This is a beautiful house. Thank you to the couple for showing it. If I was going to build, I would want one just like this, perfect in every way. Thanks Don for another great video.
Love the completed look of Sue and Phil's house. I watched this video last night and again today because I am so interested in the tiles in the bathroom and windows because of their size and style, it is exactly what I am looking for. We really like to watch nature and get natural light. We are in the process of building a house I designed about 45 minutes west of Mindo, the materials for the structure will be concrete blocks, concrete columns, metal beams, reinforced rebar, and acoustic ceilings. With the average daytime temperature being 24 Celsius our ceilings go up to about 5 meters to the walls at 3 meters with 30 cm of screened venting along the top for airflow on the north, west, and south.
The wall material looks interesting. Seems very efficient for insulting. However, I wonder if there is spacing in the wall interior to run wires after it is built, like to retrofit a new ceiling fan, light, or speaker wiring.
Lovely home. Lovely people, so kind to allow this intrusion. Thank you, once again for an interesting, informative video. I love Ayampe. I hope you enjoyed it.
My favorite feature is the super wide door. What’s the deal with narrow doors in the US ? I guess it’s so you can use every muscle you own to get a couch through doorway. 😁 I also love the sculpture of the man and woman.
I'll be interested to see your video on Ayampe. My wife and I were there in 2015. We stayed at La Buena Vida. We met a man from the USA named Jerry who had built his house out of plastic bottles filled with sand. I wonder if he's still there. On the last morning we saw a whale near the rock formation.
Hey guys, good job! I'm about to start (2+ months from now) building a home in Ecuador, outside of Loja. Any tips and insights you learned would be appreciated. I'm going to be building rammed earth structure, speed floor system and some other non-US construction elements. I'd love to chat or talk with you about your experiences. Thanks
While an avocation only, I've designed and built several houses. I love the look and feel of Susan and Phil's home. Well done from the architect's design through to completion.
Please ensure humidity doesn't create moisture in your cabinetry as they were installed before your house was at the appropriate "lock up stage". Check for swelling and rising damp.
Hi Don! Glad to see that you are doing well and still alive and kicking... (some of us worry when we don't see you posting). Gorgeous house and very low cost for the quality. Abrazos
What a beautiful house with a cozy atmosphere Susan and Phil. The cost of tiles was $1500 for 100 square meters. this includes the labour cost ? Is there any power outage and / or water rationing ? What was the about cost of the land ?
Great video, We were in Manta last Apr, May and June. We look at housing both water front and out in the area that this was build. We also priced condominiums, new and used. What did stick out for us was to build a new home was the most sensible and controllable route. This area was 20 minutes from the beach and it was considerably warmer then downtown Manta. But this is a great answer all around.
Just a reminder to everyone that building your home one thing - selling it is another. So unless you are fully committed to Ecuador, or you are independently wealthy, I think it's wise first to rent and give the country and culture a healthy test drive. There are advantages to owning - no question about that. But there are advantages to renting as well - not least of which is the ease with which you can pick up and leave if you determine that Ecuador is not for you after all. After a time, when Ecuador truly begins to feel like home, then building might be a good option.
@@jackassfat, I'm not the one best qualified to answer this question. My comment above is based on what I have heard from a number of other residents in Ecuador. But I think it's good advice in general, no matter the country to which a person may relocate. It's good to "test drive" a new country before we fully commit to it. Renters have much more flexibility in leaving than buyers do.
@@jackassfat The basic salary in Ecuador is $450/month. If an expat comes here and builds a $200k house then the vast majority of people will not be able to afford it. Also much less liquidity and access to credit in Ecuador compared to the USA
Hey Don, great video. I will say I haven't seen that construction method en la sierra. Here they build with bricks or blocks usually plastered over and they use rebar reinforced columns. Some houses have concrete rooves some have clay tiles, some man made materials. We built our house 2 years ago. Its considered semi rústico. Its bricks with a clay tile roof. We have wood exposed ceilings and floors. It has a mountain lodge appearance. This style is common, especially in the countryside. In town, more of the concrete boxy look. I like the way their house is built. My brother built using similar technology in the US. Its good to know its available here. Thanks for the video!
If you don't mind a little "Bathroom Talk". Does the house have its own septic system , with a lateral field ? Or is there a community sewer system that each newly built home ties into? Do the bathrooms typically have exhaust fans to remove excess moisture, after showering ? In recently constructed homes, are you still not supposed to flush toilet paper ?
