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

BajaGringo

Apr 27, 2009, 7:08 PM

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Building a Beach House in Baja

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Cristina and I have lived the last several years in the Rosarito Beach area of Baja but decided to move a bit further south to seek slightly warmer climate, fewer people and clean, remote beaches that we love. We ended up choosing the Pacific coastline outside San Quintin and are in the process of building our house.

It is too much to post here but if anybody is interested at seeing a step by step photo story of the process and progress, you can find it here where I am updating it weekly:

http://www.talkbaja.com/showthread.php?t=82

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 19, 2009, 5:15 PM)

Rolly / Moderator

Apr 27, 2009, 7:34 PM

Post #2 of 15 (4873 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Absolutely great! Thanks for sharing your adventure. I am sure you will be glad you have taken the time to document your story. I am glad I did mine this way.

I look forward to weekly visits to your Baja.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
This is a good time to be living in Mexico.
A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.

BajaGringo

Apr 29, 2009, 10:59 PM

Post #3 of 15 (4829 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Thanks Rolly - it is funny how many emails I have gotten from that thread. I have probably answered at least 10 just this afternoon. A couple of them asked me if I would design/build their house for them - ha!

Should have some more updated photos in a couple of days.

Take care my friend, hope all is well with you...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

ken_in_dfw

May 1, 2009, 10:44 AM

Post #4 of 15 (4806 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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This was really informative, BajaGringo. There are a lot of great lessons to be learned and some pitfalls to be avoided.

I am especially interested in the discussions on graywater and the calculating solar power needs thread was very helpful. Lots to study and think about. Hopefully, given the fact that it will be at least a couple of years (or longer) before I build, I'll have the time to bone up on all this.

I never cease to be amazed at the pure wealth of knowledge and experience to be found through MexConnect (and the other great discussion forums that are out there). Thanks!

Ken

"Respect for the rights of others is peace."
Benito Juarez

BajaGringo

May 25, 2009, 1:52 PM

Post #5 of 15 (4654 views)

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Re: [kenhjr] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Here is an updated photo as to our progress taken from the back of the house looking out towards the ocean. You can see the first load of rock that was just delivered and which will be used to cover the house exterior. The salty air of the Pacific Ocean is very tough on even the best of paints and I hate to be constantly scraping and repainting...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

jreboll

May 25, 2009, 2:32 PM

Post #6 of 15 (4649 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Wouldn't the heat hitting those rocks all day make the house hot at night? How high are your ceilings?

BajaGringo

May 25, 2009, 2:45 PM

Post #7 of 15 (4645 views)

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Re: [jreboll] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Heat collected on the rocks, warming the walls and home interior is a good thing. We are in northern Baja on the Pacific side, about a four hour drive south of the border where it is San Diego weather year round. It is not to be confused with the hot desert weather of southern Baja and the Sea of Cortez.

For the warmest days in summer you simply open a few windows and the prevalent NW breezes will keep the house quite comfy inside. The interior ceilings will be 11 feet high at center. We will be installing a wood burning stove for the coldest days of winter which are thankfully, relatively few...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

(This post was edited by BajaGringo on May 25, 2009, 4:49 PM)

BajaGringo

Aug 19, 2009, 6:34 PM

Post #8 of 15 (4259 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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The house is coming along and we are in the process of getting the roof on now...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

BajaGringo

Nov 11, 2009, 7:20 PM

Post #9 of 15 (3442 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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The house now has a roof, doors, windows and the water tank installed. We hope to be moving in before Christmas...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

BajaGringo

Dec 10, 2009, 10:51 PM

Post #10 of 15 (1483 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Just finished getting the wood burning stove installed. Next step is to get the interior walls painted and then we will lay the floor...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

gpkgto

Dec 12, 2009, 7:57 AM

Post #11 of 15 (1414 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Is there a lot of firewood available in Baja? None here in Guanajuato--the people from the campo collect all the scrub for their own fires.

BajaGringo

Dec 13, 2009, 9:14 PM

Post #12 of 15 (1364 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] Building a Beach House in Baja

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I wouldn't say there is a LOT of firewood but up here on our Pacific side of the peninsula we get a fair amount of driftwood along the beaches. Not much competition for it right now and our winters are short and day time temperatures pleasant - so we don't need much...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

(This post was edited by BajaGringo on Dec 13, 2009, 9:19 PM)

gcooper

Dec 22, 2009, 8:44 AM

Post #13 of 15 (1224 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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Great thread. Please keep it coming.

How long do you expect the building process to take?

G.
No bad Days
www.Riviera-LaPaz.com
www.GPSProjectManagement.com

(This post was edited by gcooper on Dec 22, 2009, 8:45 AM)

BajaGringo

Feb 1, 2010, 7:25 PM

Post #14 of 15 (733 views)

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Re: [gcooper] Building a Beach House in Baja

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As I am doing most of the finish work myself, it will probably go at a bit slower pace now. Finished the shower floor and now am working the wall tile. I had to hunt to find a square drain that I liked to fit with the hand cut center design I put together...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

BajaGringo

Mar 19, 2010, 9:14 PM

Post #15 of 15 (77 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Building a Beach House in Baja

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We began work on the front porch. It seemed like an ideal spot as it faces south, protected form the prevailing NW winds, will benefit from warm sunshine in the winter and offer cool shade in the summer.

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula