Building a house in Trinidad

[striver]

Hello wats the cost to have a decking done 15' long by 20' wide and abt 10' high

[The Raven]

$40k is a good price pal. 50x60 is like 2 houses in one. you should consider from those masons or contractors the price to plaster and install the door frames and windows (steel) / plaster window pockets for sliding type. the cost for plastering should be same as that to block up.

so for that size $80k is a good price.

York,
thanks for the feed back. I just wanted to know that i was not being rob. So its a good price for the block up for the up stairs? thats just blocking up and not plastering. Its with ring beam...I feel much more comfortable now if thats the average price.
Thanks.

[GRIM]

wtk the cost (labour and material) per sq. foot for terrazzo floor.

[The Raven]

Always like that^ but not seeing it done as much.

[York]

wtk the cost (labour and material) per sq. foot for terrazzo floor.

might be $25 -$30 per sq ft.

Porcelain tiles may be equal or less than terrazzo but you need to have the floor plastered / screeded flat and the tile men have to be really good. Screeding not necessary for terrazzo.

[York]

$40k is a good price pal. 50x60 is like 2 houses in one. you should consider from those masons or contractors the price to plaster and install the door frames and windows (steel) / plaster window pockets for sliding type. the cost for plastering should be same as that to block up.

so for that size $80k is a good price.

York,
thanks for the feed back. I just wanted to know that i was not being rob. So its a good price for the block up for the up stairs? thats just blocking up and not plastering. Its with ring beam...I feel much more comfortable now if thats the average price.
Thanks.

really it depends on the number of blocks. ask the contractor for the material list. In the meantime try to get another quote or when you get the number of blocks, ask other contractors for a price based on that number. Labour and material might be about $150-$160k for blockwork and plastering if you using masons with your supply of material. Contractors will charge about $200k.

[York]

I don't play with Lego but if you do, it's not helping your comprehension skills. A simple question was asked.

You said you used it so just wanted a little more details as to the framing material and economical use of the board. Does the framing material have to be used in the top and everywhere the board is joined?

Sorry did not realise my comprehension skills match your construction skills.

Any joints need to be reinforced with internal framing. also you place intermediate framing depending on the thickness of the board. I used 3/8" sheets and reinforced at 4' centres. Its just like doing a gypsum ceiling except the board is more rigid. I then had the gypsum guys mud and sand the wall. Cheaper than sand/cement render and smoother finish. Price the board and framing labour is 1/2 based on experience. you can only put up so many blocks to build a wall to prevent the lowest row from moving. you don't have that limitation with the concrete board. take a walk through any new private housing development doing townhouses or duplexes for sale and you will see the finished product.

skipping the pleasantries...my point was that aluminum material is very expensive. Are those walls, single or double sheeted? do they match the width of aluminium door frames? otherwise how are the doors installed? where are the sheets and framing sold?

[GRIM]

wtk the cost (labour and material) per sq. foot for terrazzo floor.

might be $25 -$30 per sq ft.

Porcelain tiles may be equal or less than terrazzo but you need to have the floor plastered / screeded flat and the tile men have to be really good. Screeding not necessary for terrazzo.

i ent want to use tile as i thinkin bout doin it in my garage

now approximately how many 4'' red brick can be laid with 1 bag of cement?

[boxy]

with regards to a builders estimate how much do u think will be the cost for 1465sqft of space upstairs only

[The Raven]

York 200k sound a lot to block up and plaster an upstairs 40x50.
Hope ists not that much.

[subie_2NR]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

[Ted_v2]

quick question, I was given a estimate of 3500$ to weld and fabricate a shed 30x16. Post already planted. guttering needs to be installed with that figure.

that's good? dunno have no idea

[GRIM]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

how may blocks was used and how many bags of cement, only for laying of blocks no ring beam.

[York]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

which is what i said, $150-$160k if you supply material and manage labour. $200k is what a "contractor" would charge because he would have to make a profit for taking the risk and managing the labour and material on site. the contractor would be responsible to supply the material as well. it's called a "turn-key" job / contract.

the client benefits from having a fixed price and no overruns, possibly a signed contract as well. all for $40k more. the client can choose...pay the $$ or take the headache. many ppl dont have the technical know-how, neither the time, energy, etc...

[subie_2NR]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

how may blocks was used and how many bags of cement, only for laying of blocks no ring beam.

