Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. This means that many people are unable to afford a home, and have to live in makeshift shelters or with relatives. The average Haitian can only dream about owning their own residential building. However, there are some Haitians who have been able to build their own house – but only after spending years working hard and saving money for construction materials. Construction in Haiti often consists of 26 essential stages, which include:
leveling and earthwork if possible
The first stage of construction in Haiti is leveling the land where it will be built upon, then adding soil or gravel to fill any holes that may exist. This step also ensures that there are no slopes on the property where water can run into the house, potentially causing damage to its foundation.
If you’re lucky enough not to have an uneven yard for your new home, skip this step! If not, however, don’t worry too much about it as this process isn’t particularly difficult. First level all areas with only minor surface irregularities using tamping equipment (if needed). Then add additional infill material if necessary until the desired elevation is achieved.
Location plan
Haiti is a mountainous country. The location plan takes this into account, as well as the surrounding environment and existing building structures.
Location plan – A new road must be built from the nearest town to your plot of land. Use an aerial map of Haiti for reference when plotting out distances between roads, towns, and other landmarks on your property’s plot of land.
Land survey – Locate boundaries with GPS coordinates so you know where not to build in order to avoid any legal problems further down the line or having neighbors file trespassing claims against you later if they find that part of their property now belongs to yours because it falls within those boundaries outlined by GPS coordinates which were taken at one point during construction but then abandoned due to lack of time or resources.
Construction permit
A construction license is needed before any building can take place on the land you own. The location plan comes into play here as well. It is a must for buildings that stand more than two meters tall to meet certain specifications.
Without this important step, government officials could shut down your progress at any point due to noncompliance. This would put a halt on everything. A city engineer would have to inspect the site and issue another approval letter if deficiencies are found. In either case, they would have to tell you when to resume construction.
The city has to be sure the house is safe and sound for humans to occupy the space. As a result, you would be spending more money to continue with the project. Hence, the reason to make sure everything is ok first.
excavation
Excavation and Site Preparation: The first step in any construction project is to clear the site of all debris and to level the ground. This process usually involves removing a layer of earth called the subsoil and replacing it with a layer of compacted fill. In Haiti, this is often done by hand with shovels and pickaxes.
sinking
The next step is to sink the foundation. This is done by excavating a hole in the ground and then placing concrete pillars or wooden beams in the hole. The pillars or beams are then filled with concrete or mortar, which forms the foundation of the house.
reinforcement sole and posts
The foundation is then reinforced. For wooden posts and beams, this usually involves attaching metal bars (rebar) horizontally and vertically to the post or beam. This process ensures that the house will remain stable as it rises above ground level.
After reinforcing the foundation of a wood-framed house, workers begin building “sills” – horizontal pieces of wood which rest upon the pillars at each corner where two walls meet. These sills support joists – long boards running from sill to sill on which floorboards are placed during construction. Once these parts have been installed, carpenters can start installing vertical stud frames for interior walls and exterior doors and windows.
concrete sole
Another essential stage of construction in Haiti is to pour the concrete sole. This is a very important step, as it will provide the foundation for the entire structure. The concrete sole should be poured at least six inches thick and should be level and smooth. It is also important to make sure that the drainage system is in place before pouring the concrete, so that water can flow away from the house.
placement of sole and posts
Once the foundation has been completed, the placement of the sole and posts can begin. This is done by marking out where each post will go, then digging a hole for each one that is about two feet deep. The sole is then placed in the middle of these holes, with each post being driven into the ground around it until they are all secure. Once this is complete, plywood can be nailed to the posts to create the frame of the building. Next comes sheathing and roofing materials!
Stone Masonry
This is done by a stonemason, who begins by marking out the area to be excavated and then proceeds to break up the earth with a pickaxe. He sets small stones as a base for the large ones, which he places in layers, binding them together with mortar. When the foundation is complete, it is covered with gravel.
lower form-work and concrete chaining
Once the foundation has been poured, the next step is to put in place the lower form-work and concrete chaining. The form-work will create the shape of the building’s walls, while the concrete chaining will help keep everything in place until the concrete sets. This stage can be a little tricky, so it’s important to have a good plan and take your time.
