Thread: New Build Near Udon Thani

Went to Global House yesterday and purchased 8 wood window frames and two 100x200 door jams. The wood was #1 according to my brother-in-law and looked to me like either more like mahogany or possbible redwood. In either case they should be fairly termite resistant. It is the same wood we used for the windows when adding on to the patent's house 6 years ago and no sign of termites.

The teak panels were brought to the site today for measuring and fitting. I will take some pics soon since I don't have my camera with me right now.

Was in G house myself in Udon this time last week mate ,, it sure is a biggie ! Good luck with it all mate

Global seems to be the best in Udon. Lots of totty around as well to discuss your project after after hours when yr old lady gets on yer tits.

I have found Global House to be about the best price wise, but a real pain in the ass when you order steel and have to wait 2 hours to be loaded. This happens any time I order something from the back warehouse including Shera. For the small stuff, I do go to a local shop to save on fuel, but for the big orders, Global saves me some money.

Peter, didn't know about the extra after-hours "help." They do have a large staff, but not too many lookers that I have seen.

jeez Rick , ur standards must be high.

Only for building materials.

I usually go with the little lady and we all know what happens when you look at another female longer than a nano second.

We've been using 'local' suppliers for our building materials. Cheaper than Global for stuff like rebar & timber apparently, and now the uncles have introduced the Midget, they look after her.

^
Going to local suppliers does save on gas. We now have a couple reliable ones that only require a phone call. Much better than driving into Udon and waiting in the queue for steel and Shera Wood. Global has a much bigger selection and I have found in a few instances I got more what I wanted than just going with what the local supplier had on hand.

If it is less money, so much the better for you. I find that in most cases or local suppliers and more than going to Global House.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Going to local suppliers does save on gas.

I think Global is closer actually.

Looking at my son's bedroom on the left and our bedroom is just to the right.



This is the ensuite bathroom for our bedroom. There will be a second bathroom opposite my son's bedroom that he will use when he gets older.


This shot is taken from where our bedroom door will be. this part of the house will be open all the way to the windows and comprise of the entry and living room (lounge). A dining area will split off to the right and have a view of the back lot.

This picture shows the double block construction of the perimeter wall with an air space between the two. This insulates the house very well since the outside layer of block contains most of the heat and the inside layer will insulate from the heat that is able to transition through the air space. This is the front of the house and will also have the teak wood panels. Since wood is a pretty good insulator from hear, it will add to the coolness of the inside.

There are many threads on this site about insulation from the heat and I personally chose this option since it is within the Thai builders comprehension. I did think about placing fiberglass insulation between the two layers of block or even foil as mentions previously, but feel I will have enouth insualtion now and did not want to pay the extra money for something that will only raise the R factor a small amount.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

There are many threads on this site about insulation from the heat and I personally chose this option since it is within the Thai builders comprehension. I did think about placing fiberglass insulation between the two layers of block or even foil as mentions previously, but feel I will have enouth insualtion now and did not want to pay the extra money for something that will only raise the R factor a small amount.

I looked into that type of wall; using QCON or similar gives much better insulation from direct sun but, as you say, if the local builders haven't used it before, they would need some teaching

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Wow ! that is some size Rick ,, looks like a warehouse ,, fantastic mate all good ,, its good to see you have builders who understand about some decent block laying , unlike some of the block work I have seen on here with block upon block lined up on top of each other.

I'm sure your gonna have a wonderful place there when its all done, thanks for the pics

Thanks Nigel, you are the second person to say it looks like a warehouse. Once some interior wall go up along with the teak panels, I am hoping to add a little character to the place.

The crew does seem to know how to do block work and the brother has been it for over 20 years. It is just a matter of using the building materials here in Thailand that are easily accessable and reasonable in cost.

^^
I have said it many times, I would have prefered Q-con but was not feeling comfortable with the knowlege base of my working crew to install it correctly. I will try and find the comparison between R factors that I saw on this site, but if my memory serves me, there was not a lot of difference between double block with an air space and Q-con. If you have any credable comparisons, that would be helpful even though it is a done deal for me. Some on this site may be interested in seeing the actual R factor difference.

I am still trying to use the KISS method of building this house so that it lasts longer than 10 years.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^^
I have said it many times, I would have prefered Q-con but was not feeling comfortable with the knowlege base of my working crew to install it correctly. I will try and find the comparison between R factors that I saw on this site, but if my memory serves me, there was not a lot of difference between double block with an air space and Q-con. If you have any credable comparisons, that would be helpful even though it is a done deal for me. Some on this site may be interested in seeing the actual R factor difference.

I am still trying to use the KISS method of building this house so that it lasts longer than 10 years.

Provided you do some planting to shade the walls where the sun will hit it may not make enough difference to justify the cost of superblocks.
I will say you don't really have a functional air cavity the way your bricks are laid.
a 2 or 3 inch gap with no bridges and a foil barrier would have done wonders.
But it looks like it sis going well. The balcony will be special.

^
You are probably right since I do not know the space required between blocks. You are also right about the cement "bridges" conducting heat. It seems that anything to break up the transfer of heat from the outside block to the inside would help. Not really sure if it matters all that much since Thailand is a hot place and some heat will make its way into the house one way or another.

I did try to cross-ventilate a little which should help since we always seem to have a nice breeze hitting the back of the house. Along with some roof vents and fans, I am hoping to cut down a little on the available heat to make things more tolerable.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^
You are probably right since I do not know the space required between blocks. You are also right about the cement "bridges" conducting heat. It seems that anything to break up the transfer of heat from the outside block to the inside would help. Not really sure if it matters all that much since Thailand is a hot place and some heat will make its way into the house one way or another.

I did try to cross-ventilate a little which should help since we always seem to have a nice breeze hitting the back of the house. Along with some roof vents and fans, I am hoping to cut down a little on the available heat to make things more tolerable.

In an open house there is not much you can do about ambient heat. Radiant heat from direct sun on the walls is the killer and if you minimise that with big overhangs which you have, and plant to give more shade then in a ventilated house it probably doesn't matter what you have done with the walls (too much), though in that framework low thermal mass walls would be better. I think as long as you plant and make sure you have good roof ventilation and insulation it will be fine.

^
Appreciate that and good advice.

Rick
I just posted a reply over on the thread about roof design where you posted a couple of pictures of your place and thought i reall yshould ask here instead.

Firstly I love your place and wish my missus have let me build something similiar but she was only worried about it "looking good".

My question is. why did you raise the nature land level and then inside that raised area raise the floor of your house so much? With the high posts you have used it makes the house look extremely high when viewed against the natural land surrounds. No issues with what you've done just wondering why is all.

Another thing, are you going to put in a ceiling or are you going to leave the roof open?

Once again love the place!!

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Thanks Nigel, you are the second person to say it looks like a warehouse.

Sorry mate no offence meant just an observation as to the vastness of your place.

One thing that comes home to you , when we got home to our little home in England is just how small our homes are , especially with regard to room size, being on the big size myself I love the big space , it helps me not to clatter into things

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

being on the big size myself I love the big space

Any increase from you visit?

Originally Posted by OhOh

Any increase from you visit?

No mate lost 1 kilo and since I've been home lost 4 more

The first week in the sticks done it ,, with nothing but twigs and leaves and chilli infused fish bones + the fat from pigs feet available I opted for , one bowl of muesli + a mango a day