Always happens in spite of our best efforts. Houses shift and some subsidence. No big deal. As you say. Paint does the fix.Quote:
Originally Posted by swedmark
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Always happens in spite of our best efforts. Houses shift and some subsidence. No big deal. As you say. Paint does the fix.Quote:
Originally Posted by swedmark
OMG talk about an unnecessary drama!
There is no problem with THE BUILD... the problem was with... the camera man!
k. Pot had to go see another small job and left the site guy in charge of overseeing the pour and taking the pictures.
He did the former but neglected to complete the pour photos after initially capturing the mixer trucks arriving and some long-distance shots of the concrete being laid.
ahh well... could have been crappy concrete......poor leveling.... unsheeted slab, I suppose. a few missing pix i can live with even though now there's a hole in my thread!!
ahh sh1...........!
Hey Swedmark, thanks for that informative post!
I may well come to you later for electrical advice as you are the expert! I bet you had 'fun' in KSA...not!
Personally I would never work there, good in UAE, Qatar and Oman though...
and good that a long time has passed with no major structural disasters on your place.
My builder seems to have the water thing under control, and I have ideas for zoning for the electrics - 3 zones x 2 floors x lighting ring and socket ring, plus one-offs - cooker, freezer, fridge, pool, outside lighting, etc. I want to get all of that into one consumer unit, and I'm working with a major MEP contractor at the moment who might be able to 'knock something up' for me, if I only knew exactly what was needed! More research required. Im interested in using some mini CT's on parts of the system to monitor consumption too
What snags did you face after building yours, Norton?Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
Yours is about, is it, 13 years ago, now?
^^ Great TD, seems you have everything under control.
Well, about KSA, it was all about the money. No fun.....
Nothing major as far as construction. One snag was my fault. I put the hot water heater (boiler) in the attic originally. After 2 very difficult replacements, decided to move it down to the storage room.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
Aside from a few hairline cracks a previosly mentioned well constructed baan. No electrical or plumbing problems at all.
Everyone who comes anywhere in the ME...comes for money, nothing else......thats the fact of it. sure the lifestyle, the sun, etc etc but very quickly that novelty wears off.Quote:
Originally Posted by swedmark
As it did with me....a long time ago. I still cant believe I stuck it for 10 years... maybe moving to the different countries helped but in the end.... everyone just wants to go home.
This will be my last project...
\Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
...and long may that continue!
I just looked back over your 2 threads for the home and garden, Norton. 2 great reads... I bet the garden is rampant now, or did you cut it all back to keep control? I see some of the things my builder is now doing in your thread too., so hopefully I will be blessed with the same trouble-free living once mine is finished.
Thanks to my SWMBO it's looking better than ever. Must do an update.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
Bring it on!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
I am keen to see....
So... final placement of No.2 Septic tank, and back-filling
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/490.jpg
Placed...
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/491.jpg
...and back-filled.
Those 1-lady-powered Makro's are getting a good work out today
Finished covering tanks 1 and 2
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/473.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/474.jpg
That's bizarre.. I uploaded the pictures (the few that I got) of the ground floor plinth pour , complete with comment. I saw it there but now... its totally vanished?
Did anyone else see it before this happened? is this a regular occurrence?
Ok... I thought maybe that last email would make it re-appear... I guess I will have to re-upload...
The No-Pictures Plinth Pour...
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/475.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/476.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/477.jpg
yep... got the truck pictures covered... let's see the pour!
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/478.jpg
OK.. one more then, showing the delivery, and concrete coming out. now for the close up detail?!
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/479.jpg
and then... w.w.w.what happened? you mean you didnt take any? nothing at all!!??!?
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/480.jpg
Slab down..apparently there was activity in laying, leveling, covering etc, but the photographer (the stand-in) did not perform as expected...
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/481.jpg
Another view of the completed slab, and you can see K.Pot has already started to shutter up for the first floor ring beam
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/482.jpg
OK... the slab don't look too bad and K.Ek (Orbortor eng.) has checked it.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/483.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/484.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/483.jpg
This happened because K.Pot was off site and instructed another person to take the pics... and he didn't.
so... that concludes STAGE 2. (almost)
We are ahead of schedule and of course the builder has been paid.
