Building a house in Trinidad

[MD Marketers]

Anyone know of a contractor or company that sells house plan templates and provide construction also?

Mr Kelvin Rampersad. Retired building inspector. He is an architect & a builder. Rampersad & Associates.
681-4076
He takes you through the whole town and country process in the blink of an eye.
Tell him Shane gave you the number.
He is normally booked so if he can't do the construction message me and I will recommend you a good builder.

[Pointman-IA]

Shane and York.
Thanks for the information regarding the concrete question I asked.

[MD Marketers]

Shane and York.
Thanks for the information regarding the concrete question I asked.

Don't forget Rory. Very good advice on the chemicals

[ramorr]

WTK the cost in labour for the foundation to accommodate a 2 storey house 30ft x 45 ft with a 15ft x 15 ft add on room in the back and a 20ft x 21 ft garage to the front?

The 2nd floor planned is for everything except the garage portion

[MD Marketers]

WTK the cost in labour for the foundation to accommodate a 2 storey house 30ft x 45 ft with a 15ft x 15 ft add on room in the back and a 20ft x 21 ft garage to the front?

The 2nd floor planned is for everything except the garage portion

Around $35k-$50k labor depending on the land.
Materials could be between 2-3 times more than the labour cost.
If you are serious about starting soon, do a site visit.

[urbandilema]

This is actually a good price for the listing and tanks for the tuners who listed the gentleman who listed for the tc process.to me have a person experienced can help an individual to the building process..

[Sunic]

Anyone know of a contractor or company that sells house plan templates and provide construction also?

Mr Kelvin Rampersad. Retired building inspector. He is an architect & a builder. Rampersad & Associates.
681-4076
He takes you through the whole town and country process in the blink of an eye.
Tell him Shane gave you the number.
He is normally booked so if he can't do the construction message me and I will recommend you a good builder.

thanks

[urbandilema]

Quick question again I know people say to hold off on property purchasing but I've supposed to visit a lot in south trinidad side to check a lot.the realtor says it has tc and is developed.the asking price is 400k I have 25% of price asking.should I venture in purchasing or hold off.secondly I was thinking of checking ttmf or republic bank to finance me for the remaining.also I believe I qualify as I checked it online.
Tanx

[MD Marketers]

Quick question again I know people say to hold off on property purchasing but I've supposed to visit a lot in south trinidad side to check a lot.the realtor says it has tc and is developed.the asking price is 400k I have 25% of price asking.should I venture in purchasing or hold off.secondly I was thinking of checking ttmf or republic bank to finance me for the remaining.also I believe I qualify as I checked it online.
Tanx

I take it you mean due to the current recession we are supposedly having.
Who told you hold off on property purchasing & why?

It depends on what stage of the recession we are in. It's severity and length matters.

Some points to note when buying land in a recession:
1. If you buy over priced land you could be stuck with it for quite some time.
2. If you buy land that is underdeveloped or too far from the metropolitan areas of your country you will struggle to make any gains from business ventures
3. If you buy land that you can barely pay for on your current income, chances are the recession will only make it worst.
4. If you buy land in the hopes that consumer demand will patronize any business you intend to derive from it you are setting yourself up for a fall.
5. If the mortgage rates are lowered during a recession and the above factors are not that imposing it might be a good opportunity to buy.
6. If your job security is threatened by the recession you should hold off on the purchase of land until you can ride out the insecurity. If you get fired you might lose it or sell it at a loss.
7. If you try to sell the land out of necessity during the recession you will probably make a loss
8. Financial institutions are not your friends during times of recession. They are more concerned with their self interest than yours due to an insecure economy & every deal they make is meant to benefit them more than you.
9. Land that requires further spending after purchase to get it to a usable state will put you under extreme financial stress during a recession.
10. If you are a businessman never pass up a steal of a deal during a recession if all the above factors are in the positive, you stand to make the most profit after the recession is over. Population growth after a recession will result in raised demand for property and your land value will grow rapidly.
11. If you have the money to burn and don't need to see a return on investments anytime in the near future for you to live comfortably then it might be a good idea to purchase land at the lower prices brought about due to recession and ride out the storm for a huge profit in the long term.
12. If you must invest in something then land is better to invest in than stocks or other alternative investments during a recession. No point keeping the money under your mattress for 10 years.
13. If the financial institution is offering low long term fixed rates, tax deductible interest and the ability for you to sell or rent before paying off the loan then take it. That is if you can afford to wait a few years before the opportunity presents itself to sell or rent.

[brams112]

Quick question again I know people say to hold off on property purchasing but I've supposed to visit a lot in south trinidad side to check a lot.the realtor says it has tc and is developed.the asking price is 400k I have 25% of price asking.should I venture in purchasing or hold off.secondly I was thinking of checking ttmf or republic bank to finance me for the remaining.also I believe I qualify as I checked it online.
Tanx

Find out who is the owner,go meet him,tell him someone told you they think it for sale,so here you are,ask how much they want or offer 250ks,most times the agent wants to make a killing,been there done that, got plenty more info from going about it yourself.Most times you will pay less by dealing with the owner directly.

