The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Humbert

Looks really nice. Looking forward to see how the renovations progress. I'm starting to get real envious of you country folk!

jandajoy

That's the BIG question.

dismantle and rebuild on a new, expanded slab?

dismantle and rebuild on a new, expanded slab but one story higher?

just add an extension out the back?

Maybe I should run a design competition.

I certainly need all the advice I can get.

Thetyim

Stick a glass front on it and bung a counter up.
I got some mates wot are great shop lifters.

jandajoy

Cheers.

Sounds errrr really good..................

Nawty

Hard to give accurate advice without seeing the site and actual views etc available.

Raising it might be a waste if you cannot get a good view from it, building a seperate deck/entertainment area might be best or whatever.

Norton

Need some interior pics and dimensions. More pics of the property area to determine view points.

Nawty

and most importantly...to get a feel of the place and surrounds.....hard to do if not Johnny on the spot.

Climb up on the roof and take some pics of Nth East STh West from the actual height you would have your second level on.....maybe sit on the chimney....send us a pic of that also.

We could use it at xmas time.

__________________
'Owner of 'Arse of the year 2008'......

First after the winner... 'International Architect of the year 09'

jandajoy

Will do when I get back from Aus in early December.

jubby

Its really got Character. Looks like a wood shingle roof. beautiful.
I'd leave it as it is and put a modern Kitchen Area at the back.

Can't understand why so many thais pull the wooden houses down and replace with the standard ugly concrete block.

I'm renting a Wood House at the moment. Not a million Miles from you. Its also just raised enough to crawl under, lovely place but the owner hasn't maintained it. Got them to fix the roof and everythings fine. Seems a shame they didn't raise it more when they built it Also. The Chimney will be useful assuming its got a fire under it. Its been bloody cold in Wiang Keng the last few nights. I arrived last night at 8pm on a motorbike from Chiang Mai Fecking Freezing honestly felt like I was in Scotland.

DrAndy

because they believe that wooden houses are old rubbish and concrete ones are lovely and modern

I know some that regret doing it, saying they felt much more comfortable in their old house, even if the new one is easier to keep clean

shunpike

My wife grew up in a leaky, old, wooden house and she does not look back on the experience with fondness. As soon as she could she built a new concrete house for her parents, and they LOVE it. It's all about your own personal experiences. One man's rustic beauty is another man's decrepit shack. Me I like the wooden houses but am put off a bit by the maintenance and upkeep...and the termites.

Anyway looking forward to what you come up with here Janda.

Sdigit

You can get chemical treatments for the termites and a wife/Gf for the upkeep, sorted mate

shunpike

I'm keen on the wood but she needs convincing...having her take on the upkeep might not sway her. Perhaps I can go half concrete and half wood, I've seen some nice designs using both.

You've swayed me on termites but what about heavy rainy seasons? Rubbing in oil doesn't strike me as being effective enough, but I'm no expert.

DrAndy

see above discussion, not yet complete

DrAndy

you get a company to pump in chemicals into the foundation area, that keeps the termites away for a year

shunpike

Thanks..but I was thinking more of water damage...I've been convinced I can battle the bugs to a standoff.

DrAndy

wood can withstand rain just by using teak oil or tung oil

you need to reapply every few years to be 100% effective

teak doesn't need it but it will weather to a grey colour