* After waiting 3 1/2 years to obtain legal title to my house [?], I, an American, began a major construction project ["major" for me, at least]:
* a 1,600 SF deck, all wood, treated pine, elevated 20' above the ground, with an 800 SF thatched roof, including a 4 person [fibreglass] jacuzzi, all railings & 1 wooden staircase.
* 2 months of work, pain, suffering, & ? But, . . it's done & in all modesty it's a masterpiece! Anyone curious enough to verify my claims? Please PM me; we can arrange a visit & an inspection, in POP.
* The general contractor? A DR from Maimon named Nelson Castillo, [cell - 809-836-8295]. His performance? A to A-! By DR standards? 11, on a scale of 1 to 10. He returned phone calls, he ordered the correct materials [a fortune in pine from Ochoa, Santiago], showed up every day, with various crews; all work was professionally finished; all laborers & sub-contractors were paid. I think we foreigners are uniquely vulnerable in the area of new construction & renovations.
* Loose ends: Nelson does not speakc English, although he understands some. He has 1 cousin who is an architect; another who is an engineer; I didn't use the services of either; I can not speak positively or negatively of either.
* Free advice: if you're consideraing a construciton project, give him a call; it's worth obtaining an estimate & sizing the man up. He treated me very fairly. He may do the same for you.
* a 1,600 SF deck, all wood, treated pine, elevated 20' above the ground, with an 800 SF thatched roof, including a 4 person [fibreglass] jacuzzi, all railings & 1 wooden staircase.
* 2 months of work, pain, suffering, & ? But, . . it's done & in all modesty it's a masterpiece! Anyone curious enough to verify my claims? Please PM me; we can arrange a visit & an inspection, in POP.
* The general contractor? A DR from Maimon named Nelson Castillo, [cell - 809-836-8295]. His performance? A to A-! By DR standards? 11, on a scale of 1 to 10. He returned phone calls, he ordered the correct materials [a fortune in pine from Ochoa, Santiago], showed up every day, with various crews; all work was professionally finished; all laborers & sub-contractors were paid. I think we foreigners are uniquely vulnerable in the area of new construction & renovations.
* Loose ends: Nelson does not speakc English, although he understands some. He has 1 cousin who is an architect; another who is an engineer; I didn't use the services of either; I can not speak positively or negatively of either.
* Free advice: if you're consideraing a construciton project, give him a call; it's worth obtaining an estimate & sizing the man up. He treated me very fairly. He may do the same for you.
