I don't want to discourage Chip but a mold for pressing plastic is quite expensive. Its of course a one time cost.
They are doing it in Mexico - recycling plastic and creating panels for cheap housing.
I don't want to discourage Chip but a mold for pressing plastic is quite expensive. Its of course a one time cost.
They are doing it in Mexico - recycling plastic and creating panels for cheap housing.
So 40k for a 2000 sqft house? What would this include?
My goal is to discuss options. I have no capital to invest in anything. I did get contacted by an NGO so who knows what could happen. With all the plastic here in the landfills on both sides of the island it could be that this is at least a break even business in the mid term.
Chip, exactly my point. you do not have the capital, nor do I, and I doubt a lot of individuals interested in this. You need to have the molds made, a factory to recycle the plastic, and the financial backing for this... I doubt an NGO is able to do this.
You are talking big bucks to get this of the ground. Not 100 or 200 grand, you are talking Millions.
But I applaud you for your efforts, and ideas.
BelgianK
chip, back home we've head for ages houses built from something like cement panels, for the lack of the better word. fortified with steel bars, of course. so what about pre-fabricated panels of some sort? i know that in europe there are plenty of new technologies using anything from wood to kinda plastic like elements for house building. there must be something similar that could be used here...
btw, i would not go ridiculously big as you suggest. 185 sq meters? this is huge. most dominicans have very small houses, saves on the cost of land as well and permits a small vegetable garden on the side. i would go for houses that are 50-70 sq meters, this is plenty. 50 meters will have enough space for sala-cocina, one bathroom and three small bedrooms, just about big enough to fit one double bed (or two singles) and a small chest of drawers (build in wardrobe is a must).
a bathroom can easily be 2x2, enough space to fit a small shower, sink and a toilet. dominicans do not spend much time bathing and grooming in the bathroom, it's a wash and go space (i do not mean here dominicans are dirty, just that they do not linger inside the bathroom soaking and pampering).
maybe they have too much money chip's project is for poor dominicans and they do not have that much time on their hands
chip, back home we've head for ages houses built from something like cement panels, for the lack of the better word. fortified with steel bars, of course. so what about pre-fabricated panels of some sort? i know that in europe there are plenty of new technologies using anything from wood to kinda plastic like elements for house building. there must be something similar that could be used here...
btw, i would not go ridiculously big as you suggest. 185 sq meters? this is huge. most dominicans have very small houses, saves on the cost of land as well and permits a small vegetable garden on the side. i would go for houses that are 50-70 sq meters, this is plenty. 50 meters will have enough space for sala-cocina, one bathroom and three small bedrooms, just about big enough to fit one double bed (or two singles) and a small chest of drawers (build in wardrobe is a must).
a bathroom can easily be 2x2, enough space to fit a small shower, sink and a toilet. dominicans do not spend much time bathing and grooming in the bathroom, it's a wash and go space (i do not mean here dominicans are dirty, just that they do not linger inside the bathroom soaking and pampering).
I actually was thinking about 55 sm being the average for the houses for this type of construction.
now we are talking. this would be perfect and still fit all livable sections. good idea to make ceilings quite high enough to fit inside bedrooms those double bed bunks (whatever they are called, one below, one above).
now, on a more serious note. you are right about the grooming, dominicanas spend more time on that than most gringas
but i have been to some dominican apartments just as described my me above: really small and quite cramped and no lady would spend any more time in the bathroom than 10 minutes. one, there is no hot water and two, there is no mirror there
so really, when it comes to a functional space i would go small. dominicans love to share and meet with others. and that usually happens outside, on the gallery, in a colmado, whatever. so i think it is much better to have a house that is small inside and has a bigger patio. it just makes more sense in DR.