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Container homes in Panama off grid!

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Seargent
  7/23/2017 22:52 EST

Hello guys!
I had great responses on my last post. Thank you all! Now I like to know of any of you with container homes or knowledge of them in Panama. It may be a long shot but who knows!!!
Thank you !

ptyexpat
  7/24/2017 09:23 EST

Seargent
Panama is a great place to relocate and retire if you have the right balance of character, values, financial backing , health, integrity, temperament, interpersonal discipline, skill sets, scene of adventure, attitude, vision, adaptability, patience, flexibility, vestment, outlook and a desire to give more than you take.

Based on you expressed interest to live in a shipping container without commercial power is a good indicator that you want to live here on the cheap, that is to say come here leach off Panama all the while contribute little to nothing.
There is no free lunch in Panama, if you don’t want to spend the time, effort and capital to properly integrate into this fascinating and dynamic country then I recommend that you say where you are.

Panama is a good choice for some but not for everyone.

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PadreJ
  7/24/2017 09:28 EST

"Based on you expressed interest to live in a shipping container without commercial power is a good indicator that you want to live here on the cheap, that is to say come here leach off Panama all the while contribute little to nothing." BS! Not a charitable thing to say and this idea in no way makes one to be a leech! Be civil please! I don't care how many years you've been in Panama, you called this one wrong! Padre J

panamajames
  7/24/2017 09:47 EST

Lots of container homes in Panama. If you come for a visit I will show you a bunch. Some really fancy ones and some that are quite plain.

Seargent
  7/24/2017 10:32 EST

Wow! Thank you for categorizing me as a cheap leach! Usually I would not even respond to such a ignorant reply( not calling you dumb , just uninformed )! My idea is to buy acreage off grid in order to have flexible regulations in order to build employ people to help me build a self sufficient home. Purchase seeds and livestock in order to employ locals with the work and treat them like neighbors not employees. The idea is to grow food and livestock and after I use what I need the rest will go to who ever works with me to take home or sell it to help with their families. My idea was to find a place near a church in order to do volunteer work as I do have unimaginable skills incomprehensible to you and others that think like you. After 25+ yrs in th military traveling all over the word during war and peace,, I do have a grip on what it takes to relate to other cultures without friction not billittering then just because an am American ( witch is our number 1 skill all over the world) am not that guy. Financially I will be solid in 5yrs from now to live anywhere in the U.S but I decided to go somewhere were I can be relax, happy and humble as well as make an impact on the neighborhood that I select and just not go to a gated community and exclude the world out or people that are not like me. ( just because I can afford it) I spent my life serving others from volunteer humanitarian missions to rescue whole villages from weather disasters.
So please! You are not qualify to even measure me as a person nor I need your measurement stick. After spending time at war people change. At one time I may have been as ignorant as your post sounds but after war things change. You think on family and friends first, you tend to value life and new found friends with respect and you realize that being financially solvent and solid it's the easiest most productive way to be in a position to help others. so I want to be independent from utility companies , self reliant, play golf anytime I can to relax, donate a few days a week to do volunteer work and help churches with building project that may be on my " skill sets" as well as provide more financial contribution to the area am living in since there is nothing I can " leach off" other than friendship, culture, piece of mind and ( somehow pay back to humanity for some of the dirty work I have done in the past for my flag) .

Hope you read this post and think before you trash others in here while being uninformed.

Ps I will private message you to make you are inform and no longer ignorant.

By the way my parents are of Spanish decent so am am fluent in Spanish and know how to relate to any culture in Central America or South America .

Seargent
  7/24/2017 10:37 EST

Excuse my spelling and my fast rant response but I felt very insulted and reacted in such.

By the way, thank you for the support Padre!

