TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » Building your Baja dream home

I see most buildings are built of either foam or concrete block with very large footings to support the weight of the building, in light of having more conventional building materials available in Baja, why do I not see more wood or metal stud framing? I am by no means a mason but I can frame and my thoughts are: Less footing size, less concrete over all, no block to soak up the heavy moisture on the pacific side, Insulation is not as big of a factor in that area. Has anyone framed using wood or steel studs?

Thanks

There are a couple of reasons why I think you don't see a lot of wood frame construction in lieu of block down here, especially on the beach.

1) Wood is more expensive down here than north of the border.

2) Baja has some vicious termites.

3) Wood is flammable and fire department response is nothing to be counted on.

4) Block is what most builders down here know and use.

I do think that metal stud framing is a very viable alternative but I am not sure what the cost comparison is for north/south of the border.

Anybody here have a clue???

Not as stylish as common structures.. but, had looked into "Butler" type structures..

Found one that would deliver to San Yasidro a 40' x 40' structure. They come in packages, and are installed on the existing concrete foundation, or if you want to go really cheap, pier posts. It bolts together, legs bolt to foundation, legs, and roofing all bolt together.. and it just brought up into position with block and tackle or a forklift if you can get one.. it's like an erector set.. anyone could put one together..

The delivered price to San Yasidro was $16,500 dollars... (that was their last quote, they had started out at $35,000.... This Company was/is in Georgia and was looking big time to sell some product.. Commercial building has dropped in case no one has been watching..

This one came with two roll up doors on one end, that were 12' wide and 10' in height.. and were remote controlled.. it was also insulated with R 45, (walls and attic) and had two steel doors, one by the roll ups. and one in the front for the main entrance.. also had multiple windows

It was going to give an area which could be "framed out" on the inside ... to live in, with your bathroom and the rest.. and could be any size one would want.. the other part of the area that was not the living area was to be used for inside storage and a shop area.

It seemed to be a workable way to go... if you're not to concerned about living in a structure which looks like a box.. but then figured one could come up with something to help soften the overall look of living in a shop building...

Hey bass... it might even fit all your stuff....

Just thought I'd throw it into the hopper....it all helps..

Originally Posted by wessongroup

Not as stylish as common structures.. but, had looked into "Butler" type structures..

Found one that would deliver to San Yasidro a 40' x 40' structure. They come in packages, and are installed on the existing concrete foundation, or if you want to go really cheap, pier posts. It bolts together, legs bolt to foundation, legs, and roofing all bolt together.. and it just brought up into position with block and tackle or a forklift if you can get one.. it's like an erector set.. anyone could put one together..

The delivered price to San Yasidro was $16,500 dollars... (that was their last quote, they had started out at $35,000.... This Company was/is in Georgia and was looking big time to sell some product.. Commercial building has dropped in case no one has been watching..

This one came with two roll up doors on one end, that were 12' wide and 10' in height.. and were remote controlled.. it was also insulated with R 45, (walls and attic) and had two steel doors, one by the roll ups. and one in the front for the main entrance.. also had multiple windows

It was going to give an area which could be "framed out" on the inside ... to live in, with your bathroom and the rest.. and could be any size one would want.. the other part of the area that was not the living area was to be used for inside storage and a shop area.

It seemed to be a workable way to go... if you're not to concerned about living in a structure which looks like a box.. but then figured one could come up with something to help soften the overall look of living in a shop building...

Hey bass... it might even fit all your stuff....

Just thought I'd throw it into the hopper....it all helps..

This would be steel stud framing for exterior & interior walls in lieu of wood stud framing and still be wrapped in stucco and drywalled inside. Bit easier for electrical, plumbing ect. and not like a steel "Butler" building.

I wood-framed my house and metal framing is getting to be common.

Those humongous footing ditches you see are deceiving, in a way. They trench wide and in some cases deep, then fill them two thirds with large rock, then fill with concrete mixed like loose soup. It's scarey as far as I'm concerned.

Home Depot here has Doug Fir and it's a bit more than in the states, but that's the price you pay. Just buy it and don't think about it anymore.

Steel is a bit more than D.F....not much, but it's all available right here.

Plan your project so you can do it without running out of money....build it and enjoy life.

Thanks Dennis, with the termite problem I may opt to build in steel studs. I have an Architect friend that may be able to help with a set of plans after I make my initial design. Money? this will have to be a build as I go for I am in the dreaded construction industry here in California which means mostly broke, but I have a lot of time on my hands.

Originally Posted by Gringo Gary

Thanks Dennis, with the termite problem I may opt to build in steel studs. I have an Architect friend that may be able to help with a set of plans after I make my initial design. Money? this will have to be a build as I go for I am in the dreaded construction industry here in California which means mostly broke, but I have a lot of time on my hands.

In your case, Gary....you will have to build in a protected spot. Otherwise, your project will disappear when you go back north to work. It would be a shame to have to buy the material more than once.
Good luck.

Nope it was a "butler building" steel legs, which "bolt" down onto studs sunk in the concrete when putting the footings in.. could order the height of your sides.. too..

