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imlost
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Registered: 3-31-2015
Location: PNW & East Cape
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Cost to build a house on the east cape (?)
I'm considering building a house in a more remote area of the east cape - somewhere in the Cabo Pulmo National Park. Can you give me an idea of the
cost to build a 2 or 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. It will need to be off-grid, of course. A cost per sq/ft is fine. Thanks!
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monoloco
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$100-125 a sq ft. depending on level of finish.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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pelone
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The above estimate is very optimistic----your desired location is remote. It is not likely that your builder will be from Cabo Pulmo. The access to
materials may be a challenge as will an available and experienced work crew. It can be done but there will be hurdles. You may want to start brushing
up on your communication skills in Spanish and have a realistic time line.
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Paulclark
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I build in the area and the rule of thumb I give is $140/sq.ft. plus solar system. There are far too many variables to be specific, but the Cabo
Pulmo Bungalows style will be less and an average American style home will be about this price.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
12-2-2015 at 11:40 PM |
Cancamo
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Check your U2U inbox.
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captkw
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cost
LOL, we started building are first house on the east cape in 1980 and a 2nd in 92....for starters,,, all water trucks break down,dont show and are
shaky at best... also half way thru all things can change overnight... if you go into this with a SET plan you are only kidding yourself...BUT,, there
is nothing wrong with starting with a plan...that way you can make GOD laugh !!
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Howard
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Captkw
It would be interesting if we bred our avatars together and see what we would have. 
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
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Location: South East Cape
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Ten years ago we had our house built between Pulmo and San Jose and the cost came to at least 200 dollars a square foot including the solar system.
Then we did a lot of finish work ourselves including kitchen cabinets and interior painting etc. Our house is well built to mostly USA standards.
Milguard windows came from the states. Well worth the extra expense. All our neighbors with locally made windows have leaks and other troubles. We
also found a great deal on hardwood doors that I brought down and finished myself. No termites in those babies.
The most challenging part of the process is to get a realistic bid. Most folks end up paying more than the original bid amount. It is common to get
two thirds through the job only to have your contractor tell you that he needs more money to finish the job. I was fortunate to pick the right guy.
His bid seemed high at first blush, but he got the job done on time and for what he said it would cost. He does not work out your way, however.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
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Keep in mind the extra cost of being off grid. A good solar system can cost $20 - $40K if you install yourself. I don't recommend skimping on the
power as you will soon regret it and spend twice as much later, not to mention the mental trauma of not having enough power. Also a "legal" septic
system will cost another $5 - 6K. Building in a remote area is much more challenging and expensive than an "in town" house.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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Alm
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Since those 20-40K solar systems built decades ago, prices of solar panels dropped tenfold. It now costs about $2-2.5 per watt if you install
yourself. This includes panels, controller, cables - everything but labor. 3000W=6K-7K.
I agree with others that building ANYTHING in Mexico is a royal pain in the ars. Nothing ever goes by the plan. Contractors leave for a lunch break
and show up 2 days later. Temporary plumbing without glue or proper compression fittings on a huge few thousand liters water tank, fittings held
together with rusty wire and shoelaces - then the water pressure blows it to pieces as soon as those idiots open the tap. Jacks of all trades. Nobody
knows how to do anything right. No right tools, materials, or training.
[Edited on 12-3-2015 by Alm]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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I recommend that if you decide to build, you have copies of the plans and materials list and some basic books on home construction and are on site
everyday........if you are not, who know what you will end up with
Required reading for anyone who is thinking of building in Mexico:
http://www.amazon.com/God-Mr-Gomez-Jack-Smith/dp/1883792681
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durrelllrobert
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Also, if you are considering concrete block construction consider this: an 8 foot high wall built using 16" x *" x 12" blocks reqires 8 blocks for
every 16" and at around $1 each thats $8 + the rebar and mortar, and labor for each 16" whereas metal studs at 16" on center will cost around $5 and
go up alot faster with less than 50% of the labor cost.
That's why you see almost all the new commercial buildings using these and I see lots of truck loads of metal studs heading south out of Ensenada.