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RICOBREEZE802MARK
  7/24/2017 11:10 EST

well there are a lot of things to think about, mainly a metal box in the hot sun without power, hum. yeah I don't see you getting laid in that, nor sleeping for that matter. far to hot.

we in el valle have two homes that I know of that were built from containers, one looks like crap, but my friend fred and his lovely wife cynthia have built one that looks wonderful. here is the link to their web site page. what he did is show step by step on what all they did to build one. http://www.panamashippingcontainerhouse.com/

I built a restaurant out of two of them BUT the only reason I did was because I had bought two when I first moved down here to ship my stuff, and then I couldn't find anyone that wanted to buy them and haul them off, so to keep from having to look at em all the time, I used them.

BUT, If I didn't already have them I would not have used them to build. a box will run you around 3 to 4k. then you have to have a truck bring it to your lot, that's another 1k, then back 11 years ago, they didn't have a way to unload them, so I had to pay for a crane and a back ho to lift them while the truck drove out from under them. that ran me another 2k. so you can plan on at least 5k to get it set. to me 5k buys a lot of blocks and cement to build a 10 by 40.

what's that you say it already has a roof? yes but you will have to cover it with another one to keep the sun from cooking you, plus keep the rain from rusting the top out due to water that WILL, find a low spot on top and sit there.

another point you need to think about is, can the truck get to the lot to drop it?

you will already have to spend money to pour a pad to sit it on as well. so why not take the other 5k and go up with walls? again you will have to put a over roof on it as well, so you are not saving any money from the floor to the roof.

you will also have to put some type of floor in it, and walls. to hide the wires. so in the long run you are not going to be saving any money. I know it sounds like a cheaper way out but in the long run it won't be, and instead of a small home you might sale and move on, you will have a box to try to sale, so the resale value isn't there as much either. just my three cents worth. hope it helps you

Seargent
  7/24/2017 11:23 EST

Thank you for the offer PanamaJames. I may take you up on that offer! Very nice of you....

Seargent
  7/24/2017 12:06 EST

Points well taken. Thank you for your honesty!
I have solutions for most of what you mention but there were a few items I didn't think off so thank you for sparking my creativity engine. I will start thinking on those.

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 08:08 EST

Sarge, I think I know where you are coming from...you are interested in low impact housing. Check this out-no reason that you couldn't do it here. We use metal studs (carriola) for roofs, is the only difference. http://earthbagbuilding.com/projects/ourlittlething.htm

PanamaJackie
  7/26/2017 08:35 EST

Everyone I know who owns a shipping container home says it actually costs about twice as much to build that a standard block house. You'll find plenty of contractors who know how to build a block house but you'll have a hard time finding anyone who really knows what they are doing with container homes. So, unless you know how to do the container house conversion yourself, you will do much better with a concrete block house in Panama. (it will be much cooler inside too!)

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Seargent
  7/26/2017 09:20 EST

thank you Jonoyakker!

I saw the site you smudges tend and it's amazing what people can come up with. Very interesting! But it's a little too much low impact for me. If you look at "YouTube luxury container homes" that's more of what am looking for.

Seargent
  7/26/2017 09:23 EST

Oops auto spell ,
I meant,, " I saw the site you suggested and it's amazing . Lol

panamajames
  7/26/2017 09:44 EST

I have a 23 acre farm in Penonome, Cocle Province, where we had planned a container community, then decided on using old tires to build homes, then decided on dome homes as they were less labor intensive. At the present time, we are undecided as how we will proceed but open to suggestions. We are on a gradual slope with a river below on the property, a gorgeous view of the windmills in the distance, plenty warm enough for a community swimming pool and community clubhouse idea. We just need some interesting ideas on development. Penonome could be the perfect place for a retirement community, either expats from around the world or locals from Panama City.

