Building a Home in Roatan

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 After you’ve bought property for your new home and decided on the type of structure you want, the next step in the building process is hiring an architect. While some people would rather avoid this step and design their new home themselves, or utilize an online home design company, many builders recommend using a local architect. There are several advantages to using a local architect. Foremost is the fact that a local architect is able to view the property firsthand and design your home in accordance with the topography of the land. If you use a foreign architect, it is imperative you provide the architect with as much information as possible concerning the building site and thus obtain the best design possible. Another advantage to hiring a local architect is the requirement that all building plans in Honduras must be signed and stamped by an architect or engineer registered in Honduras in order to obtain a building permit. If you hire a local architect, the building plans he/she provides to you will include the signature and stamp. If you hire a foreign architect or purchase plans from some other source, these still need to be signed and sealed by a local architect or engineer to obtain a building permit. In most cases your builder can get a local architects or engineers approval, signature and stamp. The cost to get your foreign designed plans approved and stamped by a local engineer or architect ranges from $200 to $500. 

Some Architects to check out are:

Caribbean Construction - 9559-4611

De Roa - 9565-0150

G-Coast Development - 9602-9864

Hugo Coello - 9991-8455

Ingnovarq - 8866-6539

Integra - 9515-1146

Island Concrete - 2407-2160

Proimi - 9945-2660

  The basic requirements for residential construction on Roatan include height restrictions as well as proximity restrictions to various natural markers, including setbacks from the property boundary; setbacks from the foreshore if the property is oceanfront; and rights of way for utilities, existing pathways, and access roads. Your local architect can meet with the planning officials and determine all restrictions and requirements. If your property is within a development subdivision, there may also be codes, covenants, and restrictions imposed by the developers, which will require careful review. Building permits are required prior to breaking ground on your new home. Your builder will apply for the permit, which typically takes about 15 days or so to approve. Expect to pay about 5% of your budget for the permit approval. Remember to keep your realtor involved in working with a builder. They are a great intermediary and can help smooth out the bumps along the road of the build process.

Some local builders are:

Abbott Construction - 9995-5162

BIDCCO - 9436-9107

Edson Bodden - 8854-0298

Caribbean Construction - 9559-4641

Correia Construction - 9928-9445

DV Woods - 2455-7508

Elite Construction - 2408-4850

G&S Industries - 9663-0220

G-Coast Development - 9602-9864

Hugo Coello - 9991-8455

Integra - 9515-1146

Island Concrete - 2407-2160

Island Development - 9795-7585

Kuba's Industries - 3396-4141

LUANCON - 9754-8750

Lucas Construction - 3302-0888

Oak Ridge Mining Co. - 9979-8326

Presley Dilbert - 9579-1348

Rieman Construction - 9978-8302

Roatan Zelaya Construction - 3200-7182

Servitec - 9660-1679

Webster Design Construction - 9800-6347

 Currently, building costs on Roatan run approximately $100 a square foot for wood structures and $125 - $165 a square foot for cement structures. This cost can be lowered if you average in the cost of decking. Decks or outdoor living spaces usually cost from 40% to 60% of the cost of interior spaces. House building location accessibility (roads or water only access), foundation, and retaining walls can significantly impact building costs.

  One way to approach the design and construction of your project is to engage a local architect who works with a construction company in a design-build approach. Our recommended Honduran architectural company is LPA de Honduras S.A. de C.V., which has completed dozens of successful projects in conjunction with ICCD, Roatan’s largest concrete supplier and construction company. They offer an “open book” service and will meet with you, review your plans, sketches, and ideas, and then produce a design suited to your needs. They then produce a detailed line-by-line cost estimate, which lists the actual costs of labor, material, shipping, and other project costs. ICCD has Zolitur status, which means that they can import materials from abroad with reduced or no import duty applied. This approach helps confirm a budget and a fixed timetable for your project and makes the entire process a simple one.

  Living on a tropical island is a different experience from North America or Europe. The use of outdoor spaces and the incorporation of environmental factors into the design will make your final design efficient and delightful. The cost of electricity is very high in Roatan. The use of cross ventilation to take advantage of the trade winds, the use of solar and/or wind power to reduce operating costs, the use of proper building materials, the use of proper shading, site orientation, water collection and storage, site drainage, insect protection and a host of other factors make for better efficiency. LPA de Honduras specializes in these energy efficient designs. Roatan is also in a hurricane zone, although direct hits are infrequent, they do happen about once every 26 years statistically. The experience of local professionals will ensure that the detailing and construction of your home complies with strict codes so your investment is protected.