Thai Dhupp and Princess Joy's Thai House Build

[Thai Dhupp]

Jonny... thanks for that.... we intend to use the SCG Ayara tiles which have the diamond finish but are double tiles. They are obviously heavier than thin single tiles.

Pitch-wise, we are building the Ayutthaya style roof with the variable pitch - steep at the top, but shallower at the bottom.

Hopefullly that's going to be OK..what do you think?

[Norton]

yeah yeah.. more food and drink... sure no probs but they are not getting in the pool, I'm sure thats not on the spirit list of 'things-to-do', right?!

Not on the list. You're good to go.

that was SWMBO's only solid request

The ultimate authority in all this stuff. My SWMBO did not require a separate Bhudda room, a spirit house or a scareghost.

[David48atTD]

We, the Thai Family, of course have a 'a spirit house'.

Being mere mortals, we were not of a higher level to decide where it should be placed.

Must get the Monkal advice on that one.

[Thai Dhupp]

I can't wait to be in a position to get one of those spirit-houses because, I'm assuming it's at the end of the build, right?

[mikenot]

As you move on to landscaping anything planted that cannot be eaten, while not necessarily considered bad luck, should be avoided.
The above take precedence over all other practical considerations such as strength of structure, access to rooms, design for living and other irrelevant things.

Frangipani/plumeria used to be called "Lahn Tohm" which has connotations of bad luck and there fore used to be only planted inside temple grounds where the good karma could outweigh the bad luck which would arise if you planted it at your home. Nowadays it is "rebranded" as Lelawadee which is ok. my GF still thinks it is bad choice though and told me we will not be having any in our future garden ......to which I replied that it is a good luck tree in Farangland, she can do whatever she wants on her half of the land where the house will be, but in "my land' that I paid for I'll do what I want. She conceded that as our land is 2 separate chanotes, having Frangipani in the garden should not bring bad luck to the house ....but I'm sure there will be an "I told you so' coming sometime !

"I can't wait to be in a position to get one of those spirit-houses because, I'm assuming it's at the end of the build, right?"
Yes, everything will fade into insignificance at that time.

[dennis4558]

Originally Posted by Norton (Thai superstitions)
Expect many more subject to local norms. Here are a few.

Stairs must be of an odd number.

Headboard on bed cannot be facing west.

The builder of the house owns it until you pay him at the pre moving in ceremony. Auspicious day and food a must.

House will need a Buddha room.

You will need to have the house inspected/approved by a local elder who deems it fit before you can move in. Auspicious day and food a must.

Offerings of money and gold must be placed in the footings prior to continuing construction. Auspicious day and food a must.

Main entry to the house cannot be facing the the end of a road. Ghosts traveling down the road will have a direct path to enter.

A spirit house is required on the property. Placement of it will be critical.

A scarecrow (scareghost) like thing must be placed on road entry to the house.

And finally, a gathering (banquet) of monks and all the neighbors in the house on an auspicious day before it is deemed safe for human habitation. Auspicious day and food a must.

As you move on to landscaping anything planted that cannot be eaten, while not necessarily considered bad luck, should be avoided.

The above take precedence over all other practical considerations such as strength of structure, access to rooms, design for living and other irrelevant things.

Wow that's quite a list, guess I'll have to print it out and save it with my building notes, I knew about most of them but some are new to me.
You're doing good TD you have most of them covered.

[Thai Dhupp]

Frangipani/plumeria used to be called "Lahn Tohm" which has connotations of bad luck and there fore used to be only planted inside temple grounds where the good karma could outweigh the bad luck which would arise if you planted it at your home. Nowadays it is "rebranded" as Lelawadee which is ok. my GF still thinks it is bad choice though and told me we will not be having any in our future garden ......to which I replied that it is a good luck tree in Farangland, she can do whatever she wants on her half of the land where the house will be, but in "my land' that I paid for I'll do what I want. She conceded that as our land is 2 separate chanotes, having Frangipani in the garden should not bring bad luck to the house ....but I'm sure there will be an "I told you so' coming sometime !

"I can't wait to be in a position to get one of those spirit-houses because, I'm assuming it's at the end of the build, right?"
Yes, everything will fade into insignificance at that time.

Simple really... you probably wont be allowed in to 'her' house with all the bad luck that's ''probably brushed off on you.''

