Construction Prices - Page 2

funckytown · #11 12-28-2005, 10:00 AM

hi,
in the US is it not wooden houses...
and europ concrete?

You will never achieve standards here....

I live here in Juan dolio, where they build at every corner...
from villas to 300 appartment building....

THE ONLY THEY DO GOOD.....

is polishing with concrete the s... wall they build....

but also in europ you have to check everyday your house build... I recall...

Rick Snyder · #12 12-28-2005, 10:40 AM

Danny W,
Read the link in my post #3 to get an idea of prices of basic material. The material here is dirt cheap in comparison to our prices in the USA. Take a cinder block for example, I can buy one for 11 pesos, 34 cents, here and how moch does it cost in the USA?

The following link shows the floor plan for a 900 sq ft home
http://www.cobshomeplans.com/store/s...ewPlan?pid=143

A house with this floor plan should not cost more then, I would say, US$ 10,000 for the material and labor. This is for the pictured floor plan and not the house. Here it is best to have a cement roof because of hurricanes.

My house is approx 1,500 sq ft and cost me a little over US$ 5,000 to build 6 years ago.

As Hillbilly said the houses here are stripped within and because of the use of blocks you usually don't get things like closets and such.

The DR does not have building inspectors that insure that the plumbing, electrical wiring, footing, wall construction and roof meet set standards as we do in the USA. With inspectors not checking and you not checking I can insure you that you will be taken to the cleaners in the construction of your house.

Rick

Rick Snyder · #13 12-28-2005, 10:51 AM

Danny W,
You say you have confidence in your builder and that's all well and good but I would ask a favor of you. The next time you talk to him ask him for how long does he allows the cement to cure and how he does this when he pours a roof and how long he vibrates the concrete and with what. Let me know what he says and I'll tell you how much confidence you should have. These are answers you want at the time you talk to him and not something that he needs to get back to you with.

Rick

Pingu · #14 12-28-2005, 12:36 PM

"Using the figure of let's say $60 per square foot the cost of material will take up about 23% of that figure. Labor will take up about 30% which leaves you paying the owner 47% which he puts in his pocket."

So esstentially any one who quotes in "per square foor" or "per sqaure meter" is going to find a way to scheme a few extra bucks in his pockets. So if the price of the construction does not include the finishings like Tubs, Toilets, Shower Heads, Lighting Fixtures, Jacuzzi, pool, etc, about what percent of the budget will that take up. I remeber being in 8ocha this summer and seeing displays but I didn't pay much mind to it because they seemed a little generic. Any place that displays modern fixtures?

Rick Snyder · #15 12-28-2005, 02:43 PM

If the furnishings are not a part of the equation then they are not part of the "budget" unless you mean your budget. As far as "a few extra buck" how do you equate 47% as being a few.

The bottom line is that in the DR you can build an adequate house cheap but it requires your presence during construction and the staying away from anyone that wants to charge you by the square foot,yard,meter on any phase of the construction in any way, shape or form because it is used only to increase the cost to you.

Hypothetically let's say you want to built a building 10 meters by 10 meters with 2 doors and 4 windows. This requires 520 blocks to include footings, minus the 68 blocks where the doors and windows will be. This is 452 blocks at a cost of RD$4,972. The going rate to lay those blocks is 2 pesos per block which equates to RD$ 902.00. No more then 20 cubic meters of concrete, mortar and stucco, 17 quintal of re-bar at a price of approx RD$ 36,000. So a price for the materials and the laying of the blocks is around RD$ 41,874 not including the price of labor to dig the footings, form and pour the footings, floor, vige de amarre and roof. Three people can build a house here with no problem so if there is more then 3 you are paying undue labor. Still talking hypothetically let's say you pay these 3 laborers a total of RD$ 3,000 a day ,to high but, and it takes 6 days of actual labor to complete, to high but, you have a total of RD$ 18.000 for labor. Total cost = RD$ 59,874 for 100 square meters / 1,076.39 square feet. This equates to 56 pesos per square foot cost.

Rick

heldengebroed · #16 12-28-2005, 04:30 PM

The use of Prices/m² is a methode used by professionals to get very fast a rough idea of the cost of a building. All depends on the definitions you use for the calculation. I have used this system regulary to get estimates off costs etc. Once you've the hang off it its very usefull and experience has learned me that once you've get the general picture the detailled calculation of the final cost often corresponds with the first estimation.

Greetings

Johan

Rick Snyder · #17 12-28-2005, 07:34 PM

The use of price/measurement squared is a way of getting a very fast and rough idea of your cost for purchasing but in no way should it be used for selling a product or service except land. It is a method used by "crooks" to make you think you are getting a good deal. The denotation of selling a house by the squared measurement is PROFIT.

Rick

heldengebroed · #18 12-28-2005, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Snyder

The use of price/measurement squared is a way of getting a very fast and rough idea of your cost for purchasing but in no way should it be used for selling a product or service except land. It is a method used by "crooks" to make you think you are getting a good deal. The denotation of selling a house by the squared measurement is PROFIT.

Rick

hear hear
greetings

Danny W · #19 12-28-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

Danny: Remember the old saw: "While the cat's away.......?"

That is what is going to happen with your house. Believe it or not, you could actually save money renting a little place and watching your house being built.

Rick: You make a good point about costing out the houses. Besides, who needs an "Americanized" house in the DR?? Sort of contradictory?

Anyway, construction here is always an adventure....

Regarding STAINLESS kitchen appliances...allow me to repeat myself. Construction here NEVER includes appliances!! NEVER>>>!!! In many cases it does not even include lighting fixtures beyond a bulb in a ceiling socket!!

HB

Actually my price will include everything but the furniture. One reason why I am using this builder is because I can't be here to check on the day to day. I'm happy to pay a little more because I know how concientious he is. Also, I'm ignorant enough of the process to be completely screwed if I pretended to know what I don't know.

Hillbilly, with all do respect, it makes perfect sense to build an Americanized house here. I have a beautiful lot 200 yards from the ocean in a secure location with a prisitne beach. I'm 62 years old, and I know how I want to live. I have a condo in Sosua now, and an "adopted" family with 3 kids here. I'm relatively experienced. I'm a gringo - that's not going to change.

Bottom line, I know that there are 2 types of dwellings under discussion. For someone like me, it will cost approx. $60 per sq. ft.on the north coast (I'm told that semi skilled labor is less plentiful here) to have a house with a-1 construction. I have been here long enough to see the lousy work that is done in most buildings - my condo included - and I'm not interested. - D

Rick Snyder · #20 12-28-2005, 09:53 PM

Danny W,
I wasn't aware that you had that much experience with the DR so therefore you have seen the construction here and you know what you want so if you must then go for it. All I will say at this point is that the actual cost and what you are being quoted is the proverbial comparison of apples to oranges. Good luck in your indeavor.

Rick