BajaNomad - Costs of building???

Costs of building???

Nicole - 10-2-2007 at 05:34 PM

Hello Nomads!

In your experience what are the costs of building in Baja Sur? Specifically, I am trying to get an idea of per sq ft costs for building using concrete block - how large a place depends on how high the costs are! But definitely no less than 600 ft2 and no larger than 1500 ft2. Nothing fancy in the finishing or construction (cement roof, clay tile floor, basic kitchen and bath). Considering either Todos Santos/Pescadero or Los Barriles/Buena Vista. If you have info for either of these communities PLEASE respond! I am driving down in November for the winter and this is the year that I purchase a lot! I am extremely determined but have to have a realistic budget as selling kidneys is not an option!!!

Furthermore, if you have tips on the best way to build a house, common mistakes to avoid, recommended builders/architects/contractors, etc. feel free to educate me!

Thanks!

Ricardo - 10-2-2007 at 09:22 PM

Nicole, email me at rbrise@telus.net, I'm in Telkwa,not so far away, I bought, built, been burnt and built some more in La Paz and have plenty of insights and pictures
Rick

Smoke - 10-2-2007 at 10:00 PM

We are building a concrete block with cement surface coat. two story with detached boat house. Middle of the road interior woodwork for about $93.00 foot in LB

house2.jpg - 48kB

805gregg - 10-3-2007 at 06:43 AM

Check out container homes on the internet. 40' containers can be bought foe $ 1,700 in La Paz.

Roasty - 10-3-2007 at 09:58 AM

Does the $93/sf include electrical/Plumbing/Air-Heating ?

[Edited on 10-3-2007 by Roasty]

mande

gibson - 10-3-2007 at 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Check out container homes on the internet. 40' containers can be bought foe $ 1,700 in La Paz.

sounds great 4 a hurricane.

Roasty - 10-3-2007 at 10:15 AM

Katrina lifted barge casinos 100's of feet from their moorings, onto dry land, so don't be too sure that a container will stay put !! - Good Idea though !

yep

gibson - 10-3-2007 at 11:33 AM

exactly. I think the guy was just being a dufus

Smoke - 10-3-2007 at 08:02 PM

Yes, it does include air,plumbing,electrical. I would say if you figure about 100.00/sqft you will be in the ball park.

stanburn - 10-4-2007 at 05:37 AM

No the guy was not being a dufus. There are people in California and also here in Mexico building houses out of containers.

Here is a link from another board with some pictures:

http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=904&mforum...

Stan

805gregg - 10-4-2007 at 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson
exactly. I think the guy was just being a dufus

Did you look on line? or just type ouy a stupid reply. Go online and get educated.

pacificobob - 10-4-2007 at 09:27 AM

i just built a block casita in the pescadero area. the guy i used was wonderful. honest, fair, got things done when promised, a pleasure to work with.....and sent weekly email photos of the progress! if you would like to contact him email me krisinak@yahoo.com good luck

fine

gibson - 10-4-2007 at 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stanburn
No the guy was not being a dufus. There are people in California and also here in Mexico building houses out of containers.

Stan

wtf has california got to do with potential construction in a hurricane belt!? (BSC!!) hello??
dufus multiplicadus
the OP is looking for sound advice re construction either Todos or Barriles area!
I don't care how much 'foundation' is built. No 'modular' style construction where hurricanes come thru. sheeez

[Edited on 10-4-2007 by gibson]

stanburn - 10-4-2007 at 12:38 PM

Maybe if you open your eyes you will see the words Mexico in my response along with California. Maybe building a container home along the mainland coast of Mexico isn't WTF enough for you.

You are the one that felt the need to have the meaningless response that the individual posting about the container building is a dufus.

I was just providing what I thought was useful information regarding building a container house in Mexico. My mistake for mentioning California in my post. Your mistake in not reading.

And Gibson, we are still waiting for constructive input.

toneart - 10-4-2007 at 01:25 PM

Eliminate the word "dufus" and this is an interesting and helpful discussion. :saint:

vandenberg - 10-4-2007 at 02:30 PM

Dufus Multiplicadus. :lol:

Studied to become a doctor or maybe for the priesthood. :?:

k

gibson - 10-4-2007 at 04:01 PM

ok I hear you.
Just trying to offer the nice lady RELEVANT input re construction in a HURRICANE prone zone. (your 'mexico' input (& obviously CA too) ... irrelevant.)
done (geez alot of you fossils definitely take web communique too seriously)
Call me whatever you like ... I won't have a hernia (sp) about it!! :lol:

El Jefe - 10-4-2007 at 04:04 PM

Our house cost $200 per square foot to build including everything; solar system, appliances, cabinets, counter tops etc. Not at all cheap. Labor costs may be low but materials cost a lot. Big, fancy homes in los cabos are costing $300 per square foot to build.