Embankment Work
The foundation of a house in Haiti is built by using dirt. After the appropriate soil has been excavated and removed, it will be transported to an embankment area where it will be spread out evenly in order to create the base for the building’s walls. The soil needs to be compacted properly so that no underground voids form
Plumbing
electricity, and HVAC is some of the most important aspects that need to be considered while building a residential house in Haiti. These systems need to be planned and installed in a way that is both safe and efficient. One of the first steps in installing these systems is running the necessary cables.
You should do this before you put up any walls as it can be difficult and costly to do it afterward. Cables should be run along the floor or between studs and should be spaced no more than 24 inches apart. Cables can also run along with the ceiling if there is a crawl space or attic above them.
Conversely, it doesn’t matter where you place your electrical outlets. However, in order to make sure that they are convenient for everyone who uses them – it’s best not to place them in the middle of a wall. Outlets should be placed no more than 48 inches from the floor and at least 18 inches from any door or window.
Soil Compaction
In Haiti, the soil is often too soft and not very well consolidated. As a result, it is important to compact the dirt as much as possible before starting any construction work on it. If you already dug the ground for the foundation or other elements of the building structure, then this needs to be done by walking around with large pieces of wood and driving them deep into the ground.
For soil that needs excavation work, then it is important that you do this work with a wheelbarrow or similar machine. This is to not compact it any further than necessary before starting on the foundations.
Grid Parquet
This is the first layer of flooring that needs to be applied, and it will form the base for every other part of the building. To begin with, a thick cement mortar mixture needs to be prepared. This should cover an area slightly larger than the intended size of each grid (in order to allow some extra space on either side.
Concrete Parquet
This is the second layer of flooring that needs to be applied on top of the Grid Parquet, and it will form part of the rest of the building. In the first place, a thick cement mortar mixture needs to be prepared again in order to allow for adequate strength when constructing this ground-level surface. As with before, this should cover an area slightly larger than the intended size of each concrete parquet (in order to allow some extra space on either side).
Once this has dried, then it should be possible for workers to construct the first-floor surface by placing individual pieces one at a time and ensuring that they are level with one another.
Block Elevation 6 Rows
This is the third layer of flooring that needs to be applied, and it will form part of a complete exterior wall. Also, a thick cement mortar mixture should be prepared in order to allow for adequate strength when constructing this ground-level surface. As with before, this should cover an area slightly larger than the intended size of each block elevation (in order to allow some extra space on either side).
Once this has dried, the workers can start construction of the exterior wall by placing the first row of blocks at the bottom. They should then be mortar-ed in place and left to dry before continuing upwards.
intermediate form-work and concrete chaining
To make sure that your house is well-built, concrete requires steel reinforcement bars (rebars) to be set in the mix before it’s poured. The workers use wheelbarrows for transportation and pour their first level of foundation from where they are working on-site with great care!
The cement truck arrives with the building forms and shuttering for pouring concrete on site. The builders are using wheelbarrows to transport from mixing trucks so that they can be ready where needed most at any given time!
5 rows of blocks
After the earthquake, 5 rows of blocks appear to be the standard for every construction in Haiti. A Haitian home is typically built with five rows of blocks. The first row is laid on the ground, and then cement mortar is used to hold the other four rows in place. This creates a sturdy foundation for the home. The blocks are cut with an angle to form a smooth surface. This is important because it prevents the blocks from catching on clothing or skin, which could be dangerous for children and adults alike.
The second row of bricks is laid out horizontally across this foundation row so that there are two separate pieces of cement mortar between each brick. The space left between the second row of bricks is where the windows and door will be placed.
The third layer of blocks goes on top, but this time it’s laid out vertically so that each brick covers two cement mortar joints. The fourth row also has to go in vertically just as the previous one did. However, there’s a difference between them: the fourth row is the one that will have the roof placed on top of it.
