Thread: Marmite's Pad

Originally Posted by DrAndy

you will not have to remove much

He'll just have to scrape of a few centimetres in each box and put it in the box in the upper right..

Originally Posted by DrAndy

you can see they haven't filled the space completely just so you can concrete it and tile the area

They've added another lorry load since the pic was taken. I'm going to put the idea of a damp proof sheet over to them - that should be interesting. Even when they do use one, the dozy fuckers like to put holes in it when they pin the rebar down.

they often use 2 " of coarse sand, which acts as a damp proof barrier, to a point

a plastic membrane is good if installed carefully

They go much higher inside those profiles you'll have raised beds

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by glennb6

Watched numerous projects being poured here, nope, no straight board. Screeding and finishing for a flat surface? You jest!

the poured concrete does not need to be flat here, just sort of flat

it is expected that the workers who lay the floors (tiles, wood, whatever) will make the floor perfect for their uses

in the UK the concrete is expected to be pefect and flat, so the tiles etc can be stuck on with thin cement/glue

I was just reading through some old threads and came across this interesting comment.

In the Netherlands concrete is expected to be very flat in most cases, but it's depending on the contract (in Dutch called "bestek"). After making the structural concrete, 99% of the houses is finished with very fine cement (they just pump it in as in the photo below). It's very easy and 100% flat.

That said, the tile / flooring company has to accept the floor they are building on. Once accepted, any damage or failure will be their fault and their assurance.

Its called, "self leveling." concrete.

Originally Posted by ltnt

Its called, "self leveling." concrete.

Thanks for pointing that out, my building proficiency English is not so good hehe.

If I freely translate it from Dutch it should be "sand-cement floor".

i know it is an old thread but did he ever finish the house?
i cant see no pictures,
or did the midget fok up the camera for good.

Nope - saving about $900 a month for the next couple of years so we can throw a big lump at it all in one hit.

totally understand, you are not alone

Well! There's some unexpected news.

The Midget had an epiphany and realised that if we lived in the village full time a number of things would happen:

1 - Her family would be murdered for being such an annoying bunch or idiots (they're great in small doses though)

2 - Our lad would grow up retarded

3 - She'd get fed up living in a dust bowl

4 - I'd go on a killing spree or the village would lynch me

So... she said why don't we scale back a bit and have a smaller gaff on the land where Mum & Dad can live and we can use once or twice a year? It'll eventually be inherited to one of the boys.

Grand idea, I thought.

Based upon the posts that are already there (although 6 will have to come down), I have a new set of plans. We should be able to get the roof on and the walls up in the New Year as long as the price is around what we expect.



3 bedrooms, living area and outside kitchen/acting like a sloth area. Only need one shower room as we'll not be there 99.9% of the time. There will be a big folding steel gate, not a door into the Al Fresco area, so Dad can park his tuk tuk in there at night along with a motorbike or two.

I will have to get 3 trenched dug out and pout some more footings and I think the front of Bedroom 1 will need a couple of steel posts or similar to tie that part of the roof to. Otherwise, we're good to go.

It'll have the same insulated, lightweight steel roof as before, but will use whatever the cheapest type of block/brick is available. Rendered all round, all leccy wires tacked to the wall and the water pipes affixed to the outside of the house as I'll be buggered if I'm digging up concrete floors after Somchai has forgotten to glue a water pipe joint.

We've spent about 100k on the posts and well, so lets see if I can get it all done for under 500k.

What about the lego bricks that Nigel is using? Have you been over to his place yet? I don't think they need to be rendered and that would save quite a bit of money on cement and sand. They seem to be pretty good for making smaller structures and they sure go up fast along with having good insulation.

Just a thought.

I think I do remember Nige did not have any posts, so that may not work. Anyway, good luck on your build and I will be giving you a call in a week or so.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

I might start and finish before Marmite completes his build, and I have no starting date...

Oddly perceptive post from May last year.

Marmite - as the posts are already in place why not just leave them and use them to make a verandah at the front?

Originally Posted by Roobarb

Marmite - as the posts are already in place why not just leave them and use them to make a verandah at the front?

I think an 8x8m verandah is a bit excessive.

It's all about wasting as little money as possible now.

Sounds good to me Marmite. Best of luck with the new design!

Re (1) that's why I expressed my reservations on Sunday, I don't think you are cut out for village life.
Sensible conclusion, I think, we can bring beer and visit you and I will buy a GPS so we can visit Nig on the same day.

^^^ i don't agree with the bigger is better conclusion, in fact a compact site and building, economical to AC, is better for me, although I agree it needs plenty of out side shaded area,

Originally Posted by FailSafe

a large verandah is actually a really nice thing to have

A complete waste of time for me. I never understand people who think being eaten by mozzies and ants, and sweating like a rapist is a good thing.

Anyway, the Al Fresco area is 6x4m so plenty big enough for Mum & Dad.

That being said, I may move the front door around to the front of the living room, so there is an opportunity to put a little verandah there. We shall see.

If you're sure you'll never sell it, build it strictly for yourself- if you think you might sell it one day, think about what others might like (while still pleasing yourself, of course)- you'll make more money in the end.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

3 bedrooms, living area and outside kitchen/acting like a sloth area.

Copycat...

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Only need one shower room as we'll not be there 99.9% of the time.

Dirty scumbag.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

We've spent about 100k on the posts and well, so lets see if I can get it all done for under 500k.

Cheap bastard! If you get it done for under 650k, you're doing well. My FiL is the cheapest of cheap bastards, and my similar construction should come in at 650k.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

bigger is nearly always better

The Al Fresco area: I'm trying to picture it.

There's a big folding steel gate at the front to secure things overnight.

Whilst the gate will fox most village thieves, presumably there will also be something on the two other external sides to deter the more advanced type of criminal. My imagination is a bit limited so I'm thinking walls, in which case it's more of a garage than an al fresco area so that can't be right.

What's the vision for this bit?

Originally Posted by FailSafe

If you're sure you'll never sell it, build it strictly for yourself- if you think you might sell it one day, think about what others might like (while still pleasing yourself, of course)- you'll make more money in the end.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

It'll eventually be inherited to one of the boys.

This is family land and will not be sold.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Cheap bastard! If you get it done for under 650k, you're doing well.

We shall see. Walls & roof for under 200k off the top of my head.

Originally Posted by Roobarb

Whilst the gate will fox most village thieves, presumably there will also be something on the two other external sides to deter the more advanced type of criminal. My imagination is a bit limited so I'm thinking walls, in which case it's more of a garage than an al fresco area so that can't be right. What's the vision for this bit?

It'll be block wall and then either those blocks with the oval holes in, or a steel frame on top of a 4ft wall with chain link fencing. I'll canvass the outlaws before making that decision.

^^
They can always burn you out.