There is actually some outstanding work but we have agreed to defer it until I am there mid-May
All coming along well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
Quick question. On the septic tank venting, do you plan on leaving it like it is near the house?
I turned our vent pipe 90 degrees and ran vent tubing waaaaaay out away from the house and hid with our hedges. Originally the vents were planned to be near the house like most and if the wind changes a bit the odor can be unpleasant.
Best of luck with the build.
At this point I would just like to thank all who have commented on this thread to date - your constructive contributions and encouragement makes us feel like we are all on this journey together, and your input has been very well received by PJ and I - thanks to all!
Also, grateful thanks to everyone who clicked on the reputation comments. These comments are also a great encouragement and I feel like I am on the right lines with the thread. I have tried to reciprocate to everyone. cheers!
TD
OK.. let's crack on with STAGE 3...
Hi JPR2, for sure it will be fed away from the house but its not yet completed as the soakaways have to be installed.Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
We have deferred this work until I am there so that the best location can be agreed.
Then he will do the work
Outstanding. You know its the little details at the end that have the biggest impact. wiring, insulation, power outlet location around the house, plumbing, venting, Attic access points to all of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
I look forward to Stage 3 :)
There in lies the devil. So I've been told. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
Indeed Norton. I think you followed along on my build some 4 or so years ago. I had the drawings rendered and approved and I was very adamant on what I wanted and how. After the drawings were complete I had the GC sign them agreeing anything short of what is stated I am not paying until done to the specs. He agreed and was on board. I was one that was not here during the build but my FIL was onsite 24/7 and was my eyes and ears. I had update pictures from him through line on progress almost daily and we did many video walk throughs. If something looked odd my wife was on the horn.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
@ Thai Dhupp, One thing, IMHO, you cannot have enough of is wall outlets (especially here). Unlike the states where you have gypsum walls and can pull in Nomex wiring and cut a quick hole to drop a new one easily later on, here is concrete and adding one becomes problematic and shall I say "Unsightly". Even with all my planning I still had to add some in a few locations. I also recommend a few junction boxes. These pay big dividends as later I added 100w LED flood lights on all 4 corners and the power was right there ready. I have outlets in virtually every pillar underneath and have used all of them at one point or another and its nice not having to use extension cords. All are inside the finished concrete and flush. Also I recommend using the outlets with plastic covers so when not in use they are covered. Amazing how nature finds home in everything here. I saw this at others homes where spiders or flying insects made mud nests in the ground hole. :)
Stage 3 is already underway so now I have to work even harder this month to get the cash ready!!Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
I am aware, through reading threads on all the forums plus asking some questions and general net checking that the Thai way is to put ONE socket in each room them run gang sockets everywhere!!Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
We will not be following Thai tradition on this one.
I did a huge survey on our requirements for each room in all three stages for up and downstairs. I forget the socket count but it was a lot. and they are all doubles. For example the kitchen i think had 6 or 7 double sockets plus the spur -wired items, and the A/C. Its a similar story everywhere. I have a separate circuit in the planning for the exterior lighting. there is a fair few 2 way switching too, for stairs, security lighting, under the house etc .
I am lucky that supply from 5/15 all the way to 30/100 3-ph is available, so I am not constrained. I know thats not the same for quite a few on the board and i commiserate. I was just lucky on that one, did not expect to have so many options.
I am sure I have forgotten something as I am not an electrician. Here on the day-job we have an electrical contractor and one of the Engineers said he will take a look over everything in his own time and come up with any improvements we could make.
I am sure to be posting questions here though so no one needs to feel left out!!!
Hes not got an invite to that PEA pool party so hopefully we will not be troubled...!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
Are you installing Fans?
If so ... are they 'ceiling' fans?
If so ... have you asked your wife's opinion about ceiling fans?
If not ... when considering 'wall sockets' / 'power points' think about some if you are considering wall mounted fans.
and then... w.w.w.what happened? you mean you didnt take any? nothing at all!!??!?\
If that happens to be the only problem you had you will be very lucky,
Everything seem to be moving along very smoothly and problem free, hope that continues for you on stage 3 also.
You're doing a great job keeping us informed.
If so ... have you asked your wife's opinion about ceiling fans?
Good question
When I ask my wife about fans, she opted for wall mounted.
