A property development company, Magwall Jamaica, has fast-tracked the use of structural insulated panels (SIPs) when building houses, a technique that will reportedly deliver homes to Jamaicans at less than half the typical going rate, and take a much shorter length of time than it takes to build a traditional house using steel and blocks.
Magwall Jamaica uses a patented building system known as Magwall, which was developed in Canada. They have reportedly invested some US$1 million in a construction factory that was established at the Kingston Free Zone in early 2011. Pending some final paperwork and approvals by the National Housing Trust (NHT), Magwall Jamaica says it is almost ready to make the dream of affordable housing solutions a reality for Jamaicans.’
They have already provided the following size and costing examples:
- a 900 square-foot 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom (with pitched roof) model which can be sold, turnkey, at J$4.5 million
- a 400 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom will be offered fully turnkey at a purchase price of J$2 million with a flat roof. With a pitched roof, the cost will be J$2.5 million
- a 1,350-sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit will be offered at $5 million (flat roof) and $6 million (pitched roof)
Note, the estimates above do not include the cost of the land on which the house is being built.
Additional highlights:
- Magwall is manufactured by laminating two sheets of Magboard — a specially developed and engineered magnesium oxide sheathing — to a sandwich of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) to form a panel with a specially developed structural adhesive
- The finished Magwall SIPS are then carefully assembled to form walls, roofs and floors of buildings of all types and sizes — the thicknesses of the walls range from 4.5 inches to 12.5 inches
- Magwall is a “green” product”; it is natural and chemical free. It is also hypo-allergenic and will not give off any dangerous gases or vapours (i.e. no risk of health damage to occupants)
- It has much lower cost of production compared to conventional building methods, allowing it to significantly cut into the typical price range of homes
- Magwall Jamaica is providing homes at $4,500 per square foot, when recent research has indicated that the cost of building a home (in Jamaica) will usually cost in the region of $10,000 to $12,000 per square foot
- The Magwall building system has been tested and proven to be able to stand up to the most severe hurricanes and earthquakes. Its transverse load – the measurement of the wind resistant of a panel – maxed out at 360 pounds per square-foot.
- The Magboard itself contains similar properties to that of building with concrete from a load bearing standpoint; there is also a degree of flexion in the board, so that it could twist in an earthquake or storm event as well (typically, when buildings fail, it is generally because the concrete essentially shakes itself to pieces)
- Magwall is fireproof, termite proof and mold proof
- The Magwall material also has thermal efficiency – an occupier of a Magwall home can expect to see energy savings of between 60-75%
April 1st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
These prices are the price i have been looking for, for the pass years. Very reasonable on affordable for we Jamaican people. So where will these houses be located? Am anticipating your respond.
Best regard.
April 3rd, 2011 at 6:03 am
Modular homes / Prefab homes will offer solutions to the world’s housing shortage for the deprived, under-privileged and low income populations in society by providing a total system for basic, low-cost, quality built housing. The modular housing constructed with sandwich panels is the lowest in cost, most rapidly erected, simplest in design, and most structurally sound basic housing in existence today. Plus, you can ship up to 21 houses in a 40 foot container.
April 3rd, 2011 at 4:16 pm
1. Is the construction method dynamic enough to be used to renovate /
repair an existing structure.
2. Can it be modified to increase the square footage of existing
Concrete or Nog Buildings.
3. Does it carry a warranty in either case.
4. If Engineered by the Installer Company how insurable is it?
5. Finally what kinds of Pitched roof material are offered.
April 4th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
How can I contact you to discuss building a house for me
April 4th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Hi All,
My name is Sam Catling, CEO of MagWall Jamaica. Saw your posts and would like to answer your questions as follows:
@Kimboley – Our initial business model was to target existing landowners and people wanting to buy their own to build a home. In essence, you come to us with the land and we do the rest. Not only are our houses competitive price-wise, but we build them in 30 days or less… Turnkey. If you want more info call me on 247-3501 or visit our website at http://www.magwalljamaica.com.
@Omar – Yes we can add to and rebuild old/existing structures. Clearly this is not an “off the shelf” product and thus the pricing structure will differ (not by much), but you have to factor in the custom component of any renovation/addition.
We offer a warranty of 50 years for our panels.