A friend in Zacatitos is acting as his own general contractor and getting a nice place for much closer to $100. But he is there every day with his fingers on the pulse. The more you are directly involved and the more you know about construction, the more you can save.

have fun!

Al G - 10-4-2007 at 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson
(geez alot of you fossils definitely take web communique too seriously)

I just love it when the young and dumb stick their foot up their butt and have no clue how to get it out gracefully :lol:

If you are so lazy that you have to use text messaging here...you should go to a young and dumb site :mad:

hahaha

gibson - 10-4-2007 at 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Dufus Multiplicadus. :lol:

Studied to become a doctor or maybe for the priesthood. :?:

priests DEFINITELY = dufus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good call

stanburn - 10-4-2007 at 07:54 PM

Okay Bigson, I guess you got me there. You are right building a container home in a non hurricane threat area such as Cuastecomate which is about 40 miles north of Manzanillo is of no value to someone building in the East Cape area.....oh wait a minute, Cuastecoate is in a hurricane threat area.

Okay let's focus on the "RELEVANT" input.......oh yeah you haven't done that either. You have just called folks names and critized their posts.

Okay some of us old guys are sensitive. Well what is old? Being 50, living in Mexico full-time, being retired since 2002. Well you got me there as well.

I guess I will just return to my cold Victoria and chisel some more electricity runs in my house.

Have a good evening.

Stan

bueno suerte (sp)

gibson - 10-4-2007 at 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stanburn
Have a good evening.

Stan

best of luck with the hernia :bounce:

(hope OP gets sound advice)

805gregg - 10-5-2007 at 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson

Quote:

Originally posted by stanburn
No the guy was not being a dufus. There are people in California and also here in Mexico building houses out of containers.

Stan

How about palapa roofs in hurricane zone?

bajarickster - 10-5-2007 at 08:17 AM

My new place in La Paz is going to be right around $100 a foot for 2800SF. It's concrete block with curves and angles, and beautifully finished with top of the line appliances, marble, granite counters, 12 ft ceilings, a private swimming pool, putting green, 2 car covered parking and 700 ft of terrace, some covered. 3 bdrm, 4 bath and office. Master suite is actually 4 rooms, main bedroom, sitting room with wet bar, dressing area with all built in cabinets and then actual bath with shower and toilet. It has a custom wet bar in living room, under cabinet lighting, dimmers on all switches, 5 wall niches with lighting, plus full landscaping,with 2 indoor gardens with large boulders. Very modern. Only 20 units in small gated area on the North end of the Malacon. It's up on a hill but just 1 blk to water and fantastic view of the city lights.

Whats not covered are W/D , A/C splits, and ceiling fans.

Our architech, Ulises is wonderful to deal with and if you want more info, contact our realtor, Victor Granados at www.doradoproperties.com I get emails weekly and photos. They're all straight shooters.

Our place should be done by mid Nov and we'll be spending winters there

Good Luck, Bajarickster

bueno

gibson - 10-5-2007 at 04:18 PM

Quote:

[quote

How about palapa roofs in hurricane zone?

good question
notice trailers under well constructed palapas do suprisingly well due to wind being able to pass thru (versus trailer out in the open)
always amazed how well costructed palapas fare!

[Edited on 10-5-2007 by gibson]

805gregg - 10-6-2007 at 09:22 AM

I just checked, the containers are stacked up to six high on ships, and each 40' container weighs 43,000 so the bottom container is holding up 215,000 lbs. Try stacking that on your conventional home. If properly secured, you only need foundation at the four corners I think a container could stand up to any hurricane. The container holds up 632 lb per sq ft, the heavest tile roofs weigh about 100-110 lbs per sq ft and the house has to be designed to hold up that load. I think it's an interesting approach and re-using old containers is practical. Just saying.

pacificobob - 10-7-2007 at 09:36 AM

containers have been used in western alaska for a long while....yes that area does experience some harsh weather....including high winds. i love the idea of using them.

buying a container

islandmusicteach - 10-7-2007 at 12:57 PM

Does anyone have a contact in La Paz for buying a shipping container? :light:

marina

gibson - 10-7-2007 at 03:16 PM

you could get a contact @ the marina. They're awesome for storage (have had in Nthn California) but I wouldn't utilise in eastcape due to heat for several months of the year) :lol:

[Edited on 10-7-2007 by gibson]

video

islandmusicteach - 10-8-2007 at 12:34 AM

http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/Bob_Vila/Video-0201-03-1.html

Yeah, I'm just going to use if for storage and to practice welding on!
:bounce:

Bob and Susan - 10-8-2007 at 06:00 AM

the question is...

would you like to have one of these outside YOUR window your neighbor installed in the USA???

