Thai Dhupp and Princess Joy's Thai House Build

[Thai Dhupp]

Good. High but not dry.

yeah Norton I agree that one can never have enough protection so it was a worthwhile excersise and the good thing we noted was...even after the previous weeks heavy rains, there was absolutely no flooding on the plot or surroundings so that bodes well for the future (there was flooding elsewhere lower down so I know enough water fell to make it happen).

[Norton]

Did you get the sample contract I emailed to you? Sorry but can't find an English version so she that must be obeyed will have to translate.

[Thai Dhupp]

Did you get the sample contract I emailed to you? Sorry but can't find an English version so she that must be obeyed will have to translate.

Hi again Norton - yes, got it and thanks v much - very useful . Sorry I thought I replied!

Yeah...she's reading it, I will hopefully get something meaningful from her after that

[Thai Dhupp]

the tractor man never stopped working...


2 at a time


trucks were not coming from far away


this was the 'Rush Minute' as the locals raced home for lunch, avoiding our deadly wheel-tracked 'obstacle course'.


I think PJ caught the supervisor trying to have a pee and told him to get back to work immediately


day 1 in full swing now...


...and here's the entire village come to see what the crazy farang is doing.


of course there were a few stops while PJ's instructions were passed on.


just after lunchtime and the sky is looking ominous.


The strip next to the road really was boggy. Note the level marker in red on the electric pole.


...he's even trying to follow it.


What's a bit of honest mud between friends...?


Of course it all went back on the plot - i paid for it after all!


There were 4 trucks running - here are three of them


shaping up - there's that paint guide again


A moment of reflection as the supervisor digests the latest instructions while PJ tries to think of some more

[Thai Dhupp]

and finally on day 1...


this bit is finished.


it got round to 5pm and the trucks decided to call it a day, even though the supervisor (and us) wanted to carry on. 80 loads placed.

So, instead of driving all the way back to BKK, we stopped over...


PJ relaxing in our luxury resort accommodation about 10km from the site

[Thai Dhupp]

bright and early (well, 9ish AM), we were back to oversee proceedings.


trucks continued where they left off


Yeah good - put some of the fill material in to that boggy area


...but not before their number 1 driver managed to find the bit the tractor missed and got stuck


Progress continues


leveling and scraping


Getting close to finishing now - what could go wrong?


Ahhh OK... THAT could go wrong


the number 1 driver makes it 2 out of 2, well and truly stuck this time and we only had a bout 10 loads to go


Finally though, its done - and even PJ and the supervisor can agree on that

[rickschoppers]

Looks good, but you will be surprised how much the current dirt level drops in a year after one rainy season. You may opt for more fill at that time, or not.

[Thai Dhupp]

Looks good, but you will be surprised how much the current dirt level drops in a year after one rainy season. You may opt for more fill at that time, or not.

Yeah Rick, I wondered about that settlement - of course we WANT it to pack down, thats the whole point of getting this done before those rains, but how much settlement might there be?

How I see it is:

- We have raised the ground by about 0.8m average.

- Yes, there will be some settlement, but it will not go back to zero (lol unless we have a typhoon/monsoon/tsunami event in Chonburi.).

- The house footprint will be a further 0.5m or so ABOVE the new level, so the house could be up to 1m above original level even after settlement.

- I have swimming pool soil available , when dug to raise up perimeter, etc. if needed.

- Our direct experience after heavy and prolonged rain shows no flooding on the plot at its original level, when there was flooding evidence in the area at lower levels.

- Statements from Orbortor and locals is that this is on a shallow hill and has NEVER flooded.

Im hoping we have done enough? Really I have little experience of this as you know but i think feet will stay dry when seasonal rains come.

How much settlement did you experience when you did yours?

[rickschoppers]

Once you raise your house footprint another 0.5 meter, you should be fine. It would be nice if you could see your drainage before you start to build, but adjustments can always be made later as well. You just need to make sure you have good runoff away from your house.

[Thai Dhupp]

Once you raise your house footprint another 0.5 meter, you should be fine. It would be nice if you could see your drainage before you start to build, but adjustments can always be made later as well. You just need to make sure you have good runoff away from your house.

I figured on some gentle sloping away from the raised house footprint on all sides to take care of that.in general, water drains towards the road though now, with my land raising, the back part is of course lower too. (that will ultimately become another v small access lane)

As part of my overall plan for water re-use, we will be harvesting rainwater from the roofs.