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 10:14 EST

Sarge and anyone else interested in low impact, low cost housing...I probably didn't post the best website for photos of earthbag homes. Often they use funky-rounded features because earthbag construction is ideally suited for that shape. But they can be absolutely built to standard home appearance. This construction method is especially ideal in low wage areas. Much fewer expensive materials are required. Check out these various earthbag home plans: http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/materials/earth/earthbags.htm

finnian
  7/26/2017 10:30 EST

I am curious about shipping container homes. Considering Panama has a TON of shipping containers going through it on a regular basis, one would think we could get them pretty cheaply there, correct? I've had an idea for a "cabin" made from four containers for quite a while and would love to get it made up in the mountains/jungle some day.

lisaw333
  7/26/2017 11:09 EST

jonoyakker ... <3 what an awesome homestead and fantastic page!
Much gratifying work no doubt, to use earth to build your home . It looks beautiful.
Thank you for sharing

panamajames
  7/26/2017 11:55 EST

Many of the older style big metal containers are being sold off in favor of the newer much lighter models today. You can get deals. I had heard that an entire community of container homes was being built nearby but it never happened. It would be no different than a mobile home park in North America. I've got the land if someone has a plan. It could be off grid as well and self sustaining as it is beautiful farming soil on a 365 day flowing river. We'll sell lots cheap if there is a group interested. It is good to have farmland in Panama as part of your portfolio.

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 12:01 EST

I suggest you read Ricobreeze's post (above) He is speaking from experience with regards to container homes in Panama. Better to learn from other's mistakes! If you have already read his post, please tell us how you plan to eliminate some of the costs and problems that he presents so that we can all learn how to make container homes practical.

Seargent
  7/26/2017 12:25 EST

You are very on point PanamaJackie. If you sub everything out it will only save you about 10-20% of a regular home. If you do most of the supervising yourself then the savings a are incredible. I found a contractor in Panama City and we emailed each other they build them for office use( full bathroom and small kitchen and delivered to your location within so many miles off them for about $33 sqft. Not including the container, they go from $1500 to $4500 depending on size height and use. But that's bare, just inside walls, electrical, plumbing,bathroom and kitchen. You have to provide septic, elect, connection to the grid and ac unit. Also You must establish your foundation(stilts, cement slab or columns etc) . When it gets complicated it's when you start using multiple container units to form a bigger house. But if the location you are looking to place a container home it's accessible by a road good enough to support a 40ft semi and a 10ton crane then it can be done. If you use 2"-3" insulation behind the Sheetrock inside and tick stucco and swimming pool deck paint then the heat from the metal is not an issue. The beauty of this units it's that they are design to be stacked up 8 stories hi with 50,000 pounds on each of them inside to be transported on a rocking ship on hi seas and not collapse from the weight. So there is no fear from bad weather, earthquakes , floods etc etc. but if you don't spend at least $55 a sqft then they will look like what they are " shipping containers". The average container home in the US goes for about 70-100 dollars per sqft. That's using contractors prices, and US labor wages not to mention 100 other road blocks from permits to home owners etc etc, you know the drill. I have been planing this for about 2yrs but am still learning. Will be ion Panama in 5yrs and that's my plan so far. Going container. Lol

Ps. To whom ever is listening.... The main drawback on building a container home is that no back will give you a loan. That's why they are rare in the US . most of the ones in the states are second homes for well to do people that have the cash flow. Unfortunately money wins again! It's the perfect house for the working class from cost to durability but only the rich can get them... Isn't that something?
I have a lot more info on this subject so anyone can private message me.

finnian
  7/26/2017 12:37 EST

I saw it and like the house they came up with, but being a residential security expert I would have built it in a different, not so fancy/beautiful, layout. ;-)

I agree with the wisdom he shared, but I do not like cinder blocks. Therefore, my question would be whether a concrete reinforced home, not a cinder block one, would be cheaper than a container one?

With all the difficulties he mentioned, I'm hoping a concrete steel reinforced home is cheaper. Is it hard/expensive to get solid concrete homes built there? Again, I do not like cinder blocks and avoid them.

Thanks in advance!

Seargent
  7/26/2017 12:57 EST

Jono
I read Rico's post and he is absolutely correct. The same problems he had, everyone in the world do as well. You can take two containers he tried to use something that was on his way and make something out of it. I think he did great myself. But the same intent nor vision when you pre plan a design a home from scratch to make it work as one. If he was in a cooler area of Panama then he could have pulled it off without the extra investment but in a hot area you must design well and preplan.

