Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

patricio_lintz

Mar 21, 2005, 6:26 PM

Post #1 of 22 (6732 views)

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Started construction, 08 March

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Here's a photo of Architect, Alain Signoret from Guadalajara, on lote in Vista del Lago, Chapala.

(This post was edited by patricio_lintz on Mar 21, 2005, 6:27 PM)

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Alain.jpg (58.3 KB)

patricio_lintz

Mar 31, 2005, 2:51 PM

Post #2 of 22 (6629 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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March 30 progress: Castillos are all up. Foundation almost complete.

The hill is very rocky. Difficult digging but a good solid base plus free construction material.

All panel materials for the first floor are on site. We start snapping in panels next week.

(This post was edited by patricio_lintz on Mar 31, 2005, 2:52 PM)

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March 30.jpg (75.9 KB)

rjkveton

Apr 4, 2005, 8:21 AM

Post #3 of 22 (6571 views)

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Location of the building site

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Would you mind posting direction from the VDL main entrance, if you don't mind some of us dropping by for a look see.

patricio_lintz

Apr 4, 2005, 8:30 AM

Post #4 of 22 (6569 views)

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Re: [rjkveton] Location of the building site

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Yes, you are welcome to drive by.

Through the guard's gate, then straight up the hill to the top. Turn right on Alta Vista Ote. It is lote # 100, across the street (on the north side) from Irv & Louise Schlegel.

patricio_lintz

Apr 22, 2005, 6:49 PM

Post #5 of 22 (6510 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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April 22,2005

First floor panels are all up. Entrepiso for terrace & first floor ceiling are being installed.

I will post pix when all panels are up. Lots of peop;e have stopped by to see the project. All are welcome.

We are shooting for a move in date in early June. We are on schedule and within 10% of budget for this stage.

abq

Apr 23, 2005, 7:33 AM

Post #6 of 22 (6474 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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Wow that quick! Will the house be finished or roughed out?. Did the foam construction save a lot of construction time?

(This post was edited by abq on Apr 23, 2005, 7:35 AM)

patricio_lintz

Apr 23, 2005, 10:58 AM

Post #7 of 22 (6462 views)

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Re: [abq] Started construction, 08 March

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Yes. A major advantage of panel construction is build time is very fast. Jimmy Carter & Habitat for Humanity put up 14 houses in one week using panel construction in Florida. They withstood Hurricane Andrew very well, while other houses did not.

Rough shell should be completed mid May. I'll post progress & pictures later.

We plan to move in in June.

MG Rabon

Apr 24, 2005, 7:09 AM

Post #8 of 22 (6431 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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Wow! That is fast!

We started our wall extension on March 30 and MIGHT be done mid May. Four workers, 10-12 hrs a day, 6 days a week - do you have like 2 dozen workers or what?

Compórtate bien, y si no puedes, invítame!
MG Rabon

wyhaines

Apr 24, 2005, 8:32 AM

Post #9 of 22 (6421 views)

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Re: [MG Rabon] Started construction, 08 March

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But your wall is stonework, right? I've done quite a bit of masonry work with stone, and it just is not fast work.

On the other hand, construction using SIPs (structural insulated panels) can be extremely fast to erect walls and roofs. SIPs are, fundamentally, a composite of a foam core with two plywood panels on the exterior and the interior. The composite structure prevents the kind of buckling that one sees in simple tall, skinny things like plywood panels and results in a structure that has substantial bearing capacity, good insulation, and good resistance to lateral forces, as well. i.e. if an earthquake happens, it's not likely to wobble and shake.

And because the panels represent a large section of wall, and are make to interlock, they are basically just lifted into place and secured, and then that section of wall is done. Tip everything up and secure it, but in the structural support for a roof, whether it be a beam and rafters or trusses, and plop SIPs on top of that, and you have an insulated roof structure ready for final roofing. So longs as the panels have been made ahead of time, it will go together on-site very, very quicky.

Kirk Haines

patricio_lintz

Apr 24, 2005, 5:10 PM

Post #10 of 22 (6391 views)

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Re: [MG Rabon] Started construction, 08 March

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We started with too many-13 total and one diesel backhoe/ frontloader (equipment rental was 250 pesos an hour). This was the heavy lot sculpting phase. The lot is steep and rocky.

