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Oh... and he's started the wood effect activity...
Here's the base coat on the gable end and barge boards...
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/787.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/788.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/789.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/790.jpg
it's all starting to come together, finally.
Looking great! I like the fake wood panel idea, adds much needed detail to what would otherwise be large expanses of painted render. Additionally, it really helps with the traditional look of your build. I had considered using a large salvaged teak wood panel as an interior feature wall, but the missus was against using anything old... something about "goats"... I think she meant ghosts. :rolleyes:
Morning Jonny! (well...its still just morning here, 11am and i am just rising after a 'few' light shandies' at the local hostelry courtesy of work. a rocking night was had by all but of course there is a price to pay the next day. I think i got into bed at about 5am)Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnyenglish
I hope my build thread is still keeping you entertained over your morning coffee, and thanks for the positive comment!
Those 'goats'n get in the way of everything
...especially if, like PJ shes confusing goat with lamb! haha we sorted that one and now we can roast the lamb and it turns out she likes it.
yeah... my idea for this Lanna-like relief is taking shape. As told before, I always wanted the appearance of old time Lanna / Ayutthya but with modern materials for better heat and noise insulation.
The idea I had, but the turning of my concept into reality - thats down to the builder - the thing I was not sure about was if any builder we engaged could do their bit, and make my idea 'look' like the wood I wanted.
Seems like, again K.Pot has lived up to expectations.
I looked at this too, when i was weighing up all the options. old is not so available in Chon Buri, maybe more so 'up North'.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnyenglish
K.Pot has someone who will do some internal paneling for us later, so we will not be having all rendered painted walls inside.
'old is not so available in Chon Buri, maybe more so 'up North'' indeed, not far from my gaff is Ban Thi, an area full of salvage yards, teak panelling and other architectural stuff, spent half a day in the heat looking around with the missus who was getting darker and darker by the minute, until after a few hours she gruffly told me that she 'don't like old thing, it has goats living in it', so that was the end of that.
Seems (so far at least) that K.Pot has turned out to be the man, he seems used to accepting and adapting the ideas and needs of the client. This is a bit different to the acceptance and then ignoring that I faced with my build. Overall I was happy with Noarng, but the level of finish was far below what I had envisaged, especially considering the money I spent on quality items. I'd say overall my build was 90% there, but finish (tiling, installation, painting, wood and floor treatments etc) were 65%. I can always revisit these at a later date, but I am reminded of the sloppy, haphazard, careless approach to things on a daily basis. Still, I managed to prepare the land and build the house for an OK sum (without totally losing my sanity), despite the fact that the UK to THB exchange rate dive-bombed and cost me an extra 20%!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnyenglish
jeez you are so right about this, Jonny!
I had funds saved in Thailand to cover the build, or most of it but then, buying all the sanitaryware (approx. 150K), and the wood flooring (approx 100k), and a few other mods and additions have dwindled that money.
Now I just had to transfer from Dubai to BKK and that's when it hit in... as you say, 20% increase in the cost of exchange, meaning I had to take out a fair bit more than I originally planned.
Ok we are not stopping the build but got to keep a close control on costs now.
Barge board wood effect detailing
So, we are all waiting to see K.Pot at work on the house wall wood effect - lol especially me.
Meanwhile though he's been concentrating on those gable ends - which includes painting that wood effect onto the barge boards.
Here's a few snaps from that - they are not a sharp as I want but its because I am lifting them off the video.
I will get some stills too, and he's not totally finished yet, but...you get the idea.
Remember, we are 'up close n personal' here but in reality one would be viewing the roof from distance.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/378.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/379.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/380.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/381.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/382.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/383.jpg
It actually looks better on the video of course as there is no blurring....
Here are some more.....
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/371.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/372.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/373.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/374.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/375.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/376.jpg
will try to get some stills when his no.2 is next up on the roof.
It gives you an idea though, and not too bad i think.
Oh... he's been working on the sala too.
Here he is putting the roof tiles onto the roof frame
Barge boards are already in place.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/08/370.jpg
Very nice workmanship and looks. Coming along nicely TD.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
Soothsayer Norton sees a high wood maintenace future for you. :)
Hi TD, not sure if this will help at all but I use "Transfer Wise" to shift my money.
They are on-line.
Regards.
I never heard of that one DM but I'm prepared to give it a trial.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead Metal
Just TransferWise some of your cash to me and if it works i will send some of your cash back to you.
What do you think? worth a try?
A house is like a painting or a photograph and should be viewed at a proper distance. As a photographer, I hate it when people pixel peep and critique an image. I think the faux paneling is going to look great.
I have not used TransferWise but from what I read it sounds like it can help you keep more of your money away from fees.
lol the ''Prophet Norton'' could well be right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
I already sent PJ out for Pledge and Teak Oil!
as they say, 'no grain no gain'....
I also have positive feelings about the wood effect, Runker, after seeing his initial efforts on those barge boards.Quote:
Originally Posted by runker
We will soon see though as he has to start the walls before too long.
As stated right at the start of this thread, I too am a photographer so you can imagine my frustration with the house going up there and me stuck here only able to assemble and edit the photos being sent to me.
The flip side is...I also have over 5 hours of video of the build from the very start, including some footage I shot before the build commenced!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
You have gone rather quite TD...….you haven't spent ALL that £100,000 I transferred ?
i only received 10 THB, so not 'sure' where the rest went, DM !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead Metal
Yeah, apologies all, for the lack of transmission... a few reasons .
1. I have been incredibly busy on the 'day job' as we are now at the 'critical stage', forming the bridge to complete the loop, and requiring shed loads of temporary works (scaffolding) to support it all
2. there has been an extraordinary amount of rain at the build site,
3. I am going there in only 2 weeks time so he has agreed to wait until I get there before he starts on those walls (although a delay, it does mean I will be able to photograph the process so worth it i think).
He has done few bits and pieces though so ... a few pictures will follow as soon as I can download them here
Mango Land
A few of you might have picked up that I was interested in the plots either side of the location of TD Towers? Well, the top side lady priced herself right out of my budget (lol, just about everyone's budget, in fact) when she suggested I might like her plot for 1,000,000. I assume she was talking about the land and that was not some sort of euphemism?
That left Lady Mango and her precious plot.
I previously tried to buy it but she too kept upping the price, so I left it. Apparently she actually thought that without her piece, I could not build my house. She came to her senses not long after visiting hers and saw TD Towers and the Chonburi Hilton risen out of my land.
So a new negotiation took place, at less than she had last asked and low 'n' behold... agreement was reached! I am telling this now as its an agreed deal - I am taking the money out of the bank here in Dubai today.
That plot makes good sense for us. We can now extend the car parking zone (no... not to a 15 car Tesco 'low-tas' car park favoured by PJ), to now include a 2-car carport structure. It extends the overall plot for the house, so future-proofs any other build or extension we might do. It takes zone 3 (when we build it), off the previous boundary as we now own the land on the other side of the boundary. We might consider a water tower now as we could 'lose' it amongst the trees. We will probably relocate the drain field into a corner of the new plot and lastly... we gain a whole bunch of mature and well-fruiting mango trees.
i just found a recipe for mango wine on line so that might be a lil' side project for the future
I tried Transfer Wise,, found it t much messing about,,many times used Western union,,,never a problem and easy...JMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by runker
WU sure do have a lot of outlets worldwide and I used them to send funds to my daughter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mozzbie47
The only thing I noticed when doing that was ... it was hellish expensive to use the service.
