construction costs?

Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:29:

I built a 3 BR 2 bath house from the ground up. After a lot of investigation I settled on a prefab system. The cost of the house from the floor to roof, not including the floor or placa. Including the roof, windows, door, veranda. Cost $20 million COP 4 years ago in a rural area. There is a photo posted a short way below. taken Saturday at my house.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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El Polo says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:29:

Good question, I too am interested.

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slguy says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:39:

prefab, Bill? define this, please? prefab lumber? prefab concrete?

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:40:

Slguy as youknow i build my farm on the outskirt of Villavicencio but really this depend where you live and the local cost of materials, my farm it's a 4 bedroom house similar style to the traditional paisa house, two of the rooms are going to have en-suite bathroom, then we have the sitting room, dining room, kitchen, the main toilet and a big hall, the house will have veranda all around so we can sit outside. it is a big house. everything including the "mano de obra" it cost me around 42.000 millions pesos it came out a bit more than i expected because of the pound coming down. we are planing to made a kiosk which will cost us around 6 million. but this is in Villavicencio, while in cartagena i renovated my apartment and just the mano de obra was 6,500 millions pesos, then materials, there the material are more expensive, their excuse is because many comes form Bogotá, but i think it's because the Apartment in in Bocagrande they think everybody there is rich so they charged me more, everything so far it has cost me nearly 19 millions pesos. Rolling Eyes

BTW i never tell anybody in Colombia that the farm is mine we usually say is belong to my parents, so the builders don't charge me with the gringo tax, in Cartagena is more difficult because it doesn't matter if you are gringo or not as long as you live in those areas like Bocagrande they always are going to charge you more.
THE TOTAL AREA OF THE HOUSE IS 224 MTS. with possibilities of building a second floor if i wanted too.



advice find a good local builder, and you YOURSELF buy the materials....
my parents are doing that, otherwise they will waste material or they will charge you double for them. Trust me.. my mother made that mistake with her house and really regretted, so with the farm she and my dad go and buy everything the builders need, and you have to be 24/7 checking they are working and not wasting time and doing everything right.


I think my farm came out a bit cheaper because we were so lucky in finding a very nice responsible builder, he is helping us economized in materials, he is very ingenious and helpful and very good , before him i went to other builders and they were charging me around 48 millions pesos so maybe 52 or 55 at the end , so i was very lucky with this guy.

engage brain before opening mouth

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sanandressi says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:51:

Hey Kat1 you talked about the ""Gringo Tax" and what is that? Is this the tax that says ...Oh he or she is a rich American so we will charge them double or whatever..." My Colombian wife and I are aware of the double pricing that is there in Colombia so I let her inquire into buying anything from Hotel rooms to anything. Saw the same thing in Honduras at a restaurant on the Caribbean coast. Two menus....one in English for gringos and one in Spanish for Hondurans..of course the one in English had prices about E higher.

The double standard makes me sick and why does everyone in Colombia just think that I am some sort of multi-millionaire anyway ust because I live inn the US of A? LOL

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slguy says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:58:

attagirl, kat! exactly what i was looking for.

you noted the Meta part of the question? ;) nothing like getting great info, quickly - thanks.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 07:58:

yep, that is the "gringo tax" even though my husband was not present when i did all those works, they new i lived in the UK so they i didn't want them to charge me with "gringo tax" too

and most people know that the pound is higher than the dollar so they all think i am swimming in money.

engage brain before opening mouth

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:02:

About the Gringo Tax, it works in reverse for me. I am the only Gringo in the area, and well known as El Gringo ( Papa Noel). We found problems with this in Bogota and Cali so my wife negotiated then I would try and found I could get better prices than she did.
Cost and form of my house. It is high-density concrete panels. It is very seismic resistant because it moves with the earthquake rather than crack. Each meter square panel weighs 73 kg. I investigated many companies and settled on Servivienda in Bogota. ( they do have many other offices). Misc costs for placa, tile flooring, and electrical installation was about 10 million more. So at todays exchange rate the cost was $15,000 USD for the house.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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slguy says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:06:

Thanks, Bill. Great info.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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tomtom33 says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:07:

¡Tu tambien? I was known in Laguito on the street as Papa Noel. A few weeks ago, a young kid in Medellín came up to me and called me Papa Noel. I know I'm fat, but...

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morphus says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:31:

Papa Noel...HA HA!

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:33:

Since I came to Colombia, I have been Papa Noel. At Colegio Nueva Granada, when I first came to Colombia,I was asked to serve in that role. Since then I have put on that uniform every Christmas. I let my beard grow from about this time of year until Dec 26 when it is sheared.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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sanandressi says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:33:

Morphus...is that a picture of the AUC, the FARC or the FAC? I cannot tell? AUC I think?

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robi666 says on Jun 2, 2008, 08:57:

800,000 per square meter gives you a real good construction with good materials. Not the most expensive marbles, but good materials.
Let's say:
Decent height of roof
Walls made of thick solid brick (the 45x20 brick in Medellin)
Wood for the roof: sappan.
Decent floor: wood in the bedrooms; 30,000 per square meter tile for bathroom; nice big tile in kitchen and living room.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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gorgonabob says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:17:

800.000 is about the price ive been told also...

