looking for advice on wood versus metal doors and windows

[dermotwa]

Im looking for advice on whether to get wood or metal windows and doors.Is wood much cheaper? or is there much in the difference? can anyone recommend carpenters or ironworkers?..Is wood a hassle here with the strong sun and rainy season? does it need to be treated frequently? does it expand and contract much?..id appreciate any advice..thanks v much

[jesm]

Always glad to help those investing in Mexico's future.
We built here in 2011-2012. Wonderful experience with outstanding results, all thanks to a great crew.
Our entry floor uses all wood Windows and doors. The lower level and separate casita have metal Windows, but wooden doors.
All have proven to work well. Some of the wood required minor tweaking about one year in due to swelling/ contraction. Since then no further adjustments have been required. Our windows are pine, while doors use mahogany, Salam, and pine. There is an excellent lumber supplier here near Glorieta Santa Fe, I can track down name if you wish. They worked closely with our carpenter to have us pre-purchase the pine so it all could slow dry before it went to the saw. Under-cured wood is a big, big problem here so watch out.

The metal units are probably half the cost of the wooden ones due to the price of wood and the labor and machinery required. Metal doors are probably more secure, but they "clang".
There are countless more metal shops than carpenters due to equipment investments. For metal, make sure they have years and years of experience as newbies come and disappear quick. For wood, go visit their taller you will see a lot just by their equipment.
If you crave your view you will have lots of Windows and some will be big. Factor ventilation wants as well. We use some fixed but most open. Several doors use half glass. In Irapuato is a huge super modern glass "factory" French company and they can do anything you might ever imagine in glass, shapes, colors, glass flooring! . Etc. etc. all computer controlled saws, mills etc.

Allow one piece of unsolicited advice. Having now personally built two houses in Mexico and observed numerous projects of friends and neighbors the number one cause for heartbreak and headache comes from allowing the work actually completed to not balance with the percentage of payment made to your builder/architect. The quality should be no issue with an experienced crew and jefe. It can however be near impossible to get a truly accurate construction price estimate in advance. They are always low, frequently fatally low and are not binding in any case. So you can have paid 80% of the planned cost, but only have 50% of the home you envisioned standing, as so much of your final costs go into the details and finishing work,not the core structure. Ugh! So put as much thought into your payment strategy as you do the home design.
Welcome and best of building!

[Mikel1]

Who was your carpenter? Any contact info? Thanks!

[jesm]

Ivan Dueñas. His shop is out near Sta. Teresa. 473-731-8053 is the home #.
In addition to doors and windows he built us tables, chairs, cane seat bar stools and kitchen cabinets. Show hm a picture and he can clone it beautifully.
Please say Jesse in LaPresa recommended him.

[Mikel1]

Jesse, gracias! We are currently building, in obra gris stage, time to get carpenter lined up!

[pianoheat]

If you use metal which we do be aware if they get direct sun they will expand and contract sometimes the locks are tighter in full sun