(RICO am not cutting your work down lol. I think you rock and made something out of nothing. )

Guys am not a sales person trying to start a business not a career in Panama but I do know how to build a complete off grid system. Am a certified NABCEP tech so I can building my own solar system etc etc. not trying to talk people into anything just know what I know and just looking for more info from other in the area as there is no such thing as too much data.

Everyone of you have been awesome!

With the exception of one that called me a " leech " for me thinking of going off grid... Still trying to figure that one out! But maybe he had good intentions and it just came all wrong in text form. I know I type too fast myself and never edit before posting so I sound like an 7th grader. Lol

finnian
  7/26/2017 13:11 EST

I cannot use Whatsapp for fb here at work, so I wish we had a better way to chat. Writing back and forth on here is painful.

Seargent, I will be on the grid, but I want the option to also survive completely off the grid too. We'll want both solar and micro hydro while in Panama.

Have you worked with micro hydro at all? I see lots of properties there for sale that could easily do micro hydro, and self contained systems are already on the market. My assumption is that a person who knows how to install solar beyond the panels will also easily install hydro beyond the turbine.

If you can, please join me at:

https://steemit.chat/channel/panama

It will make discussing these things easier.

No chance of getting a chat function to this webpage in the future perhaps?

Thanks everyone,

Finnian

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 13:12 EST

A bag of cement (not pre-mix) is $10 here! I don't know what it costs to bring a cement truck in but I am guessing its not cheap based on the price of bags. The other popular wall option here is called M2 which is foam board between mesh. I can't comment on prices but if you are running AC, I think that's the way to go vs. block or concrete. For me, I would go earth bag construction but I don't mind stepping "outside the box" and it is also supposed to provide good insulation qualities.

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 13:14 EST

I guess we've all engaged our keyboards before our brains at one time or another...

Seargent
  7/26/2017 13:21 EST

Finnian,

Hydro is an awesome concept but I never work with it. I do know people that have but it seams that you must have the perfect conditions, height, and water flow to be able to be constant. And it take quite some land to make enough pressure over footage unless you have a stream with good flow 50-100ft above you. I tend to lean more on the wind turbine as a back up before hydro. No one own the air but you may have to own a river section if you know what I mean... Private message me and I can give you ideas. When I get to Panama I will help others with solar just as a hobby to stay busy when am not playing golf so here comes free labor. Lol

Well 5yrs from now

Seargent
  7/26/2017 13:38 EST

Wow Jono,

Send me pics when you are done with that project. It sounds so awesome! I bet it will be very cost effective and simple engineering.

Gook luck!

RICOBREEZE802MARK
  7/26/2017 15:02 EST

LOL WOW, love this site, so many people with great ideas, and then of course we have to throw in a few A.H.'S who don't want to help with the question but only wants to judge the person asking and shoot their two cents on how one should live their life like them, the only correct way.

good one two combo come back SG.
I get judged all the time like that by people I could buy and sale ten times over.

it sounds to me like you know a heck of a lot more about a shipping box home then you let on.

Thank you for your service by the way. and if your still alive in 5 years maybe we could play a round of golf.

which is another point, 5 years down the road a lot can and will change here and around the world.

the two boxes I used, first off I am lucky, I live in the mountains where it is far cooler then down the hill, 2nd mine are not closed off for a person to live inside. what I did was placed one, then poured 40ft of concrete floor and then placed the other one. threw a v roof over it all, and left the center open. the center is where all the tables and chairs are, one box holds all the kitchen which can still be locked up at night, I cut out a swing up door mid point for food to be served, the other one has a ice cream area in it and the center of it has been cut out for two large booth tables, then the little left in the back is a office. so it all worked out pretty good.

hydro, is great but like you said you really have to have a huge drop to get the water pressure up and even then with the best of systems they really don't pump out enough power to make it worth while, solar has come a long way but still has a long way to go, pricing is what stops me from doing that. power here is cheaper and it would take many years to pay off the investment.

right now I am replacing every bulb in my home to led lights, huge power savings right there, I can burn 6 led bulbs to equal one regular bulb as far as power used, already replaced 100. sounds crazy but I have 15 fans x 4 is 60 bulbs right there.

