Thread: Building a house in Nakhom Pathom

hi mate, i have noticed a few times saying you "can change it later".

experience has taught me if it needs changing, it needs changing now, it will either be a hassle later, way more expensive, or simply never get done

Had to let go of the whole crew today...the project code is SN-5505 I think...

Originally Posted by t.s

hi mate, i have noticed a few times saying you "can change it later".

experience has taught me if it needs changing, it needs changing now, it will either be a hassle later, way more expensive, or simply never get done

TS, is this for me?
I don't believe that I've said "we can change it later". There are some things I will take care of later, like kitting out the western kitchen, tweaking the insulation up in the attic, etc. Any changes to the house layout were made at the beginning.

Originally Posted by richardshane

Had to let go of the whole crew today...the project code is SN-5505 I think...

OK, I found it on the PD House website. You do know they post pics there don't you? They are small and useless for checking on progress or quality of work, I've tried to tell them that.

Hopefully, they will sort things out for you.

There was another guy on this board that seemed to know some people at PD House. He had posted, a while back, that he was going to say something to someone there. I wonder what became of that ? If PD House wants to make themselves more attractive to foreign buyers, then they need to improve some areas. That concrete work at your place looks pretty bad.

Originally Posted by stevefarang

There was another guy on this board that seemed to know some people at PD House. He had posted, a while back, that he was going to say something to someone there. I wonder what became of that ?

I didn't make the original suggestion, but I supported it and doubled down with the suggestion that numerous enquireries by membership of this board might have an effect. On further thought, it might not be a good idea; besides the fact that it's not my project to speak out about without a go from the house owner, I don't know what the slander/libel laws are like in Thailand. It could backfire.

Still, one can't help but think they would try to make good on the damage (pay him off for the work and clean up the site and walk away) for PR reason and just to tamp down the noise.

Originally Posted by MrG

Originally Posted by stevefarang

There was another guy on this board that seemed to know some people at PD House. He had posted, a while back, that he was going to say something to someone there. I wonder what became of that ?

I didn't make the original suggestion, but I supported it and doubled down with the suggestion that numerous enquireries by membership of this board might have an effect. On further thought, it might not be a good idea; besides the fact that it's not my project to speak out about without a go from the house owner, I don't know what the slander/libel laws are like in Thailand. It could backfire.

Still, one can't help but think they would try to make good on the damage (pay him off for the work and clean up the site and walk away) for PR reason and just to tamp down the noise.

No, this was before Richard starting posting. Someone had posted something about saying something to PD House about my problems/issues. I thought it was somewhere on this thread. I tried to find it but cannot.

Yay !! Songkran is over and the workers are back. Slowly but surely, progress is made.

First is an interesting view from the SE corner of the lot. You see where the western kitchen will go downstairs. We'll have the Thai style kitchen just outside as well as some kind of patio/terrace to enjoy at night. I will have to be sure we have plenty of fans, as there are a lot of mozzies as night.




A view of the east wall of the house. You see the kitchen door on the left. The MIL (or maid) room on the right. Youngest daughter's future bedroom upstairs on the left. Another bedroom on the right. Small window in the middle is for the shared bathroom.





Downstairs family room is looking more complete. My office is behind that wall.




View of the common area downstairs. Nice little storeroom, under that stairs, for my suitcases.




Upstairs family room. No door yet for the master bedroom, so you can see into it for now.




Front of the house. Still a mess. They still have not redone the top of the entrance, as I was recently promised. It's supposed to be curved, not straight across. I will have to ask PD House about this again.




Another view of the entrance from inside.




Looking out to the carport area, just outside of the MIL room (to the left of the main entrance)




Steve

^

Brilliant Mate, I give it up for you guys that do these builds.

Cheers

Thanks for the update pics Stevo ,, coming on mate wont be too long now ,, looking a large imposing pad

Steve I think those white pipes are for hot water supply from the Solar heater. What are they made out of and how are they held together? Welded with heat?

Originally Posted by stevefarang

OK, the wife sent me some new pics. Not much different, more of the framework for the suspended ceilings.

This is the back bedroom on the southeast wall. The plan is to make this my youngest daughter's bedroom.






OK, I figured it out. This is the other end of my youngest daughter's future bedroom, to the right of the picture above. That bump out or column was where the original wall was supposed to go, and on the opposite side is the Buddha room. We reduced the size of the Buddha room to make this bedroom bigger. She should like it. It's a nice space with a nice quiet view, away from the road.






I think this is in the master bedroom, but now I'm not sure.







And another shot of the master bedroom, looking more northwest.







I think this is the master bathroom. I'm not sure what she is trying to show me. Looks like some supply plumbing going around and I think the white is for power ?





This is a sample of the type of ceilings we will do in several of the rooms. It was something I wanted to do, but the last time I was there and mentioned it to PD House rep, they said it was too late to do. I was thinking to myself, "Well why didn't you ask me before? I know I mentioned how much I like that look.". Well it turns out my wife was talking with the people doing the ceilings and they asked her if we wanted it and she said yes. So I'm finally happy.
I do want to see if I can source and install white LED lights for the straight edges. It should look good and be cheaper to operate than fluorescent tubes (I think that is what they use).