[Topper]

water drains towards the road though now, with my land raising,

So your property doesn't flood, but the road will? Drainage of any amount of rain water is important.

[Norton]

settling was insignificant for me. Lost some first year from rain carrying off some fill. Once you get vegitation in very little loss. May need to level off low spots over time.

If your structures are at high points you should have no issues with standing water. Of course if you have a wall around property drain culverts are needed.

Looks good.

[Thai Dhupp]

water drains towards the road though now, with my land raising,

So your property doesn't flood, but the road will? Drainage of any amount of rain water is important.

Well... No not exactly. We have raised the plot as a safeguard for the future. As mentioned earlier, we did not get flooding on the plot before, but this raising is a contingency for what the future may hold.

The road doesn't flood either...it's on a gentle slope running both down AND away from the plot. The farmland on the opposite side of the road to us is about 1m lower and again sloping away across the field

So...no previous flooding on plot or road and now the plot is another 0.8m higher to cover any future developments.

[Thai Dhupp]

settling was insignificant for me. Lost some first year from rain carrying off some fill. Once you get vegitation in very little loss. May need to level off low spots over time.

If your structures are at high points you should have no issues with standing water. Of course if you have a wall around property drain culverts are needed.

Looks good.

Thanks for that Norton... Yes there will definitely be a wall around so some snake-proof outlet arrangements will be in place. Wall will be built last as apparently it's unlucky to built it before completing the build? anyway, whether start or finish it will be there.

Any suggestions for soil-binding vegetation? We could place it now and let it go to work....

[David48atTD]

Mate, is there any possibility of posting smaller sized images?

Some of them are 5,000 x 3,500, about 5 times the size which will show as full screen ... but it takes all the data before resizing them.

Here is an easy program ... https://teakdoor.com/computer-news/17...e-resizer.html (Image Resizer)

Have a look at this image which was resized before posting, https://teakdoor.com/photoshop-and-ph...ml#post3538877 (Teakdoor photo competition - May 2017)

I used that program, at the image size of 1024 x 683 ... still looks good.

Just a suggestion

[Thai Dhupp]

Mate, is there any possibility of posting smaller sized images?

Some of them are 5,000 x 3,500, about 5 times the size which will show as full screen ... but it takes all the data before resizing them.

Here is an easy program ... https://teakdoor.com/computer-news/17...e-resizer.html (Image Resizer)

Have a look at this image which was resized before posting, https://teakdoor.com/photoshop-and-ph...ml#post3538877 (Teakdoor photo competition - May 2017)

I used that program, at the image size of 1024 x 683 ... still looks good.


Just a suggestion

Ahhh, apologies David (and all)...thanks for the heads-up!!!

I used that Imgur application, suggested earlier on here, because I thought it auto re-sized the photos!!

No probs I can resize therm before uploading them to Imgur. funny though, cos on my screen for each image, its telling me that it HAS been resized?? (from a big size)

[Norton]

Any suggestions for soil-binding vegetation? We could place it now and let it go to work....

Don't bother yet. Not sure when you plan to start construction but if a few months off the wild grasses I see next to your plot should spread some onto the fill. In any case you won't lose much fill. Get structures and wall built then landscape. Most any sort of grass, shubbery and trees will bind the soil.

Wall will be built last as apparently it's unlucky to built it before completing the build?

Never heard off the unlucky bit but makes sense to complete build before wall built. Easy access for construction materials and cement trucks.

[David48atTD]

Mate, is there any possibility of posting smaller sized images?

Some of them are 5,000 x 3,500, about 5 times the size which will show as full screen ... but it takes all the data before resizing them.

Here is an easy program ... https://teakdoor.com/computer-news/17...e-resizer.html (Image Resizer)

Have a look at this image which was resized before posting, https://teakdoor.com/photoshop-and-ph...ml#post3538877 (Teakdoor photo competition - May 2017)

I used that program, at the image size of 1024 x 683 ... still looks good.


Just a suggestion

Ahhh, apologies David (and all)...thanks for the heads-up!!!

I used that Imgur application, suggested earlier on here, because I thought it auto re-sized the photos!!

