Roatan Insights © July 2001
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
July 2001
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

Good News and Bad News

Good News First.

More New Bridges on the Coastal Road

Sunday mornings are a time of relaxation and meditation. I usually do my meditating on the way into town, and often times I am reminiscing or daydreaming before I realize I have just passed something new or different.

First I had to make sure it was Sunday, so I stopped the first pedestrian I encountered and asked.

"Pardon me señora, could you tell me what day it is?" I didn't say it exactly like that, but in my broken Spanish. We kind of loose track of time out here, as to what day and month it is. At mid-morning my thermometer recorded 86 degrees, which is a very nice temperature, more reminiscent of November, so my mindset was fall rather than mid-summer in the tropics.

At that very instant it registered on my brain that it must be Sunday, because the lady was toting a Bible, (one of those fabric covers with the handles on it and the Good Book inside like a little cloth satchel.) She was all dressed in her Sunday go to meetin' outfit, and I also noticed the fragrance, the special occasion perfume, since the wind was just right. Gads! It had to be Sunday!

Justifiably, she looked at me as though I was some kind of nut, or a masher on the make. My truck is enough to scare anybody, so I really couldn't blame the poor old girl. Who knows what she was thinking. Crazy Gringo!

I tried to extract myself from the embarrassing situation in the least offensive manner I could think of at the moment. "Think fast," I said to myself. Huh! Fat chance.

"Flowers. Daisies, para me muchacha! Comprende?"

The confusion was adequate, and she waved me of indignantly. Well, maybe she understood just enough English to hear a Norte Americano ask a stupid question. " Do you know what daisy it is?" Hey, at least I tried.

As she began walking away, I noticed that she was crossing a new bridge by-pass. Like a little causeway built out into the bay so that vehicles and pedestrians alike could walk across land (mud) rather than travel through seawater, while the las roccas technicians were preparing a new bridge foundation.

I glanced around and to my dismay, nothing looked familiar. This was not the bridge construction where I had witnessed the las roccas technological breakthrough. It was a new beginning, of a new bridge. Glory be. It is really happening. On a Sunday no less!

The coastal road, paved and passable, in all weather (we hope) will be a reality? Soon? Well, soon perhaps, by Honduras standard time.

By my count, as of this writing, we have four (4) new bridges in one stage or another of construction on the coastal road between Coxen Hole and Flowers Bay. Why is this important? Here are a couple of reasons.

First. It will be a much shorter distance from Coxen Hole to West End or West Bay by way of the coastal road. Six miles instead of twelve to either destination.. Even less from the pier where the cruise ships come in.

Second, it is much more scenic driving along the coast, with the Caribbean visible most of the trip. The rickety, rinky-dink little shacks built on stilts over the water, rusty tin roofs, little outhouses 50 feet offshore accessed by dubious dock-like walkways with many planks missing. They are an invitation to unimagined nighttime surprises, swaying in the wind. How nostalgic!

But then when you can no longer see the sea, the drive on the road through the jungle, and up over the high ridge is very pleasing to all the senses. The fragrance of the lush jungle, the hog plums sending their perfume into your nostrils, making your mouth water. Watching the banana leaves waver in the light breeze, swaying and shining their dark green splendor into your vision.

And the road is almost all paved. Only one more mile to go. Oh, happy days!

And Now the Bad News.

Before I tell you the bad news I want to relate a "true" story to you. You may remember it from your Ancient History classes, so long ago in High School.

The scene is on a Roman Galley slave ship.

The slave master demands the attention of all the slave dudes who have to row those big oars. Three or four guys pulling each one. Chained to the oar.

The slave master calls out . He is making an important announcement.

"Men! I have good news and bad news. First I'll give you the good news.
There will be an extra ration of gruel for everybody today."

All the slave dudes clank their chains and cheer in approval. Then the slave master speaks again.

"And now the bad news. This afternoon emperor Niro wants to go water skiing."

How about the horse that walks into a bar and the bartender asks, "So, why the long face?"

Just trying to set you down easy for the biggie.

We still have Hondutel!
YUK!

Not a peep about the sale from anybody. And we have been waiting for over a year and a half. Enough said.

Who in their right mind would want to actually pay good money for the worlds worst telephone company? It's never going to happen.

_____________________________________________________________

Now that we have had our fun it is time to get on with some very important subject matter. It is not very technical but it is germane to those of you who may someday attempt to build, or have built, a dream home in paradise.

It is also a further study in flushing out the preposterous fakes lurking here to take your money without giving you good value in return. I will now inject my favorite caveat.

Cost effectiveness begins on the drawing board!

These excerpts are from my book, "How to Build Your Dream in a Third
World Paradise", which you can preview at: http://www.eroatan.com/cgi-bin/pierre.cgi?books

How To Get The Most For Your Money.

