Any first hand exp with precast concrete cabina’s

[tomstew1]

I just bought a beautiful property just outside San Ramon. I am going to build a home for me and my wife, a bodaga and a guest cabina…The cabina will come first so that I have somewhere to stay when monitoring the construction of the home….

I have heard of and seen from the road, a precast concrete home…They look fairly simple to build and may suit my needs as a guest cabina…I would like to hear of any first hand experiences with those who have had one built. I would also like to know what kind of price you paid if possible…We plan on something around 800 sf.

Thanks in advance.
Tom

[Andrew]

I will ask Tom – our resident construction expert to comment on this for you…

It’s very convenient that you ask this questions because Tom has been working on an article about this topic…

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

[sprite]

Let me add a “ME TOO” to your request for info as I am planing the very same thing in the same area.
I spent some time hanging around a beautiful house under construction on the outskirts of Palmares. The quality of the work seemed top notch. I spoke at length to the Tico supervisor on site who told me nearly all materials can be obtained locally..no need to transport from San Jose area. In fact, on the way to my property near Palmitos is a cement
facility only a kilometer away.
Which side of San Ramon are you located…north, south east, west…?

[tomstew1]

Sprite:
I’m NW of San Ramon outside a little village called Rio Jesus….Beautiful views to Gulf and Pacific. Puntarenas actually looks fantastic at night….about 3000′ elevation…I have a builder named Roy that another gringo in SR recommended….I’ve seen his work from forms on the slab to finish and he does good work….I just want to speed up the process for the Cabina and hopefully save a little money to put more in my main house….I spoke with my gringo friend last night (Ben Cart) and he and I are going to tour one of the precast plants located around Palmares…I’m headed down sept 4th to meet with Architect and attorney in SR….

Where are you located both in CR and stateside?

TS

[sprite]

I live now in Miami. My property is near Palmitos, a sweet little pueblo if ever there was one. My 12,000 sq meters is about 3 kilometers off the Intramericana almost directly east of San Ramon at about 3200 feet above sea level.
No grand towering mountains or ocean views, rather it has a more intimate and very pretty view across the gulch over the Rio Grande. About a kilometer from my land is a cement place of some sort. It may well be the pre-cast site you speak of.
I come down and stay in San Ramon about every 6 months for a week. I try to talk to as many locals and people in the construction business as I can make time for while I am there. I won’t be building my main house for some time but am seriously considering a small guest house about 750 sq ft.

[DavidCMurray]

We have built a guest house and a main house outside Grecia. The living area of the guest house is about 840 square feet. If anyone is interested in seeing what that much space looks like, give us a call or send an e-mail. We’re always open to visitors.

[Andrew]

Our man Tom is working on a comprehensive response for you but as he tells me, he’s a builder not a writer…

Will post it as soon as it’s ready.

Scott

[tomstew1]

Scott:
I will be in CR Sept 4th…Can you get me Tom’s number if he is close to San Ramon…I would like to meet with him and see his work compared to Roy’s…

Thanks,
TS

[Andrew]

Tom Rosenberger is NOT in San Ramon and does NOT build in San Ramon.

If you wish to build closer to San Jose, then you can contact Tom by using the Contact Form in his most recent article

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

[crhomebuilder]

Over the years I have been hired by several foreigners to inspect the construction of pre-fab home systems because the purchasers were not satisfied with the finishing of the walls. The initial cost and time to assemble the packages is attractive. Unless you’ve worked with a lot of concrete finish construction you could not anticipate the challenges to finish the plastering of the interior and exterior walls. Unfortunately, for the owners, the costs to finish these thin wall panel, pre-fab designs has always been more costly and time consuming than they anticipated because the purchaser was envisioning smooth finished walls like they have been accustomed to living in for most of their lives.
Additionally, the electrical conduits are pre-installed in the columns so the location of your electric plugs is limited by where you position the columns. The finished panels and posts have a difference of 1″ to 2″ that needs to be compensated for with plaster in the rooms that you would like to be smooth finished. Perhaps in your garage it would not be important to have normal looking smooth plastered walls but most folks want to live in finished rooms.
Take a look at the photos at; http://www.escosacr.com/galeria-vivienda-e.htm. If you can envision yourself being comfortable in a home like this then go for it. Just like with anything else anywhere you go, you get what you pay for. Also on this site we recently discussed a similar subject about Manufactured Homes in Costa Rica. https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/forum/openthread.cfm?forum=1&ThreadID=1598

[maravilla]

There’s a prefab slab house going up in our hood outside San Ramon. Ben knows where our hood is and if you give me your e-mail addy I will give you the specifics, such as name of person building said prefab slab house.

[tomstew1]

email is: toms@tomstewartinsurance.com
I appreciate all of your reply’s….will be down in early sept to inspect one and go from there….

Thanks again,
Tom

[finca2]

David,

I saw your message and if you wouldn’t mind, my husband and I would love to see your guest house. We will be arriving in CR on the 12th of October. We have property in Guanacaste- and go your way to the finca. Here is my email – can we get in touch?
rootsgrl@tampabay.rr.com – gracias, Rhonda

[tomstew1]

David:
I would love to come by…please shoot me a private email and I’ll contact you.

Thanks,

TS

[Minuit]

Hola… Funny, I had a phonecall from a builder here in Canada who wants me to visit his workshop. He has been building prefab houses here for years, and now has made a prototype fo export in Mexico. He already sold some there. He asked me to go see if those house could meet Costa Rican standards. Haven’t seen it yet, but I can give more info if anyone interested. Jo

[Author]

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