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In response to your quote [b]Lavender,[/b]”The best part – great dental, health care for $40/month”. Have you actually used this service? While this price is if you go with the group rate at ARCR, is very good, you will like most others here, fork out more $$$$’s to use private services. Yes, the cost is still much lower than in the USA, but be prepared to pay. Or wait……
For emergency treatment such as a heart attack or accident, it is invaluable, but for cancer, and other diseases or ailments which require fast action, you are on your own.[quote=”pebo1″]We would prefer to construct our home without bars on doors and windows but understand that the reasons for security.[/quote]
Consider high-tech window films as an alternative to metal barriers. You can get them clear or tinted. The thick films render the glass virtually unbreakable and afford UV protection as well. Some are heat reflective.
We have this film (clear) on most of the windows in our two homes and on our car side windows. I invite anyone to tell me which windows are and are not filmed.
Both Johnson and 3M films are available in Costa Rica.
Thanks David, I wasn’t aware these were available for the home.
Was also thinking of going with high end windows/patio doors ie Pella or similar.
But agree with your recommendation are they effective against burglars?
David,
Can you provide an approximate cost of the window film you referenced? Is it very available in CR? This is something that I may want to have placed on my new home.soldier, I’m reluctant to quote prices for somebody else’s products and services. That said, I think I recall that our films cost about $20 per square meter installed with a ten-year warranty. That’s for the heaviest weight Johnson films. The cost of 3M films will surely vary.
I’m sure that Control Solar from Alajuela will travel just about anywhere to install Johnson films. Can’t speak for 3M’s distributor.
Johnson gave us a DVD that showed a guy trying to break into a car side window by smashing it with a two-pound hammer. On about the tenth blow, the glass broke but the film on the inside remained intact, so he still couldn’t get in.
As I said above, these films exclude about 98% of UV radiation. And they hold the glass in place even if it breaks. So in a violent earthquake the glass might break, but you won’t have large pieces flying around to lacerate you. There are thinner Johnson films that either just exclude UV or exclude UV and hold the broken glass in place but are not hammerproof.
If there’s a downside to the films, it is that they can’t be seen by wannabe burglars. I’ve said to Control Solar that they ought to install them with warning labels.
pebo, I don’t know how far into it you are, but in many building projects, the architect designates the sizes of the window and door openings. Then the builder builds what he builds. Then the door and window contractors come in and build a custom door or window to fit each opening. It’s the reverse of the process in the U.S. but it works perfectly well.
And my guess would be that custom-made doors and windows, while equally serviceable, would be much less expensive than imported Pella products. Pella’s expensive in the U.S. Add in freight and Customs duties and you have to really, really want them.
Too, many windows here are made with aluminum frames. You can get a natural “mill” finish or there are a couple of colors. These frames require no maintenance ever. Can the Pellas say that?
Costa Rican construction workers do good work, but expecting them to leave you an opening that will exactly accommodate a factory-made Pella window makes me nervous.
Thanks David,
I am only in the early planning stages, have the property now but won’t likely build till next year.
Just information gathering on this site from those with the experience.
Appreciate all the useful data.
[quote=”sprite”]All I know for sure is that the vast, vast majority of people do not find it necessary or perhaps even desirable to live behind walls in this country.[/quote]
Sprite, citation needed for your factoid.
About helth care we already experienced in 2009.
We’ve spent $30 in a dental office for an exam, filling and cleaning of whole mouth.
We ‘ve spent $6 for eye Dr appointmnt including exam (30 min), introocular pressure test, prescription for glasses. Glasses with desiners frame, fotosensitivity, were 40% of us/canada prices and were ready in 36 hours.
No complains. Just appreciation.[quote=”jdocop”]jneiman, why ever would you need a citation for this statement? All you have to do is take a bus ride, or go for a drive in a car………you’ll see for yourself that the “vast, vast majority of people” do not, in fact, live in gated communities, nor do they, in fact, have walls all around their modest homes.[/quote]
Please re-read the quote. Most houses here are behind their own walls, gates, barbed wire and razor wire. If you live in the country, it is less so, however those do not make up the “vast, vast majority of people”.
To each his own. I could care less if one chooses to live in a gated community, luxury high rise, city or farm. I think when we sound so judgmental it can cause unneeded hard feelings and conflict.
If its not hurting you or anyone else, why not simply live and let live…
[quote=”*Lotus”]To each his own. I could care less if one chooses to live in a gated community, luxury high rise, city or farm. I think when we sound so judgmental it can cause unneeded hard feelings and conflict.
If its not hurting you or anyone else, why not simply live and let live…[/quote]
Hi, Lotus
I agree with you 100%. We have to respect and accept other people choices. We all worked very hard for MANY years to be able to afford place in CR. Why don’t we all enjoy the fruits of our labor, put EGO aside, try to help new to Cr people instead prejudging ….Good day you all
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