I also wanted to say something about the guy posting he didn't like concrete blocks to build with. why? what is your reason? You ever seen a concrete block wall burn? ever seen one rot from water? ever seen one rot because bugs ate it? maybe its the look? maybe the strength of them? blocks here are a little weaker made, but once you slap on the inside and outside cement stuco you will have a strong block, plus you can make it look anyway you wish. color dye in the mix, or paint, or smooth or rough looking. sheetrock down here is a HUGE NO NO. because I don't care how great a roof you have, you will get leaks from them, no doubt about it. and once that leak hits that sheetrock, it's cut it out and replace it time. over and over until you get sick of it and rip it all out. drop ceilings are a far better way to go. 2x4 3/4 sheets of plywood, yeah get your big check book out because all wood here is pricey.

also as someone said builders here know cement. solid poured walls will cost you a lot more and in the end you won't see much more then if you used blocks. I pack mine with dirt.

when you pour a solid wall, and I have seen this many times,, I don't care who drew the plans up or how good a builder you have, they will always forget something, a power line here or a drain line there and then you have a solid wall they must bust a hole in to get that pipe in there, not fun. anyway wishing everyone the best no matter which wrong path you take.. lol.

jonoyakker
  7/26/2017 16:45 EST

Regarding solar in Panama...it is a tiered pricing structure that rewards low consumption. In other words, if you use little power each month, your rate is cheap. But get the meter spinning with say an electric stove, water heater, and AC and look out! Therefore, use gas appliances and inverter AC when possible. Bottom line... solar only makes sense where you need AC and where its sunny, which is mostly the beaches. The double whammy against the mountain areas is that they tend to be cloudier. I understand that Panama now has net metering where your solar can actually make you money.

Seargent
  7/26/2017 17:29 EST

RICO,,
Am only 52 so I will be 57 to 58 when I get there. Hope am not dead at that age,,,, lol
But would love to start networking with like minded people with same hobbies ( like golf,,, yessss!). First round is on me!

Also on the solar... If you change all your appliances to propane , from water heater to dryer etc etc and all led light with only inverters for AC units then you can work with a small 8,000 watt system or smaller. In Panama that should give you an average of 40,000 watts per day. And have only one 48volt battery bank for night time use. If you want to be off grid with grid back up.

I don't like net metering as a preference because you require the power company to approve your system in order to have net meter access. I don't like them on my private business so I don't bother to sell them power for profit ( I love my freedom better) also if you net meter with them , every time the power goes out on the grid,,,, your system shuts down as well and you are back to where you started with unrealiable power. I know,,,, I know,,,,, it sound weird but that's how net metering works unless your spend top dollar for a hybrid system.

Private message me if you need more in detail on how to design or build a system... It's a hobby of mine. I took the training and certification for self interest not as a career. So I love solar for what it is... Freedom!!!!!

When I get there I will help anyone for free just to follow an ideal.....

Later guys

PanamaBetsy
  7/26/2017 19:33 EST

My husband is a builder and wrote an article about container homes in Panama. It includes a link to a blog that gives step by step details of their container home creation - in Panama. http://www.livinginpanama.com/house-building/shipping-container-house-panama/

Seargent
  7/27/2017 10:54 EST

Thank you LivinginPanama

Gmancopecito
  7/28/2017 10:13 EST

Two years ago I purchased a sea container from a company called Container Living Concepts in Panama. The owner, Miguel Ángel Batista Cerezo claimed to ve well connected to the Panama government and that he would create a beautiful container home. After paying him, Miguel disappeared. I have filed all kinds of denuncias and now I believe he is well connected to the government. He us untouchable. Be cautious who you buy from.

Seargent
  7/28/2017 10:35 EST

Thank you for the heads up Gman!

I have traveled overseas for decades with the military and my rule is " pay on delivery only" or no deal.

A technique I used in the past was to request a home made meal at the house of the seller as a warming pre deal dinner.