No probs I can resize therm before uploading them to Imgur. funny though, cos on my screen for each image, its telling me that it HAS been resized?? (from a big size)

OK ... when you see it as 'resized for your screen' what the Teak Door software has done has taken your large image and compressed it to fit on a computer screen, as displayed from this screen shot below.



But, if you click the bar at the top of the photo where it says ... 'This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image.'

What you see is the photo in it's original size, as below ...



That is the same elec pole in both photos.

So, all that data or bandwidth was used to download the original photo and then the Teak Door software resizes it for viewing, but doesn't resize the photo per se

The larger photos just makes a longer load then average.

Not a biggie, just wanted to give you a heads up.
.

[Thai Dhupp]

Mate, is there any possibility of posting smaller sized images?

Some of them are 5,000 x 3,500, about 5 times the size which will show as full screen ... but it takes all the data before resizing them.

Here is an easy program ... https://teakdoor.com/computer-news/17...e-resizer.html (Image Resizer)

Have a look at this image which was resized before posting, https://teakdoor.com/photoshop-and-ph...ml#post3538877 (Teakdoor photo competition - May 2017)

I used that program, at the image size of 1024 x 683 ... still looks good.


Just a suggestion

Ahhh, apologies David (and all)...thanks for the heads-up!!!

I used that Imgur application, suggested earlier on here, because I thought it auto re-sized the photos!!

No probs I can resize therm before uploading them to Imgur. funny though, cos on my screen for each image, its telling me that it HAS been resized?? (from a big size)

OK ... when you see it as 'resized for your screen' what the Teak Door software has done has taken your large image and compressed it to fit on a computer screen, as displayed from this screen shot below.



But, if you click the bar at the top of the photo where it says ... 'This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image.'

What you see is the photo in it's original size, as below ...



That is the same elec pole in both photos.

So, all that data or bandwidth was used to download the original photo and then the Teak Door software resizes it for viewing, but doesn't resize the photo per se

The larger photos just makes a longer load then average.

Not a biggie, just wanted to give you a heads up.
.

Appreciated David and actually...I have been using that image resizer for years - I have it on this PC along with LightRoom, etc. it's a very valuable tool.

It will be used from now on.

[Thai Dhupp]

Latest news... I discovered that the plot next to ours has been sold.

I was hoping to buy that to extend ours - it's not the end of the world but still...there is s twinge of sadness that someone else got it.

Apparently, there was interest in what I was doing on our plot and one of the ladies in the OrBorTor office approached the owner, to get hold of it quickly. no...not to hold me to ransom for a big payout - she wants to build a small home on it.

At least I know there is not going to be a shop or disco right next door! Apparently she paid BIG money for it, so maybe for me...its a 'fate' thing and was not meant to be. I am more interested to get the small plot with the mango trees, on the other side any way.

Shes already done land-raising, same as mine and the good thing is she's not higher than our plot so a result there too. There is a gap at the original level between our two plots too. In fact, she's continued my level line up the hill over hers so at the top of hers it's hardly raised at all!

I am getting pictures shortly.

So now we are both waiting for the rains to end before we start...

[jonnyenglish]

My plot of land has neighbouring fields, 2 plots are 3+ rai each on the West side (back of my house), one field is about 8 rai to the East, another is about 1/4 rai right next door.

As I had limited funds, I couldn't afford to buy these plots to protect my build.

I'm not bothered too much about the West as these plots are at the back of the house and have no road access other than through my land (not even a paper road).

I'm more concerned about the East however as this would be directly in the way of my view as my house faces almost due East. I have designed my build in such a way that if ever there were buildings put on the East side, I can shift my view to over the pond to the North, plus I'd build a wall along the fenceline, and have a collonaded L-shaped addition to the front of the house, raised to the same height. I'd still retain the mountain views, but lose the view of the fields (and subsequent building), instead I'd gain an atrium garden, which would also be quite nice, especially with a water feature/swimming pool.

Basically a shift in focus from distant to near.

Worst case scenario and all that!

[crackerjack101]

Latest news... I discovered that the plot next to ours has been sold.

I was hoping to buy that to extend ours - it's not the end of the world but still...there is s twinge of sadness that someone else got it.

Apparently, there was interest in what I was doing on our plot and one of the ladies in the OrBorTor office approached the owner, to get hold of it quickly. no...not to hold me to ransom for a big payout - she wants to build a small home on it.