Blocks used was 1 load and 7 pallets which is approx. 5300 blocks can't give you the amount of cement used.

[subie_2NR]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

which is what i said, $150-$160k if you supply material and manage labour. $200k is what a "contractor" would charge because he would have to make a profit for taking the risk and managing the labour and material on site. the contractor would be responsible to supply the material as well. it's called a "turn-key" job / contract.

the client benefits from having a fixed price and no overruns, possibly a signed contract as well. all for $40k more. the client can choose...pay the $$ or take the headache. many ppl dont have the technical know-how, neither the time, energy, etc...

I took the labor contract from the builder but I supplied the material based on his material listing. But 40k is a lot of money to just "give" a contractor. Most of the time the material required is less than what the contractor states, so it's better off you handle that in your own.

[York]

My house is 32x40 upstairs and downstairs it cost $55k to block up to ring beam and I was given a rough estimate of $40k to plaster. This is labor alone.

That $200k is a lot even if it's with material I think it shouldn't cross $150 given that size

how may blocks was used and how many bags of cement, only for laying of blocks no ring beam.

Blocks used was 1 load and 7 pallets which is approx. 5300 blocks can't give you the amount of cement used.

A pallet of ABEL blocks is just over 300. the total number looks good though.

[York]

quick question, I was given a estimate of 3500$ to weld and fabricate a shed 30x16. Post already planted. guttering needs to be installed with that figure.

that's good? dunno have no idea

wont get any less...

[subie_2NR]

312 in a pallet from Abel to be exact

[York]

312 in a pallet from Abel to be exact

yes that's it thanks. so basically you paid $10 per block. this is a good rate to estimate for anyone, plus or minus...because some have more bathrooms and closets which means more walls per sq ft.

[The Raven]

So I guess 40k labour for blocking up and ring beam on a 40x50 is good.
Thanks guys.

[York]

So I guess 40k labour for blocking up and ring beam on a 40x50 is good.
Thanks guys.

As it's an upstairs yes, clarify about supply if scaffolding and time taken to complete. If you supply and builder delays, it will cost you. Also, casting the corners and tees where the walls meet and steel tied beam for the ring beam. Many do shorthand and just put a couple of 1/2" steel instead of a proper beam with 4 bars. Cause you may not see or be there when they cast it.

[The Raven]

Ok, good points. I know they are looking yo use the big blocks and fill with concrete and put steel, will verify 4 steel is use. How much stell is used on the ring beam?

[York]

Ok, good points. I know they are looking yo use the big blocks and fill with concrete and put steel, will verify 4 steel is use. How much stell is used on the ring beam?

Let them use the clay blocks 4x8x16" vertical core for the corners and fill with concrete and steel. Clay has more space for concrete than concrete 4" blocks. Ring beam four 1/2" with 3/8" stirrups.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Don't use 4 inch wide blocks for structural purposes. There are 6 inch wide vertical core clay blocks. Use those in areas where you intend to place steel (12mm diameter high tensile (ribbed) bars) and concrete (3000psi @ 28 days cylinder strength) in the cores.

Don't forget to put horizontal reinforcement in every three rows of blocks.

[York]

That's 2 1/4" steel bars laid on the horizontal row of blocks every 3 block height.

[Rory Phoulorie]

That's 2 1/4" steel bars laid on the horizontal row of blocks every 3 block height.

That could work, but what I have seen is that, depending on the skill of the mason, the bars get displaced from their correct position and end up out of the mortar bed. They therefore end up serving no purpose.

I prefer to use Brickforce horizontal reinforcement where there are cross bars which keep the main longitudinal reinforcement in the correct position in the mortar bed.

[NR8]

What do these horizontal bars tie into at the end/corners of the wall?

[York]

What do these horizontal bars tie into at the end/corners of the wall?

the steel / concrete coming out of the floor, 1/2"

[York]

That's 2 1/4" steel bars laid on the horizontal row of blocks every 3 block height.

That could work, but what I have seen is that, depending on the skill of the mason, the bars get displaced from their correct position and end up out of the mortar bed. They therefore end up serving no purpose.

I prefer to use Brickforce horizontal reinforcement where there are cross bars which keep the main longitudinal reinforcement in the correct position in the mortar bed.

who sells these locally? might be expensive...

it's would be hard to not get mortar between horizontal core clay blocks. To miss the mortar the steel would have to go out of the block, extruding outside.