answer...no :biggrin:

then WHY destroy the landscape in baja
just to "cheap-out"

if you use one of these great storage things...
you'd need to cover the "ULGY" thing with something natural looking

these are GREAT storage containers but remember...
the reason people keep comming to baja is for the "beauty"

if they wanted to look at "shipping containers" they'd vacation in Long Beach California :wow:

be responsible

ps...remember once they are "set" in place...
you DON'T get to move them around...easily :light:

ugly boxes

islandmusicteach - 10-8-2007 at 07:24 AM

Never fear, Bob - If I go with "the Long Beach look" I'll make it as pretty as a prom-queen, and just as hard to get into

Al G - 10-8-2007 at 08:15 AM

Bob...with all due respect, I think you are over reacting...gringos are not going to want a ugly container setting in their yard...do you think so? My guess the few ugly gringos that if tried it, others would complain.
I have studied the look of properly installed and covered containers and they fit with the bulk on houses and buildings in Baja now...
There are neighborhoods that a container (not finished)would not change the overall appearance.
I share your concern about containers for storages that could be left unfinished and ignored because they are for storage only. Once they are there...they are there for a hundred years....

805gregg - 10-9-2007 at 10:14 AM

If you go on the internet to container homes you will see that you can't even tell they are container homes, and you can have the basic structure up in 3 days.

Mexitron - 10-9-2007 at 07:18 PM

The Bob Vila video said the boxes go in for $45 a sq ft, not including foundation, roof, utilities, etc...doesn't sound like in the end you're saving that much money, if you go to the trouble of making it nice looking.

islandmusicteach - 10-10-2007 at 11:59 AM

OK let's imagine it's for storage only:
$2000 for a 40'x8' container = 320 sq ft.
$1500 to sheath it in palo de arco
$1000 for a sand/gravel bed and four concrete corner footings for bolt down
$1900 other misc. like installation, transpo, taxes
that's still 20 bucks a square foot for a nice durable shed
heck you could put a rooftop garden on it!

OK looking forward to having this budget picked apart so I can learn a bit more... have at it!!

805gregg - 10-10-2007 at 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by islandmusicteach
OK let's imagine it's for storage only:
$2000 for a 40'x8' container = 320 sq ft.
$1500 to sheath it in palo de arco
$1000 for a sand/gravel bed and four concrete corner footings for bolt down
$1900 other misc. like installation, transpo, taxes
that's still 20 bucks a square foot for a nice durable shed
heck you could put a rooftop garden on it!

OK looking forward to having this budget picked apart so I can learn a bit more... have at it!!

805gregg - 10-10-2007 at 01:43 PM

Quote:

they are actually 8.5 ft wide and you can buy refrigerated containers with built in insulation, they all have hardwood floors. Bob Villa's price would be for US costs which are about $ 3.00 sq. ft for finished conventional houses.

Mexitron - 10-10-2007 at 01:55 PM

Quote:

Yep, sounds like a good sturdy shed--that's probably the most economical use for it, eh, as long as it doesn't offend the neighbors....

islandmusicteach - 10-10-2007 at 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg

Quote:

.... I think you may be incorrect about the dimensions... it's 8' wide and that's external dimensions... also I'm a bit confused by your math, could you clarify your sq. footage number? :?:

http://www.containersolutions.net/specs.htm

bajalou - 10-10-2007 at 03:10 PM

One web site shows interior 8' wide. Lengths 20' to 40+'

and the below regarding pricing.

Storage container pricing
You can find a basic 20' storage trailer for $2,000 to $5,000 and up plus delivery charges. You will have to pay extra for add-ons and customization options. Refrigerated containers start at $5,000 for a 20' reefer and can reach as much as $10,000 or more. Used storage trailers sell for as little as 30% of new units.

Note last sentence - used 30% of these prices.

islandmusicteach - 10-10-2007 at 07:31 PM

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that shipping containers are a very standard exterior width of 8 foot - that's the terrible beauty of the things, they're totally standardized for stacking, etc. Interior will vary slightly depending on what's been done to em. If I'm wrong, post a url and I'll gladly eat crow!

805gregg - 10-11-2007 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by islandmusicteach

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg

Quote:

.... I think you may be incorrect about the dimensions... it's 8' wide and that's external dimensions... also I'm a bit confused by your math, could you clarify your sq. footage number? :?:

http://www.containersolutions.net/specs.htm

You are right they are 8' wide and 8'6" tall and that should be $300 sq ft.

JZ - 10-11-2007 at 09:42 PM

This thread should be started over. Let the container boys have this thread.

Btw, I built for $65/sq on the mainland 3 years ago. This was high end finish. It was about $45/sq for covered terrance and $35 for uncovered terrance. The same developer is charging about $90/sq now I believe.