The insulation you just "stuff" between the "braces" which are strung between the "legs"

A crew was around $1,800 to come in and set the whole thing up in two days, from San Diego .. if you had a forklift for moving "parts around".. some of the pieces could not be lifted by one individual.. had one lined up from Rosarito... one could do it.. if...

Steel legs, roof supports that arch from the legs to center bean.. for the roof.. all steel.. with that typical metal exterior.. no stucco or wood involved at all.. then once you have your wire and plumbing done.. put in the insulation.. roof height was also adjustable, based on your needs..

Just looked through my stuff, and have tossed it all... and don't or can't remember who it was... will check some other places and see if I can find it... it was around December of 2009 I was thinking along the lines of building a structure on "purchased land" ... and was looking ... at different things.. for down here... quick, resistant to salt(?) was told the beams and the rest was powerder coated... and bugs.. other than the wife said she would not live in it.. there was no problem...

The area that I have picked is the last lot in a band of about 30 houses south of the town of Erendira (Malibu Beach Sur) and is watched to a point by the vacationing homeowners as well as the land owner and that may not be enough to keep materials anchored to the ground. I may have to build it in Phases like they do in San Felipe at the new resorts.

Noticed that the Border crossing guards were replaced wit a bunch of kids. Got pulled to secondary pulling my toyhauler and cut up 2x's and some blocks to be used for camp fire and the kid was trying to call them building materials (Prohibito) No Entry. I offered to buy a permit but that never came about and once he checked the vin numbers on all 3 quads I was let go to proceed. What can you bring in to Mexico now days? and what is the limit per crossing?

GG

Ron was basically correct with his reply as to reason for the dearth of wood structures. You can add poverty to the mix. Concrete materials are in endless supply. Steel framing is a rather modern development. One really great phenomenon that arose from the Mexican emphasis on concrete, is that there are so many, many great artists working in that media. Ditto tile.

Originally Posted by Gringo Gary

What can you bring in to Mexico now days? and what is the limit per crossing?

GG

I'm not sure of the limit. The number seems to dance around depending on so many variables, but I believe the exempt value of allowed items is 50 dollars per person.
The border ain't even close to what it used to be. You can pretty much forget lumber....even small amounts.
I've given up trying to smuggle. There's too much random revision and it just isn't worth it. If I have a pricey item that I can't buy here, I'll pay the duty. That hovers around the 17% mark.
On the other hand, receipts are easy to make, but don't tell anybody I said that.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

On the other hand, receipts are easy to make, but don't tell anybody I said that.

"Can you say QuickBooks? I knew you could!"






you can also buy a simple receipt book for about $2.50. Use it all the time for used car sales/registration purposes.

[The border ain't even close to what it used to be. You can pretty much forget lumber....even small amounts.)

So it looks like all construction materials are prohibited from importation? how about used?

Some great advice in the thread here, especially from Dennis. As far as the footings for block, they are supposed to put in large, rebar anchors for the castillos and tie them all along the trenches to each other with rebar that is sized to the load it will hold. They are also supposed to pour a rebar reenforced concrete footing on top of the "soupy rock" mix as Dennis calls it.

Personally this is one of the most important steps in the building of your house IMHO. I advise everybody to always get their builder to explain exactly how they will build theirs and then be there to witness the job. I have seen many footings where they cut corners and it is always with the homeowners absent.

Did you pre-treat your lumber for termites Dennis?

Originally Posted by Gringo Gary

So it looks like all construction materials are prohibited from importation? how about used?

No. You can import as much as you want, but there goes your saving. May as well buy it here.

Used lumber is the same and I don't even think you can even import firewood.

Just buy it here.

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Did you pre-treat your lumber for termites Dennis?

My house is post 'n pier construction. 55 posts on concrete piers as much as five feet off the ground at the low side of the lot.
Everything underneith is either Wolmanized or treated by me with Copper Green.
I don't worry about termites, Ron. I worry about the Pacifico getting warm.

It's all about attitude...

I recently built a garage 25'x75' and used wood construction. The termites around Bahia are voracious. I put 2' of block and then the stud walls with treated plate. So far no bugs, but it has only been 2 years, time will tell. I had the slab and foundation done by local labor, and they did as Dennis described, dug trenches and then filled with rock and a few shovel fulls of cement. I am skeptical, but when you drive around Bahia, you don't see any houses falling down because of poor foundations. As Dennis says, as long as the beer is cold, who cares?
Larry

Well, I probably should have poured a few more cold drinks before we started and could have saved on all the extra rebar I made them use on my foundations...

I've built a couple of interior walls with local 2 x 4's and drywall. I don't know why, but it's nearly impossible to find boards that don't have the rings right in the center of the cut. They twist something awful. Now I'm not a carpenter, so I may be doing something wrong, but trying to build square openings for closet doors was definitely a test of my patience. From now on I will be using steel studs. It's worth the extra few pesos.

If you import lumber, as Dennis says, there's really no cost savings. I think the advantage though, is that you can get better quality wood.