Looking for advice/ideas on homes that can be built in 3rd world countries
Pretty new to construction and working with a team of investors so excuse any newbie questions.
I am interested in building homes in 3rd world countries that focus on energy efficiency, ease of contsruction, durability, and cost effectiveness–ie, being able to build the home for a price range of say $30-$40k total. I saw a few different systems online that seemed to emphasize this such as:
http://www.easydomes.com/?mainmenu=1&menu=0&init=1
http://www.bondbuildingsystems.com/
http://www.monolithic.com/topics/plandesign-residential
Was wondering if anyone knew of any other systems that possiby offered something along these lines or if anyone had any comments on these systems, good/bad?
Also, does anyone know of a shotcrete mix that would utilize styrofoam like EPScrete that can be shot for walls? I’ve seen info online about this type of EPScrete mix but not for shotcrete. Is EPScrete actually durable for the walls of a house? Or is it not really ideal as far as durability goes?
Any information greatly appreciated.
Replies
I'm quite sure this field has been plowed before, many times. You should research what the various NGOs (eg, Habitat International) are doing .
Keep in mind that making use of available (indigenous) materials and minimal specialized tools and hardware is important, as is taking advantage of unskilled (or "differently skilled") labor.
What Third World countries are you thinking about where people could afford $30-$40K for a house? Most people in Third World countries are living on less than $2.00 a day and are worried about starving to death, not living in a 3/2. Ot are you talking about building vacation homes for wealthy Europeans?
Yeah, I was kinda wondering that too.
Hey
Was quite busy, hopefully can continue a discussion on this. But it's in Tanzania, maybe not quite a 3rd world country. I'm told by the investors that the median income level and market there should be able to afford housing in that price range. Any ideas/advice?
So, have you researched indigenous construction styles, indigenous materials, family sizes, cooking and heating/cooling needs, insect issues (both vs the building and its inhabitants), rainfall, etc?
A quick Google search shows that the average monthly income in Tanzania is about 100,000 shillings or $66.00 a month and that has to support fairly large families. It looks to me like whoever did the calculations may have confused shillings with dollars.
But, to your specific questions. Housing is local. Just like you wouldn't buy a yurt to live in in the USA a typical, large American house wouldn't sell in Tanzania. The best, cheapest and easiest to sell house there would be just like the ones they live in now and would use local materials and labor to build.
Here's what others are building there.
http://hopebuilding.pbworks.com/w/page/19222662/More-than-100,000-Tanzanian-homes-built-with-bricks-fired-by-agricultural-waste
homes in 3rd world countries that focus on energy efficiency, ease of contsruction, durability, and cost effectiveness
Search the archives for the key word 'shed' or sheds' - lots of ideas for building a habitable 200 ft square space for well under $1 (yep, one) a sq foot, sometimes as low as 10 cents.
Another vote for wondering who in 3rd world has $40K to 'help out' a 'group of investors' -- which implies profit motive vs. a non-profit philanthropy?
read this thread, esp the 'girlbuilder' responses describing the folks in upstate NY and their home:
http://forums.finehomebuilding.com/breaktime/general-discussion/cheapest-shed-yet
hey, I think I amy not have explained what we're trying to do that well in the OP, but we have a group of investors that is understaking this project with a profit motive and are looking to build houses on a large scale in this country. in order to do so we are trying to have homes that are self-sufficient energy wise due to infrastructure and government related issues, and also would like to haev the homes be durable. the population there wouldn't be able to afford $40k outright to build the home but we have a plan for setting up financing with the middle class population in the area. our main obstacle at this point is finding a system for building homes that can be done for a price range of $40k or less ideally and be made utilizing resources available in that area.
You need to employ some experts at construction your particular target area -- it's not going to suffice to just get ideas off the internet. Your two likely sources for these experts would be indigenous contractors and those working for housing-related NGOs in the area.
As for building a serviceable "middle class" house for $30-40K, it's certainly possible, if land costs aren't a big part of the equation, and materials costs aren't inflated for some reason. One assumes labor costs would be low, and labor costs are roughly half the equation in the US.
What is your target square footage/home
I am certain you realize that most of the of the planet's peoples live in homes that are a fraction of the square footage of American homes---probably stuctures no larger than most of our garages . For the amounts you site, you can build a 'relativly" palatial home in almost any 3rd world area if you strictly focus on only providing a strucure with a roof over their heads. But I suspect that you are also trying to factoring infrastructure like septic fields and water supply delivery and not just focusing on building structures alone---I.E organized communities.