I will list below some thoughts and crucial questions at this juncture and we will discuss each of them for the best answers.

What is the cost of ineffectiveness? One of the greatest wastes of time and money is ineffectiveness of the working drawings and specifications for your project. This happens as a result of choosing unknowledgeable people to do your design work. If he/she hand you an outline specification that is filled with a lot of mumbo-jumbo that has nothing to do with what you want in your house, what good is it?

The unknowledgeable 'designer' may produce elaborate drawings, (and specs) most likely copied from a textbook, to impress you. They presume you know nothing, that you will be totally elated with such detailed work, therefore you will remain blissfully euphoric because you have them on your side. They have given you nothing that will really produce anything more than confusion.

Here is a good way to know instantly if your designer is spoofing you. Start a conversation about stairs. Ask how many risers from floor to floor. Ask to see an example of a staircase he has designed, or built.

For those of you who do not know anything about this subject, we will now take a look at what a staircase should contain, for comfort and safety purposes.

These facts are worthy of study, so that you will know more about stairs than most or all of the local designers and builders on Roatan. It will only take you a few minutes to learn an extremely important lesson that people here know nothing about.

Here are the elements of a basic staircase:
The rise is the distance from one floor level to the next that the stairs will serve.

Example: The distance from the first floor to the second floor is 107 inches. We want to step up or down the exact same distances from tread to tread.

The rise is the part of the stairs that is the vertical distance from one step to the next. When we travel on a staircase we set up a rhythm. If there is a variation in the rise between steps, you break that rhythm, which can cause you to stumble and loose your balance.

We refer to the rise as two different situations. The distance from one floor to the next is the rise (of the entire stairs) and the distance from the top of one step to the next is also called the rise. A riser is the piece of wood that keeps your foot from going between the steps when you are climbing a stairs. It is also referred to as the rise in reference to vertical distance between steps (treads).

Southern Standard Building Code does not allow any staircase to contain risers of more than 7-3/4" each. They must all be exactly the same height, to the fraction of an inch. That is the maximum vertical distance per riser. If we divide the 107" by 13 risers we get or 8-1/4". Wow! That exceeds the building code standards by quite a bit. Not enough risers!

Let's try fourteen risers. Now look what we come up with: 107" divided by 14 = 7.64 or 7-5/8". That will do nicely.

Why is this so important? Studies have revealed that a large percentage of household accidents occur on stairs. One of the major factors influencing safety is the height of each step (rise or riser). Another equally critical dimension is the depth of the tread. That is the part your foot steps on when you climb or descend a stairs. The total number of treads represents the run of the stairs. That means the horizontal distance that the entire staircase will occupy.

It is equally important that the depth of each tread is exactly the same. (There are some exceptions in properly built circular and winding stairs). This is the part of the staircase you actually walk on. If the treads were all different depths, ( 9", 7-1/2", 10") you could stumble and loose your balance on them also.

We refer to the depth of the tread as the distance from the face of one riser to the face of the next riser. I do not recommend a tread depth of less than ten inches. You can have the treads overhang the risers for greater tread depth and better styling, or to conserve space. This overhang is referred to as the nosing of the tread.

That is the part of the tread that overhangs the risers. It does not change the distance of the stair run. We call the total horizontal distance occupied by the staircase the stair run.

Let me recite a corollary here: It is like a roof overhang. If your roof has an overhang of two feet or three feet, it does not change the length or width of your basic house. The exterior walls remain in the same position regardless of the size of the roof overhangs. Likewise a tread can overhang a riser by one, to one and a half inches without changing the stair run.

The reason for this is that you have not changed the distance between the risers.

Example. There are going to be thirteen treads in this staircase. Each having a depth of 10 inches.

That means you will need 130 inches of horizontal distance that your staircase will occupy. (stair run)

130" divided by 12" = 10.83 feet or 10'-9". But there is one other critical factor you can never forget when dealing with stair run. You should have a minimum of 36" of clearance at the top and bottom of every staircase. Any landings on a staircase must also be at least 36"x36".

Don't ever be talked out of this essential. And never let any designer or builder talk you out of having a main stair system of less than 36" in the width, (net). The Southern Standard Building Codes states that the width of a staircase should not be less than 36 inches net tread width. Three feet minimum! (Yes, I know about circular and winder stair exceptions)

Case History: I mentioned earlier about the designer who built the house I am currently remodeling on Roatan. The main (and only) staircase is 28" wide, and the landings are just as narrow. In order to get the counter tops up to the kitchen level we had to remove several of the treads of the stairs above to stand the counter tops up, so that we could pivot them to make the turn at the very narrow landings. Talk about inadequate! There are many different heights of risers on that staircase also. They vary by as much as 3/8".