We have submitted to local insurance companies and all should be signed off soon. This is a tried and tested building system in North America and Canada and is 100% ICC?Intertek tested and approved by all insurance companies up there. Again check out our website at http://www.magwalljamaica.com fro further info.
Re your roof question… MagWall takes any type of roofing, tin, zinc, standing seam, shingles, stone coated… or just paint it. The panels themselves don’t actually need a finishing roof material… We view it purely as a *decorative* finish.
Hope this helps
SC
April 5th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Hi, This is Sam Catling, CEO of MagWall Jamaica. Hopefully, I can answer some of your questions…
@Kimboley – Our initial business model is not one where we build schemes per sey, moreover, we build individual (or multiple) homes for private clients who have land, or who want to buy land and build. In short we can build your home wherever YOU want it.
@ Omar – Yes, we can add/renovate exisiting structures/buildings.
Yes MagWall can be used to extend exisiting dwellings/buildings.
We offer a 50 year warranty on all MagWall SIPS panels. We will be offering a standard warranty for the actual homes, for defects.
As far as insurance is concerned, we have been in dialogue with local insurance companies and the feedback is very positive. In short, your MagWall home will be insurable.
As far as roofing is concerned, you can apply any roof covering you like, from zinc, to standing seam, to stone coated to shingles. You name it, you can do it.
Hope this helps and if anybody has further questions, you can reach me on +1 (876) 633-6262 or visit our website at http://www.magwalljamaica.com. We are open for business Monday – Friday 8:30am – 6pm.
Regards,
SC
April 5th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
You can watch a video of the homes on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96MNubLUMh0&
April 6th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
I am very impressed. Can I use my own design for a house such as this? Will the NHT approve loans for qualified contributors for building homes using this method?
April 11th, 2011 at 11:53 am
Sam
Will the NHT approve loans for qualified contributors for building homes using this method?
This sounds like something i wanted to hear for a long, long time. Bless you.
April 17th, 2011 at 9:34 am
h I am interested but how sound and effective is such a method of home construction in an earthquake and especially a hurricane zone?
April 20th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Can you use magwall to build multi-storey buildings? (For example, a single family dwelling that has two levels)
April 29th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Do you have a sample house in Jamaica is so where is it located and what hours is it available for viewing
May 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
please send more information and contact details.
May 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Hello i am intresting in training please contact me and provide infomation place and time
May 29th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Hi, I am a little concerned about the cost of building homes in Jamaica at the figures you quoted. Normally the prices start from 5000 and up so up to 12000 per sq. foot…I had to look twice to see if I am not mistaken. In addition wouldn’t it take more labour to build a concrete house than one that is pre-made per say? I am not trying to take away from what you are saying and feel free to correct me if you think I am wrong. I am also a potential customer and I am currently looking at my options so please do not take my concerns in a negative light. Eagerly awaiting your response, please contact me
July 11th, 2011 at 7:20 am
would like to kn if a person has their own land if you bulid the house on it for them?
September 14th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Grilling is an important part of Jamaican housing, because of security reasons.
Based on what I am seeing, can your units accomodate such modifications?
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:19 pm
i would like to no more on these three bedroom very interested please i would like to no a lot more on these price.
October 31st, 2011 at 8:39 am
It’s been several months now since i’ve heard of this company, at the time you were still in the process of getting certified/registered to use this technique in Jamaica beyond test sites.
Have you been fully approved now?
December 13th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
i am just seeing this but when will these houses will come out it will just the right thing iam so desperate
December 21st, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Can solar water heaters, satellite systems, Solar panels be Installed on the roofs of the magwall houses
January 12th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
As a contractor I still manage to build custom designed block and steel houses at a starting rate of $5000 per square feet inclusive of plans and fees. Houses can be built at a lower cost than currently obtains in the current marketplace
January 14th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
i am interested in getting one of those house can u tell me which parish houses will be.
February 5th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Greetings. I have read your report on building prefab homes. I am interested in a 1,350-sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit will be offered at $5 million (flat roof.
I would like to know if you have already received the necessary permit, and look forward to hear from you as soon as possible. I have the land available for building it on.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
When I could not get unto the Magwall website, I decided to google it. I do not like some of the things I see. Please do not delete my post, because if something is wrong, then I’d want to know.