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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Nong Khai Construction Super

    Turned a corner this month on a long term goal of building a house in the Thai countryside. The pad we plan to build on is being raised a meter now, so it should be ready to build on in a couple of years.

    Looking for an English speaking building supervisor I found a construction company in the area of Nong Khai called NKD HOUSE BUILDER. http://www.nkdhouse.com/ A Brit owner, I’m told. His office sent me their opening letter and the offer looks good, with some opinions, good or bad, from this respected, learned and still learning Teak Door panel.

    Does anyone know anything about NKD? Reliable…? Overpriced…? Good deal…?
    Does anyone know of any other builder or Construction Supervisor of this sort in the Nong Khai area?


    Any help appreciated. I'm happy to bore with plan details if wanted.

  2. #2
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    Another option to consider is PD House: PD House website/locations

    We are using them to build our house in Nakhom Pathom and have been pleased with them, more or less. Their designs seem solid and construcion methods seem well thought out. You can get an idea of how they do things by checking out the link on our house.
    Due to cash flow issues with my biz, construction slowed down late last year. Things should, finally be picking up this week.

    They do have a timeline that they will comply with, as long as you make your payments on time.

    English speaking could be a problem. But the office up by you may have someone who does speak english.

    Good luck

  3. #3
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    I had email contact with the guy who runs this about 2 years ago ,, have emailed him twice since about a build in Issan got no replies ,, checked me spam box etc nothing.

    Don't know if he is mega busy , but sure does a good job as far as I can see ,, the email he did reply to was very very thorough in explaining everything .

    Good luck mate
    I'm proud of my 38" waist , also proud I have never done drugs

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by stevefarang
    Another option to consider is PD House: PD House website/locations
    Thanks for the tip. I did check out the site. Beautiful homes, but I had difficulty understanding their selection windows. I couldn't really get a fix on their estimated charges either. I will e-mail them.

    I checked out your thread also. Beautiful place to cool your heels in Thailand, and a great thread. I assume PDhouse took care of all the paper/legal/permits/bribes in the area for you.

    Thanks again.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan
    the email he did reply to was very very thorough in explaining everything .
    I got the same e-mail. You're right--very thorough, seems very good. My wife was in country a few weeks ago and stopped by their office, a storefront on the main street. She met the architect and a staffer, but the owner wasn't there. 16,000 baht sq/m seems a bit steep, though I suspect PD House PD House website/locations is even steeper. I'm hoping a lot of that expense comes off the ammenites list; I don't need marble counter tops and I'm only going single story high. Then again I don't want to see another bare, overhead, florescent light bulb, if you know what I mean.

    Thanks for the info about NDK.
    Last edited by MrG; 03-07-2012 at 10:22 AM.

  6. #6
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    You thinking of building in Cha am Mr G ?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by MrG View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by stevefarang
    Another option to consider is PD House: PD House website/locations
    Thanks for the tip. I did check out the site. Beautiful homes, but I had difficulty understanding their selection windows. I couldn't really get a fix on their estimated charges either. I will e-mail them.

    I checked out your thread also. Beautiful place to cool your heels in Thailand, and a great thread. I assume PDhouse took care of all the paper/legal/permits/bribes in the area for you.

    Thanks again.
    Yes, the way the layout the houses is confusing. What we did was look in a book of house designs in the price range we were considering.

    You will pay more with PD House (I don't know the price for sq m), but I like the fact that there is some thought in the construction process. It's not just a couple of villagers who show up, pour some concrete and smile at you. The frame seems very solid and no old guy with an even older welding machine tack welding the roof trusses (plus the tack weld ruins the galvanized coating). I'm really impressed with the house frame. It's all keyed together and grouted. Looks really solid.

    Yes, they did all the leg work that I'm aware of.

    Using someone like PD House is not for everyone. I can't be here all the time, so I take some comfort that PD House has someone overseeing the work every day. So I'm paying more for that assurance, but it's worth it for me.