The main staircase from the ground level was a winder, with wedge shaped treads that narrowed down to zero at the inside of the pivotal point. Three workers had minor accidents on this monstrosity the first week. I had that staircase rebuilt into a conventional format with two straight run stairs connected to a midway landing of 36"x72" and there were no more missteps.

I realize this is a long dissertation on stair construction and a rather complex subject. But unless you are willing to settle for a sixth grade mentality dictating your comfort and safety on such an essential part of your home, you need to be aware of these facts.

Nobody can lead you down the primrose path because you will be better informed than they ever dreamed. You will see the fakers fade from the scene. They will not be able to converse intelligently with you on stair safety requirements and stair construction.

Now let's answer the original question.

"What is the cost of ineffectiveness?"

Can you imagine the expense to change an existing 28" staircase that connects four and one half stories into a properly thought out system that would be the minimum required by the most lenient U.S. building code?

The structural changes would be mind boggling. So how can you calculate the cost of such a horrendous blunder? It would be staggering. Do you think the 'designer/builder' would be willing make the changes at his expense to bring this fiasco into code compliance?

What is the cost of hiring unknowledgeable 'tradesmen'?

If you ever stood on the side of the road here on Roatan, holding a sign that said: 'Wanted: Experienced Carpenters', every car, truck and pedestrian would stop, including the taxi drivers and kids on bicycles. You would be overwhelmed by the numbers of people who would tell you how talented and expert they were at the carpentry trade.

It is a 'known fact' here that all these sixth graders know everything. The schools are of such high proficiency and of such advanced teaching methodology that the students only need six grades of education to learn as much as we do with sixteen or twenty.

It would be pretty scary to find your number one expert carpenter holding your plans upside down trying to figure out what it's all about after you have hired him to frame your house, or build some form work. But if you are not astute in employing tradesmen or sub-contractors you may find yourself with just such a situation.

Ask in advance if the person(s) you are considering hiring are actually going to do the work. Inform them that they will not be able to turn the work over to someone you do not know, or would not consider. No hidden, sub-sub- contractors! Check them out on plan reading too.

Many of these 'tradesmen' cannot read or write. Some of them can perform well if properly and constantly supervised. You must find qualified people to supervise workers unless you intend to do it yourself. When you interview potential sub-contractors, insist on getting the names of people they have done work for most recently. Make sure they know you intend to contact those persons they use references and then do it.

If anybody gives you references of people and places you cannot find, then cross them off your list. Also, if the only references they can give you are vague addresses in Florida, the Cayman Islands or Belize then send them packing.

Also, when a local 'customer' is used for a reference, make sure you inspect the work your potential worker has claimed to have performed. The referral may be totally satisfied with what that sub contractor had done for him, but would you accept that kind of work on your project? Check it out!

"What is the cost of hiring unknowledgeable tradesmen?"

I'm sure you would not want to find out the expensive way, after it was too late. I'll bet you could rattle the fakers pretty good by asking them questions about rise and run.

"We rises up in the morning and makes a run for home at night."

What is the cost of ineffective design?

Let me relate a true occurrence so that you can appreciate the full impact of this situation.

Case History: A local (Roatan) architect walked into my office one day a short time after I began building my second project on Roatan. He asked me if I would consider pricing a project he had designed for some people coming to live here.

He delivered a set of drawings that was dimensioned in metric. Since I had no knowledge of metric, I asked if his CAD program could generate a set of these same drawings in modular (feet and inches). He said it would take a little time but that he would do it. After waiting two weeks I decided to convert his dimensions myself. When I saw the results I thought I had made some mistakes.

I had foundation dimensions that totaled very unusual numbers:
51'- 9-1/4" x 43'- 1". A nightmarish foundation size for masonry, and the plans stated, 'bloques concretos.' In my language those 'bloques concretos' were going to measure 8"x8"x16" (nominal). A nice modular size had to be chopped up and worked into some very strange dimensions.

There was a floor plan view of the stairs that connected the ground level with the first floor. No section drawing of the stairs was shown to give me a clue about rise and run, and no height dimension from floor to floor. Only two stair runs with a platform that looked equidistant between floors. So I counted the number of risers shown on the architectural drawings. Twenty-two risers!

When I asked him about the distance between the two levels he stated that it was three meters. That worked out to approximately 9'-10". "Why so many risers for such a short distance?" I asked. He said he had just drawn in the stairs to show where it was and to reserve some space for that purpose.

The foundation plan was a gigantic waste of money. The footings were over designed by a factor of five. There was enough steel and concrete to support a five story building. To my knowledge the project was never built. There probably wasn't enough smelling salts on the island to revive the clients once they heard the price.

Talk about overkill.

I already told you how poor design can adversely affect the use and enjoyment of a house and how the safety of people living there could be jeopardized. Can you imagine how much space would be wasted in that stairwell? And it was all formed and poured concrete. A lot of money would be squandered following that stair plan.