😂❤ You got my hopes up Don that you err staying. I’m still going there mid Feb to Quito for an exploration but will have my bank statements stamped, etc after my visit to the states in Jan in case I want to go for my residency
Interesting construction method - metal panel frames with foam insulation and they just stucco over it for both interior and exterior walls? My family hails from Ecuador and I would like to build a vacation house there eventually. Maybe this method is better than what I usually see there. Most of what I've seen over there is RCC columns for structure and roughly 4" x 8" x 16" concrete blocks for all partition walls with only stucco - not particularly energy efficient. The house in this video seems to have the same RCC columns for structure but those foam panels instead of block? I initially had the idea of building with standard metal stud walls filled with batt and foam insulation between RCC columns but it appears metal stud wall framing isn't too common over there.
I love the house! Perfect retirement home! The construction process is so interesting. I’m intrigued by the panels. I’m curious about 2 things. How long did the process take? Do they have window screens? Thanks for another great video, and looking forward to Ayampe!
We purchased the house in December, broke ground April 5 and were moved in on July 7...approximately 92 days. We are thrilled with the quality of this home...beyond words...
Great video Don! Thank you such great information. Would you happen to have a link to the home builder? Have you considered interviewing home builder. This building style is impressive.
@@DonShader thanks Don! We are not looking to buy or build in the Manta area, but will be moving to Cuenca area towards the end of the year. However, I am assuming it would be about the same there, building vs purchasing an existing home. Don and Andrea
Hi Don, I have been enjoying your channel and value your opinion. I’m wondering if you have read the Wall Street Journal article “Ecuador was a Retirement Paradise for Americans. Then the Drug Gangs Arrived” yet? If not, please check it out and give us your opinion. I am just wondering if this problem is isolated at the coast and in Quito or if it is a concern throughout Ecuador. Thank you.
Their house looks awesome! All this was very informative for anyone looking to build their house here. Can’t wait to hear you talk about your trip to Ayampe and great to see you again brother!
Was the styrofoam used as an earthquake safety measure, or for cost reduction? If it is the former, my opinion is the whole area is too risky to have a home in if doing so requires styrofoam walls. And what about the roof? The roof is not styrofoam. If those styrofoam walls collapse, and the roof comes down on you, it seems like that will kill or badly injure, doesn`t it? Earthquake issues aside, how much security do those styrofoam walls provide, against someone who will try to break into the home by just sledge hammering a hole in a wall? Seems like an ill-advised venture all the way around to me.
It looked like the foam panels had heavy concrete wire covering them on the outside. It would be hard to pound your way through it. And I assume the ends of the panels (each about 4 feet apart) had steal studs supported the roof?
Wife and I watched this video and loved it. She even said to me "What's holding you back, lets move" (still here in old good Canada).
Perfect home
This is a beautiful house. Thank you to the couple for showing it. If I was going to build, I would want one just like this, perfect in every way. Thanks Don for another great video.
This is a very beautiful home. It sounds like they worked with a great home.
I didn't add the word contractor after home. It's great this couple that enjoys golf is right there on the golf course.
Very Beautiful Home.
Gorgeous
I LOVE this house! Separate guest quarters. Lovely kitchen. Well planned master closet and laundry. Excellent finishes. Very livable plan.
Thank you Don. Excellent video yet again
Very welcome
She speaks impeccable "Canadian" lol....her "house, out n about" gave her away lol
Susan and Phil were so generous to allow you to film and talk about the specifics of their home. It is beautiful!
Love the completed look of Sue and Phil's house.
I watched this video last night and again today because I am so interested in the tiles in the bathroom and windows because of their size and style, it is exactly what I am looking for. We really like to watch nature and get natural light.
We are in the process of building a house I designed about 45 minutes west of Mindo, the materials for the structure will be concrete blocks, concrete columns, metal beams, reinforced rebar, and acoustic ceilings.
With the average daytime temperature being 24 Celsius our ceilings go up to about 5 meters to the walls at 3 meters with 30 cm of screened venting along the top for airflow on the north, west, and south.
The wall material looks interesting. Seems very efficient for insulting. However, I wonder if there is spacing in the wall interior to run wires after it is built, like to retrofit a new ceiling fan, light, or speaker wiring.
Hi all the infrastructure is in the ceiling so if there is ever a problem we can access it. Thanks for your interest.
Wonderful tour. Thank you for inviting us in.
Our pleasure!
Lovely home. Lovely people, so kind to allow this intrusion. Thank you, once again for an interesting, informative video. I love Ayampe. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm completely spoiled by Ayampe. It's helped restore some of my confidence in Ecuador.
Oh, good. Maybe you'll end up there!!! We will miss your grumpy old self if you leave the country. @@DonShader
Good video Don.
Thanks 👍
My favorite feature is the super wide door. What’s the deal with narrow doors in the US ? I guess it’s so you can use every muscle you own to get a couch through doorway. 😁 I also love the sculpture of the man and woman.