    And thanks for the complement ! Some folks don't care for the westernized look. But I think I deserve a comfortable place for my later years, with some room to roam around in. And big enough to host friends and family whenever they come to visit. It's what I like, which is what it all boils down to.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by stevefarang
    Using someone like PD House is not for everyone. I can't be here all the time, so I take some comfort that PD House has someone overseeing the work every day. So I'm paying more for that assurance, but it's worth it for me.
    That's exactly where I'm at, and I think NDK will deliver the same construction quality, but I sure would like some confirmation. We know a lot of locals in the area. My wife's aunt is a big and well established businesswoman who is now building apartments as part of her retirment plan. I trust her judgement on construction quality, but not necessarily her taste, and I want to be able to communicate at least with the forman.
    Quote Originally Posted by stevefarang
    It's what I like, which is what it all boils down to.
    That's what it's all about.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan View Post
    You thinking of building in Cha am Mr G ?
    The countryside outside of Nong Khai. Don't know where Cha am is.

  10. #10
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    I would tread carefully re. NKD. We had contact with him end of last year and looked at a house he was building. I was not impressed and I told him why and some things I saw in that build that I would not accept. It was an ordinary house, not big, but very expensive! After that he never got back to me!

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Racin View Post
    I would tread carefully re. NKD. We had contact with him end of last year and looked at a house he was building. I was not impressed and I told him why and some things I saw in that build that I would not accept. It was an ordinary house, not big, but very expensive! After that he never got back to me!
    Thanks for the heads-up.

    I have not heard a good word on NKD on this board, or PD, for that matter. I will be in Nong Khai in January 2013 and will definitely be checking out NKD and post what I learn here when I do. I'm going to ask for some references of work he's done in the area.

  12. #12
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    most builders will try to cut corners and build to what they can get away with

    if you can't be there yourself it is essential that someone will supervise the project, right from the start

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    I plan to be there myself for the build, hopefully in a rental just down the road. I try to come stay alert to all the pitfalls (electrical, plumbing, cement, and on and on and on), but corners could be cut right in front of me and I wouldn't know the difference.

    My Thai is not up to snuff. My wife will be there and glad help, but it's what's left out of the translation back to me that worries me. I really like to have things understood in specific detail. Thais seem to be very "ish" in their approach to communicating and following plans in specific detail. From reading this forum, I have a feeling that, even with an English speaking Super, I'm in for a rough flight on this project.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by MrG View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Racin View Post
    I would tread carefully re. NKD. We had contact with him end of last year and looked at a house he was building. I was not impressed and I told him why and some things I saw in that build that I would not accept. It was an ordinary house, not big, but very expensive! After that he never got back to me!
    Thanks for the heads-up.

    I have not heard a good word on NKD on this board, or PD, for that matter. I will be in Nong Khai in January 2013 and will definitely be checking out NKD and post what I learn here when I do. I'm going to ask for some references of work he's done in the area.
    Hi there,
    This is my first post and I know this thread is now very old but it is relevant to my current situation.
    Mr. G do have any further information in regards to your dealings with NKD?
    I and my partner had 1 meeting with the guy last week so its very early stages and need some advice (and other people) about him and his company. He is quoting something like 500B per sqm for designs and plans...and I think I heard him mention a huge figure of 20% during construction phase etc.
    Before I go any further with NKD would love other people's experiences with this guy and his company.
    Regards,
    Steve

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Powerboy,
    I did check out NKD in Jan of 2013. Met with the owner (an English guy) and discussed our build plans in Nonk Khai. . He does a lot of construction outside of Nong Khai (west of, I think) at a high end community. Don't know if it's gated, but you get the idea. He seemed a little high priced for our taste. I did not check out any of the houses he built, but after I heard his price I wasn't really motivated. We think we can do better since my wife's aunt is a long established business woman in NK and has many construction jobs of her own. We had a lot of dirt fill moved to our land, but the current situation is Thailand has us rethinking the whole thing.
    It seems to me that others on this board have had some good and some bad experiences with NKD. Check out some other constructon sites. Examples of another construction company's work on this board did not speak well of them. I can't find the thread.

  16. #16
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    Just throw in my tenpenneth ,, if either of you guys are interested , you can check out my build thread on here ,, we had an English guy called Andy build our place , he is from the Nong Bua Lampu area so is well placed for the n/e Issan area ,.

