Thread: Current Building Costs

Thought I would start a new thread as the "need your opinion" was mutating.

also from memory you had a bit of a schedule for building works with figures you thought it would cost ( for each step 1. set out 2 Frame 3. Lock up 4 fix) and the actual.

No Dash, that was not me...I don't what those 4 stages even mean as I'm from the States :) I focus on start and finish and aim for for those 2 dates to be within 10yrs of each other. I believe that qualifies internationally as professional standard.

We have our own odd terms, eh. I have heard others refer to a snag list? That's what we call the punch-out list, as in finish the f'n job or get punched-out.

What I can report, current vs 2006
- labor cost this time per mthe sar sq is Rp450k, labor contractor is the brother of my previous contractor and tells me I should therefore know why the increase - am I that picky? I remain more than impressed with the can do attitude shown and the quality of the workmanship. That comes to $4 per sq foot to build a seriously fine house. FYI, that what it cost me to set 1 sq ft of tile back in the States. My assistant says local builders near her home are getting around 750k for the same.
- material costs are all over the place as usual, but averaging about 20 higher than last time.
- exception; export quality new wood requires one to bend over n take it like....em, a human. Despite my best efforts to avoid using new wood (story in itself), I am using merbau (but not again) for the roof frame and it's $$$$$. Recommend export quality black coconut for non floor contact framing (roof) and hear it's in the 7j per m3 range.
- my Elect & Plumb install (mat & lab) will be 2 1/2 times the previous, serious upgrades to everything, hidden or not. Costing me about Rp500k per m2 :shock: but should be bulletproof.

gotta go, but I'll add more later

DCC – I like your approach to schedules – 2 dates within 10 years. Sounds a bit like the deck I built on my house I used to own. Started 96 completed when we move out 2007 by proper tradesman in order to comply with certificate of occupancy.

Set out is pretty much just getting all foundations and sub floor in.
Frame is just getting the frame up and roof pitched.
Lock up is once all the doors and windows are in plaster up and usually things like external decks and handrails the like are complete.
Then Fix is all the internal doors skirts archs painting tiling showers basins and prime cost items (wall oven fans etc).

It’s sort of like landmarks in the journey of building. The trick is to complete each part before you move to the next in every area. I have seen a few guys get one end of the building ready and move in and this makes it a bit messy if you know what I mean. Usually cos of the cashflow problems and nothing ever seems to get completed and then the cook is not happy and gets on the case!

Interesting that it’s 4 times cheaper in Indo than the states. Comparatively that’s about on par with Australia. I have always maintained for 200k I should be able to get something ver ver noice for my dollar/rupia when things start for the wife and I.

Would you believe this wedding chapel http://www.bali-information.com/BaliPro ... p/Item/279 is almost the exact design ( my wife reckons the architect stole it from our study some how – impossible) we did 5 years ago for our place on the beach. High tide marks the front boundary on 70 are We have mezzanine floor drawn into ours but the glass and the pitch height and everything else – including size (without aquatic area) Picture the Sydney opera house and get how the back end of this thing looks in your mind’s eye. Don’t need pool with beach within strolling distance.

We are fortunate on Gili M that we have these magnificent full grown palms at the rear of the property so the house backs up to some nice shady area for the grand kids later. Only problem is water. We have to ship huge amounts if we don’t get the proper indigenous landscape right. I would be interested in getting your thoughts on what you did in 2006. I know you have better conditions than us but what arrangements did you make.

The can do attitude is where it’s at and I’m glad you mentioned that. :D I reckon if you are onsite for the first 3 stages I mentioned and you are spoiling your tradesman and their families as one does then you will be able to get a better bang for you buck. We intend to stay in one of the hotels on the Gili T for the start of the project and then set up inside once the roof is pitched. Keeping an eye on the structural part is pretty crucial I understand as the locals do have a bit of tendency to cut corners with concrete strength, footing depths etc. Not that I don’t trust em it’s just a bit of thing to look out for in our case with such a rad design.

Dunno if we can go with merbau ( it sounds like you were not happy on that count DCC) on this one. I have considered steel portal frame (as the glass is going to be tricky) but where the hell does someone get galvanizing done in Lombok? :shock:

Vince - I'm sorry I forgot to put in per m2, as in 450k per m2 - this fixed price covers the bulk of the labor for the house - MEP, Alang2, cabinetry, fixtures, etc., etc. are extra. I would not pay someone 450 a month and feel good with myself, never mind what the quality would be.

My finish price per m2 will be nearly double what you are paying for numerous reasons but I'm getting what I pay for! My reclaimed teak doors & windows alone are 62juta :)

I'm enjoying reading your posts on building costs as it's something I need to consider in the future so anything I can gleem from you guys now will help with my planning. Vincent I had a look at your link to you photos....some great shots there :) I notice you are living or building near the east coast...great choice in my book. Any idea on prices of small lots of land (freehold not lease) between Amlapura and around Amed. I 'm really only asking for a guestimate from you or anyone else who keeps an eye on prices there. I'm not necessarily after beach front but seaview (even) distant is ok or hillside/jungle view. I'd probably only want something around 10 -50 are. I realise agent prices on the net are over inflated and if and when the time comes I'll try and deal direct with owners (if at all possible).

Any comments would be appreciated.

Here's some current images of my build. At the halfway point and reexamined the budget and as I said the price is coming out steep :( - it's a small house and everything is overdone :0. The bataco (?) block walls shown in the photos are only around the bathrooms - brick is used for the living areas. Pics show details of the roof framing - merbau/bamboo. The electrical is dual super quality wired - heavy for power/lighter for lights, all connections soldered, epoxy-ed and re insulated. Water supply pipes are from Europe - all doors/windows/cabinets are reclaimed old growth teak. Only 150 m2 and I'll have at least 150 juta in stone/sand/steel/cement. And I'm on top of material prices!

The access road was overdone as well - what's my prob :)

DCC looks like you've the makings of a nice place there and there's nothing like a nice piece of dirt with green grass, rice paddies and palm trees. If you don't mind me asking what do you plan for the exterior finish eg rendered brick, natural stone/wood etc? Nice stonework along the low wall. I take it that's part of the access road as well as landscaping feature?

A very nice setting in deed, but I'm afraid the build quality for the claimed construction costs don't add up.

And 60jt worth of teak for a 150m2 building? You're either paying a significant multiple of market value or attempting to reflect an unrealistic cost of construction. How many cubic meters of teak frames and doors can you possibly fit in a dwelling of 150m2?

DCC, I've read a few of your posts and you enjoy passing on a strong opinion, so I won't apologize for doing likewise.

I put your finished cost of construction in the 3.5jt/m2 range, and that's tops, likely to be less. Anyone with any experience in Balinese / Indonesian construction can easily see from the pictures posted that the amount you're paying per square meter is simply not plausible. There is of course the possibility that you're being ripped off, but I don't think that's the case - I think you're really trying to market yourself as a top quality builder - as to whether that may or may not be the case I can not confirm or challenge, but the grade of construction reflected here is definitely well bellow the value market grade of the costs you're claiming.

Nice access road though, I'll give you that.

Troy F.