[WetR]

good info in this thread.

i'm thinking of adding a 2nd storey to my garage. the garage is on RC foundation with RC columns and beams. my concern is that the garage/first floor would become a "soft storey" after adding the steel frame second storey.

please let me know of the dangers and possible solutions for this situation. would the RC columns need reinforcing? im thinking of using wooden floors to minimise the weight. thanks

[MD Marketers]

good info in this thread.

i'm thinking of adding a 2nd storey to my garage. the garage is on RC foundation with RC columns and beams. my concern is that the garage/first floor would become a "soft storey" after adding the steel frame second storey.

please let me know of the dangers and possible solutions for this situation. would the RC columns need reinforcing? im thinking of using wooden floors to minimise the weight. thanks

RC means reinforced concrete. You want to reinforce a reinforced concrete column?
Are you sure it's RC columns and beams? If this is true then the builder made the garage with the intention to go up another level, so it shouldn't be an issue. What reason do you have to doubt the stability off the structure?
How deep are the piles & buttresses?
Are there interlocking ground beams?
How wide are the overhead beams spanning?
You should do a site visit and consultation with an experienced builder before making any decisions.

[WetR]

thanks for the reply. the garage was built over a decade ago, so i'm starting to do some due diligence on it before proceeding. please see the quote below for answers to your questions.

good info in this thread.

i'm thinking of adding a 2nd storey to my garage. the garage is on RC foundation with RC columns and beams. my concern is that the garage/first floor would become a "soft storey" after adding the steel frame second storey.

please let me know of the dangers and possible solutions for this situation. would the RC columns need reinforcing? im thinking of using wooden floors to minimise the weight. thanks

RC means reinforced concrete. You want to reinforce a reinforced concrete column?
Are you sure it's RC columns and beams? If this is true then the builder made the garage with the intention to go up another level, so it shouldn't be an issue. What reason do you have to doubt the stability off the structure? wondering if the current structure can hold a steel frame 2nd storey (27x22 sq feet)
How deep are the piles & buttresses? 2 to 4 feet
Are there interlocking ground beams? not that i am aware of
How wide are the overhead beams spanning? the longest span between columns is 20 feet
You should do a site visit and consultation with an experienced builder before making any decisions.

[ramorr]

WTK

Any recommendations on a good/reliable builder for a project in the Freeport area. I got a couple of estimates for the job thus far and even though i am willing to redymix for the foundation and floors the labour cost was estimated more than the actual material cost. This was amazing to see the kind of robbery that takes place out there. Now I have a fair amount experience building houses and i know what is required my job does not allow me the luxury of time to find workmen and watch men work all day everyday. But I have certain requirements that are fundamental to the building of a solid foundation.

[MD Marketers]

thanks for the reply. the garage was built over a decade ago, so i'm starting to do some due diligence on it before proceeding. please see the quote below for answers to your questions.

good info in this thread.

i'm thinking of adding a 2nd storey to my garage. the garage is on RC foundation with RC columns and beams. my concern is that the garage/first floor would become a "soft storey" after adding the steel frame second storey.

please let me know of the dangers and possible solutions for this situation. would the RC columns need reinforcing? im thinking of using wooden floors to minimise the weight. thanks

RC means reinforced concrete. You want to reinforce a reinforced concrete column?
Are you sure it's RC columns and beams? If this is true then the builder made the garage with the intention to go up another level, so it shouldn't be an issue. What reason do you have to doubt the stability off the structure? wondering if the current structure can hold a steel frame 2nd storey (27x22 sq feet)
How deep are the piles & buttresses? 2 to 4 feet
Are there interlocking ground beams? not that i am aware of
How wide are the overhead beams spanning? the longest span between columns is 20 feet
You should do a site visit and consultation with an experienced builder before making any decisions.

You need interlocking ground beams & I beams to cross the 20' span.
The buttresses and piles are not deep enough to support the structure if you don't have fully interlocking ground beams and spans over 20' long.

You are going to need 4 additional columns placed 2' away from the garage.
You will need 4 interlocking ground beams.
You will need 2 24' I beams.

[MD Marketers]

WTK

Any recommendations on a good/reliable builder for a project in the Freeport area. I got a couple of estimates for the job thus far and even though i am willing to redymix for the foundation and floors the labour cost was estimated more than the actual material cost. This was amazing to see the kind of robbery that takes place out there. Now I have a fair amount experience building houses and i know what is required my job does not allow me the luxury of time to find workmen and watch men work all day everyday. But I have certain requirements that are fundamental to the building of a solid foundation.

Call this number 380-3227. Ask for Akim Paul from IGML. Tell him Shane gave you the number.
There is no way the labor cost on a foundation could exceed the readymix material cost unless you were building a house on the tip of el cerro del aripo.