1) it makes you a real person in front of his or her family. You don't want to be the gringo that is too good to eat at their home. ( remember, no one in the world cares if a rich person looses money) and people in central and South America assume all gringos are rich.
2) it opens conversation about family, friends and local contacts
3) most important. " you know where they live" and who are the family members, friends and contacts ,,,,,wink wink!,!!!

Am not sure this will work in Panama since am not there yet but it has work for me in the past at El Salvador, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Brazil.

rtdusmae7
  7/29/2017 00:04 EST

Read all you post here is a company that turns hydro power to electricity.
http://www.powerspout.com/
check them out

Seargent
  7/29/2017 02:08 EST

rtdusmae7,

Great little hydro generator for what I saw on that site! was reading the specs and it looks like if produces 1000w per hr at 48volts.
If you convert that into 120volts for home use the loss is approximately 16%..
That's 1000 divided by 120= 8.33 amps. Take 16% loss on conversion and you have 7 amps total per hour.
Most breakers are 15amps or bigger so it looks like it's a great non stop source of power for a homestead with only a few led lights, an iPad, and a flat screen tv. No appliances not heavy power use. I think it would be great for hunt camp or similar minimal conservative power usage.

But it could also be used to keep off grid batteries charge since most off grid battery banks are 48volts. And most solar panel systems average around 5hrs of full power production a day. So even tho it's only 1000watts, it does generate 24hrs a day. I could see good uses for that hydro unit but more as a back up charger.

There is an inverter ac unit the uses only 720 watts to run. I think it's a 12k btu. So based on the numbers it could run that ac unit 24 hrs a day for ever. You will be cooled all day on a 400sqft room but no tv nor lights.

"Private message me" and I can give you a lot more numbers and possible uses on that hydro system. Don't want to bore people with geeky equations on this forum,,,, lol.
Maybe too late!!!! Hehe...

BajanInPanama
  8/12/2018 07:16 EST

Hey James, I own a piece in La Pintada, I wonder if you're close by? I'm thinking of doing an off-grid eco-tourism resort type development and presently looking for developers. Maybe we should put heads together and see what we come up with. I'm still learning about how things work here so any advice, collaboration and/or ideas are always welcome!

panamajames
  8/12/2018 09:51 EST

La Pintada is very close by. From downtown Penonone around the police station, I am about 3km from town on the way to La Pintada. Email me and we can talk about development. I am quite interested. [email protected]

BajanInPanama
  8/15/2018 01:49 EST

Great, will do!

PanamaJackie
  8/18/2018 19:28 EST

Check out this FANCY shipping container house near El Valle Panama

http://www.panamashippingcontainerhouse.com/

If you look through old posts, you can see their entire building process and discussion about the hassles of building in Panama.

Senderista
  7/5/2019 20:58 EST

Sergeant - good response and sad I picked up this exchange a couple years late! I am looking into a similar investment as you here in Boquete. Were you able to find any premade container homes in Panama or are you a total do it yourselfer? If you have made progress on your dream, would love to learn more. TY

i08iliad2
  7/30/2019 19:47 EST

My name is Michael and I know of thew Monolithic Domes in Italy, Texas. This is the best structure to use. The construction time is less than any other structure and heat and cold are not items to be considered.

Considering the Panamanian construction speed these domes are your best bet. The monolithic dome is spray-on concrete on an Airform. They are being built around the world.

I come to Panama to visit friends and if you are interested we could meet. No I do not work for Monolithic I am a Construction Management consultant.

jibbidyjoe
  8/23/2019 12:16 EST

There are several "seasonal" constructors who show up on encuentra24 or pananucios or some such name as clasificos BUT truly you are either better off going to PC surrounds and deal with an established co like https://www.multicontainer.com/modulo-vivienda-40 or even import from CR via containerhomes.net jim is great and although tariff etc is the unknown, its possible to send it unfinished and so lesser valued, then add your panels etc when you get it here, Beyond gabrel at multi there are a few but not a presence that has over the years been clearly established, hot him up he's a nice man.

