Off we go ! Our little home construction in deep Issan

**nigelandjan** · 16-11-2013, 11:35 AM

Right ok lads sorry bout the wait for the pics , I,m a bit limited to pic uploading access so I,ll do my best , please bear with me .

Arrival of the steel for the rebar for the footings and tieing together

I asked why the steel looked so rusty ,, I was told mabe it was because the journey from Udon ( about an hour and a bit normally ) had taken so long ,, infact all day as it had gone via Nong Khai / Phon Phisai / following the Mekong along in a N/E direction as he couldnt read a map . Fair dues

Ok I warned you it was a little one , and this is about the size of it ,, it is after all just a little stay a short time villa ,, well it sure will be for me anyway .

Here,s Ooooooooood hand digging the footings out

He,s a good lad 25 year old works with 3 sets of jumpers on to keep warm and keep the sun off , but yes he is Thai ,, so we know how it goes lol .

Rebar all in ready ,, this has been tack welded in the frames rather than wiring together , much quicker

Readymix arrives bang on time ( ie 3 hours late but we have lights )

Mixer drivers feet ( before ) they became coated in soaking wet hot cement ,, wont show the after pics incaase any with a nervous disposition are looking

Our electric pole is finally erected ,, now this has been waiting patiently untill Sat morn when all the lads from the village can come to help and top up on Lao Khao during the event . I have now just been informed by the wife now its 7 metres high she wants the timber extension painted WTF !! its been on the poxy floor all week ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,oh I get it

Here we are end of the first week up 3 courses on the footings ,, some of the spoil / infill put in and compacted another 10 ton to be added then compacted then 10 ton of hin kook ( hardcore ) compacted plus plastic membrane to keep damp from rising then more rebar then a poured slab / floor .

Also these first 3 courses of blocks will be filled solid with cement .

This forms the base / platform 600mm / 3 steps up off the ground for our little pile to be built on .

The base of the leckky post cemented 1 metre into the ground ,, nice and secure and nice and high to give plenty of clearance on the road it crosses .

Ok lads thats about it for this week ,, will be back with more next week ,, I can answer any questions on my tablet but cannot post pics , so fire away if you like .

Will just mention , I had my first head in my hands moment yesterday at Home Pro.

As you know this is a bit of a basic chalet so really in the scheme of things when choosing a toilet and basin I,m not looking for one with LED lights under the rim , just a basic bog / seat / basin ,,,,,,,,,,,,, spots the set end of the isle ,,, " This one ok dear ?"

Yes yes yes came the reply ,,,,,,,,,,,, then the 15 thousand Thai options started ,,,,,, do you want that seat ? yes

do you want that handle on the toilet ? YES do you want this plug ? YYYEEEESSSSSSS!!!

do you wa,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I,m outta here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**stevefarang** · 16-11-2013, 01:31 PM

Wait until your missus gets to kitting out the kitchen Nigel. LOL

Nice, simple little place to hang your hat.

**Koetjeka** · 16-11-2013, 01:39 PM

Nice pictures! I've got no clue how small or big it is though (no dimensions and scale 1:75 -_-).

I'm loving those concrete bricks, they seem really easy to handle and easy to stack. Is there any mortar (or adhesive) involved to keep the bricks together?

**nigelandjan** · 16-11-2013, 01:59 PM

Sorry ,, size wise its about 4 metres across ,, so bathroom 2.4 mtrs by 4.00 metres

bedroom about 4 mtrs by 4 mtrs

living / kitchen area about 5mtrs by 4 mtrs

outside balcony / covered living area about 5 mtrs by 3. something mtrs sorry cant remember .

Think the kitchen will be on the back burner this year Stevo ,, not sure I was gonna cobble myself one together before we came out here , but I think she has other ideas now ,, we,ll see , if she sees sense we might just,,,,,,,,,,,oh no lets not even go there

**El Gibbon** · 16-11-2013, 02:00 PM

Which wall is north, for the glass wall in the studio? North light the best ya no

**nigelandjan** · 16-11-2013, 02:01 PM

Yes KJ they are glued together ,, and ofcourse rendered ,, they have stirred interest in the village today ,, lots of local builders scratching theyre heads wondering how the pillars are gonna go inside em

**nigelandjan** · 16-11-2013, 02:10 PM

Sorry bout yesterday EG we had " issues " in Home Pro

Plenty more time eh ?

I doubt I will be there long enough to paint much mate ,, the bog wall kinda faeces N/ E direction

**Bettyboo** · 16-11-2013, 03:03 PM

Looking good, Nige - interesting looking bricks.