I particularly liked the wall sculpture too.
I'll be interested to see your video on Ayampe. My wife and I were there in 2015. We stayed at La Buena Vida. We met a man from the USA named Jerry who had built his house out of plastic bottles filled with sand. I wonder if he's still there. On the last morning we saw a whale near the rock formation.
Hey guys, good job! I'm about to start (2+ months from now) building a home in Ecuador, outside of Loja. Any tips and insights you learned would be appreciated. I'm going to be building rammed earth structure, speed floor system and some other non-US construction elements. I'd love to chat or talk with you about your experiences. Thanks
Congratulations very beautiful house,thank you Don for this nice video, nice to see you 💖
While an avocation only, I've designed and built several houses. I love the look and feel of Susan and Phil's home. Well done from the architect's design through to completion.
Thank you custom home from start to finish. Thanks for your interest
Don has been great 👍
Awesome! Thank you!
Don! Great to see you! This is an awesome video! Thanks for sharing! Been missing my Don Shader videos!
Please ensure humidity doesn't create moisture in your cabinetry as they were installed before your house was at the appropriate "lock up stage". Check for swelling and rising damp.
Hi Don! Glad to see that you are doing well and still alive and kicking... (some of us worry when we don't see you posting). Gorgeous house and very low cost for the quality. Abrazos
What a beautiful house with a cozy atmosphere Susan and Phil. The cost of tiles was $1500 for 100 square meters. this includes the labour cost ? Is there any power outage and / or water rationing ? What was the about cost of the land ?
Hi The labor was included with the.home budget for building. Thanks for your interest.
Beautiful home! We also found the same thing about appliances in Ecuador. It is not difficult to find quality appliances here at all
Interesting video! I’d like to know more about roof structure, it seems to be flat. And is it earthquake safe house? Thank you!
Hi yes the roof is flat also built with the panels . These homes will withstand a 9.0 earthquake. Thanks for your interest.
Great video, We were in Manta last Apr, May and June. We look at housing both water front and out in the area that this was build. We also priced condominiums, new and used.
What did stick out for us was to build a new home was the most sensible and controllable route.
This area was 20 minutes from the beach and it was considerably warmer then downtown Manta. But this is a great answer all around.
If there really is a "downtown" Manta, I sure haven't found it.
Just a reminder to everyone that building your home one thing - selling it is another. So unless you are fully committed to Ecuador, or you are independently wealthy, I think it's wise first to rent and give the country and culture a healthy test drive. There are advantages to owning - no question about that. But there are advantages to renting as well - not least of which is the ease with which you can pick up and leave if you determine that Ecuador is not for you after all.
After a time, when Ecuador truly begins to feel like home, then building might be a good option.
Why you say that? Is it hard to sell houses there?
@@jackassfat, I'm not the one best qualified to answer this question. My comment above is based on what I have heard from a number of other residents in Ecuador. But I think it's good advice in general, no matter the country to which a person may relocate. It's good to "test drive" a new country before we fully commit to it. Renters have much more flexibility in leaving than buyers do.
@@jackassfat The basic salary in Ecuador is $450/month. If an expat comes here and builds a $200k house then the vast majority of people will not be able to afford it. Also much less liquidity and access to credit in Ecuador compared to the USA
Hey Don, great video. I will say I haven't seen that construction method en la sierra. Here they build with bricks or blocks usually plastered over and they use rebar reinforced columns. Some houses have concrete rooves some have clay tiles, some man made materials. We built our house 2 years ago. Its considered semi rústico. Its bricks with a clay tile roof. We have wood exposed ceilings and floors. It has a mountain lodge appearance. This style is common, especially in the countryside. In town, more of the concrete boxy look. I like the way their house is built. My brother built using similar technology in the US. Its good to know its available here. Thanks for the video!
If you don't mind a little "Bathroom Talk". Does the house have its own septic system , with a lateral field ? Or is there a community sewer system that each newly built home ties into? Do the bathrooms typically have exhaust fans to remove excess moisture, after showering ? In recently constructed homes, are you still not supposed to flush toilet paper ?
It does have a septic system. And yes to the fans and I'm not even going to bother with the toilet paper nonsense.
No worries about your absence, Don. Just glad to see you are doing ok.
Don, great informative video. Thank you. Did they happen to mention what the cost and HOA fees are?
No, but you can certainly ask them.