rmanbike
  1/11/2020 11:19 EST

Dont you just love people with an attitude "Holier than thou"

rmanbike
  1/11/2020 11:22 EST

I agree with you Rico on this one. Metal buildings is not a good idea in the tropics. Concrete all the way and you will not regret it.

rmanbike
  1/11/2020 11:37 EST

I have build cinder block homes before. Not all cinder blocks are equal, and what your thinking as a cinder block is not he same as what you may find in Panama. Concrete homes are fine but unless you need all that mass not really necessary. ICF is an option but may not be available in Panama. If you stucco the outside and fur strip the inside with sheetrock or stucco then a cider block home is just as nice and cool as any type of construction available and with much less investment. I dont care how much you insulate you put on the inside of a metal building/container it will never be as comfortable inside as block or concrete. You can learn a lot from the native Panamanians. if your not so closed minded.

1RTRWRENCH
  1/13/2020 17:12 EST

Amen brother, sounds like you are a smart individual. Take care and ride safe.
from 1RTRWRENCH.

mairimouse
  1/15/2020 13:43 EST

Yes! There’s one for sale and I saw it two years ago. It is absolutely gorgeous. Get in touch with Beth at TRY Panama Real Estate.

stgibson
  1/16/2020 12:19 EST

I also agree with Rico Breeze on this one, a container home will cost you 40-50% more than a conventional home. Not to mention the fact that the greatest problem here is radiant heat transferred thru the roof. I am an engineer and owned a commercial construction company in the southeast US for 30 years, in addition I audited 2 years of architecture at Georgetown and worked for 3 years on a DOE research grant for passive solar R&D in the mid 70's. I built a passive solar home here in Chiriqui using a steel skeletal frame and filling the wall spaces with M2 panels and for the roof I used 2x6 cariolas placed vertically on 2' centers. The tops of the cariolas were battened horizontally with 1x2 firring strips on 12" centers, roll insulation and tin placed on top. On the bottom sides of the cariolas I put in 3" styrofoam panels and then sheetrock, thus providing a air space or solar chimney to cool the roof thru natural convection. I stuccoed the outside and inside of the M2 wall panels with 1 1/2" stucco. Shortly after completion we had a 6.4 earthquake here(the worst in Panama in 30 years) and the house flexed as designed without a crack. With me serving as the contractor the total cost was $73K including appliances, fixtures, water & septic (about $40/sf turnkey).
We have no air conditioning while others around us do. Walter Gropius "form follows function with site design being the most important"

akpiloto
  8/1/2020 00:29 EST

Hi,
Ricobreeze gave you some good advise.. I'd forget container housing . I've been building homes for 35 years and am aware of almost every alternative building method. I also look for less expensive and desirable building materials and methods.
I've lived in Central and South America for 30 years.
My last house in Costa Rica was built of Guadua bamboo. If you want to see a video of it go to Utube -- bamboo house Atenas Costa Rica -- video is listed at $129,000. Also the next video is taken by a subsequent owner.

Bamoo is a cheaper material to build with, very strong and long lasting with preservation. In Japan, bamboo houses are reported to have lasted 200 years. In Colombia and Ecuador there is widespread use of Guadua for homes and many other structures.
Google "Simon Velez" in Colombia.

Also for all the info you could possibly want for building with Guadua, Google - guaduabamboo.com . (in Colombia) Also Google "Boucherie sap displacement" for preserving bamboo.

If you are handy enough , it's not difficult to preserve and build with bamboo, although it is more time consuming than standard stick frame wood construction.
As I havent yet moved to Panama- ( I will be as soon as the flights resume) I haven't visited the plantation in Panama that grows Guadua . So far, they seem to have bamboo old enough and reasonably priced to build with, but I don't yet know if they preserve it.
They also sell plants, but a 4 to 6 year wait is necessary before it is at age to harvest for building.

Bamboo is one cheaper alternative than block construction.

The C. R. government put in a huge plantation of Guadua for low income housing years ago. The houses built with Guadua withstood
the 1972 earthquake better than block homes and buildings. .
Bamboo is one of the cheaper alternative materials to build with that is readily available in Panama.
Take your time.

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