Hello dear construction experts,
I am planning to build a house in Paraguay. Everything there works very differently compared to Germany.
There are hardly any building regulations, rules, or legal requirements for constructing a house.
You can build almost anything you want. Total freedom to build. However, this also has some major downsides. There are hardly any people or public authorities you can call for inspections. And if someone claims to be a construction expert, they often turn out to be frauds because they have no real knowledge.
That’s how it works daily in PY. The builder has to take care of absolutely everything themselves and check everything ten times. If they don’t, they will either be completely cheated or the workers, site manager, and architect do their jobs carefully but poorly. No, worse than poor.
If you don’t make it very clear that you want the windows installed straight, the site manager will say: “You never told me that.” And folks, this is NOT a joke. The building process there is like this — and even worse!
I am a total construction novice and have absolutely no knowledge. That’s why I wanted to ask you what I should pay special attention to. I don’t want my house to mold, flood, collapse, or suffer from any other terrible issues after just 5 years...
Also, what are the most common cheating tricks I should watch out for? The word “cheating” takes on a whole new meaning down there. For example, they mix lime into the concrete because it’s cheaper than sand.
Here are some photos to give you an approximate idea of how building is done in Paraguay. The workers, I was told, were very good, and the house turned out top-notch for PY conditions. I also have a video of a chaotic construction site, but it’s barely worth watching — it will just make your toes curl *g*. My house would only be built from bricks because they are simply unbeatable in price there.
I look forward to basic tips on what I absolutely need to watch out for.
Regards Jens
Foundation
Filled foundation
Slab being poured
Walls going up
This is what a typical scaffold looks like in Paraguay
I am planning to build a house in Paraguay. Everything there works very differently compared to Germany.
There are hardly any building regulations, rules, or legal requirements for constructing a house.
You can build almost anything you want. Total freedom to build. However, this also has some major downsides. There are hardly any people or public authorities you can call for inspections. And if someone claims to be a construction expert, they often turn out to be frauds because they have no real knowledge.
That’s how it works daily in PY. The builder has to take care of absolutely everything themselves and check everything ten times. If they don’t, they will either be completely cheated or the workers, site manager, and architect do their jobs carefully but poorly. No, worse than poor.
If you don’t make it very clear that you want the windows installed straight, the site manager will say: “You never told me that.” And folks, this is NOT a joke. The building process there is like this — and even worse!
I am a total construction novice and have absolutely no knowledge. That’s why I wanted to ask you what I should pay special attention to. I don’t want my house to mold, flood, collapse, or suffer from any other terrible issues after just 5 years...
Also, what are the most common cheating tricks I should watch out for? The word “cheating” takes on a whole new meaning down there. For example, they mix lime into the concrete because it’s cheaper than sand.
Here are some photos to give you an approximate idea of how building is done in Paraguay. The workers, I was told, were very good, and the house turned out top-notch for PY conditions. I also have a video of a chaotic construction site, but it’s barely worth watching — it will just make your toes curl *g*. My house would only be built from bricks because they are simply unbeatable in price there.
I look forward to basic tips on what I absolutely need to watch out for.
Regards Jens
Foundation
Filled foundation
Slab being poured
Walls going up
This is what a typical scaffold looks like in Paraguay
Hello,
I don’t think anyone can give you a definitive answer here. Five years of study and many years of experience simply can’t be conveyed fully in any forum worldwide. Especially since the local conditions in PY are completely different from those in Germany (climate, available building materials). And shortcuts are possible everywhere. In Germany, insulation and thermal bridging are significant issues. Extra care is needed for things that won’t be visible later, for example, those hidden behind cladding or under concrete. Misaligned windows are obvious to anyone. But whether the vapor barrier is installed correctly or the sealing is precise can only be assessed by a professional. No forum will ever be able to help with that. You need a construction supervisor you trust who can inspect everything on site.
BratacDD
I don’t think anyone can give you a definitive answer here. Five years of study and many years of experience simply can’t be conveyed fully in any forum worldwide. Especially since the local conditions in PY are completely different from those in Germany (climate, available building materials). And shortcuts are possible everywhere. In Germany, insulation and thermal bridging are significant issues. Extra care is needed for things that won’t be visible later, for example, those hidden behind cladding or under concrete. Misaligned windows are obvious to anyone. But whether the vapor barrier is installed correctly or the sealing is precise can only be assessed by a professional. No forum will ever be able to help with that. You need a construction supervisor you trust who can inspect everything on site.
BratacDD
Hello,
I’m currently building as well and have already noticed some poor workmanship.
If you’re not completely clueless, you can spot mistakes just by using common sense.
You need to stay engaged day by day and think about what they are doing at each step.
Asking lots of questions is always a good idea.
A builder or client who is present on site (and offers a beer in the evening) can prevent a lot of mistakes just by being there.
Otherwise, I would suggest educating yourself generally online and staying attentive!
Best regards and good luck
I’m currently building as well and have already noticed some poor workmanship.
If you’re not completely clueless, you can spot mistakes just by using common sense.
You need to stay engaged day by day and think about what they are doing at each step.
Asking lots of questions is always a good idea.
A builder or client who is present on site (and offers a beer in the evening) can prevent a lot of mistakes just by being there.
Otherwise, I would suggest educating yourself generally online and staying attentive!
Best regards and good luck
F
Fusshumpel23 Mar 2016 23:40Hello Jens,
it seems my reply is three years late, but maybe I can still help you somehow.
I build houses here (Paraguay) and also offer construction consulting.
Feel free to get in touch.
Best regards, Holger
it seems my reply is three years late, but maybe I can still help you somehow.
I build houses here (Paraguay) and also offer construction consulting.
Feel free to get in touch.
Best regards, Holger