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 09:29:

I spent something like 15 million in just paint and a litle tile, kitchen cabinets, roofing repair and fixing up some bathrooms, two years ago. I need to change the piping and the floors....any price idea? (360 sq.meters in Cali)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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robi666 says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:06:

About floors, it all depends on materials, Desi.
From 20,000 to 300,000 per square meter and more. Installed.

Example:
a good colonial floor from Cucuta (http://www.ladrilleracucuta.com/) can cost in between 12,000 and 50,000.
It is a nice handmade material, that would cost a lot more in Italy and it is quite looked for there, while not expensive here. Good for an house or finca.
Of course, marble, being imported, is expensive in Colombia. While you can find some good stone from Chile at a good price (ie. Piedra Pizarra negra, at 65,000 per square meter).

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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lpdiver says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:24:

Hey Bill,

Did the fifteen grand include the cost of property? If not and if you don't mind disclosing, inquiring minds want to know.

t

"cook some rice!"

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Bill Turley says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:42:

No the cost of the land was not included. Land cost varies so much from parcel to parcel and from area to area. I was lucky to find our lot before other people discovered the area. I don't know why but Bogotanos don't know this nearby area. I paid 18 million for 1.5 hectare with Electric and Water access on the lot. I am happy to advise and help anyone else who wants to experience what I have.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Morrongo says on Jun 2, 2008, 10:45:

Desi..I have just done the same thing on some apartments...if you let me know what your intentions are i.e renewing the concrete floor as well as taking up the old tiles and fitting new?

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 11:27:

I won't be able to do the repairs for at least another year or so, unless my renters insist on new floors. The ones I have are from 1960's, really stained and ugly, but since the house is rented out I would have to ask the renters to move out to be able to do extensive repairs. I was hoping to get the work done this summer, but I can't travel at this time at all. All the piping has to be removed and replaced with pvc; it's metal and almost totally clogged by sediment.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Morrongo says on Jun 2, 2008, 11:56:

Desi..the problem is that when you take up the old tiles..who knows what you are going to find!...concrete floors here have a habit of decay,due to poor mixing of concrete...but lets look on the bright side..tiles costs about 15,000 to 25,000cop depending on design..these are for first grades..labour costs for 360sqm about 4 million..the hard part is finding the right person to it..plumming... dont bury the pipework in the floor..its a great pratice here but try and run them on the surface and box them in and finish off with tiles or plaster..this will keep costs down and give easy access to future problems..not that expensive to do..main cost's are the tile work..

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 12:14:

Sounds scary...probably dinosaur eggs, scorpions and perhaps some other niceties. I'm planning to have Jorge (the lazy bastard who did did fugdis house) to do the worst of it too, he did a pretty neat job in my patio and kitchen and he's not too expensive. I think it's a great idea to keep the pipework on the surface, that way you don't have to destroy the floor every time something leaks.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Morrongo says on Jun 2, 2008, 12:33:

ive seen Jorges work at fugdis house...his work is fine....depends on price and what gobbley-gooke they want to say to jack up the price...iam sure fungis and I would take a butchers when you are here to see if its a straightforward job.....

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 2, 2008, 12:38:

Great, thanks guys.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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GregYohn says on Jun 3, 2008, 22:53:

Desi,

Our tile guy and external colored stucco guys were good in Cali. They both repaired the work of other clowns we hired before them. Did you see my photos before of the work? WOW!

Using styrofoam like walls with rebar is GREAT for walls. Use pole and beam construction. Stucco right over the walls immediately. We used it just for our roof, since they had started construction making brick walls. Brick does little insulation per inch, but styrofoam is 40 times better R-Value. HomeCenter sells the stuff outside in 2.8 x 1.2 meter sections.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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fugdis says on Jun 4, 2008, 01:14:

Yes.....Jorge is indeed a lazy bastard but his work is pretty good.
Desi, I dont mind checking the job out for you with Mr.Morrongo.

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huskie says on Jun 4, 2008, 05:25:

Desi are your renters going to move out when you decide to go back to Cali? I heard sometimes people will not move, is that true?
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:32:

Sounds good fugdis. Oh I saw the pic with Jorge taking a siesta on the job....does he still drive that taxi too?

Huskie, last time I did repairs I had no big problem making the renters move out; the inmobiliaria helped by getting them a temporary place meanwhile. They did get pissed off at me though because I decided to terminate their contract in the end of the period because I didn't think they were taking care of my house. The new renter demanded major paint job and more repairs so I assume that the previous renters trashed the house before they moved out.

I don't know what kind of problem I might get when I decide to do the floors and the plumbing. One thing is for sure, though, they have to be out of there when I start pulling up the floors. I s'ppose I'll just inform the Inmobilaria to terminate the contract with three months notice as stipulated.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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