After doing a lot of research on various types of construction materials and the problems of getting them across the border, I decided that the best way to build a house or an office in Puerto Peņasco was to use Tridipanels, made in Mexicali by Insteel PanelMex. These are made of foam, with a steel mesh reinforcement. After they are put together, they are coated with 1.5" of concrete, inside and out, and finished in any way desired.
In a past issue I described these panels in some detail. I'll just summarize here some of their advantages:
- low price. The panels cost much less than concrete, brick, or lumber. They also are easier to put together, thus reducing labor costs.
- lightweight. A 4' x 8' panel weighs only 38 pounds.
- fast construction. Panels can be erected quickly at the site; for instance, the panels for a 1200 sq. ft. house can be put up in a day. We hope to be able to build a home from start to finish in a month.
- strength. In a test, an 8' panel with concrete on only 1 side was laid horizontally and supported by concrete blocks at each end. It was then piled with bags of cement weighing 7,050 lbs, but didn't break.
- efficient construction. Little heavy equipment is needed at the job site.
- superior insulation and sound resistance. A 4" panel has an R-factor of 18.These panels meet FHA, VA, and HUD requirements
- structural integrity. A vertical 16-foot panel resisted 270,000 lbs./sq. in. of pressure applied by a testing machine before only one corner crumbled.
- superior fire resistance. Unlike styrofoam, this polystyrene foam doesn't continue to burn after flame is taken away. It's autoextinguishable.
- earthquake resistance. When the panels are joined they make what architects call a monolithic unit that won't fall apart. Tridipanel buildings survived Hurricane Andrew in Florida, California's worst earthquake in 40 years, and flooding in southern Baja California.
- design flexibility. Panels can be easily cut into any shape desired.
- insect proof construction. Termites can't eat steel, foam, or concrete.
- environmental friendliness. Tridipanels don't use trees or CFC's.
The next step was for me to go to Mexicali and see the factory and talk to Juan Martinez, the manager. Juan was very cordial on the phone and even more so when I met him personally. I was given a tour of the factory and was thoroughly impressed. Acres of panels in lengths of 8' to 40' were inside in stacks and outside being loaded onto trucks. Loud clanking and banging of welding machines accompanied the fabrication of the panels, which took place before my eyes. A 40' foam panel slipped between the jaws of this monstrous machine, and large spools of wire fed into it. At the other end the Tridipanels came out, with foam embedded between wire mesh sheets welded together through the foam.
I was shown a house built of the panels located inside the plant. No concrete--just the panels. I went up Tridipanel stairs, walked across Tridipanel floors, and stepped out onto a Tridi panel balcony overlooking the factory. The foam and metal alone were strong enough to hold the weight of 3 or 4 people. With 1.5" to 2" of concrete on both sides of each panel, the house would becomes what builders call a monolithic structure--all one piece--floors, walls, roof, and stairs. This makes it earthquake resistant.
This material is used throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico for both commercial and residential buildings. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is using Tridipanels to build homes in the Habitat for Humanity program. 14 houses were built in a week, using it.
I was sold. I decided to put up a model in Puerto Peņasco and to sell homes built with this material to others. Juan furnished me with a number of plans and offered to help in any way possible. His advice and expertise should be very useful. The model now is in the planning stage, and construction is expected to begin soon. Retail prices will start at about $40,000 for a small house, but of course houses or offices of any size can be built, depending on your budget. Watch for further developments.
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