June 3rd 2024
We adventured to Mexico March of 2024 seeking 18,490 feet at Pico de Orizaba, the third highest point in North America and the highest point in Mexico. The thing that caught my attention beyond the striking beauty of Pico was the masonry found in every street and alley of every village and city – that is what this is about. This article covers locality building practices, Mexico material and food costs, and a gallery in appreciation for its builders and architecture.
In the US and other developed nations we like to build in bulk or in haste to get the job done. In other places around the world, they might build brick by brick or in unison with what natural resources are available, hence a cabin built in the woods, an earth lodge in the prairie, and an adobe found in the desert.
Top Residential Builder builders in the US of 2024
- D.R. Horton – 90,777 (including 5,860 build-to-rent homes)
- Lennar Corp. – 73,087 (including 977 condos and 558 build-to-rent homes)
- PulteGroup – 28,603
- NVR – 20,662
- Meritage Homes – 13,976
- KB Home – 13,236
- Taylor Morrison – 11,495
- Clayton Properties Group – 9,957
- Toll Brothers – 9,597
- Century Communities – 9,568
[ Source being constructiondive.com quantity is the number of 2023 closings ]
Building materials and fuel costs nearly the same as the USA
[Prices as of March 2024 in USD, also mentioned prices in Bozeman Build Report #4]
- Cinderblock – $0.48/USD
- Type 1 Portland Cemento 94lb bag – $12.59/USD
- Mid Grade Exterior Paint – $27.57/USD
- 6 pastries in rural Mexico – $2/USD
- 4 tacos in rural Mexico – $3/USD
- 4 tacos in Mexico City – $4/USD
- 1 gallon of 87 octane fuel (3.78 liters in a gallon) – $5.05/USD
- 1 gallon of diesel – $5.37/USD – OUCH!
Gallery covering masonry/tile, mosaics/art, buildings, churches, vehicles, and mountaineering
Masonry/Tile
Mosaics/Art
Buildings
Churches
Vehicles
Mountaineering
The things I appreciated the most above all else was was seeing everyone’s love for community, faith, pride in work, and gumption.
Thanks for reading and viewing,
Daniel – Block Biome Operator and Author of the Bozeman Build