Expenses for Construction of my Casita

 

When I posted my last construction report, I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something—the expenses! So I went back to check on my previous post and found, to my dismay, that I had also forgotten to include them in that post! Since I had bought some supplies for the preceding period, and they were in sufficient quantity to take me into a following one, even two or three, (such as sand, gravel, etc.) I will cover here what my costs have been from my last expense reporting period up to September 9. I’ve stuck a yellow note next to my monitor screen to 'INCLUDE EXPENSES’.

I usually have Demetrio and his helper Ruben on the last week of the month and the first week of the following month. In between, some work had to be done and it was towards the last part of August. Holes that had remained from the trenches needed to be filled and I bought tepetate to do the job. Armex for building the cadena (armature for the concrete base) were needed. Then I prepared for the erection of the walls by buying supplies in advance of this last work period but fell a bit short.

Supplies – Manpower	Cost in pesos	Details – Notes*
Fill holes	900.	3 Days work @ about $27. dollars a day
1 truckload of tepetate	380.
11 bags of cement	1,232.
250 cement blocks	1,250.
300 red bricks	540.
another 300 bricks	540.	Miscalculation-had to get a second load*
11 Armex	1,195.	For metal armature
8 kg metal wire	174.
Wood planks 10’ x 5/8” x 8’ & 4” x 4” x 8’ poles	390.	Had some from before, but missing some more*
Manpower 2 weeks	2,550.	Demetrio @ $300/day Ruben @ $210/day
Black tar paper	120.
Waterproofing compound	373.	Bucket – will have use for more later*
Glass blocks (5)	210.	To show detailed plan *1
Manpower 2 weeks	2,550.	Demetrio @ $300/day Ruben @ $210/day
TOTAL	12,409.	Roughly in dollars equal to $1,094.**

** I am showing a rough estimate for the total only. The exchange rate fluctuates many times a day. There are also service charges tied in to the exchange from dollars to pesos, (I’m receiving my pension in dollars and paying in pesos). The best that I can do because of these fluctuations and the service charges is either hire an accountant to give me the minute-by-minute costs or stick to a rough estimate of the total.

*1 – Note on the plan

I had first made a floor plan on a very large squared plan sheet, which had to be detailed into an excavation plan showing where castillos would need to be erected. Then I moved on to an actual house plan. This turned out to be many sheets of squared paper, one for each outer wall corresponding to each room. As the construction progresses, I will take photos of each wall and include the corresponding plan.

My next report will cover the week of September 26th and the following one of October 3rd.

If you have any questions, please either post a comment to which I will respond with a comment of my own so that everyone will be included, or send me an email at queenieandme@gmail.com

LiveJournal Tags: Construction costs in Mexico

Walls Going Up, Tasha

Days of rain were a bit of a let down in showing the progress. Besides, after explaining all that went up from the mamposteo, the castillos, the next was the building of the cadena. The cadena serves to anchor the castillos well into the mamposteo with a horizontal armature, as explained in a previous post. Now, when finished, here’s what it looks like.














However, before erecting the walls, the cadena is covered with a water repellent and black tar paper at the bottom of the photo above. This to prevent the humidity from penetrating the walls above the cadena.
All that began with the excavation, the building of the mamposteo, erecting of the castillos, the cadena, was very time consuming, which gave the impression that things were going slowly. At least in my unpracticed eye. But at the same time, it reassured me as to the solidity of the foundation!
So finally, I can see progress beyond the ground level! The walls consist of bricks in three layers followed with cement blocks also in three layers. The bricks prevent any cracking in the larger blocks.

The spaces between parts of the walls, where the castillos are, will be filled with concrete poured between forms. The erection is done first half-way up the walls, then the joints filled with concrete as can be seen in the photo above in the center and the corner. Once the walls are erected half-way, the second above phase will begin. The center opening in the photo above will be the living room window.
Demetrio and Ruben have been here two weeks and will return to their other construction site for the next two weeks. Needless to point out that nothing will be worth reporting for the next two weeks and some days. Every time I look though, I can SEE that my little house is becoming a fact, which is quite exciting. To think that on a minimal retiree’s budget, I can still dream of one day having my own house without a mortgage is beyond explaining. I have had houses before, larger because I was raising a family, but with a mortgage to pay, how can I really claim that they were MY houses?  This one though, will be really mine, without a single peso of debt. So yes, it is a bit hard right now, but the outcome is really worth the sacrifices.
Now as to Tasha. Although she’s been with us only six months, and has had only six months of training, her growth belies her age. She’s outgrown Tina as can be seen in the photo below.
 
The only downside is that in her body of about 10 months, she’s acting like a 6 month old puppy. A handful at times. Plus she’s REALLY a shepherd. She goes nuts at the smell, the sound of sheep and cows passing by. She runs around all over in an attempt, I suppose, to round them up, yet never finding them... She’s made a trench around the RV and the bodega from her industrious efforts. And she’s followed by Tina who does it just for the heck of it, as it is clear that she hasn’t the faintest idea what’s going on. Queenie will follow for a while, then shrug it all out and go rest. Every day after the workers are gone, I let them run all over the lot. They take pleasure in jumping over whatever obstacle presents itself. It makes for a day’s exercise well spent and a peaceful sleep at night.
To my blessed relief.

LiveJournal Tags: Construction in Mexico,Tasha