She doesn't have any pictures of the granite flooring yet. She said they delivered 500 pieces !! I can't wait to see it.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Steve

Originally Posted by Miguel

Steve I think those white pipes are for hot water supply from the Solar heater. What are they made out of and how are they held together? Welded with heat?

Miguel,
I have no idea. I'm still over here in the States. I can only look at the pictures and take a guess. I have asked PD House how the solar hot water heater will be plumbed in, but (no surprise) they haven't answered yet.

Steve

Steve
If you find out I'd appreciate it if you would post the information. I'm building a house and hot water piping seems to be a mystery in Thailand.
Thanks
Mike-Miguel

Thermoplastic is used a lot here. Available all over the country. Make sure you get someone with installation experience.

We also used the green pipe and think it best to use it on both hot and cold water lines. Called PP-R. If you do use it make sure to get the one with a red stripe.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by stevefarang

They still have not redone the top of the entrance, as I was recently promised. It's supposed to be curved, not straight across.

that is usually done later as it is a decorative feature, don't worry

I do worry because the original house plans show the straight top, not the curved as in the PD House picture. I had a talk with their translator and the PD House Branch Manager, last August about this. I showed them the picture, on display in our yard and the plan and asked why I was not getting the same, which was a feature I really liked. I was given the old "They don't make those windows anymore" reply. But then the PD House Branch Manager made a call to someone, and then told me I will get them.
I'm getting tired of the "PD House promise to do something, then they go ahead and do something else" deal. So I'm watching to see if this will be changed.

They've already applied all the finishing smoothcoat. I would think they would have shaped the Q-con block first, before applying the smoothcoat.

Steve

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

We also used the green pipe and think it best to use it on both hot and cold water lines. Called PP-R. If you do use it make sure to get the one with a red stripe.

Yes. The one I've used as well. Couldn't quick find a pic of the green but the white I posted essentially same.

Here is the web site make sure you get the one with a red stripe.

THAI PPR Quality Pipe

I bury most of my pipes Bill, so the decoration is not important

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

Here is the web site make sure you get the one with a red stripe.

THAI PPR Quality Pipe

Good info Bill, thanx

^ Yes agreed thanks for the link Bill ,, as you say the red stripe is the one with the 50 year life for the hot water line

The wife is promising some more pictures overnight.
But she already sent this one of the master bedroom. I see some roofing tiles, so maybe this means they are finally going to install the roofs on the two ground floor extensions (one for the guest suite, the other for the car park).
She also told me that PD House will be doing the windows "next month". I need to get a clarification from her on that, since PD House is already well past the 200 day extension we agreed on last August.

Anyway, enjoy.




It looks like I will be going to Thailand, briefly early next month. Basically just to get the wife as we head to Brisbane, QLD area for a few weeks of work. After that, we fly back to Thailand for a few days then fly down to Singapore for most of July. I'll try to get some decent pics, but hopefully we should be nearing the end of getting the house finished. We still need to do the perimeter wall, kit out the house, install a paver driveway, landscaping, etc...

Steve

She's faster than I thought !

Here's a view of the outside northeast corner of the house. You can see how the house sits above the rest of the area that we initially filled. You can also see the big windows for the MIL/maid room on the ground floor and the windows for the front bedroom upstairs. Doesn't look like the shingles are yet installed in the car port area.




Next is a view of the southeast corner of the house. Doesn't look like much has changed here yet. The ground floor is where the (future) western kitchen will be. My youngest daughter's bedroom is upstairs. I like how she will have that big window. The water tank & pump will be located in the south corner behind the kitchen. Not where you see the current concrete but more outside that first window on the south wall.
I'm thinking we should have added a ledge, upstairs, on the south wall for placing the air con units.
We will have to come up with a design for the outside Thai style kitchen and patio area that complements the main house.
And again, you might be able to see how we added additional fill in the area of the house.




The front of the house. Still a mess of Q-Con blocks. I wonder if I can save them for re-use, when I build my man cave (or another building) on the second lot ? Hopefully they are not too busted up. I also hope there's no snakes or other nasty critters living under them. And again, you can see the raised area around the house. I'm thinking of putting a little fountain down in front.




Downstairs family room, as seen from the (future) Western kitchen. Granite flooring looks a little dusty. That big window you see looks out the front of the house. The main entrance is just to the right of that window (not in frame).



And finally, an interesting view of the stairs. You see the storage area underneath, perfect for my suitcases. There will be some type of wooden shelving around the stairs and we've already agreed to keep mementos from our trips on display there.



Steve

Originally Posted by stevefarang

I need to get a clarification from her on that, since PD House is already well past the 200 day extension we agreed on last August.

do you have any compensation agreement for the ridiculous over-run?

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by stevefarang

I need to get a clarification from her on that, since PD House is already well past the 200 day extension we agreed on last August.

do you have any compensation agreement for the ridiculous over-run?

I saw in my copy of the original contract, 300 baht/day. But I understand, from the wife, the revised 200 day extension has 512 baht/day.

The PD House branch manager was out at the house measuring for windows yesterday. He told my wife, it will be 45 days before the windows will be delivered. So that's 23,040 baht in our pocket, right there alone. I haven't even gone back to the 200 day point, which was about March 18 (if I recall). My wife was shouting at him for the delay, saying it makes us look bad at this point.

Steve