A House In El Salvador is a compelling and timely story of one man’s struggle to restore his family home after it was destroyed in the devastating 2001 El Salvador earthquake. Ricardo Figueroa, a retired professor from Washington State University, now lives in San Salvador with his wife Aurelia and daughter Nicole, who attends college in Los Angeles. The house was originally given to the Figueroa’s by Ricardo’s grandfather after he retired from the US Army. He built the house himself on land he purchased in 1936 as a gift for his son. The project explores both sides of this complicated history in ways that are fascinating, funny, and beautiful.
Building a house in El Salvador can be a daunting task. From the land purchase, architectural design, and all the way through construction and finishing, there are many things to consider. In this article, we will explore how much it costs to build a house in El Salvador as well as what factors will affect your overall cost.
El Salvador is a small country in Central America, with a population of 6.5 million people and an area of 21,041 square miles. It has many natural resources, including mountains and volcanoes; it also has beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean. The capital city, San Salvador, is the largest city in Central America and the third-largest in all of Latin America after Mexico City and Sao Paulo.
The country was originally inhabited by the Pipil people and was later invaded by the Spanish. In 1821, El Salvador became a part of Greater Colombia. After gaining independence from Spain in 1838, it became part of Mexico for a short time before becoming an independent republic in 1841.
Land
While the land is usually the most expensive part of building a house, it depends on where you’re buying. On average, an acre of land will cost anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on location and size. For example, if you’re looking at purchasing land in Santa Ana or San Salvador, which are highly populated cities with a high density of people and businesses nearby (so there’s less room for expansion), then expect to pay around $60 per square meter for urban lots. In rural areas such as Ahuachapan or Zacatecoluca, which have fewer homes and businesses, you can get away with paying about $20 per square meter for rural lots; however, this may be because these locations aren’t very desirable places to live due to being farther out from city centers which makes them more affordable options as well.
Architectural design
The architectural design process is an art, a science, and a social process. It takes into account your needs and desires as well as the site and budget constraints.
Excavation
Excavation is the process of digging a hole in the ground to create a space for a building. Excavation is the first step in building a house.
Excavation is done by a company or individual who has equipment such as excavators and backhoes.
Foundation
The foundation is the first step in building your house. It’s the base of your house and a key part of it. The foundation will last for many years and will be an investment that you can be proud to show off for generations to come.
The cost of foundations varies according to what kind of construction you want to be done and where you live, but generally speaking, you can expect to spend somewhere between $2,000-$3,000 USD per meter squared (or roughly $12-$20 USD per square foot).
Framing
Framing is the basic skeleton of a house. It includes the floor, walls, and roof, and can be made of wood, steel, or concrete. Wooden framing is more common in cooler climates because it’s lightweight and easy to work with; however, steel framing is more common in hot areas because it offers better insulation. Concrete framing offers a lot of strength but requires professional knowledge to build correctly.
Doors, windows, and cabinetry
Many of the custom details you choose for your dream home will be expensive, but door and window costs can really add up. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on these elements:
- Consider using salvaged materials, you can find some great deals at salvage yards or on Craigslist.
- Look into secondhand or used doors and windows. If they’re in good shape, they’ll work just as well as new ones. You might even be able to refinish them yourself if they need a little touch-up work.
- Consider making cabinets yourself instead of buying them from stores like IKEA or Home Depot, it’s not that hard to build furniture when you know how.
Electrical works
El Salvador is a country with a lot of sunshine. In fact, it receives the most solar radiation in Central America, with an average of 2,050 kWh/m2 per year. In order to take advantage of this resource and reduce your carbon footprint at home, you should consider using solar panels to power your house.
The good news is that they’re becoming more affordable every day: the cost has gone down by 50% in recent years. It’s also important to note that there are no taxes on solar panel imports or installation costs in El Salvador; so if you live here and want a clean energy source for your new home or apartment building project, and help lower emissions at the same time, you’ll have all sorts of options at hand when deciding how much electricity costs will affect your budget now vs later on down the track as well as what kind of return on investment (ROI) we can expect from investing into renewable energy here instead just sitting there relying solely upon coal burning plants where we pay way too much money because those companies charge us more than what they actually need to charge us now before getting any real benefit out from working together toward reducing our carbon footprint which could lead towards saving money by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), which would mean less pollution around town which means better air quality overall.
Plumbing
Plumbing is an integral part of any house. It allows you to have running water and access to the bathroom. However, there are all different types of plumbing that range in price depending on their needs and usage. For example, if you need a new plumbing system in your home then it will cost anywhere between $1,000-$10,000 depending on what kind of plumbing it is that is needed. The average cost of plumbing in El Salvador is around $1,000 but this may vary depending on where you live or where the house was built.
Insulation and drywall installation
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the cost of installing insulation and drywall in your house depends on a variety of factors, including:
- The type and amount of insulation you use (some types are more expensive than others)
- The size and shape of your home
- How many contractors do you hire (each contractor will charge by the hour)?
The time of year you decide to insulate (insulating in the winter is more expensive than in the summer) The type of drywall you choose (some types are more expensive than others).
Labor
Labor costs are a major factor in the overall cost of building a house in El Salvador. According to the Remax International Market Research, labor costs vary by region and range from $27 per hour for an electrician to $12 per hour for a plumber. This can increase depending on project size, complexity and difficulty. For example, if you hire a general contractor who will oversee the entire process and make sure everything is done correctly, they’ll charge 15% of your total budget; this usually ranges from $7200 to $10500 dollars depending on where you live.
If you want to build your own home but don’t have any experience with construction projects like these then it might be best for you to hire someone else.
The average cost of Building A House In El Salvador
Let’s take a look at the average cost of building a house in El Salvador. In general, the entire process will cost you around $70 per square meter, or $3100 per square foot. If you want to get technical about it, the total is divided into the following categories: material costs ($2100), labor costs ($600), and taxes and duties ($850). The total is roughly equivalent to US$4950 per square meter or US$6500 per square foot (based on conversion rates from July 2018).
Cost of Building A House In El Salvador
The building cost of a house in El Salvador is very high. In order to understand the average building cost of a house in El Salvador, you can use any of these formulas:
- Cost per square meter $10
- Cost per square foot $1,000
- Cost per square yard $100
If you’re looking to build a home, buying property in El Salvador is a great idea. The cost of living here is low and there are many options available. A new house can be built for less than $25,000 USD or even less if you want to renovate an existing structure or add on to your current home. In addition to being affordable and convenient, building your own home here also provides an opportunity for personal expression as each project will be unique based on its location and design needs.
