Getting Started on Your New Home

The following information is to help you obtain a clearer idea of the types of homes built by Mi Casita Constructora and a brief summary about how to proceed with building your home. It shows a variety of floor plans, elevations, pictures and details of designs that have already been built for different budgets and needs. These homes were built using various materials.

Decide on the Material to be Used
Decide on a Floor Plan
Decide on a Style
Decide on Special Features
Building a House in Phases

• Decide on the Material to be Used:

  One of the most important items to decide on before starting blueprints is the material you will want to use to build your house. The following is a list of the most commonly used materials and their insulation value. In our desert climate, having insulated walls and roofs are very important.

• Block- r-2
• Brick- r-12
• Block with 2” foam-r-22
• Straw bale r-55
  Provides superior insulation
  Provides unique home designs
  Straw is breathable, filters air
  Straw is a renewable resource
  Straw is durable and easily maintained
  18’ thick walls
  Moisture control techniques
  6” foam insulated roofs
• Rastra (Performance wall) r-32
  Panels consist of cement & polystyrene
  Panels are stacked and filled in with concrete and rebar
  Panels serve as fire, sound and thermal barriers
  Panels available in varying widths and thicknesses
  for different barrier values
  Quick assembly
• Ice Block (14” Foam)r-35
  Hollow foam blocks filled with concrete
  Tongue and grooves interlock for alignment and insulation
  Block forms provide thick, continuous insulation
  Blocks serve as fire, sound and thermal barriers
  Can be used above and below grade

• Tri-d-panel r-35
  Great design flexibility
  Panels are 4” thick and covered with a welded wire mesh
  Galvanized 9 gauge wires pierce the core and are welded
  to the mesh layers
  Concrete is then applied to the interior and exterior of the panels
  Panels serve as fire, sound and thermal barriers
  Environmentally intelligent
  Easy window & door installation

The insulation values may vary by 3 to 5 points, depending on wall and roof colors used and plaster thicknesses.

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• Decide on a Floor Plan:

  The following is a house that was designed for all budgets and styles. It can be built in stages and can be very easily changed in shape and size to accommodate your needs. It has a great room in the center with bedrooms on both ends, that can be added in stages. The garage, patio, porches & palapa are all optional.

Our policy is that any of the homes already built and that have been custom designed, will not be built again unless major changes occur on the elevations. This has been accomplished with some of our homes already. An example of this home is shown on these pictures. The floor plan is similar, but the patios, gardens and elevations have changed.

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• Decide on a Style:

  The elevations can be changed into any style you like. Following, we have included eight different architectural styles for the same house. All these are acceptable for our community regulations.

Mexican Colonial Style

Santa Fe Style

Territorial California Style

California Style

Mexican Modern Style

Modern Style

Territorial Mediterranean Style

Territorial Mexican Style

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• Decide on Special Features:

Some of the elements we like using on the homes are arches, Santa Fe inspired entries, courtyards, irregular walls (mainly on straw bale built homes), porches, wrought iron fences, and trim detailing. Trim detailing use materials that are local, such as brick and artistic workmanship.

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• Building a house in phases:

Following is a house that was designed for all budgets and styles. It can be built in stages and can be very easily changed in shape and size to accommodate your needs. It has a great room in the center with bedrooms on both ends, that can be added in stages. The garage, patio, porches & palapa are all optional. For more information please feel free to contact us.

Phase 1: Construction area: 1195 sq. ft.

Phase 2: Construction area: 800 sq. ft.

Phase 3: Construction area: 425 sq. ft.

Phase 4: Construction area: 299 sq. ft.

Total Construction: 2719 sq. ft. Living area: 1478 sq. ft.

If you have any questions regarding any of the homes or if you would like a custom designed house, please do not hesitate to call us at El Dorado Ranch # 1-800-404-2599 in the U.S. or call us in Mexico at 011-52-686-577-0010 ext. 4041.

Thank you.

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This home was built using Straw Bale Construction

This home was built using Block Construction