[York]

WTK the cost in labour for the foundation to accommodate a 2 storey house 30ft x 45 ft with a 15ft x 15 ft add on room in the back and a 20ft x 21 ft garage to the front?

The 2nd floor planned is for everything except the garage portion

$40-$45K Labour, $80-$90k material with readymix est'd.

[urbandilema]

Thanks will do try that..and thanks for d advice..I saw the land advertised in the classifieds supposed to go view it . secondly the land will be for my use as o wanted to acquire a piece as firstly I not getting thru with non government land or house and I'm getting older.job security is good point but how they say it's a risk.will tell u all how d property looks.all I know so far it has tc app and I believe also acess to the basic utilities as water and electricity

[York]

Thanks will do try that..and thanks for d advice..I saw the land advertised in the classifieds supposed to go view it . secondly the land will be for my use as o wanted to acquire a piece as firstly I not getting thru with non government land or house and I'm getting older.job security is good point but how they say it's a risk.will tell u all how d property looks.all I know so far it has tc app and I believe also acess to the basic utilities as water and electricity

If its privately owned, ask if they have or can get a valuation. If u buying u will need one to confirm the stamp duty. Value to u should be based on location and surrounding houses, not just an approved lot of land in the middle of no where. Find out if its final or outline approval. Ask if they have a letter from T&C advising the status of the land, approved or not. Again its required for stamp duty exemption.

[The Raven]

Guys, looking to make the most of the dry weather. While I hold up on the building due to the cracks. I want to back fill the yard and surrounding areas. Has there been any increase in a load of dirt? What is the average cost for a 10 yards?

[toscati]

Couple questions on town and country approval –
If land is approved for single family, will T/C approve plans which include a 1 bedroom apartment within the same building? Thinking of having mother live with me in her own space
Second, T/C online info is scant. Anywhere else online can get info?

[MD Marketers]

Guys, looking to make the most of the dry weather. While I hold up on the building due to the cracks. I want to back fill the yard and surrounding areas. Has there been any increase in a load of dirt? What is the average cost for a 10 yards?

Dirt fill $300-$400 per load
Sand fill $400-$500 per load
Overburden $500-$600 per load.


The key to a successful backfilling project is compaction, support and filtration.
If the type of backfill you use isn't compacted properly it will eventually drop causing reduce support for it's intended purpose. Sand fill gives the closest compaction of the 3 I listed.

In water logged soil you want a backfill that although properly compacted stil allows water to filtrate in and out of the backfill. Overburden and rubble allows for good filtration.

When backfilling areas without the intent of supporting a structure in the short term dirt fill is commonly used and given time to settle. In many cases the dirt fill is delivered free from another construction site looking for a location to dump the excess dirt.

[MD Marketers]

Couple questions on town and country approval –
If land is approved for single family, will T/C approve plans which include a 1 bedroom apartment within the same building? Thinking of having mother live with me in her own space
Second, T/C online info is scant. Anywhere else online can get info?

Certain types of designs will throw a red flag when it hits t/c. I don't see a single apartment throwing a red flag however. Have the draughtsman make it look like a part of the complete structure rather than something seperate & apart.
If you are later found to be using a residentially approved site for commercial purposes you will find yourself in some problems.

[toscati]

Certain types of designs will throw a red flag when it hits t/c. I don't see a single apartment throwing a red flag however. Have the draughtsman make it look like a part of the complete structure rather than something seperate & apart.
If you are later found to be using a residentially approved site for commercial purposes you will find yourself in some problems.

Thanks for the response!

[The Raven]

Thanks for taking the time to reply MD.

[rodni9450]

What sizes of Beams should i use for a decking , concrete columns already exist 12' x 14' apart,
Complete Size 24' x 42'

[zoom rader]

Very interesting chead, has to be one of the better chead on tuner.

[uncle sam]

Very good stuff in here

[MD Marketers]

What sizes of Beams should i use for a decking , concrete columns already exist 12' x 14' apart,
Complete Size 24' x 42'

Which one are you going?
I beam or rc beam?
For spans crossing 20' we use I beams since steel rods only come 19'6"s.
Another use of I beams is to eliminate center columns that take up space, especially in garages.

Since you already have rc columns and the span is at most 14' long you can go with an rc beam. Try to keep the beam the same thickness as the columns or it off balances the beams when resting on the columns.
If your column is 12"x12" then make your beams 12" wide also. The height of the beam can vary between 10"-14"s to finish with or below the floor height.
If you are going deck pan don't forget to place some starter bars in the beams to lock in the deck pan before you cast the decking.
Don't just take my advice over the Internet, do a site visit with an experienced builder (like myself) as there are many things on site that only a builder might be able to see & advise.

[urbandilema]

Well thanks for the info.the area I searched was two lots in gasparillo in two different locations.the first one I didn't really like as the location and the second one has a huge drop not exactly a flat piece.well I was depressing but I go continue the searching and process as I termed headache.if any tuners have land for sale in gasparillo or claxton bay pm.sorry if I asking too much..blessings