[Thai Dhupp]

Originally Posted by Norton (Thai superstitions)
Expect many more subject to local norms. Here are a few.

Stairs must be of an odd number.

Headboard on bed cannot be facing west.

The builder of the house owns it until you pay him at the pre moving in ceremony. Auspicious day and food a must.

House will need a Buddha room.

You will need to have the house inspected/approved by a local elder who deems it fit before you can move in. Auspicious day and food a must.

Offerings of money and gold must be placed in the footings prior to continuing construction. Auspicious day and food a must.

Main entry to the house cannot be facing the the end of a road. Ghosts traveling down the road will have a direct path to enter.

A spirit house is required on the property. Placement of it will be critical.

A scarecrow (scareghost) like thing must be placed on road entry to the house.

And finally, a gathering (banquet) of monks and all the neighbors in the house on an auspicious day before it is deemed safe for human habitation. Auspicious day and food a must.

As you move on to landscaping anything planted that cannot be eaten, while not necessarily considered bad luck, should be avoided.

The above take precedence over all other practical considerations such as strength of structure, access to rooms, design for living and other irrelevant things.

Wow that's quite a list, guess I'll have to print it out and save it with my building notes, I knew about most of them but some are new to me.
You're doing good TD you have most of them covered.

yeah Dennis...but I cant claim any credit or knowledge in achieving it as I was also 'in the dark' for a lot of it! Pure luck!

[Thai Dhupp]

Delivering the septic tanks to site.


Yes...that's correct...tank 1 and tank 2


I like the personal touch - this tank was fabricated by 'Emma' or 'Ems' and apparently ts the 2000th one shes made, same like those engineers sign and number their Bentley engines....lovely.


No, thats not 'junior', found another place to sleep...




I think she was christening it round the back with a sneaky 'no.1'


K.Pot looks like hes not sure what goes where.

[Thai Dhupp]

Grease/oil traps

oh yeah...'Ems' made those too - busy girl... this one was No. 40, quite rare...









2 of these too... one for each grey water line, which does not go anywhere near the black water septic tank...

[jonnyenglish]

Jonny... thanks for that.... we intend to use the SCG Ayara tiles which have the diamond finish but are double tiles. They are obviously heavier than thin single tiles.

Pitch-wise, we are building the Ayutthaya style roof with the variable pitch - steep at the top, but shallower at the bottom.

Hopefullly that's going to be OK..what do you think?

Looking at the tiles you have chosen on SCG's website, they are the ones that are flat on the back (I was looking at these and also the timber shingle look), so no secondary channel like Monier have to prevent water running under and across, instead they rely on second tile lapping over the join of the first, no problem, BUT...

Your steel-work will have to be absolutely bob-on to allow for correct seating of these (no mean feat with an Ayutthaya style roof). My builder steered me away from these when discussing choice of roof tiles (lighter than using CPAC monier and I really liked the overall look), I'm guessing he thought the team's standard of construction with steel wasn't up to the job, or failing that he had never worked with them before, either way he wasn't keen! That doesn't mean you shouldn't though, these have been around for a while.

I think you'll have to go for the smaller size, as they are more suitable for roofs with greater pitch angle (even though the larger size are generally used for bigger roof areas).

[Thai Dhupp]

Looking at the tiles you have chosen on SCG's website, they are the ones that are flat on the back (I was looking at these and also the timber shingle look), so no secondary channel like Monier have to prevent water running under and across, instead they rely on second tile lapping over the join of the first, no problem, BUT...

Your steel-work will have to be absolutely bob-on to allow for correct seating of these (no mean feat with an Ayutthaya style roof). My builder steered me away from these when discussing choice of roof tiles (lighter than using CPAC monier and I really liked the overall look), I'm guessing he thought the team's standard of construction with steel wasn't up to the job, or failing that he had never worked with them before, either way he wasn't keen! That doesn't mean you shouldn't though, these have been around for a while.

I think you'll have to go for the smaller size, as they are more suitable for roofs with greater pitch angle (even though the larger size are generally used for bigger roof areas).

Hi again Jonny, .....just wondering... any reason why we cant put a waterproof membrane under the tiles same like we do in UK? I did not plan for it, but for the cost, assuming no technical reason, it might be a good option, also for break ins deterrent, animal ingress protection, etc, etc.