    I still have his contact details if you want , he will sit down with you and discuss in ENGLISH exactly what you want , built with 3 core earthed electrics to .

    cheers

  17. #17
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    Dead Metal's Avatar
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    So Mr.G did you go ahead and build ?

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Dead Metal.
    No, I haven't built yet, but the land has been raised with fill where needed and is ready.

    Nige:
    I believe I used to keep track of your thread regularly, but the coup sort of knocked the wind out of my sails re: building/living in Thailand. I will keep this info in mind as we make our plans. Thanks.

  19. #19
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    Yes indeed ,, I don't blame you .

    In the scheme of things the little bungalow we had built was not a lot of money and the wife paid half anyway , its a comfortable place to stay in the meantime as and when we stay over , its always there as a base thats all as far as I am concerned .

    As time passes its somewhere nice for her to return to after being used to western comforts for so many years .

    As for sinking loads of money into what appears to be a lottery at the moment I,m with you , who knows what rabbit will come out of the hat next ?

  20. #20
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    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan
    Yes indeed ,, I don't blame you .

    In the scheme of things the little bungalow we had built was not a lot of money and the wife paid half anyway, its a comfortable place to stay in the meantime as and when we stay over, its always there as a base that's all as far as I am concerned .

    As time passes its somewhere nice for her to return to after being used to western comforts for so many years .

    As for sinking loads of money into what appears to be a lottery at the moment I,m with you , who knows what rabbit will come out of the hat next ?
    I hear you guys. My money is sunk already. There's no turning back now. But, don't forget that everything will be OK once Happiness has been returned to the people.
    Last edited by terp80; 04-11-2014 at 07:17 PM.

  21. #21
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    Each to they're own mate ^ , we all view life from different angles .

    I really hope it all works out for you , I,m sure all will be fine .

    Life is a great game of chance for sure , a mate of mine has just picked his daughter up from the airport , been volunteering out in South America last 3 months , mugged twice , survived to tell the tale ,, lucky yes , BUT she has lived her dream ,, she has many friends back at home only do just that DREAM

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan
    Each to they're own mate ^ , we all view life from different angles .
    I really hope it all works out for you , I,m sure all will be fine .
    Life is a great game of chance for sure , a mate of mine has just picked his daughter up from the airport , been volunteering out in South America last 3 months , mugged twice , survived to tell the tale ,, lucky yes , BUT she has lived her dream ,, she has many friends back at home only do just that DREAM
    One never knows Nige, that's for sure. You have to take some chances in life - or better: "calculated risks" - makes things interesting.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by terp80 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by nigelandjan
    Each to they're own mate ^ , we all view life from different angles .
    I really hope it all works out for you , I,m sure all will be fine .
    Life is a great game of chance for sure , a mate of mine has just picked his daughter up from the airport , been volunteering out in South America last 3 months , mugged twice , survived to tell the tale ,, lucky yes , BUT she has lived her dream ,, she has many friends back at home only do just that DREAM
    One never knows Nige, that's for sure. You have to take some chances in life - or better: "calculated risks" - makes things interesting.
    Absolutely Terp...Calculated risks versus "Gripped never do anything" life. I have so many colleagues and acquaintances that will spend hours finding hundreds of reasons NOT to do something. The Thai "coming to democracy woes" have never even bothered me or made me flinch, in fact I pay little attention to the media Hype in and out of the country. If you are not in BKK, its only noise.

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat MrG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2
    If you are not in BKK, its only noise.
    Tell it to the Chaing Mai cab driver who was arrested a couple of months ago for disagreeing with the coup.

    As long as you keep your mouth shut, don't talk to people about anything, don't mention the unmentionable de-jour and live like a good little immigrant, you'll be fine. I've been there enough to know what it's like, and I don't like living under the possiblity of being hauled away to a re-education camp for some perceived infraction of an arbitrary law.

  25. #25
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    As a farang it is our duty, to our self to keep quiet about the BS things that go on around and think, don't be verbose about it.

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