Prefabricated Homes, New Companies?
Submitted by Adrian on Wed, 2005/03/09 - 14:33.
On the radio, several times now, I have heard talk of two north American companies, poised to relocate to Nicaragua, post-CAFTA. I have never heard the names of the companies stated on the radio, nor in the press releases for CAFTA. Does anyone know what companies these are, and what materials are used in their pre-fabricated homes, and where they intend to sell the homes?
Pre-Fab Concrete
A couple of weeks ago I was watching something on TV (I forgot which channel) that showed this new type of pre-fabbed concrete that was made with sand, concrete, air and other materials. It was 1/5th the weight of concrete and folded/formed into a working piece that was approx. 18" x 3" x 96". They mentioned that it was being used in Europe already.
The neat thing about it was that you could easily drill through it, saw through it or shape it anyway you want. It seems that this might be the future of concrete and possibly home building in the west.
Has anyone seen this on TV and remember what the actual name of it is? I did a search without any luck.
Sal
pre fab walling
I actuall work at a place that produces a pre-fab walling system that use cement and foam balls. The finished product is called Calsonite.
http://www.monarchbuilding.com.au/mps/mps.html for more information.
Pre-fab Homes...New companies
http://www.eco-tropicalresorts.com/
Perhaps this "Grancrete" construction is something that might be of interest. I read a brief story where a 5000 Sq Ft hospital in Costa Rica was constructed for a materials cost of $11,000 (US). It took 8 days to construct, and that included a roof, slab, walls, electrical,& plumbing. (do not know where it actually is in Costa Rica) Anyways, here is a link to the Grancrete, where one might get a lead should they be interested:
http://www.techtransfer.anl.gov/docs/Grancrete%20R&D100.pdf
New product
Thanks for that post Byron. I've been researching the grancrete product for several days and have contacted a few people who will be putting it on the market. Actually, I am quite interested in becomming a distributor if it is, in fact, the real deal. I found your post through google and as such, am not from Nicaragua. I am from Hawaii. I'm just curious where you read about this hospital. Pretty impressive numbers there. Good luck in your business ventures and endeavors.
PreFabricated Homes
Every Prefab home I’ve seen is made of a steel structure in which concrete slabs are inserted into the frame work. Ill post a picture I put in a report last summer, attempting to explain what they were constructed with. I cant imagin they are coming to build the first generation of log homes, rather to take advantage of Nicaraguas housing crunch and goverment land.
sturctural insulated concrete panel with Grancrete
I caught a web comment about using the newly developed Grancrete for spaying over styrofoam panels to build low cost homes...its the buzz here in Texas in concrete homes...I understand the Argone National Labs has helped develop this material that is easier and less costly to produce than cement and with higher tensile strenth is being used to throw up a small home in a day or two with local inexperienced labor and local material...has anyone seen this yet
Prior Info and Opinion.
This "Grancrete" was also discussed under a different thread.
http://www.nicaliving.com/node/view/1113 _____________________________________________
I still think that the regular old-time cement block construction is the best form. In Puerto Cabezas, the blocks are always price-fixed at fifty/cents U$ each and in Corn Island, the cost is price-fixed at U$1/block. ____________________________________________________________________
Pete--Picture came later!
Pete--I saw your house picture after my post below on your post. In Corn Island & Puerto Cabezas; all cement panels are the same size, the upright support posts are cement with grooves for cement panel insertion, and no steel beams are used. Wood beams are the roof supports with zinc as the top. I believe there were 3 or 4 house sizes available.
Move to Steel & Concrete
Alan, I think were going to see the move to steel and concrete in the future, wood was cheaper at one time but now metal framed housing is even becoming more popular in the states as the cost difference is much different then even ten years ago. Then again, housing materials in just the last 1 1/2 years have tripled, at least on the west coast. I know the CEPAD folks, not that has to do with anything, just saying I know who your talking about.
Pete
More Questions!
I appreciate your comments and I can understand using steel for the roof supports. The wood does not last many years with the climate on this Atlantic Coast. My problem is that steel beams are not readily available here and wood is always available. I could buy steel roof supports in Managua and ship by truck.
I do not understand using steel for wall supports. The houses here have the prefab cement wall supports with grooves that the cement panels slide into the wall supports. Are the steel wall supports cheaper than the cement supports. On this Atlantic Coast, the "salt spray" eats at the steel; but, not at the cement wall supports. Also, your picture of cement panels seem to be of various sizes. The cement panels on the Atlantic Coast seem to be about 3'x4'. I could go walk a block and measure; but, it seems like today that I can not leave the computer.
PreFab Homes in Corn Island & Puerto Cabezas.
Until about 2 years ago, you could find these prefab houses laying around on many owner's properties in Corn Island; but, never built. A few are still laying on the ground about the island. This construction came to Corn Island after the hurricane of 1988 which destroyed many houses in the island. A group from Denmark, I believe, started this project and the project was under the control of "CEPAD". Also, Puerto Cabezas has quite a few of these prefab houses.
The construction is quick and easy. Erect the prefab cement beams and then slide the prefab cement panels in the grooves of the beams. Pour your cement floor, erect wood beams for the roof,and put the zinc roofing and done.
Simple & Easy & Low Cost!
Homes, or home materials?
I am not sure I saw the saw thing as your (or, as you heard). Mostly just pro-CAFTA blabber from the U.S. government, and the economic-development wing of the Embassy/State Department. They mentioned one such pre-fab company, but didn´t name it. However, from the blurbs it was not clear to me if they were to make homes, or make some materials used to make pre-fab houses, or what, exactly. Seems strange to be these companies are not in the open. In the past, the companies name was used as a touting point, and their needs or wants or whatever were common knowledge, and negotiating points in agreements. Then again, maybe the idiotic secrecy of CAFTA rules preclude this. If these companies were to make "kit homes" or dome homes or panels, or whatever out of recycled materials or something in some way unique, I would definitely be interested in what they do (but I doubt this is what they will be doing).
No Names
I found it strange that they were not named, but I know little about U.S. business practices abroad, so I thought maybe it was common to be unnamed until after you incorporate and start to build/hire. It didnt occus to me that they might not make the actual home; from the wording, they said "...one of the leading manufacturers of pre-fabricated homes ... poised to move operations to Nicaragua, post-CAFTA". I just assumed they would make the home, but now that I think about it, how do you export a home-even were it a kit home?