Money exchange in the UAE is waaaay cheaper, for transfer into a bank account.
tranferwise is Inexpensive and fairly quick. We switched about a year ago and have been pleased. The only problem I see is that while I send money all the time I never receive money back!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
WU sucks balls. High fees and low exchange rates. Customer service is terrible and I don’t know if anyone else experienced it a few years ago the designated Thailand a fraud prone country and wouldn’t process certain transactions unless u brought cash into their office. A pain and kind of demeaning. Happy to be rid of them.
I never really looked to closely at this. tbh I usually travel with a lot of cash (dumb i know) but keeping it away from the whole banking system makes me feel bit better. high fees. crappy exchange rates. hold ups s before u can access the funds, etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Joesixpac
'Cash is king' esp when u are negotiating a deal or discount.
I guess they don't like the banks either...!
Yeah.. I know.. been quiet too long!
So long in fact that i had the 'sticky' status removed from the thread, sad about that...
Anyway... I am heading to Thailand this coming Friday for a couple of weeks so normal service will be resumed on the tale and the pictures.
In fact, K.Pot has had some family stuff to attend to (doesn't that always happen with everyone's build at some point!?)... i think his daughter is in hospital, or something...
anyway... will be back on track later this week. No fall out with he builder. no cash flow issues, no differences of opinion. me n PJ still a team. lol sorry... no drama at all.... just rain on the site and his personal stuff.
I did tell that he was waiting on painting those upper walls so I could see what and how he did it. He's been fitting the overhang roof tiles and finishing the sala so i will put those pix up asap.
Oh and the terracotta tiles should be starting any day now too.
Mostly the build is done... its the finishing works now. flooring, wall finishes, AC, sockets/ switches etc.
we have some decisions to make now for :
1. kitchen (not in the contract)
2. AC. how many, how big, location
3. final choice for the switch /socket appearance
4. pool mark out (k.pot will be building that too)
5. negotiation for the extended boundary wall now that we have completed the purchase of MangoLand
6. ground clearance on plot 1 (where the rubber trees are and where the resort might go) as they are coming to mark the chanote posts
7. negotiation and purchase of the Mae Daeng for the flooring in some of the rooms
I will hardly have time to go to a little resort we know just along from Jomtien for a few days!
Onward, onward!!!
AC
Cant remember if i asked this before... is there already any info on the site about the 'effect' of using AAC blocks, etc on your AC purchasing decisions?
I had a quick look on this site but only found the one thread about 'AC' in general - interesting, as far as it goes but it doesn't cover the calculation factor when using AAC blocks, smaller windows with overhang roofing, double insulation from the potential heating effect of the roof, tinted glazing throughout, etc etc.
Bunthavorn do Daikin AC... any nightmare experiences with this brand?
A look on the Daikin website details some interesting remote control options for smart(er) ac use - like the idea but again no point in pursuing it if the units themselves are cra....... unreliable.
And the things to do list grows. Cleared mine years ago. New one gives daily satisfaction :)
Sticky is there. Get your eyes checked.
Lol i must be gettin' old(er), Norton - could swear it 'disappeared!'Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
Yeah... I did not do a list but then a lil' panic set in as I'm only days away from LoS and this will be the last visit before he err.. finishes everything then starts the snag list clock ticking before his payday.
I might speak to him about that...
...with the pool, wall and zone 3 still to do, he needs to be flexible, I think.
So anyway, I started to jot a few things down, y'know... essentials, wish list, could haves, and managed to add a couple of mill of spends. Had to revise that list quickly, or get PJ out to full time work somewhere (as distinct from her current full time job which is 'hoping the lottery drops in twice every month')
Why are all Thais obsessed with that lottery? the payout is minuscule against the stake, jeez....
... anyway i got my tickets, 'just in case...'
This at Daikin site will give you an idea re btu per space you will need. I have Samsung and they have same calculator. Given the size of your place recommend you contact Daikin or another supplyer to come out and give you estimate. Keeping in mind they will be on the btu high side.
https://www.daikin.co.th/en/service-btu-calculation/
Another.
https://www.totalhomesupply.com/air-...tu-calculator/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
Ta very much.
