Expat Community > Ecuador

OceanHideaway
Joined 2010
Posts: 6876

Building in Ecuador

14 years ago

A few posts on here have mentioned building in Ecuador.

In particular one poster brought up the subject of earthquakes (tremors) and building without an engineer.

On the latter to quote his posting:

"People build houses without drawings using a foreman (maestro de obra)-to save money-and they are not always built to any type of code and are not registered with the government. This may sell cheaper now but later own you will someday have to deal with the registration and pay penalties and conform to code. "

Our new 2 story, 6 bedroom (6 1/2 bath) guesthouse was built based on a picture (frontage) drawn by the architect we chose and built with a foreman and a work crew of from 5 to 20 workers Monday through Friday (8 until 5) and Saturday (til noon.)

Code and zoning was followed and both code and zoning came to the property 3 times to sign off on the excavation, the use of rebar and on the final project.

The building, with changes in the size and placement of windows on the second floor, and adding the 1/2 bath to the first floor guest salon, an additional septic tank, and final touch ups came in within $5,000 of our original budget (which had smaller windows and an only one septic) and the architect has returned to the property to follow up on any issues we have (we discovered we needed drainage under the pathways after the rains came, for example.)

My recommendations if you decide to build on your property is to find architects who work in the area so that they have access to their suppliers and crew. To find an architect we simply asked around at buildings we liked and also asked our new friends and acquaintances. For example I asked my hairdresser, dentist, doctor, and my neighbors.

We had the help of a competent translator when we sat down so we could more easily communicate our needs and desires.

We followed up everything with a letter so that every party was sure that of what we had decided to do.

Once again I can't say enough about my on-site family ~ my gatekeepers ~ who not only had knowledge of the property itself from living on-site for so many years and being the handy-man, but were my eyes and ears with the workers.

The workers themselves were a great bunch. Hard working, talented, and good spirits. Laughter and songs and jokes were the order of the day. We provided hammocks for siesta and lunch was provided as part of the contract price. There were two days that the lunch wagon (truck) couldn't make it so we made sandwiches and chips and fruit and soda/juice. The last hour of each day was always clean up and then the workmen went to the back bodega attached to the gatekeepers house and hosed down, changed from their work clothes to their street clothes, and looking dapper -- as only a Costena senor can -- went on their way.

Susan
www.theOceanHideaway.com

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Building in Ecuador

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