In the realm of construction in Costa Rica, the term “grey work” or “obra gris” in Spanish refers to the skeleton or framework of a building. It eoncompasses the essential structural elements that form the bakcbone of any construction project.
These elements include:
· Foundation: The sturdy base upon which the entire structure rests, providing stability and support against
natural forces such as earthquakes and soil movement, which are particularly relevant in the seismic regions of Costa Rica.
· Plumbing & Electrical: Make sure all water and sewer lines are installed and ready to connect to your fixtures. Install electrical breaker box, switches, plugs and basic lighting.
· Roof Structure: The framework that supports the roof, protecting the building from the elements and providing shelter for its inhabitants.
· Walls: Load-bearing walls that divide the interior space and provide additional structural support.
· Thermal and Acoustic Insulation: Insure proper insulation and air sealing of the structure. This is rarely done properly in Guanacaste and beach areas!
Our approach to working on your construction project is to first help you to develop plans and to focus on the grey work as our priority.
Additionally, it is easier in Costa Rica to get a
“habitable” house than it is in the USA or Canada in order to get governmental
permission to occupy the structure. Costa Rica does not require certain finishes and systems to be installed before living in your home. If we can simply focus on getting your house to a basic habitable state, you can move in if you want without all the amenities. The advantage of this approach is that you can come down and personally oversee the finishing touches and choose finishes like fixtures and tiles.
Alternatively, once the grey work is finished, you can work with us or other contractors to price out your finishes. But in any event, once we have the basic structure enclosed and safe, we can close out the project with the municipality and the college of engineers and architects so the government of Costa Rica will see your project as finished even in a very rustic state without all the final finishes applied.
Furthermore, no matter how humble or luxurious the home will eventually be, the basic structure of the house is still made of basic concrete and steel. It is much easier for us to estimate the cost of your project without any misunderstandings. It is quite common for there to be disagreements with a builder if they were estimating “contractor grade” type of finishes and windows where you wanted something more expensive. These are the type of situations where you feel you are getting “short changed” and only understand at a later part of the project the cost-cutting assumptions the builder made in your contract. When you focus on grey work to start, there is little left to interpretation because you are working with commodities like concrete and steel.
Our Costa Rica construction services include:
· Design and Planning: We listen to your vision and work
with you to develop a custom design that meets your needs and budget.
· Permits and Approvals: We help you navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape, ensuring your project complies with all local laws and regulations.
· Construction Management: Our team manages the construction process from start to finish, ensuring each stage of the project is completed on time and within budget.
· Quality Control: We have a rigorous quality control process in place, ensuring that every aspect of your project meets our high standards.
The items that are generally NOT included in our estimate is the 13% IVA tax, municipal fees, fees for the college of architects and engineers, septic system design/construction, large amounts of land clearing/leveling, extra foundation costs on unstable soil or hilly terrain, or bringing utilities to the site. But the best way to understand these costs is to have our engineers complete a site and soil evaluation for your lot. No matter who you use to construct your home you will need this completed. The site evaluation and soil study help us to give you an accurate estimate of these extra costs.
The best thing about focusing on the grey work first is that we can provide a relatively accurate estimate based on the square footage/meters of your project quickly. We can be even more accurate once we understand the site’s conditions.
Please review our pricing page to get more details on the cost of this service and contact us if you have any questions!