I am always exploring building technologies and techniques here in Panama. I enjoy sharing what I have learned. Today, I am sharing my experience using M2. M2 construction panels have the advantages of ease-of-construction and cost savings. And one huge disadvantage, damage to the Read More
Tiny Homes: A Big Idea For The Tropics?
The notion of living in a “Tiny” home or basic shelter has been around for centuries. Ascetic monks from the 15th century and earlier have written about the spiritual benefits of casting off the extraneous luxuries of society and getting back to the bare necessities of life. The ascetics felt Read More
How Much Does It Cost To Build A House in Panama?
Jan 1, 2017 I get asked that question all the time. Or more specifically, “How much does it cost/square foot to build a house in Puerto Armuelles?” I always feel reluctant. I want to give a definitive answer, but it is complicated. "What will it cost to build", is a hard question to answer Read More
Check Out A House Remodel in Puerto Armuelles
This post is about a remodel of an existing house in Puerto Armuelles, Panama. It is part of our ongoing series on “What it’s like to build a home in Panama" The Original House The house is nick-named “Casa Sombrero” because of its big sheltering roof. It is on a corner lot in the Corazon de Read More
Puerto Armuelles – A Good Choice For Builders
We first arrived in Panama in the Fall of 2006. I felt a huge sense of relief at having taken a “side exit” out of the fast paced life of being a designer/builder in Seattle. Boy, was it a welcome change to settle into the life of a family of tourists in the tropics. Given that, I was surprised Read More
Build a $5,000 House Using Old Chiquita Buildings
30 years ago, when I was in college, one of my best friends, Paul, had a unique solution to the problem of high housing costs. “When I grow up,” Paul proclaimed, “I am going to build myself a house out of trash”. Of course, none of us took a Paul seriously at the time. (FYI - He never did Read More
Should You Take On A Remodel In Panama?
This is the first installment of a series of articles on remodeling an existing house in Puerto Armuelles. In a recent article that I wrote on building materials in Panama, I briefly describe the challenges posed by building with wood. Now I will explore the pros and cons of remodeling a wood Read More
Milton on Expats Building A House In Puerto Armuelles Panama
In this video, Milton Hutto shares his thoughts on expats building a house in Puerto Armuelles. Milton Hutto is an expat from North Carolina who lives in Puerto Armuelles, Panama. Over the past few years, he has built 2 houses and 1 hotel in Puerto Armuelles. Here is the Read More
Shipping Container Construction in Panama
If you look online, there are dozens of articles about shipping container construction. In this post, I explore containers as housing in various locations, including the tropical climate of Panama. I am particularly interested in ways to keep a shipping container's living space cool, Read More
Can You Build A Bamboo House In Panama?
If you research tropical building materials online, you will undoubtedly run into bamboo as an option. Bamboo is a building material that has been on my radar for 30 years. Bamboo has big advantages as a building material Amazingly abundant Grows incredibly fast (It is a type of Read More