Amish or Belizean Sawmills near Dangriga?

Build concrete home better as lots of people advised me not to build wooden house

Why is that? Cheaper? If I build on stilts a concrete building won't be possible. I don't like ground levelled houses there.

Not because its cheaper but they say lots n lots of Termites and many other bugs that penetrate the wood , so a wood house will always needs constant maintaines , u can elevate it buy bulinding the foundation like half a main floor hieght if u dont like ground level living space   

Wo said you cant build a concrete buildin on stilts? LOL

@travelbeat

How much time have spent in Belize? Please put your own sandals into the sand, explore for a few weeks to meet the locals before expecting suscess in this tiny yet diverse country.

    Wo said you cant build a concrete buildin on stilts? LOL
   

    -@TexItalian

Yeah. Drive around and you'll see plenty of examples. Our home is concrete and a full floor elevated so the ground floor has normal ceiling height.

There is a lumber yard on the main road between Hopkins & Dangriga. Can't remember the name.

@travelbeat wooden structures are popular and what you'll primarily find in Mennonite villages, but they do come with more maintenance (painting/sealing, dealing with pests like termites and wood worms, and expanding/contracting if you don't keep your home climate controlled) and are not as secure if there is a major storm. If you plan on hurricane insurance, it is more expensive for wooden homes versus block.

@belizelandoffices could you pleases elaborate on the block construction do you have insight or recommendations on:

-Cost of concrete builds

-Contractors for concrete / block building

-Difficulty of building concrete structures off the ground / on stilts ?

if not thats fine ... I am looking at purchasing a property in Placencia... the recommendations are mostly for Mennonites wood structures but my concern with wood is the same as above ; Humidity/Moisture as well as Termites ect and Upkeep of the wooden structures ...

please advise

Thanks !

@belizelandoffices thanks for your input, I have over 25 years experience in construction, architectur and designing. I am aware of termites and woodworm infecion and will make myself familiar with the dos and donts in Belize. My property is way inland and not too exposed to coastal storms. I leave that to the overprized properties around SP on Ambergris Caye, lol. I am sure the Amish have some valuable information about the woodwork and issues attached. I love to learn from them.

@omckenzie I can't help with much of this. We haven't built a concrete structure in Belize in 20 years and that was a two story condo building in Corozal district. We have far more experience working with the Mennonites on smaller wooden homes. Our personal homes are wooden as we're comfortable with the maintenance.

We used to spend more time on the Placencia peninsula back in the early 2000s when we had friends living there. It's grown so much these days we usually only visit when we have company who wants to see it. I'm not much help with current contractors or builders in that area.

@travelbeat Everyone has their own ideas and preferences, not looking to influence any opinion - was just sharing information.

Our first trip was in the 90s. Explored the whole country and moved to the mainland full time in 2002. We personally live in Mennonite-built wooden structures, but also have concrete and rock buildings. One of the great things about Belize is that while there are codes now, it's still much more relaxed than where most of us are coming from.

@belizelandoffices

Thanks non the less for your input.

@belizelandoffices Thanks for your input. I know that Amish and Mennonites are talented wood craftsmen and carpenters. Myself have a degree in architecture and wood building experience too and mostlikely able to pass a building inspection and to build my own wood home with some local helpers.