The other advantage of these is that 10 8 foot metal studs weighs about the same as 1 douglas fir wooden stud so you can probably haul all that you
need in a single trip using a pickup with an 8 foot bed. In addition to the light weight the do not warp, twist or split when nailing and termites do
not eat them.
All of the house plans I have drawn the the last 2 years are completely framed with metal and the exterior covered with fibergalass impregnated
plaster board (DensGlass at Home Depot) that you just apply a thin coat of stucco over. Other advantages are that they come with openings to run your
electric wiring and plumbing through (no need to drill holes) and due to their supperior strength metal 2x4s at 16" O.C. can be used as ceiling joists
and rafters in leiu of wooden 2x6s. Send me a U2U if you want more information.
Bob Durrell
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Terry28
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Now that is excellent info....Thanks Bob..I may have a project in the Bay of LA that this will be very useful for...
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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hookemup
Junior Nomad
Posts: 63
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: pac nw/ cabo pulmo
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Check U2U inbox
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  | Also, if you are considering concrete block construction consider this: an 8 foot high wall built using 16" x *" x 12" blocks reqires 8 blocks for
every 16" and at around $1 each thats $8 + the rebar and mortar, and labor for each 16" whereas metal studs at 16" on center will cost around $5 and
go up alot faster with less than 50% of the labor cost.
That's why you see almost all the new commercial buildings using these and I see lots of truck loads of metal studs heading south out of Ensenada.
The other advantage of these is that 10 8 foot metal studs weighs about the same as 1 douglas fir wooden stud so you can probably haul all that you
need in a single trip using a pickup with an 8 foot bed. In addition to the light weight the do not warp, twist or split when nailing and termites do
not eat them.
All of the house plans I have drawn the the last 2 years are completely framed with metal and the exterior covered with fibergalass impregnated
plaster board (DensGlass at Home Depot) that you just apply a thin coat of stucco over. Other advantages are that they come with openings to run your
electric wiring and plumbing through (no need to drill holes) and due to their supperior strength metal 2x4s at 16" O.C. can be used as ceiling joists
and rafters in leiu of wooden 2x6s. Send me a U2U if you want more information. |
A friend built a beautiful
house in Todos Santos using steel stud construction. Unfortunately, it was almost completely destroyed in hurricane Odile. I don't know if I'd
recommend that type of construction on the East Cape.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Metal studs
I am a retired carpenter, and have worked with metal studs for years in commercial applications in Alaska. I prefer working with good straight
lumber, but that isn't always an option, especially in Mexico.
I would consider using metal myself if I was building a new home, but only with an experienced designer and contractor. The problems show up in the
fastening systems used, and skill of the workers. Load bearing and seismic/wind shear strength is easier to pull off with wood as well.
Good luck with the project, and keep on researching!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm | Since those 20-40K solar systems built decades ago, prices of solar panels dropped tenfold. It now costs about $2-2.5 per watt if you install
yourself. This includes panels, controller, cables - everything but labor. 3000W=6K-7K.
[Edited on 12-3-2015 by Alm] |
Actually quality panels can be bought in US for below $1.00/watt, however that is not the cost of the system. My battery alone cost $13,000, plus
inverters, charge controllers, AC and DC electrical panels with disconnects and breakers all add up. I'm not talking about a "camper" system that can
run a few light bulbs, if you want to be comfortable in a decent sized home you need a competent electrical system.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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greta-inbaja
Nomad
Posts: 132
Registered: 7-19-2006
Location: Truckee, CA
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Hi, we are in process right now 10 km south of Cabo Pulmo. Check your U2.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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ncampion
13,000 dll battery ???? Do Tell !! I think We All would like to know more about that ????????
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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Steel studs don't work in a hurricane----look at all the destroyed hotels which used steel studs and went through Odile. I have built with steel
studs and it was the biggest construction mistake I made. Designed by an engineer for 140 MPH winds and the cladding was stripped off -- Densglass
sucks.
The latest solar systems are economical and a good system for 1,500 sq. ft. house, with electric fridge and normal conveniences, except AC cost
$15,000 complete with good batteries which should last 10 years.
Currently there are two construction options that are commonly used here. One is 3D panel which are strong and provide insulation and are very
flexible or concrete block (post and beam) using pre-stressed joists and insulation or cast in place roofs with Styrofoam insulation.
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