Now we are down to 8 and I keep pressing the architect and jefe albanil to cut the work force some more. Basically, no one should have time to stand around and watch.

patricio_lintz

Apr 30, 2005, 2:57 PM

Post #11 of 22 (6308 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] progress 04_29_05

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First floor photo. Click on .jpg file for pix.

Started spraying concrete, today We may have upset the "wa" (Japanese word for group working harmony) when the architect brought in the factory concrete spray team from Guadalajara.

The head albanil was visibly upset. We will try to make it better with a nice on-site luncheon on "The day of the albanil," May 3. The team will get 1/2 day off with pay.

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04_29_05 first floor.JPG (114 KB)

abq

Apr 30, 2005, 3:06 PM

Post #12 of 22 (6302 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] progress 04_29_05

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I'm amazed. Do you have a feel for price per sq. ft (or meter)? Including the roof.

abq

Apr 30, 2005, 3:12 PM

Post #13 of 22 (6299 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] progress 04_29_05

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Do you need an arquitect familiar with foam construction do the design? It seems like the foam distributers have dissapeared from the scene here in SMA. A friend told me to contact a distributer directly in Mexico City. I'd like to have someone really creative do my plan and that person may not be fimiliar with foam.

patricio_lintz

Apr 30, 2005, 3:16 PM

Post #14 of 22 (6299 views)

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Re: [abq] progress 04_29_05

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I am reluctant to give a price, since it varies so much with design & location. Also final costs are not in.

For instance in Guadalajara, this house would cost more just due to city fees which are said to be 4 or 5 times higher (per the architect).

I will say that if the shell, not including costs for landscape,the lot itself, paint, appliances, etc. but including outside doors and basic aluminum sliding windows, exceeds $30 per sq. ft., we will be over budget.

This is a basic retirement house, nice but not super fancy.

Ask me this question again, when we are finished.

patricio_lintz

Apr 30, 2005, 3:24 PM

Post #15 of 22 (6297 views)

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Re: [abq] progress 04_29_05

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No any architect should be able to do this.

Try RYMSA of Guadalajara. They have an architect and an engineer on staff to assist customers. The engineer, Javier Regalado Hernandez, speaks english.

Rolados y Manufacturas, S.A. de C.V.
Av. Colon N0. 1497
01-(33) 3810-5524; 3812-8885

abq

Apr 30, 2005, 3:41 PM

Post #16 of 22 (6296 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] progress 04_29_05

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Actually, I was just interested in the panel cost and labor. Is the design different for this type of construction?

patricio_lintz

May 8, 2005, 1:59 PM

Post #17 of 22 (6200 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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The panel factory, RYMSA, supported us with a team of two men to spray the concrete. We only pay for equipment rental.

They are using the house to promote their products locally. It seems to be working. I know of three couples who have come by that will build with panel.
Click on .jpg file to view pix.

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spray sm 05_07_05.jpg (105 KB)

NEOhio

May 20, 2005, 5:20 AM

Post #18 of 22 (6113 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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How about an update if you have time, and sq. meter or foot costs for the shell. We are watching with interest.

patricio_lintz

May 24, 2005, 5:38 PM

Post #19 of 22 (6067 views)

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Re: [NEOhio] Started construction, 08 March

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I am keeping lots of figures on a spreadsheet.

I will update with a completed shell photo, hopefully within two weeks.

I had to slow construction down due to funding cash flow.

patricio_lintz

Jul 8, 2005, 5:42 PM

Post #20 of 22 (5881 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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Plodding along. Cost was greatly underestimated. Will post costs & pix later.

Crew from Guadalajara walked off the job. Said it was not worth travelling to Chapala for only three people. We were out of town in Phoenix at the time.

Now have a crew of 6 from San Nicholas. They are cheaper and faster. However, while one on crew is fluent in English, the cheif albanil doesn't read or write. Since all the basic construction is done, this is not a problem. Most of the work remaining is finishing walls, driveway and contention walls.

bfwpdx

Aug 10, 2005, 6:47 AM

Post #21 of 22 (5750 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Started construction, 08 March

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We have been following this thread with great interest. Could we please have another update? Last month's post left us dangling wondering what was happening!

patricio_lintz

Aug 11, 2005, 3:58 PM

Post #22 of 22 (5712 views)

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Re: [bfwpdx] Started construction, 08 March

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This string is getting too long and too many photos. See current photos at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/juan_patricio/

I will start a new string.