A little househole help.

[crtreedude]

In Costa Rica - the codes are good and reasonable normally - enforcement can be spotty. Way out in the campo - well, nothing is generally done - and if you are expanding a current home - nothing needed. This includes all that is left is a little bit of the original structure.

They feeling is - well, you are going to live in it! They are stricter when you are building in an area where you might resale, but if it is within a farm - well, it is yours. Sort of makes sense to me.

The local officials are so far liking me - I am an engineer (software and hardware) by trade, so I understand the reason behind rules, and tend to go the extra mile. I don't argue with them - and I ASK FIRST! They hate showing up and having to tell people to change things.

The big thing here is to make sure that it will hold up to an earthquake. So, rebar vertical and horizontal - every layer of block - and the block filled with cement. Everyone does it. That is why you hear about earthquakes in Costa Rica - but almost no one dies. You can pick up a house with a crane here.

Okay, when then had the earthquake (I think it was a 7) down around Parrita - a few people died. Very old people from heart attacks - and one drunk on a motorcycle. I think it was three. But you should have seen the road! There were some huge cracks and raised sections!

The fault extends from Jaco to Limon. We have a mountain range between us and it. There is another North of us in Nicarauga. I have felt one earthquake her - Amy has felt two (I slept through it). But, my desk migrates all over the place every day.

[Quartlow]

I thought if you dug deeper than 18" anywhere in Florida, the hole would fill up with water ;D

Your going about htis all wrong Dan. Dig that basement let it fill with water, build a boat. Who needs permits?

[sandman2234]

My last house here in Jax needed water for the yard, so I set to washing a shallow well down. Got the pipe stuck, and was determined to get it out. I dug a hole around it with a shovel, and when it finally came loose, I was standing in a hole 10' 6" deep. Dry as can be, and I left it for 3 days before I got around to filling it back up.
   Would have been a great place to have a basement!
         David from jax

[maple flats]

This is why you should build on a hillside with the drain tile running out downhill, Oh I forgot, Fla has no hill, you must have to build one first.