Not decided specifically on Daikin but I heard they were OK. There have been some other recommendations too though, so got to make a decision or we gonna have no AC at all!
My last experience at Bunthavorn was pretty good with the assistance and discount on offer.
I know its not always like that but, while it is, only right to take full advantage. They only seem to sell Daikin though...
The necessary BTU are given not by the space as more by the constellation of the walls (how many outwards), windows, ceiling, all well insulated? etc. And by the personal liking, more or less frigid? (for the Thai it is always only one same liking... :))Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
The recommendation of the a/c makers - and of the clever know-it-all shopboys - are always by 2 - 3 size more than it is really needed. For me is most important one feature: how noisy the thing is? (what is, as matter of fact, quite difficult to recognize in the shop with 1,000 dB music).
Daikin - IMO - make the best AC on the market right now, the last three we have bought have all been from them, Mitsu used to be good but had problems with their Inverter.
Take a look on Lazada to check prices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Klondyke
You are right about the factors to consider, Klondyke... so many in fact it makes it difficult to get a clear calculation for the optimum unit..
i did not think about noise but of course that's pretty crucial.
The one thing i am aware of is the retailers desire to sell as many and as big units to the stupid punter as possible!
i don't want to be said punter, if possible.
im checking the calculators as a starting point then factoring in all the things they don't include.
I emailed Daikin on this topic but no reply so far....
Right.. thanks... that's good to know, AP2...Quote:
Originally Posted by Airportwo
1 thumbs up for Daikin.
They are a bit pricy but I'm OK with that as long as they last proportionately, and theres always the discount to come from Bunthavorn
i too heard Mitsu were ok, Panasonic less so. Maybe someone will confirm or refute this.
Are the Daikin units quiet too?
Daikin are claimed to be the quietest, when they refer to how quite they are they mean the outside compressor unit is quiet! where to place units requires some thought as you can get "harmonics" depending on the wall construction if you are installing them on a wall. We can hear none of ours running from inside the house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp
Daikin are AC people, the rest of the manufacturers make lots of different appliances so they are more "specialized"
They are more expensive but cheaper to run so at the end of the day......................
Mitsu used to be the "best" but i had all sorts of problems with the last lot I bought, their technicians were lost, Inverters were a step too far for them, whereas with Daikin they were a lot more tuned in.
I have Fujitsu few units over 10 years, still same quiet as the new ones. Their lowest speed is named "Quiet", it really is.
thanks klondyke,Quote:
Originally Posted by Klondyke
so Daikin and Fujitsu now running neck n neck in the great ''which-is-the-best-AC-on-the-market'' poll, with Mitsu further back in 3rd..
cheers!
Amount sent 1,000 GBP Converts to 42,179.28 THB Fee 6.96 GBP Exchange rate 42.47490
That £6:96 is all I paid Total.
The above is from my account with TransferWise . I only show you because i consider it the cheapest way to transfer money.
I have been doing this for a long time now and the system is easy and straightforward.
You only need to set up an account with them and away you go easy-peasy-Japanesey.
If you do encounter problems Email / phone. They are very helpful.
I consider £6:96 to be a steal . Nobody can match this.
The company featured in the Times money pages, I was reading whilst returning from Victoria to the coast.
Just one more thing if I may TD . It is quite legal to travel by plane from the UK with £12000.00 providing you have the Bank's receipt .
I have also done this many times.
Regards DM.
thanks for that DM... v interesting and an option to consider.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead Metal
Whenever transferring, one needs to check both the fee and the stated exchange rate.
Banks especially are v good at manipulating the latter. In UAE they force one to change the dirham into dollar (at a crappy rate), then those dollars into THB again at a crappy rate.
The fee is low, cos that's what people ask ''how much is the fee to transfer the money?'' lol cheap fee, but TWO expensive exchanges.
Needless to say, i do not use banks
I thought it was 10,000, but in any case, I have exceeded that several times!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead Metal