Just wondering.. we are some way off so there can be any number of changes.

[Thai Dhupp]

Fitting the termite control pipework

















Another job off the list.

Thanks for the reminder Norton but in fact he had it covered...

[Norton]

He does indeed.

[dennis4558]

By the numbers on your septic and grease trap would I be right to assume the septic is a 2000 liter and the grease trap a 40 liter? I may have missed it if you mentioned it before.

[Thai Dhupp]

/

By the numbers on your septic and grease trap would I be right to assume the septic is a 2000 liter and the grease trap a 40 liter? I may have missed it if you mentioned it before.

Oh? so that's not the number of the production line? ahhhhhh...

lol ..you would be right Dennis... capacities it is. The grease trap goes on the grey water line so that oil / grease does not end up clogging your soakaway or drain field, which can be major problems. we have three installations of this set up in total, the 3rd being in zone 3, when we build it later.

[dennis4558]

/

Oh? so that's not the number of the production line? ahhhhhh...

lol ..you would be right Dennis... capacities it is. The grease trap goes on the grey water line so that oil / grease does not end up clogging your soakaway or drain field, which can be major problems. we have three installations of this set up in total, the 3rd being in zone 3, when we build it later.

That's a good sized septic tank, I was hoping to get by with a 1600 liter with 2 baths

[dennis4558]

I'm curious how they are doing your floor without crushing those termite lines, on other builds I've seen they went under the beams.

[dennis4558]

Did they or are they going to pressure test your water lines before they pour the floor? Last year when I was in Roi Et working on one of my wifes condo's, the water was leaking under the floors so had to surface it into the unit through the drop in ceiling, also had a leak in the walls on 2nd floor had to go through the floor and surface run that also, it was a mess, got done 2 days before we left. The plumber must have had a bad night the day before he did that one. So that's one thing I'm going to make sure I get done is pressure test water lines.

[David48atTD]

That's a good sized septic tank, I was hoping to get by with a 1600 liter with 2 baths

Why would you run the bath water through the septic tank.

Round my neck of the woods, in the West, bath/shower water, in a non-sewered situation is usually treated as grey water.


In Thailand, it (bath/shower water) just runs directly into the Klong ... Thai plumbing and all that

[mikenot]

That's a good sized septic tank, I was hoping to get by with a 1600 liter with 2 baths

I assume you mean 2 bathrooms, ie 2 toilets and not actually 2 baths ? Your bath water (and shower, kitchen sink, washing machine, etc) should not go into the septic tank as all the chemicals in your soap, shampoo, etc can be detrimental to the bacteria in your septic tank. Grey water to a greasetrap and then soakaway, only black water into the septic.

[Thai Dhupp]

Digging the septic tank holes...



















Another job finished - now to install the tanks and connect up..

[Thai Dhupp]

Why would you run the bath water through the septic tank.

Round my neck of the woods, in the West, bath/shower water, in a non-sewered situation is usually treated as grey water.


In Thailand, it (bath/shower water) just runs directly into the Klong ... Thai plumbing and all that

Absolutely, David - none of my grey water will enter the septic tank system. will go direct to the soakaways or out to the drain field. I don't have the luxury of any water course next to my plot.

Later, as I said much earlier in this build thread, I will see if its possible to water any of the garden with some of the uncontaminated grey water... but that's for a long time ahead!

[Thai Dhupp]

I assume you mean 2 bathrooms, ie 2 toilets and not actually 2 baths ? Your bath water (and shower, kitchen sink, washing machine, etc) should not go into the septic tank as all the chemicals in your soap, shampoo, etc can be detrimental to the bacteria in your septic tank. Grey water to a greasetrap and then soakaway, only black water into the septic.

I concur Mike !! keep all chemicals away from the septic tank to let the 'good' bacteria go to work. Also any massive water throughput would surely disturb the 'sludge' layer, forcing some of its contents into the bigger system, which is to be avoided...

[Thai Dhupp]

That's a good sized septic tank, I was hoping to get by with a 1600 liter with 2 baths

Actually Dennis, I will have THREE of those tanks when we complete zone 3!! And none of the bath/shower water will be going through them! They are fitting 2 on this build.