The final layer, which is the roof, goes on last and it’s made up of galvanized zinc sheets. These are nailed onto wooden beams that rest on top of the fourth row of blocks. The nails go through the metal sheeting and into the blocks to hold everything in place.
column and concrete formwork are
The column and concrete formwork are in place and the rebar is ready to be installed. This reinforcing steel will help strengthen the concrete structure of the building. Next, the foundation will be poured. The foundation is a critical step in any construction project as it provides a stable base for the rest of the building to be built on top of. The concrete foundation will provide a strong base for the next step which is laying out and leveling all of the floor slabs.
upper form-work and concrete chaining
Once the foundation is in place, upper form-work and concrete chaining are installed. This step helps with leveling of floor slabs that will be poured next. The construction crew then installs exterior waterproof membranes to wrap around the house. These membrane wraps provide a protective layer for when all of the walls are poured later on in the project.
carpenter placement of 2 × 4 plywood
The construction crew then carpenter places the plywood to help protect the outermost membrane. This step helps keep water out of the house during future rainfall events and provides an extra layer of protection for the home’s occupants. With this protective layer in place, all that needs to be done is to install insulation and drywall.
electric pipe installation
After the foundation is laid, the electrician will come and install the pipes that will bring electricity to the house. He will drill holes in the walls and run the pipes through them, then connect them to outlets and light fixtures. Once everything is hooked up, he will test the system to make sure it is working. The plumber will then come and install the pipes that bring water to the house. He will drill a hole in the foundation, run a pipe through it, connect it to an exterior spigot for use during construction, as well as interior sinks and toilets once they are installed.
Concrete Slab Roofing
The roof is one of the most important parts of any house, and it is essential that it be installed correctly to protect against the elements. We use metal sheets to build the roof of each house and then cover it with concrete. This combination is very effective at protecting against rain because it keeps the water from seeping through the roof, and it also makes the house very sturdy.
The concrete slab roofing process is fairly simple. First, we lay the metal sheets on top of the roof frame and secure them in place. Then, we mix up some concrete and pour it over the sheets, filling in any gaps with some additional metal. Once it is dry, this will create a strong roof that can withstand heavy downpours.
Now that the roof is finished, it’s time to move on to the next stage of construction!
Electricity
The next stage in building a house is installing electricity. This involves running electrical cables from the main power source to the location of the house and then installing switches, outlets, and light fixtures. Haitian electricians are skilled at this task, and can quickly get your home up and running with electricity.
plastering and plastering
Once the electrical wiring is in place, the next step is to plaster the walls and ceiling. We use a special cement mixture type of plaster that dries very quickly and is resistant to humidity. This will keep the house nice and dry for many years, even during rainy seasons!
To complete this stage, we first apply a coat of plaster to the walls and ceiling. Once it dries, we sand it down so that it is smooth and even. Then, we apply another coat to the walls and ceiling, which will provide an extra layer of protection against humidity. Once that dries, our house is ready for its final stage!
sanitary installation
The last essential stage of construction in Haiti is installing sanitary fixtures. This includes putting in a toilet, sink, and shower, as well as running water and drainage pipes. Haitian plumbers are experts at this task, and can quickly get your home up and running with all the necessary plumbing fixtures.
painting
Once the sanitary installation is complete, the last task is to paint the house. We use high-quality exterior paint that will keep the house looking great for many years.
We typically apply two coats of paint to the walls and one coat to the roof. This gives the house a bright, cheerful look that will make you feel right at home!
And that’s it! You now have a beautiful new house in Haiti, made with love and care by a team of skilled construction workers. We hope you enjoy living in it for many years to come!
Construction in Haiti
construction in Haiti is no different than in any other country. It has its own set of challenges and opportunities. After reading this list, you should have a better understanding of the various stages involved during residential building construction in Haiti. From the initial idea to move forward with a project, to securing funding for materials and labor costs, it can be an arduous process.
But armed with information about these 26 essential steps, you should be able to enter into that market or help your company get started there more confidently knowing what will come next and how much time and money each step typically takes on average based on our research findings from interviews we conducted while working in Haiti last year.
Construction in Haiti is an important process that requires many steps. We hope this blog post has given you some helpful insight into the 26 essential stages of construction, which can be used to better understand what’s happening on-site when visiting your project site or making decisions about how to move forward with your next new home build in Haiti. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out!
For our french speakers, there is a translation of this blog post here.