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Sri Thep

Well the wife drove to Saraburi today and got a price of 750 bht a sqm and the builder said he would lay it for 60 bht a sqm. Asked the wife if he could do the job and she assured me he could, I will have to wait until December to check, or wait for the wife sends some photos.

DrAndy

sounds a lot better ST

as long as the builder is expert at laying stone

usually the stone shops can recommend someone good

check that your builder has actually laid stone before, and try to get your wife to look at the result

Deck Ape

Once again Gents, to each his own. Sea Traveler likes ceramic tiles- nice glossy finish, lots to choose from etc. We've had our grade A ceramic tile for more than five years now. They used matchsticks as spacers! Tight grout lines. Despite really heavy use still looks as good as the day it was laid.

If you like granite....Well, I think the granite here is one of the better bargains in homebuilding. Less than 3 USD/ foot for professionally laid granite? Wow!
And you can get granite kitchen counters cheap, too. They do want 100 baht per linear meter to round the edges over, though. Seems it's hard on the router bits?

DrAndy

actually, more of a bargain than that, I quoted per square metre (approx. 10 sq ft)

as for the counter tops, that was a lot more expensive as they do charge per metre

included in the price is cutting any holes for the sink and hob and joining almost invisibly, as well as rounding the edges. They also take the cost if anything goes wrong, which helps.

__________________
keep 'em coming

Deck Ape

All Right Dr. Andy, I've got a lot of ammo for a good shit fight over granite!

Well, maybe just a few pics and some info.

Had to go to the stone place today anyways, so I brought the camera.



This is the local stuff here, comes in a few colors. Sizes are either 60x60 or 80x40. The price I was quoted was 570 baht/ meter. The recommended sealant under the tiles 40 baht/ meter. And labor (from the store) 160 baht/ meter. Grand total 780/ meter + cement. And anyone who's done it knows that the cement can add up fast, especially if your floor is less than level.

BTW prices quoted are pre haggle, on an 80m2 job. Not much haggle room in this neck of the woods anyway.



That's the stuff for counters. Seems to be imports mostly. Around 3000/ m2 and up. But you can get the local stuff with a more modest pattern for much less.

Loy Toy

Granite stone is great and you can pay well over 10,000.00 Baht per metre or as little as 500 Baht.

Personally I like a tile called Granito that looks perfectly like granite, is easy to lay and work and depending on the tile dimensions can be as cheap as 650 Baht per square metre. You can find these tiles in most Homemart, or Homepro outlets and ask for Granito tiles.

Sri Thep

The wife bought the granite the other day nd it was delivered today. I am waiting for her to send some photos, as she cannot tell me the colour, I will post as soon as she sends the photos. The total price with laying the granite is 70,000 bht. Also waiting for the price of the counter top.

DrAndy

That price seems fine DA, the B570/m. I like the 80x40 slabs but it all depends on the stone and the space you are going to tile.

I have not heard about any need for sealant, so check on that!! seal what from what? and the laying price should be a lot less; cement would have to be added anyway.

good luck with it

Deck Ape

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing about the sealant. I'll probably ask to see it beforehand then make a decision. And yes, the labor is twice as high as what you've said. I asked Mrs DA and she says that regular tile is 60 baht/meter and granite "has to be more". More difficult to lay, I guess.

I might ask around to find a better price (or try to talk them down), but I do want to use the labor from the shop.


Just anxiously waiting to see pics of Sri Thep's black and pink patterned floors.

Sri Thep

I am still waiting for the photos from the wife, asked her yesterday what colour and was told don't know colour of english so probably pink and balck . Also asked when she is going to send the photos, was told soon. Also Mrs ST was supposed to have bought the kitchen counter top yesterday from Sarburi will call tomorrow and ask price and colour.

dirtydog

If the concrete floor has any dampness it needs to be sealed first.

DrAndy

Even if using cement to fix the granite? it could get damp but the granite is impervious; maybe it would come loose?

anyway, check if really needed before paying for something

Marmite the Dog

Can't she tell you in Thai then?

Sri Thep

OK MTD this is what she said the colour of the granite is Som Nhong Bua I think that is correct, will check on line what colour this is, hope no pink in there. Also counter tops will be black 2500 bht a sqm

dirtydog

It could rise, the damp that is, granite isn't impervious I don't think, just a lot better than marble in areas that may get wet.
If marble has rising damp it discolors and takes the sheen off of it.

DrAndy

Marble would be a problem, but granite is impervious

If there is any damp problem, then you could lay a damp course before laying the tiles (a sheet of plastic under the cement) or mix some stuff into the cement that helps.

Marmite the Dog

Hard to say unless it's written in Thai, but it's possibly an orangy-red colour.

Norton

Orangish red. coloration.

Sri Thep

Looks like I miss interpreted what Gerbil wrote. The wife sent me the photos of the tiles but I cannot post them yet, I got the colour wrong the floor tiles are a grayish colour and not that orange looking colour thank f**k, the kitchen counter top is black with like a white speckle in it. The house should be finished by the time I arrive in LOS this month. When I can post pictures of my house being build I will start a new building thread.

Sri Thep

This is for the kitcen counter top.








This one is for the floor.