- Thread starter Dalhart
- Start date
Builder/Contractor
Contractor
Del Dobbs
I really haven't given that too much thought yet. I am trying to get a ball park figure on cost of construction of a beach villa (3-4 bedroom). I just want to talk to some builders/contractors and get a feel for cost and construction methods. I am still looking for a suitable piece of land.Escott said:
Del Dobbs
Dalhart said:
Try contacting Arquictect Dario Franco. He's based in Santiago but has done work all over the country. He has designed and buillt several mountain and beach vacation homes and has done repairing works at villas in Casa de Campo that got hit by Hurricane Georges back in 98. I think he is presently in the process of building at least two villas at the Melia's Palma Real project in the Bavaro-Punta Cana area. Email him at dijacagua@yahoo.com.
Hope the info comes in handy.
Asterix
The DR is a very large Island. You wont get a north coast builder to the capital or the reverse. Costs vary by sq. meter according to quality of finish and of course land costs vary wildly depending.
I can probably help you once you get an idea.
Escott
I can probably help you once you get an idea.
Escott
Dalhart said:
Well established good builders basically build to your needs, if you tell them you want it "stormproof", they will build it stormproof, although it will cost you more.
A friend of mine had some "hurricane shudders" installed at his golf villa and paid about US$ 9,000 for it.
thanks
Thanks guys,
I was wondering costs and I will check out the builder referenced in one of the posts. I was wondering if it would be cost effective to have a plan designed in the U.S. by the materials here and ship them to DR via cargo box. I am betting that most of the homes that are able to withstand harsh storms/hurricanes are constructed of poured concrete?(that is something that wouldn't be cost effective to ship).
Again thanks for your help
One more thing does anyone know of a link or site where contractors are listed or on-line yellow pages?
Del Dobbs
Thanks guys,
I was wondering costs and I will check out the builder referenced in one of the posts. I was wondering if it would be cost effective to have a plan designed in the U.S. by the materials here and ship them to DR via cargo box. I am betting that most of the homes that are able to withstand harsh storms/hurricanes are constructed of poured concrete?(that is something that wouldn't be cost effective to ship).
Again thanks for your help
One more thing does anyone know of a link or site where contractors are listed or on-line yellow pages?
Del Dobbs
Here's a link to the on-line yellow pages:Dalhart said:
If you build
Anywhere between between R?o San Juan and Monte Cristi on the North Shore, you don't need to worry. My old house on stilts has beent here forever!!
That said if you are into spending large, you can have one built that will "resist" hurricanes.
Dude, there is little that is "proof"' when it comes to hurricanes, well, maybe blockhouses......
In a real one you'll lose windows roof tiles and maybe a tree or two through the living room... For a hurricane proof dwelling, look at the Maginot Line of WWI.
OR, build on the North Coast where we don't have to worry...
HB
Anywhere between between R?o San Juan and Monte Cristi on the North Shore, you don't need to worry. My old house on stilts has beent here forever!!
That said if you are into spending large, you can have one built that will "resist" hurricanes.
Dude, there is little that is "proof"' when it comes to hurricanes, well, maybe blockhouses......
In a real one you'll lose windows roof tiles and maybe a tree or two through the living room... For a hurricane proof dwelling, look at the Maginot Line of WWI.OR, build on the North Coast where we don't have to worry...
HB
Dalhart said:
Your bet was right... most new villa type construction is done using CBS blocks or concrete frame filled with bricks... Either will resit most any weather you could survive. The main difference, when compared to South Florida (Dade County building code) is the roof... it's usually poured concrete too. Some patios, lanays or porches may use more traditional technologies, including wood, bamboo and/or some type of leaf covering (cana), which you?d probably have to kiss bye bye once a the storm hits you, but it may still be an option for these aplications... new tourist resorts (inluding Punta Cana Int?l Airport) chose it... so...
Inside walls (room separations) are brick or in some cases CBS (where needed for structural reasons). To the contrary of some frame roofing systems used in the US, concrete roofs are not only supported by the outer walls but by at least some of the inside walls too.
So, I would not think that shipping CBS blocks, bricks and cement would really give you any advantage
.Remains your window protections (shutters etc.) and any modern technology you might want to implement your project with. These may include some items you may find more easily in the States and most certainly at a better price and greater variety.
As for seeking a suitable builder for your project, I believe the best approach would be to (phisically) check out current construction sites and recently finished homes around the area you plan to build. Talk to owners and people in general... get to know who is who and who seems to have a good reputation. I don?t really see the need for a BIG builder for a single family home. The few big construction companies there seem to specialize on large projects and may not even be set up to handle your project.
Architects in the DR seem to act as general contractors and developers. I am not yet clear about if that is the best approach, I as a builder (but sorry I am not yet operative in the DR) do not face your problem, so... I might be the wrong person to give you advise.
But anyway, I do not really see the sense to use an architect in the US except maybe to give you a little help you along with putting on paper your general ideas about what the house should look and feel like.
Building with CBS blocks, bricks and concrete is fairly simple as long one respects some very basic and simple rules but this is not the technology most comonly used in the US, depending on the region you are from.
If your are just half way good at putting on paper what ever is on your mind, you could use a simple software like 3D Home Architect Deluxe, which you can get at most any large Computer store in the US (CompUSA o similar). It will assist you in drawing your ideas respecting dimension relationships to most comon furniture and apliances. Then get your plan to a DR architect and have him to the technical version of it, while revising the faisability of your ideas... That?s just my take on it.
Hope this is of help to you... J-D.
Thanks JD
Your information has been most helpful. I was originally looking at Home plans books sold in the US. They usually have a beach home section...I began to realize that maybe that isn't the best approach for the DR. I do have some villa drawings from when I was corresponding with Cap Cana. Those villas and the ones found in magazines greatly differ.
Del Dobbs
Your information has been most helpful. I was originally looking at Home plans books sold in the US. They usually have a beach home section...I began to realize that maybe that isn't the best approach for the DR. I do have some villa drawings from when I was corresponding with Cap Cana. Those villas and the ones found in magazines greatly differ.
Del Dobbs