DrAndys Wooden Cottage in the ricefields

[DrAndy]

OK Jet

we are having some largeish popcorn trees delivered



I hope they will survive



they are intended for the new strip of land we just had graded

[DrAndy]

Just an update on the house, a couple of views from the side






so you can see the pillars rounded and the floor laid

the upstairs windows are open to let out the fumes from painting the inner of the bamboo lining with woodworm killer. These panels will then be matt polyurethaned on the outside.

The windows are great, we found them in an architectural reclaim yard (secondhand wood yard, in normal speak). They have bottom shutters as well as the top so you get good air circulation and can leave them half open at night.

[buad hai]

Looks wonderful....

[Propagator]

Dr Andy - just looking at the windows. Are they just a shutter type effect with no glass in them?

[DrAndy]

yes, they are just wooden shutters, no glass.

as we will not bother with aircon, glass is not necessary. Our house in CM city is the same. The only problem is noise, but that is not a problem in the ricefields!

and thanks BH

[Marmite the Dog]

It looks really great, Andy. I'm very envious.

[DrAndy]

Well Marmite, it does take a lot of work and the accompanying stress

luckily I can leave most of it to my wife. She has actually become an excellent project manager, besides having some good design ideas. Her input has made the house what it is today.

maybe she could start a new career! there are quite a few foreigners up here that need help in building - and avoiding being overcharged for everything - as well as getting the project off the ground

[DrAndy]

We have decided that we would line the internal walls with bamboo sheet

this helps keep out dust, but also looks much "cooler" on the eye.

An all wood lined house can look very heavy and dark



a couple of friends come to visit and get famous






the intention is to fix thin strips of wood to cover the joins in the boards

then matt polyurethane it all

we have done that in our CM city house and it works well

[Jet Gorgon]

I love it! Lots of insulation in the ceiling, too? Open windows for a great cross breeze -- perfect!

[DrAndy]

yes Jet, the breeze is almost always there, coming across the fields

it always seems cooler than in CM city

we are cutting the teak wood to line the ceilings at the moment

then we have to fit out the bathrooms

oh yes, and redo the tiling of some parts, damn it

[DrAndy]

oh, that is the roof tiles, not the bathroom ones

[Propagator]

We have decided that we would line the internal walls with bamboo sheet this helps keep out dust, but also looks much "cooler" on the eye. An all wood lined house can look very heavy and dark

Looks great Dr A. If its not a rude question how much does that bamboo sheet cost?

[daveboy]

Looks like the perfect pad to me hope you enjoy it DrA & Mrs DrA

[DrAndy]

We have decided that we would line the internal walls with bamboo sheet this helps keep out dust, but also looks much "cooler" on the eye. An all wood lined house can look very heavy and dark

Looks great Dr A. If its not a rude question how much does that bamboo sheet cost?

yes Prop, it is a very rude question, but as it is you who ask..

I am not sure; it depends on how thick the board is, 4, 8 10mm etc

We got it direct from the factory and the 8' x 4' x 8mm cost B450 a sheet approx

I think, but not certain

[Marmite the Dog]

maybe she could start a new career!

I shall be in touch...

[hillbilly]

I love the way your home is coming along. Wish I had thought of some of your ideas for mine.

BTW, are you going to spray the bamboo sheets for bugs?

[Loombucket]

Another good example of a well thought out home. I love the details like the veranda, the cart wheel and the tree trunks. I also aplaud the fact that you have gone for traditional style shutter windows, without glass.

Lovely views, made more enjoyable by the ample upper deck. I would be in my element with a radio controlled boat, an everlasting mug of chilled green tea and a suitable sound system. All the best with your home. Keep us up to date.

Cheers!

[Jet Gorgon]

I would be in my element with an everlasting mug of chilled green tea...

Dunno. I'm starting to question the lucidity of LoomB...cold cha? Mugicha, OK, but green cha...call the food police.

[buad hai]

Great looking interior. I love that bamboo sheet. A friend of mine with a guest house up on Soppong (Phang Ma Pha) has done the interiors and ceilings of some of the rooms with it and it really looks great. Nice choice.

(Never see it for sale here in Korat....)

[Marmite the Dog]

cold cha?

Lovely stuff.

[DrAndy]

I love the way your home is coming along. Wish I had thought of some of your ideas for mine.

BTW, are you going to spray the bamboo sheets for bugs?

Thanks HB

We had the sheets treated on the inside before they were put up. The outside should not be necessary

and LoomB, yes, I also think what makes a good home is in the details. It is fairly easy to get a place built, or buy a house, but to make it your own is important and needs some thought.

BH, I first used it in my city house; I do not want to use it on the ceilings as well though, a bit too much, I think! We will be lining the ceilings with teak we have had sliced up.

[Marmite the Dog]

How much did the guest houses cost each, Andy?

[DrAndy]

I am not yet sure as we have not done the accounts

We paid B300k for the three houses, including dismantling, transportation and rebuilding. There are lots of extra costs involved though, like new foundations, new roofs and buying wood to replace quite a lot of rotten bits, as well as any new ideas we have incorporated. We will be putting small kitchens and a bathroom in each.

we will also have to build up the surrounding land, to avoid flooding and create access roads/paths, as well as planting trees etc

[Marmite the Dog]

^ Ok, I have a rough idea now. Thanks.

I showed a friend at work your pictures and he was duly impressed.

[Jet Gorgon]

Is that allowed? To show a workmate and for him to be duly impressed?