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jardinero viejo

May 16, 2004, 3:41 PM

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Home Design/Construction

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We are finalizing our property purchase as I type. Now, we are going to be researching local architects (and finding out if we need one or can do this ourselves) and builders. Any advice on this will be much appreciated.

We are outside San Pancho, about 45 minutes N of PV.

PS: I have some general construction knowledge, having spent the last 30 years as a landscape architect/contractor in Alta California Central. I'm not quite polished at hands-on home design/construction, but have been around it so long I've bound to absorbed some know-how! In the past three years, as a hobby, we bought, rennovated (using subcontractors), and sold 4 homes.
So, there may be some left over osmosis there as well !

Thanks in advance.... we are loving the forums here....
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" To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the public."
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Rolly / Moderator

May 16, 2004, 7:51 PM

Post #2 of 7 (5603 views)

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Re: [jardinero viejo] Home Design/Construction

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Amigo,

Congrats on your new adventure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have my two projects in Mexico. You might find my construction saga of some use in learning about Mexican construction. Lots of pictures.
http://rollybrook.com/building_directory.htm

Good building!

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Judy in Ags

May 22, 2004, 8:36 PM

Post #3 of 7 (5553 views)

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Re: [jardinero viejo] Home Design/Construction

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Boy, could I talk about this subject! We are one year into building our house. It would probably go a lot faster, but we have just the bricklayer, his helper and the plumber/electrian as he is needed working. That is because we are mainly using our pension income to build the house. I designed the house and the only printed plan we have used is what I have printed out on the computer. I used Punch Professional Home Design (Platinum) software. I have a wish list of things the software did not include (foremost an elevation view with measurements). My husband and I have had some pretty strenuous moments at times when I couldn't tell him right off how high some wall should be or something. One thing that has helped tremendously is that our bricklayer has MANY years of experience and can always think of several ways to do almost anything we want. We had had the foundation put in before we arrived and that builder was a total disaster so this bricklayer (and the plumber) have had to straighten out a lot of problems the first guy left. We are building a kind of old hacienda style house with a U-shaped house around a courtyard. We're about to finish up the first wing. I'll attach a photo so you can see how far along we are.

There are times we get tired of building the house being our whole life, but we know that won't last forever. It will be very nice and comfortable when it's finished and we plan to enjoy many years (all that we have left) here.

I hope this helps a little. One thing you didn't mention is how much Spanish you speak. We both speak Portuguese fluently which has helped and my husband knew some Spanish from our business in the U.S. He's also very talented at language learning. If you don't know any Spanish, I'd say attempting building a house would be a greater challenge.

Best wishes!!!!

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House progress_03-04-04.jpg (48.7 KB)

patricio_lintz

Jul 10, 2004, 8:48 AM

Post #4 of 7 (5452 views)

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Re: [jardinero viejo] Home Design/Construction

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Hello to all. Six years ago, in Sonora, Mexico, I became aware of a newer Mexican construction technique using foam panels which have metal reinforcing mesh on each side, joined together by wires through the panels. Anyone considering building should consider this low-cost fast method of building.

A good description of this technique is described in an article at http://www.penasco.com/articles.html I saw a home built in San Carlos, MX using this construction. The builder was a convert from the adobe brick construction he had used previously. He went to the construction school sponsored by the foam manufacturer in order to learn the ins and outs of the technique.

Here in the Chapala area, a home is being built in Las Brisas. If you are interested in seeing it progress, drive by. Just take the first left past the large golf ball.

My wife and I are currently renting at a very good rate, but are considering building using the foam construction.

Good luck to all with construction and remodelling!

Judy in Ags

Jul 11, 2004, 8:14 AM

Post #5 of 7 (5425 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Home Design/Construction

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I'm guessing that if one were to choose this type construction, one stumblingblock might be trying to find someone experienced in your area who would be willing to build with this method/materials. We do plan to use styrofoam on the "dos aguas" roof of our house. My brother-in-law used it on his garage (see photo) and it turned out well. The next question is always "What shall I use for the ceilings? He used a dropped ceiling in the apartment (right side of photo) and sheet rock on the rest. We plan to use sheet rock on our cathedral ceiling.

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Garage painted_2.jpg (50.9 KB)

patricio_lintz

Jul 12, 2004, 10:08 AM

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Home Design/Construction

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Anyone in the Chapala area who is interested can watch the foam home in Las Brisas get sprayed with shotcrete. It is scheduled for Wesnesday, July 14.

johanson

Jul 14, 2004, 11:27 AM

Post #7 of 7 (5345 views)

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Re: [patricio_lintz] Home Design/Construction

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My newest home has some foam construction in it. The new Martin Parker Ins Office used the foam method. I think the use of foam is more common than some would think here lakeside. (Ajijic-Chapala)