Keep up the good work.

**charleyboy** · 16-11-2013, 03:30 PM

Lego bricks. I think they look great... and level!

**Koetjeka** · 16-11-2013, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Yes KJ they are glued together ,, and ofcourse rendered ,, they have stirred interest in the village today ,, lots of local builders scratching theyre heads wondering how the pillars are gonna go inside em

Nice!

I suppose those holes are right on top of each other so you can put the pillars inside the wall? If that's so, I'm gonna use those bricks for sure!

**terry57** · 16-11-2013, 06:39 PM

That will be a fine little gaffer Nig, all you need is A/C, internet connectio,n TV and you're up and running.

I would be building nice big verandahs around that house and its outside living mostly.

Good stuff.

**nigelandjan** · 16-11-2013, 09:00 PM

Cheers Tel, , yes indeed a nice air con unit for the bedroom is in the budget.

There will be no tv or Internet, , only my mobile 3G

**ralphlsasser** · 16-11-2013, 10:33 PM

Nigel,
Your house looks plenty big for you and Jan. I made mine too big, so a lot of space that doesn't get used and it's only a 1500 sq. ft. After seeing your plan, I should have made mine the same as your's.
Why isn't the columns tied in with the slab? Where are they going?

**Bangyai** · 16-11-2013, 11:07 PM

Love the idea Nige....small is beautiful ! Will be doing a similar thing on Ms Bangyais land in a year or two. Getting too old to look after a big place. Just want a small house on a big bit of land for a change rather than the other way around.

**Chrisinoxted** · 17-11-2013, 07:01 AM

Looks very good so far how about some views of the area i bet its not like here at the moment it starting to be cold
Just keep it going mate best of luck you deserve it all and of course that lovely lady of yours Chris

**bobforest** · 17-11-2013, 09:32 AM

Nigel

I was going to ask about the positioning of the columns as well. Aren't they supposed to be embedded in the concrete base for stability?

I like your idea of a small pad. I wish that I had gone 'small house and big land' when I purchased something in Thailand. I've got this great big place, of which much of it hardly gets used as most of the living is done in the 8m x 5m sala.

In hindsight, what I should have done is bought the same area of land (2 rai) and built a series of small resort-like structures around the land, linked by covered walkways.

Oh well - next time...

Looking forward to your progress.

bobforest

**nigelandjan** · 17-11-2013, 01:25 PM

Right ok lads in case anyone has missed it for the final time

I WAS BEING FACETIOUS WHEN I MENTION PILLARS BEFORE

THERE ARE NO PILLARS.

What we have here is a little purpose built occasional stay home villa, designed by an English guy ( me ) ,, with some help full input from another English guy ( Marmite ) and is now being built by an English guy ( Andy ) .

It very much takes the form and build traditionally found back home.

Several of you have mentioned going smaller, in fact I shall make dam sure our next permanent long stay home in Thailand or wherever will only ever be a 2 bed 2 bath place.

Apart from the looking after reasons anyone with a Thai family will understand why.

**nigelandjan** · 17-11-2013, 01:27 PM

I'll post a few pics of the area for you Chris, , will be next weekend mate

**Marmite the Dog** · 17-11-2013, 01:29 PM

Looking forward to seeing the work get going. I'll try and pop up in a few weeks to see how it's going and to visit some more fantastic restaurants in the area

**nigelandjan** · 17-11-2013, 02:40 PM

^ Ok mate, , in the meantime I'll keep practising me U turns and driving against 2 lanes of oncoming traffic in the opposite direction, I know that impressed you, , I'm almost kinda half Thai now.

Best bring the cool box with the sarnies

Welcome anytime as you well know, just give us a quick call before hand, we might well be ( relative ) visiting, , all though I think we only have another 343000 to see for we go home in March

**peterpan** · 17-11-2013, 04:11 PM

I will contact M and hopefully get a ride with him to join in, marmite is my designated driver for our "sunshine club" outings

**nigelandjan** · 17-11-2013, 04:43 PM

Pity the poor Midget squashed b etween you 2

**jizzybloke** · 17-11-2013, 06:41 PM

Where does the hammock go?

**peterpan** · 17-11-2013, 06:45 PM

And where is my room Nig?

**Ratchaburi** · 17-11-2013, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

And where is my room Nig?

Sorry pete , but Nigel told me your room double as the shiter

Thread: Off we go ! Our little home construction in deep Issan

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