I know I don't want fans setting all over the floors
The Thailand Wiring Page
this site gave some info on thai house wiring, I found it on another site when I was looking on how wiring is done in LOS vers. US
Does anyone know if wall fans are direct wired or plug into a socket?
Hi David... fans.. hmmm.. im not a fan (sorry). Yes..there will be extractor fans in the WC's / bathrooms.Quote:
Originally Posted by David48atTD
If we have any fixed fans a all they will probably be in that large 10m x 8m area under the living room, in zone B (the open area for sitting / socialising).
I don't really want fans stuck to the walls in the living spaces upstairs.
We have always just had a pedestal fan for when its really needed, as sometimes the apartment in BKK can warm up.
Here we are not susceptible to another apartment below and rising heat, and our construction will use heat-insulating Q-con throughout to minimise heat transfer into the building. Big roof overhangs too.
I'm not against fans but I don't really want fixed units dominating rooms. That's just me.
I'm sure PJ will learn to love my decision ! LOL... and if you believe that you will believe anything. Actually I did mention fans etc but she did not immediately jump in with fan here, fan there, etc.
Perhaps I might 'mention' it again...
Fingers crossed, Dennis... you are right, but probably something more will occur before we get to September. (or before September, as the builder has really got stuck into this one!!)Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis4558
I don't mind the odd pedestal fan, but I guess I better consult SWMBO...Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis4558
Thanks for the reminder Dennis. This was done by Crossy, and his house-build thread (on 'another' forum) was the first one I ever read. A very good one.Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis4558
He knows his stuff for electricals, and this is a useful reference.
^ Crossy is one nice guy from my dealings with him from the other Forum.
As for the 'fan question' ... you may wish to dig a little deeper now with SWMBO to save angst later.
Thai's dislike ceiling fans because they drop from the ceiling faster then a Lady in NANA knickers.
My Partner was hit in the head by one which dropped from the ceiling in a Thai Restaurant.
Unless you plan to live in an Air-Conditioned box ... fans will be a part of your Thai living, no matter what
overhang you have/what your walls are built of.
If the ambient air temp is 30C+ and the humidity is 70%+ ... the fans will be a spinning :)
If there are no ceiling fans and no wall fans there will be a snake's pit of wires and leads across the tiled floors
with the pedestal fans which will inhabit any room.
IMHO
Most of the ones I've seen in homes are plug and wall socket.Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis4558
Some have the socket protruding from the ceiling ... if they have a ceiling :)
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/03/442.jpg
For some reason, they just don't show the lead in the promo shot.
Home Pro ... https://www.homepro.co.th/product/1042777
We don't have a socket there, so we just run a lead.
I think we bought ours from TESCO LOTUS.
Which, of course we call the Store TESCO ... and the Thai's call it LOTUS :)
I have 3spd ceiling fans in every room in our place. No Thai weirdness here. I personally did not want Hatari fans all over the house and cords all over. I highly recommend them. They are clean and efficient and they run whisper quiet at night to keep us cool. I seldom use our ACs albeit my wife will some time turn one on for about an hour then let the ceiling fan takeover. My FIL loves his. We have a large house and PEA bill is always between 1500 and 2000 baht a month during hot months and under 1000 baht during the mild times of year. Our biggest power consumption comes from my big western style clothes dryer but I can't stand crispy sun dried Levi's and T shirts :)
Again only suggestions for Thai Dhupp. Clearly it's personal preference.
@ Thai Dhupp. Another thing to consider is having power under your kitchen sink. I blew it and forgot. Having power under the sink allows you to power up a water purification system or a small POU Hot water heater. I added a small reverse osmosis UV water purification system and there was no power.
or.TESCO Lotah'...Quote:
Originally Posted by David48atTD
lol thanks for this input, David, sure I will 'reconsider' as you are making a good case. maybe we can stretch to a ceiling fan or two for the living and dining rooms.
These are the 2 main rooms which have large folding doors opening outside so I can see the sense in some 'air-movers'.
Here in the ME its a different story JP, with AC-land the norm. I suppose I just got used to that in the 10 years I have been here... never fitted a fan at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
That point about the under-sink power supply is a good one for all the reasons you mention. I did not think of that so ..cheers for the heads-up. I think we will be including it .
What was the detail on your ceiling fans? I will take a look...
https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...tallation.html
Global house has good ones.