I'm not an expert on these matters but of the three methods you site, only the Bond Building is the most cost effective IMO. The other two at first blush look to be way over the top for 3rd world needs. The fact that they are being thought of makes me also wonder what are the over arching motives behind your requests---If I'm wrong, I'm very sorry to have miss read your intentions but it does seem a might suspect without further explanation. As others have pointed out, contact NGOs to assist you futher.
Good luck
hey, thanks for the feedback, my motives are really just trying to give ideas of some of the systems we looked into, but really the main focus is trying to find a system for building homes that can be done quickly and for a price range under $40k or so... was just throwing out ideas I had come across online. I will look into NGOs
Low cost homes
Try Habitat for Humanity International they build in almost all countries.
http://forums.finehomebuildin
duplicate deleted - musta posted twice as it did not look like it posted at first.
How that went
Bob W was involved in building some bread ovens in Haiti before the eathquake there, anybody ever heard from Bob on how that went ?
They got tired of listening & popped him in the oven?
Joe H
I've seen where they take shipping containers and convert them to housing units. Very sturdy and easy to arrange. You can stack them and connect them together. Very simple idea. Can't remember the website I saw them.
Also saw a modular design using a steel frame ... again can't recall the website/company.
I assume you are talking about housing for the masses ... other wise I can't help you.
Modular construction makes sense ... but your materials and your approach may depend on the location you are considering. Some locations are more conducive to e.g. mud bricks or adobe. Local materials are key.
There is a LOT of information out there on alternative architectural construction.
good luck and have fun w/ the research.
Hey, do appreciate the feedback. The money mentioned isn't donated, it's investors money. When you say get real do you mean you don't think this can be done for the price range we are shooting for?
ha ha ha ha
all for making money but you are going into a country that has very few regulations trying to make money ,
so it will be the american and canadian way ,I will lend you a dollar and you owe me ten
been seeing alot of investors going into places and getting the money and running ,
it has happend around here a few times the saviors ,maybe you are legit not sure
everyone has a sales pitch .
Composite homes
Hey there,
we offer home building kits that are hurricaine proof, flood proof, have been tested for missile impact tests, etc. these homes can be put together by 4 people in about 2 days with no heavy equipment. we use a fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic composite panel to put up the homes. they cost about $12000 per house. contact me through the information on my website
http://www.ascomposite.com
homes for developing countries
Check out your local Habitat for Humanity, they will be a lot of help, I am sure they would be happy to help you out, even if you don't build through them. I volunteer for them and encourage everyone to give it a go.
building homes in 3rd world countries
1st --first and for most is the location. What is the ground like?
Every home must consider what it is being built on which is why there is a test for it.
2nd Surounding materials that maybe used
3rd sewer system and water system how far to a tie in
or well and spetic -leaching fields etc.
homes have been built for centuries using what ever materials are available at next to no cost.;
however i will never undersand why anyone would build a home out of manure.
examples of homes built from local materials
Check out earth homes made from packing dirt into old tires, straw homes, thatch roofs over decades of years old
homes carved out of mountains by indians, Adobe (mud/clay), where there is clay you have a material that can be
made into brick, tile, roof tiles, chimneys caps and clay pipes.
Rich foundations that say they want to help people kill me because the should be building clay processing plants
in 3rd world countries to make bricks, tiles, roofing tiles, and clay pipes they have been used for centuries in just
about every developed/developing nation. and yet we still don't seem to have an over abundance of them and are stuck
with brick veneer unless you want to pay what seems to most an exhorbant amount of money. When was the last time you saw a home being built with full brick double course interlock where it is as wide as the brick is long.
Like the idea of tilt wall fine homebuilding has an article on it with field stone face that has fingered corners very nice
I would add a couple of things in the walls as well but don't want to give away all my idea's
(SIPS) Structually insulated Panel systems maybe an answer someplaces alothough I have been told Frre Fighters don't like them because they can give off fumes in a fire.
Concrete would be good if materials are available-- strong , no rotting, and no insect problem,
living roofs provide good instulation and may provide food.
Early settlers had herb gardens
Well I think I have written enough and i do not have a survey site plan with elevations percolation test etc
with know materials in area and local trades people.
godspeed and good luck to all who endeavour to lessen the burden of the poor and meek