What do you think the reason was for the extreme over-design of the foundation? There were two answers that popped into my head. One was the 'architect' did not take the time to study the real need. The other was he probably did not know what to do. So play it safe.

It makes me crazy when people claim to be a registered architect, with a degree, or a professional engineer and then they hand you mediocrity.

How can you save money on building materials?

Easier said than done. You will hear many overtures from the expert self proclaimed "procurers, expediters, and counselors." They all have the same magical formulae for your most economical solution. Deal with them. They have connections. They know all the secret places that nobody else has ever discovered, that you will never find without their assistance.

They will lead you straight to the place where they make the biggest commission on your purchases. Most of these people have only one thing in mind: MONEY. Some of these 'agents' will quote you a daily fee for their services. You will have to experience their connections to know if they are worth the added cost.

There are ways to avoid paying a higher prices than you should. Here is how I have worked it.

When a Gringo asks the price, the first thought that enters the Honduran brain is; it must be 'very valuable merchandise if a Gringo wants it', so the price goes up. I began my shopping in Honduras alone and then found a good interpreter whom I liked. He sold building materials and I began giving him a good bit of business.

I found that he could negotiate better deals than I could by myself. So he fronted many of my purchases. I also got better deals on ground transportation using his recommendations. I knew he made a commission on my dealings, but so what? I did get better prices even with a little 'mordida' (payola) factored in for him.

After I became established and the vendors and suppliers got to know me I made more suitable deals. Also, I became more experienced at negotiating, having learned some of the language and many strategies from my friend the commission agent.

Remember, I am doing a good deal of buying every week, year in year out. You will not fare as well buying only one project.

Some people have seemed to do better by going to the mainland for their purchases and then finding a boat captain they can set good terms with for transportation to the island. If you can cut it, that's the way to go. I can not spend the time to 'ride shotgun' with my orders from point of purchase to Roatan. If you have the time and the intestinal fortitude, good for you.

Importing works well for some things. If you have containers coming in with your personal effects, try to incorporate them for some of your transportation to save money. Pool container space with others to save money.

For appliance purchases, I recommend you get what you want in the U.S. and have it brought in with your container(s). This is by far the most economical method of purchasing any kind of appliances. You will find the appliance choices here meager. You are unlikely to find what you want in Honduras. Anything made in Central America is mediocre, and will not endure, especially on Roatan, with our corrosive atmosphere.

There is actually a brand of appliance sold here with the name 'MABE'. 'Maybe it will work and maybe it won't?' A friend of mine calls this locally made equipment 'Barbie Doll Appliances'.

If you will be making large and continuous purchases you are more likely to establish a rapport with you suppliers and gain some pricing advantage that way.

Next month I will cover some of the logistical aspects of the construction process. This is an area where the unknowledgeable flounder, waste building materials, time, and cost you (or themselves) mucho dineros more than necessary.

_____________________________________________________________

Failure of Banhcresser

In mid-June, Banhcresser, one of the better banks on the island, closed their doors. I am not sure of the details, some monkey business by the chief honchos seems to have been the crux of the problem, rolling the dice with depositors money, and loans to themselves for the purchase of a 125 million hotel complex in Guatemala (which coincidentally they still own). Fortunately, the government of Honduras does insure bank accounts to the amount of $10,000. U.S. or equivalent. Something like FDIC. ( No. Ivan Boski and Michael Milken were not involved there.)

I liked that bank because of the local management, and their policy of letting us Gringos use the money from deposited U.S. checks immediately, instead of having to wait the mandatory 21-30 days required by the other banks here.

The major aggravation was getting everything re-opened in the bank approved to absorb the former customers of Banhcresser, which on Roatan is Banco Futura, located in French Harbour, in Romeo's Restaurant building.
It was a grueling day, standing in lines for six hours. The meager air conditioner was far from adequate in dissipating the body heat of 35-40 disgruntled former customers of Banhcresser. Well a community steam bath once in a while is a good way of reacquainting ourselves with rarely seen compatriots. But the plus side was seeing all those people I hadn't seen in months. Like a good old fashioned get together at the local post office or general store, back in Oldtown U.S.A. Only much hotter.

Bonnie Jackson has closed the warehouse store (Mount Pleasant Commercial) adjacent to Jackson Shipping. She complained of too many new import restrictions and a radical increase in tariffs, to make it worth while any more. Too bad! There were many things there you could not find anyplace else.

Many of these "new" money raising ideas by government are old shoes brought out and polished one last time by a financially strapped county in a last ditch effort to look good going out. Let's hope the next administration is more resourceful in raising enough money to stay afloat for a while.

Comments or questions?

Drop me a line:

Pierre

elouis@globalnet.hn

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.