At least I know there is not going to be a shop or disco right next door! Apparently she paid BIG money for it, so maybe for me...its a 'fate' thing and was not meant to be. I am more interested to get the small plot with the mango trees, on the other side any way.

Shes already done land-raising, same as mine and the good thing is she's not higher than our plot so a result there too. There is a gap at the original level between our two plots too. In fact, she's continued my level line up the hill over hers so at the top of hers it's hardly raised at all!

I am getting pictures shortly.

So now we are both waiting for the rains to end before we start...

Smart woman. It'll be interesting to see how much she asks for it down the track.

[Thai Dhupp]

Latest news... I discovered that the plot next to ours has been sold.

I was hoping to buy that to extend ours - it's not the end of the world but still...there is s twinge of sadness that someone else got it.

Apparently, there was interest in what I was doing on our plot and one of the ladies in the OrBorTor office approached the owner, to get hold of it quickly. no...not to hold me to ransom for a big payout - she wants to build a small home on it.

At least I know there is not going to be a shop or disco right next door! Apparently she paid BIG money for it, so maybe for me...its a 'fate' thing and was not meant to be. I am more interested to get the small plot with the mango trees, on the other side any way.

Shes already done land-raising, same as mine and the good thing is she's not higher than our plot so a result there too. There is a gap at the original level between our two plots too. In fact, she's continued my level line up the hill over hers so at the top of hers it's hardly raised at all!

I am getting pictures shortly.

So now we are both waiting for the rains to end before we start...

Smart woman. It'll be interesting to see how much she asks for it down the track.

Hi CJ...the OrBorTor is on board (well, as much as he can be) with us, remember so he told us everything about her plans.

First off, he reckons she paid too much, I dont have the figure so cant judge that, but, he told us she's submitted a small house plan for approval and she's already paid out for the land raising itself - maybe she hopes to sell the 'package' with prepared land and an approved plan, if shes not building it herself.

Either way I will not be buying it and it's either she or her buyer, (if thats what happens) who will build the small house. We will be walled in anyway so the visual impact is not bad.

Hey! I always knew other houses would be built, it's not a surprise! I care about safety and security just now - no ranks of cars queued up at the 7-11, Blocking the narrow access road, or an all-night bar right next door. Having other residents might discourage some from attempting burglary in the area...

[Thai Dhupp]

My plot of land has neighbouring fields, 2 plots are 3+ rai each on the West side (back of my house), one field is about 8 rai to the East, another is about 1/4 rai right next door.

As I had limited funds, I couldn't afford to buy these plots to protect my build.

I'm not bothered too much about the West as these plots are at the back of the house and have no road access other than through my land (not even a paper road).

I'm more concerned about the East however as this would be directly in the way of my view as my house faces almost due East. I have designed my build in such a way that if ever there were buildings put on the East side, I can shift my view to over the pond to the North, plus I'd build a wall along the fenceline, and have a collonaded L-shaped addition to the front of the house, raised to the same height. I'd still retain the mountain views, but lose the view of the fields (and subsequent building), instead I'd gain an atrium garden, which would also be quite nice, especially with a water feature/swimming pool.

Basically a shift in focus from distant to near.

Worst case scenario and all that!

That money 'thing', Jonny - it affects us all! (well, you and me anyway). wish i could go out n pick up a couple of 3, 4 or 6 Rai plots but down here thats serious cash. We were a little lucky with our 2.5 rai plot (the first one we bought) as i haggled a lot and he thought we were going to help him sell some more (ooops!). prices on the surrounding plots here have all gone up (witness that adjacent plot i was mentioning earlier), even the OBT says was too dear but... its the market, supply/demand n all that.

Sounds like you have a good plan to cover all eventualities and thats the key i think. relying on everything to 'stay the same as day 1' could lead to disappointment otherwise

If you follow what you mentioned, it will give you s chance to do more of your excellent landscaping to further enhance the good stuff you already have.

Now... if they built a 4 floot apartment building or offices straight in front of me on the other side of the road, that would be a bit err.... disappointing.

I'm sure its not going to happen though!!

[Thai Dhupp]

Sorry...had a few days away dealing with a 7000t bridge deck 'jacking' on the day job so I could not post the follow up photos.

As promised, here are some pix from the next door plot showing that she's (the purchaser) not exceeding my level, together with the plots after the first rains.