Building in Paraguay

Building in Paraguay can be a huge challenge,
especially for those unfamiliar with the local standards of construction.

The quality of workmanship often falls short of what many expats might expect, with delays, inconsistencies, and a lack of attention to detail being common issues.

Materials and techniques may not always meet international standards,
and communication with contractors can sometimes be difficult.

Patience and flexibility are key when undertaking construction in Paraguay.

Unfortunately, that was not acceptable to us,
and that proved to be the biggest challenge in our move to Paraguay,
but we solved it, and I'm now using my knowledge, experience and above all contact to help others.

Resident quality

Over the past 3 years,
we've rented apartments, houses and villas
of different owners and prices,
in the capital Asuncion, in Aregua, in San Bernardino and in Aqua Village in Altos.
In an investment apartment of a builder
(who was very proud of the quality of the apartment),
in 'gated urbanisations', and even properties in the upscale gated urbanisation of Aqua village.

They all, without any exception,
had one thing in common ;

Very low quality of materials,
lousy building techniques,
no, or very limited insulation,
conducts on the walls
holes in the walls for cables
infiltration of water
(I woke up in a luxury property with rain pouring on me from the ceiling)
Sliding doors that hardly (or don't) close properly
No hot water in the kitchen
Sewage smell in the bathroom
Shortages and/or electricity for hours, even days
And that's not even all !

Needless to say that we, after living in luxury villas in Belgium and Spain,
we could not accept this as our future.

And before you think that we're multi-millionaires, well we're not.
We do have some capital, and we wanted to invest some of it in our new home in Paraguay.

Challenges

So where were the challenges ;

Finding an architect who understands that we're seeking a different level of quality,
and who is willing and able to take full responsibility of the design and build

Sourcing the materials.
Paraguayans, either by financial necessity or by culture by the cheapest stuff on the market.
For example ; decent cutlery is only for sale in some very exclusive very high-end stores,
All other stores only sell the cheapest Chinese cutlery.

Sourcing difficulties

Some examples of difficult or impossible materials to source in a western style quality ;

Thermal insulation for roofs (the standard is metal sheeting or a maximum 5 cm insulation)
Good quality Building stones (they're available but rarely used)
Double walls with thermal insulation (no body does it)
Doors and windows ( Even single glass is often used in luxury villas )
Power outlets and switches (only local or the slightly better Brasilian quality is available)
Kitchen and other furniture.
Solar panels with double glass, resistant to haile
Wired domotica systems (they only have the wireless versions, even in Uruguay or Brasil)
And these are just a few examples.

We solved it !

It took, blood, sweat, tears, and a huge effort ( and substantial cost ) but we solved it !

The house that we're building has been given the nickname of 'The Bunker'.

Read the following before you laugh !

Building for climate

Building for climate starts very early in the project ;
Orientation, sun positions and timing are crucial, and need to be studied even before buying a plot.

Paraguay has a sub-tropical climate, with huge differences even within one day.
These differences cause condensation which results in mould, stains, and unhealthy situations
A good quality of build, with condensation canals between the outer and inner walls prevents that.

Paraguay is also subject to often very short, but very heavy rainfall,
which makes decent gutters, drainpipes, and channel drains and pits a necessity.

During the summer from December until February, temperatures can rise to 45º Celsius.
So having house with a good thermal insulation...
is the best way to guarantee a good night's sleep in the summer !

Building for tranquility

Paraguayans love to party ! ... Until the early hours.

Here too, it all start even before buying a plot ;
Who are the neighbours, are there any Quinchos or party centers ( even no so ) nearby.

If so, how to position the house in such a way that it limits noise disturbance as much as possible.

Having a house with good acoustic insulation, doors and windows ...
is the best way to guarantee a good night's all year round !

Bureaucracy

And I could go on about so much more !

But let me stop with the inevitable ... Paraguayan Bureaucracy.

The saying goes that it's not what you know, but who you know.
In Paraguay, you need both !

Bureaucracy can be a true nightmare and slow down your project for many months.
(Believe me, ours was delayed for months too, until we knew who ( not how) could solve it.

Are you up for it ?

If you're hesitant to answer yes to the above question, then talk to us !

We'll share our thoughts and experiences and we'll help you.

YES, it comes at a price, but it may proof to be a lot cheaper than DIY.

And NO, we don't accept anyone.
Our knowledge, expertise and contacts are specific to a certain quality of life and build.
That's who we can help, but you don't have to be a millionaire.

A nice plot, and a high quality build in a luxury gated community like Aqua Village,
may cost on average anything between 690.000 USD and 990.000 USD,
The difference mainly being the location and size of the plot and the size of the build.

Read more about who we are and what we can do for you on the Plan-it page !