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luzhot · Jul 10, 2009, 04:14 PM

OK I'm going to build a house in cancun funny thing is all these houses are cinder block does ant on have an estimate of how much it woud cost to build the strucure of a 1500 square ft house in cinder block:confused:

ballengerb1 · Jul 10, 2009, 05:42 PM

Need many more details on this and even then it's a shot in the dark. Materials only or labor included, what fixtures, AC, roof type and line. Best tocall and get 3 bids from the locals.

luzhot · Jul 10, 2009, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Need many more details on this and even then its a shot in the dark. materials only or labor included, what fixtures, AC, roof type and line. Best tocall and get 3 bids from the locals.

yes I want material only jusat want the basic on all if that helps like I said I'm new to this sory I would call but thtey all apeak spanish I'm american

ballengerb1 · Jul 10, 2009, 06:07 PM

They speak Mexican, similar to Spanish but not quite the same. Last time I was there they had Costco and a few big box stores. You need to develop a materials list and then price them out at a few stores or lumber yards. Try surfing and googling stuff like Mediterranean, Concrete Block/ ICF Design, Florida Style, California Style House Plans - Home Design AA-1619-9401 # 20384

21boat · Jul 10, 2009, 06:33 PM

I not familiar with construction in Mexico, But I do build in Puerto Rico. If its anything like P.R. You will have to baby sit the whole project. Do you have any general Labor prices to start with?

If you can get me the labor and materials prices I can help here and also tell you what to watch out for.

In P.R. they homes are all concrete and cement block. Just on a side note "cinder Block" hasn't been around in the states for decades and I doubt Mexico.

In PR. Its comparable to the states. The biggest problem is construction common sense and PR. Doesn't always get it there, and work 1 1/2 times to do what should be done once.

The other thing to watch out for is retaining walls that are WAY under built. 99% of the retaining walls in P.R. are out of 6" block and concrete ballads/piers every 8 to 10 feet. Most all fall over in time. So if there are any retaining walls there get back. If the roof is in concrete whats forgotten there is a 1by 4" or so under the concrete overhang that needs to be in the form. What this does is have an indentation/channel under the roof to stop water from running all the way under the overhang and down to façade..

Last Time I was in Cancun was in 91.

speedball1 · Jul 11, 2009, 05:37 AM

Just on a side note "cinder Block" hasn't been around in the states for decades and I doubt Mexico.

I live in Florida where most of our homes are "cinder block" homes. We bought our home new in 55. It, and all the houses in the area , and cinder block homes over 50 years of age. Tell me about this project in PR. Where do you base out of? I almost signed up to work overseas with Brown and Root back in the 60's. Regards, tom

21boat · Jul 12, 2009, 12:42 AM

Tell me about this project in PR. Where do you base out of? I almost signed up to work overseas with Brown and Root back in the 60's. Regards, tom

I started laying concrete block in the 70s and haven't seen a cinder block being made here then. Its all concrete block. Its easy to tell by looking at them in density and pick up a cinder block and its so light in weight. They reintroduced a cement block that feels like a cinder block. They come in handy for laying on steel/concrete deck work to keep the dead weight floor load down

I base out of Pa. I was working on a new Hotel In P.R. We are basically finished on that project. Now doing residential renovations in P.R. . It's a bit tricky. Got to be cautious. A for instance. I was renovating a house and two house up another big house renovation was going on where a doctor hired the locals to do his work. He came down to my job site and said my crew (a man less then his crew ) got 3 times more work done then his job in the same weeks and asked how do I do that. I said first off the work ethics are different and also the approaches. His crew works from 7am to 1pm. We work from 8am to 2 pm. Its all about organizing the job and thinking ahead which is not common down there.

I was going to try and hook up with a states based outfit "" corporation" But went more local on the island.

I'm the general on my own projects now.

speedball1 · Jul 12, 2009, 08:26 AM

My bad! You're correct and I confused cinder with cement. Our homes here are all cement block. Blame it on old age and mad cow disease .
Thanks for the input on PR. I ran multi crews of plumbers on a five year project consisting of a division of mid rise condos, duplexes and single family homes plus a two stage shopping center for my company but I never worked overseas.
Is this your company or do you just work for them? Regards, tom

21boat · Jul 12, 2009, 06:21 PM

If "My Company means me as the owner of the company. Then Yes I'm the owner. Nowhere to pass the buck...
Only had an actual paycheck for 2 years in 82 /83 ( Yellow Frieght /Dockworker. Before that was 1979 Had to find work early 80s ,Construction fell in to nothing during that time here.

speedball1 · Jul 13, 2009, 06:34 AM

Had to find work early 80s ,Construction fell in to nothing during that time here.

1973 is when the bottom fell out in my area. A good part of the 80's I spent supervising a division of new construction. The rest of the 80's were spent as The shop trouble shooter and warranty repair man. I retired in Nov. of 88. Although I traveled to many countries, first in the Navy and then as a merchant seaman back in the 40's I've never worked overseas. I was apprenticed in my Dads shop up in Wisconson at 16 and licensed at 20. Never went into business for myself but barnstormed all over Florida working projects until I hooked up with a big shop in Sarasota where I worked until retirement. Have a good one. Tom