Thread: Building our Retirement Home in Nan Province

Haven't spotted that up here yet Norton, but admittedly having been specifically looking for it when visiting local nurseries. Will check it out. Regards, -BiP.

There is a reason for that cyrille. Should be evident a little later in the day. The primary reason I put them in was for natural ventilation and of course they provide a little bit of natural light. Not intended for views. Regards, BiP.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Wow, those windows are tiny.

A little bored so I ran a speed test on the True internet since I'm seeing it is quite a bit quicker via my laptop compared to 3BB at the leased house in Nan. Got 221 mbps download and 110 mbps upload. Not bad in all on a 200 mbps plan.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

Should be evident a little later in the day

Well, yes, I assumed heat.

Depends on your preference I guess.

I like natural light whenever possible, and to catch the breeze.

Third load of concrete has arrived. Two more might do it.

Kitchen install at 3:30pm...a few items are going to spill over to tomorrow. The wife and I had been hoping for a quiet Sunday...sigh! We are liking how this is coming together and I'm quite impressed by the build and quality of the individual components I've had a look at before being installed. The kitchen may well turn out better than I hoped.

Kitchen install at 5:30pm. Hob, counter and gas cooktop install tomorrow. Think the oven and refrigerator don't come until Monday.

cyrille, you can probably see the reason for the small windows, the kitchen had to be built on the only two external walls and with the overhead cupboards, we didn't have much room.

Fifth and last concrete load delivered. Think this team will be here past dark finishing the surface. No more photos for today. Will be back tomorrow.

Site Visit 20 January 2019

We've arrived back onsite for our sixth straight day. They are already removing the formwork from the carport and driveway. Light vehicles can use it tomorrow. A different kitchen team is already onsite and has installed the granite top to the island bench. Think finishing the kitchen will be most of the work today although I expect they will pour the short columns for the carport support.

Kitchen already has the first granite top.

Other granite counter tops being prepared.

And just when you think you may have your wife's measure you discover this. Apparently she has already asked Mart our builder to put in a spirit house platform. First I'd heard of it, but at least I'd budgeted for it.

Why no toe kicks on the kitchen cabinets? Construction reasons or personal choice?

Not sure if offered marcusb. If it is an option then likely the wife made the choice. The kitchen sales guy was not great on English so he and the wife spent the majority of time in the detailed discussion. Can see that two third of the island has it. If I'd been asked I wouldn't have had a strong view either way. I've not had issues kicking things in the kitchen...chairs, tables and the corner of the bed when returning from a p@ss is a completely different matter. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by marcusb

Why no toe kicks on the kitchen cabinets? Construction reasons or personal choice?

Kitchen at 11:00am. Counter tops being finished.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

And just when you think you may have your wife's measure you discover this. Apparently she has already asked Mart our builder to put in a spirit house platform. First I'd heard of it, but at least I'd budgeted for it.

I hope the local Monk hasapproved the site ... you just can't put those suckers anywhere ��

The gent making the teak shelves arrived just after lunch, his wife (I think) helping him.

They dug the footings, made and inserted the reinforcing for the boundary end of the two short fences. We left the site about 2:30pm so they may well form them up and pour them today. I also expect they will have poured the short columns for the carport supports. The gent in the green hat is the lead and quite amazing in his capacity for work and the skills he has. He was the lead yesterday for the carport and driveway although the builders supervisor was overseeing all day.

The kitchen team (from Khon Kaen BTW) finished at 2:00pm. They and the Phrae based team yesterday did a fantastic job. We had no install hiccups at all. We made a tactical decision for the electrician to finish the kitchen by completing the install of the gas cooktop and install the hob and under-sink hot water heater. The oven and refrigerator arrive late Monday afternoon.

Well David the gents who moved it from the north east corner said this was an auspicious location but do I think a monk was consulted. Nope. I'm fine with it, after all I've apparently already offended the spirits by having front and back entrances of the house directly opposite each other. Additionally I've got an even number of steps up to level 2. I may not sleep well most nights, but I'm not yet troubled by spirits. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by David48atTD

I hope the local Monk hasapproved the site ... you just can't put those suckers anywhere ��

The heavy duty picture hooks we need to hang the bathroom mirrors have arrived by post. Couldn't find anything in Pua or Nan so ordered on Lazada. Not cheap at 686 baht for eight but really good quality. Turns out it is an IKEA product manufactured in China.

Kitchen looks fabulous BiP


Regards the even number of steps, it depends on which step to call the first, ground level or 1st step, same with the top level 555