How much does it cost to build a new home in St. Croix? That could be a million-dollar answer as it depends on who builds it, what they build it with and where it is to be built. While raw land and property taxes are less expensive on St. Croix than other parts of the world, the cost of new construction is extremely high and is rising due to demand, fuel prices, inflation, supply-chain issues, etc. It is good to remember that St. Croix has zero natural raw materials, nor the construction related manufacturing industry to produce walls, floors, roof, doors, roofing materials and much more.
There are several types of construction methods being used in St. Croix such as:
There are several types of construction methods being used in St. Croix such as:
- Reinforced Concrete
- Concrete Masonry Blocks (CMU)
- Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
- Pressure Treated Wood Framing (PTWF)
Most of the housed built here have roofs constructed with PTWF. Here we discuss the most commonly used construction method which is reinforced concrete walls and floors with a pressure treated wood framed roof.
Before we get into house costs, there are some costs that are constant to construction:
The site development cost for a project on a modestly steep lot could add 15% while a steep lot could add 20% or more to the minimum starting costs below.
Before we get into house costs, there are some costs that are constant to construction:
- Bulk Concrete (not delivered or installed) $195 to $220 /c.y.
- Reinforced Concrete (installed) $1,200 psf
- Finished concrete slabs (open deck) on grade $100 / sq. ft.
- Cisterns $4 / gallon
- Pools $8 / gallon
- Driveways (graded w/ gravel) $150 / linear ft.
The site development cost for a project on a modestly steep lot could add 15% while a steep lot could add 20% or more to the minimum starting costs below.
Reinforced Concrete (Walls and Floors) with Pressure Treated Wood Framing (Roofs):
- Habitable space (good finishes/not high-end) $350/ sq. ft. (starting cost)
- Garage, Utilitarian storage (semi-finished) $250 / sq. ft.
- Covered outdoor decks with slab on grade $250 / sq. ft.
- Suspended balconies, finished w/ railings $300 / sq. ft.
What would $1,000,000 get you today on the island of St. Croix using the most popular building materials and methods constructed on a moderate flat lot with easy access?
- 1,500 sq. ft. single family house x $450 = $ 675,000
- 15,000 gal. code compliant cistern x $4 = $ 60,000
- 500 sq. ft. of covered deck x $250 = $ 125,000
- 250 sq. ft. of open deck x $100 = $ 25,000
- 400 sq. ft. of garage x $250 = $ 100,000
- 100 l.f. of driveway x $150 = $ 15,000
The $450 cost per sq. ft. of the single family house includes construction documents required for building permit, including architectural and structural drawings for a main house, covered and open decks; no landscaping or interior design. This is assuming being on the electric grid with roof water-cistern, septic system on a modest sloped building site permitted by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
Estimated build time from date of Permit: 18-24 months
Estimated cost for 2,250 SF of Living Space: $444.00 SF +/-
These numbers are provided by competent, highly reputable contractors and licensed USVI architects.
CAT5 BUILDERS using prefabricated Cold Form Steel Components with CAT5-MATRIX exterior and interior structural sheathing and finishes (Walls, Floors, and Roof):
- Habitable space (good finishes/not high-end) $250 / sq. ft.
- Garage, Utilitarian storage (semi-finished) $125 / sq. ft.
- Covered outdoor decks with slab on grade $125 / sq. ft.
- Suspended CFS balconies, finished w/ railings $160 / sq. ft.
With CAT5 BUILDERS you could save up to $433,750 and be finished in half the timeframe or better.
- 1,500 sq. ft. single family house x $250 = $ 375,000
- 15,000 gal. code compliant cistern x $3 = $ 45,000
- 500 sq. ft. of covered deck x $125 = $ 62,500
- 250 sq. ft. of open deck x $ 75 = $ 18,750
- 400 sq. ft. of garage x $125 = $ 50,000
- 100 l.f. of driveway x $150 = $ 15,000
Estimated build time from date of Permit: 6-12 months
Estimated cost for 2,250 SF of Living Space: $251.00 SF +/-
CAT5 BUILDERS, LLC is unique company as we have the ability to design, engineer, manufacture and build the entire structure using our advanced building system and components. Our buildings have been built throughout the United States for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Hotels (to name a few), used in an 8-story apartment building one mile from the White House in Washington, DC, in Sri Lanka for survivors of the 2004 Tsunami, in Mexico for low-cost housing, and in Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake that claimed the lives of approximately 250,000 souls. Our buildings in Haiti, which include low-cost housing, several schools, a Catholic Church, etc., survived not only a direct hit from a Category 4 Hurricane in 2016 (Matthew) but also a 7.2 Earthquake on August 14, 2021. No structural damage or loss of life was reported.
CAT5 BUILDERS, has the ability to control the building materials, the amount of skilled labor required all the while simplifying the building process for the other subcontractors resulting is lower building costs and a faster build time.
By no means is this meant to discourage you from building your dream home in St. Croix but actually to prepare you for the reality of building on the island. As Dorothy once said to her dog in the famous 1939 movie the Wizard of Oz, she stated, “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” The costs projected above are no means definitive as each project (home) typical have too many variables to consider so it is better to be realistic than to set false pretense that could hurt the Owner and damage reputations.
Therefore, CAT5 works with a realistic cost and within a budget that can afford our Company with the financial support to hire the best subcontractors and materials. Feel free to contact us via our Contact Us page if you have other questions or would like to proceed further into the details of the process.
CAT5 BUILDERS, has the ability to control the building materials, the amount of skilled labor required all the while simplifying the building process for the other subcontractors resulting is lower building costs and a faster build time.
By no means is this meant to discourage you from building your dream home in St. Croix but actually to prepare you for the reality of building on the island. As Dorothy once said to her dog in the famous 1939 movie the Wizard of Oz, she stated, “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” The costs projected above are no means definitive as each project (home) typical have too many variables to consider so it is better to be realistic than to set false pretense that could hurt the Owner and damage reputations.
Therefore, CAT5 works with a realistic cost and within a budget that can afford our Company with the financial support to hire the best subcontractors and materials. Feel free to contact us via our Contact Us page if you have other questions or would like to proceed further into the details of the process.