Hi the HOH here sre very reasonable it depends on the square meters of your lot. Thanks for your interest
😂❤ You got my hopes up Don that you err staying. I’m still going there mid Feb to Quito for an exploration but will have my bank statements stamped, etc after my visit to the states in Jan in case I want to go for my residency
Interesting construction method - metal panel frames with foam insulation and they just stucco over it for both interior and exterior walls? My family hails from Ecuador and I would like to build a vacation house there eventually. Maybe this method is better than what I usually see there.
Most of what I've seen over there is RCC columns for structure and roughly 4" x 8" x 16" concrete blocks for all partition walls with only stucco - not particularly energy efficient. The house in this video seems to have the same RCC columns for structure but those foam panels instead of block? I initially had the idea of building with standard metal stud walls filled with batt and foam insulation between RCC columns but it appears metal stud wall framing isn't too common over there.
Hi ....this is a superior product with R22 insulation and up to a 9.0 systemic resistances. Thanks for your interest.
Beautiful home 👌
I love the house! Perfect retirement home! The construction process is so interesting. I’m intrigued by the panels. I’m curious about 2 things. How long did the process take? Do they have window screens? Thanks for another great video, and looking forward to Ayampe!
Hi Kathy, we built it in 92 days and yes screens but we did have to ask for them! .Thanks for your interest Don has been great.
We purchased the house in December, broke ground April 5 and were moved in on July 7...approximately 92 days. We are thrilled with the quality of this home...beyond words...
Did Sue say $800 to $900 a square foot? I may have misunderstood.
I thought meters.
Thanks.
Great video Don! Thank you such great information. Would you happen to have a link to the home builder? Have you considered interviewing home builder. This building style is impressive.
In the description. I believe you can find the builder in the link provided. Let me know if you have any problems.
Was that an Oilers Jersey in the closet ??
That's a great looking hoeme! Thanks for sharing Don, also did I see a sparkle in your eye with this home and a potential for you and Stella? Lol
Possibly but keep it quiet please.
Hi Don, did they ever say what their total cost was, including the property and the building?
Don and Andrea
Hi we have about 150000usd total.
@@philipjordan5038Wow, that sound great. Would you say it is cheaper to build then to purchase a house already built?
Don and Andrea
I definitely think it's cheaper to build than to buy, considering the fact that there is hardly any inventory in that location.
@@DonShader thanks Don! We are not looking to buy or build in the Manta area, but will be moving to Cuenca area towards the end of the year. However, I am assuming it would be about the same there, building vs purchasing an existing home.
Don and Andrea
Did they say how long the build took, start to finish?
Hi.Kathy we built it in 92 days! Moved in on the 93rd.
We purchased the lot in December, broke ground April 5 and moved in completely done July 7...approximately 92 days...
How can you build a house without a bidet?
Very easily. No problem at all.
Hi Don, I have been enjoying your channel and value your opinion. I’m wondering if you have read the Wall Street Journal article “Ecuador was a Retirement Paradise for Americans. Then the Drug Gangs Arrived” yet? If not, please check it out and give us your opinion. I am just wondering if this problem is isolated at the coast and in Quito or if it is a concern throughout Ecuador. Thank you.
No, I haven't read it because I don't have a subscription to WSJ.
I probably wouldn't believe it anyway.
Their house looks awesome! All this was very informative for anyone looking to build their house here. Can’t wait to hear you talk about your trip to Ayampe and great to see you again brother!
Was the styrofoam used as an earthquake safety measure, or for cost reduction? If it is the former, my opinion is the whole area is too risky to have a home in if doing so requires styrofoam walls. And what about the roof? The roof is not styrofoam. If those styrofoam walls collapse, and the roof comes down on you, it seems like that will kill or badly injure, doesn`t it? Earthquake issues aside, how much security do those styrofoam walls provide, against someone who will try to break into the home by just sledge hammering a hole in a wall? Seems like an ill-advised venture all the way around to me.
It looked like the foam panels had heavy concrete wire covering them on the outside. It would be hard to pound your way through it. And I assume the ends of the panels (each about 4 feet apart) had steal studs supported the roof?
I have friends building a house in Oaxaca. Wonder if it’s the same.
The same as what? I'm completely confused now. Please clarify.
@@DonShader method of construction
Her cost to build, where she is Canadian... was she saying in Canadian dollars or American?
USD...but again, our finishes fit our budget...it's simply a ball park...
I am guessing in Ecuadorian dollars maybe.
Hi Don ! Missed you pal
If I had any clue as to who this was, I'd probanly miss you too.
@@DonShader Jimmy Duff
@@Jimmy_Duff Oh right on Jimmy, good to see ya.
How are the earthquakes out in your neck of the woods
We've felt 2 tremors...the epicenters were not near and this has been in 15 months living at the resort.
They're wonderful, real and frightening but there are certainly other places in SA where you can really experience them on a more frequent basis.