Depot has Doug Fir if you don't mind the price. The days of bringing it from the states are over for me. If I need it, I buy it and throw the receipt in the box, go to the fridge and open a Pacifico, or two.

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 05:23 PM

How much is it to live there now ? We lived on Cozumel also & the cost was not to high.
Here on Roatan, The cost has gone up so much in 3 years & so many people building, we want out & get to a small place.

anmdivers - 4-29-2007 at 05:25 PM

Cant wait to have a nice COLD Pacifico
I miss the Mex beer

bajaguy - 4-29-2007 at 05:28 PM

Dennis has PLENTY of Cold Pacifico's....even one for me on Sunday the 6th!!!:lol::spingrin::lol:

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 05:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
In Ensenada these days, good quality wood is available. Canadian White Pine, clean, straight, good length. Home Depot has Doug Fir if you don't mind the price. The days of bringing it from the states are over for me. If I need it, I buy it and throw the receipt in the box, go to the fridge and open a Pacifico, or two.


Dennis, I'm going to Ensenada to register my FM3 next week. I also what to scout out some building supply places. The Home Depot is obvious. Any suggestions for the best deal on concrete block? Best place for cement?
Are building supplies more expensive than in the states?

DENNIS - 4-29-2007 at 05:54 PM

Fishbuck -------

Let me correct myself on what I said above. I refered to Canadian White Pine which is a pretty crappy wood. I meant to say Hemlock Fir which is what I used. It's all here.

Can't help you on block construction prices except to say the prices have gone way up recently. I don't want to speculate why on this thread. It's a whole other issue. Cement should be reasonably priced since it's made here in town but, I think it's around twelve bucks a sack. Pretty much the same around town since competition is unheard of here. It's more of a price fixing environment. I'm not trashing it. I'm just saying that's the way it is.

I think if you start at Home Dpo, you will get a general idea of local prices. Some other places may be a bit better or a bit worse and finding them is like prospecting for gold. It's where you find it.

Most everything is more expensive here than in the states. I'm waiting to see a new book published, "Mexico on a hundred dollars a day."

in ensenada

sylens - 4-29-2007 at 06:53 PM

we are building a 420 sq ft addition with sistema metal. it's a second story (over basic concrete block, mexican bunker style house:lol:) and we're getting lots of windows facing west and east, and none on north and south walls. three of our walls have significant (41" high) preexisting concrete block bases, reducing the cost of the building labor and materials.

construction includes a small wc, and a wet bar, and we plan on tiling bathroom and using laminate wood flooring in the rest of the room. initially quoted about 50/sq footk we found another builder (introduced to us by our plumber/electrician) who is doing it for between 35 and 40/sq ft.:bounce:

we started april 11 and expect to be finished may 11. i know, i know, expectations are ridiculous when building, especially south of the border, but work has progressed at an amazingly fast rate to date.:spingrin:

of course, we are not finished yet, so there may be unexpected expenses that will raise the final costs.
:rolleyes:

fishbuck - 4-29-2007 at 07:14 PM

Sylens, what is sistema metal? I tried looking it but nothing. That is a very encouraging price per sqft.

Capt. George - 4-30-2007 at 04:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by anmdivers
How much is it to live there now ? We lived on Cozumel also & the cost was not to high.
Here on Roatan, The cost has gone up so much in 3 years & so many people building, we want out & get to a small place.


are you aware how much Baja has grown the last few years?

shari - 4-30-2007 at 07:31 AM

When buying your cement blocks, be aware there are different sizes and of course quality. Here blocks go for 6.5 for the crappy ones and 7 for bigger better ones and cement is 95 pesos a bag in Vizcaino and 105 here in Asuncion. The really costly stuff is the rebar. Labor totally depends, some charge 50 pesos a square meter up to a hundred. Make sure you talk to all your neighbours to see who is reliable...some you give an advance and they go on a bender for a few days...ooops. Most do want advances as they live hand to mouth so they need to eat and drink!! Make sure they use 3/8" rebar...some builders use this little chicken sh*t stuff that will fall down sooner than later...and keep an eye on your bags of cement as the workers find a way to slip some into their pockets...we're always getting offered deals on a few bags of cement some workers have...hmm...probably ours to begin with. Also it is traditional when workers lay a cement floor...beer must be provided...just some tips for ya.
Building in Mexico is an amazing journey...I just had to lend my tile guy money to get his tile cutter out of hawk! then it didn't work! patience is a virtue.

DENNIS - 4-30-2007 at 07:51 AM

Fishbuck -----

I think Sylens is refering to metal frame construction. Steel studs etc.
In Ensenada there is at least one outfit which will sell a package, from design to material, steel frame. Kinda like an erector set with some cutting required. The company is out of the states and still overseen by the parent company. Very legitimate.

Where are planning to build?

anmdivers - 4-30-2007 at 08:48 AM

Hi Capt. G
My dad has a house in TJ & I have frinds that live in Playa & a friend that has her vaca home in Mulege. They all have told me how it has grown, but we still want to be back in Mexico.

anmdivers - 4-30-2007 at 08:50 AM

We are looking at a place just south or Mulege. We will meet my dad in TJ then drive down with him to look at it.