Finding and Building a Residence for Mr and Mrs MTSINTERNATIONAL

[SEA Traveler]

As many reading this site know, construction work can be a very energy draining experience. Consequently, construction workers need to maintain their energy and there is nothing better as an energy source than the delicacies of the countryside. The construction crew building my house in Ban Chang, Rayong are usually working in BKK and they have all advised me that they are so happy for the delicious delicacies available in Ban Chang that they so rarely have the chance to have when working in BKK. Here is dinner on 2 seperate evenings. One evening it was roast rice rat and another evening it was grilled snake. All caught locally not from from the construction site.





Nothing that a little Bier Chang, Sing, or Leo could make tase even better.

[AZZZEY68]

Looks great do you have builders details whats final cost just to build the house ?

[SEA Traveler]

Khun Azzzey,

welcome to the forum. for the house and all components therein, 5 mil baht is ball park. western specs for the most part and good windows, tile, elect, etc...

you have a project working?

[JoGeAr]

Wow. Just sat down and read the whole thread. Great job and an excellent thread !!

[AZZZEY68]

No mate just looking for some land been looking just behind non nook gardens average price is 1.5 million for a rai. I saw a plot half a rai but she wants 1 mill for it, its near Grand Garden Home development.

[SEA Traveler]

Wow. Just sat down and read the whole thread. Great job and an excellent thread !!

Thanks Khun Jo! It is still a work in progress and looking forward to this learning experience being successfully completed.

[SEA Traveler]

No mate just looking for some land been looking just behind non nook gardens average price is 1.5 million for a rai. I saw a plot half a rai but she wants 1 mill for it, its near Grand Garden Home development.

Did I misunderstand U Khun 68? I understood that you wanted to have an idea about what the cost of building the house was (labor and all materials) and I responded that way. Not sure what it is you are looking for if it was not the estimated expenditure for the house construction... if you want to be more specific, possibly I can respond.

[AZZZEY68]

Sorry im loking for some land budget is 1 million baht ?

No i just wanted an idea on land prices plus build costs ?

I got quoted 375000 THB for a wall similar to yours around a plot i was looking at the size of the plot was 200 wah or half rai.It just seemed expensive thats all ?

[SEA Traveler]

IMO Khun 68, the land price that you referenced above for the 1 Rai is not out of line for the area that you are looking at. The way I see it is that area you want to purchase some land and the price quoted is outside your budget, you can do one of the following:

1) increase your budget

2) reduce the size of the land that you are looking to purchase

3) look elsewhere for a less expensive piece of land

4) find a farmers daughter who's father has the land, marry her, and build the house on her land as in most cases, you won't ever really own the land anyways...

Good luck!

[AZZZEY68]

LOL no i have a Thai wife your place looks great.

[SEA Traveler]

Thanks 68. Like I said, it is a work in progress and still a way to go before I can say that it has been successful.

Good Luck!

[AZZZEY68]

Yes but you are going about it the correct way . Im really enjoying your report and i will be needing a good builder.

[HINO]

Hey,,,,,,,,,I just registered for the site and thought I would say good postings on your build but you could pat the photo takers on the back a bit more,,,,,,,,,your doing the easy part going to the beach and drinking beer while we take all the photos! You make it sound like spending money is hard work!

[kingwilly]

but you could pat the photo takers on the back a bit more,,,,,,,,,your doing the easy part going to the beach and drinking beer while we take all the photos! You make it sound like spending money is hard work!

well said that man!

[SEA Traveler]

Hey,,,,,,,,,I just registered for the site and thought I would say good postings on your build but you could pat the photo takers on the back a bit more,,,,,,,,,your doing the easy part going to the beach and drinking beer while we take all the photos! You make it sound like spending money is hard work!

Khun "HINO"! Thanks you so much for your kind observation. My bad. Request you extend my sincere appreciation to Mrs "Hino" who so graciously took the pictures I did not. And she did a fantastic job.

As for the shaky video taken by Mr. "Hino" we will have to send him for some training.

As for the liquid refreshment, tell me you didn't appreciate the cold refreshing beverage when you came over to the house during the hot afternoons? Next time I'll make sure U get the ones that were just put in the cooler.

But thanks "Hino" and welcome to the forum.

[AZZZEY68]

Looks about twice the size i was looking to build.

[SEA Traveler]

16 May 2008,

As I am currently and unfortunately out of the country, house construction progress and status reports to me are being provided by various family members and friends as well as my entrusted Project Manager. I'm sometimes getting pictures of the progress as well.

Now, and this is for you "HINO", before I go any further, I'd like to extend my sincere appreciation and give full credit to all, where in my absence, have provided house construction progress photos to me. Thanks.

Outside work on detailing the windows with a frame is now completed. The detail frame will be painted in the darker earth tone color that all the trim on the house be. We should begin seeing evidence of the painting in a few weeks.

Along with the window detailing, the soffit is being installed. One may notice that the width of the soffit from which it extends from the house wall is slightly more than that normally found on Thai houses. The width is close to 1.5 meters and will provide cover from the sun and inclement weather that is needed in the tropical climate of Thailand. The soffit along with the fascia will be painted a Hershey chocolate brown.

On the interior of the house, bedroom & bathroom tile is being layed and the stepped ceilings are being made. Floor tile throughout the house (minus the Master Bedroom and Office which will have a Makha wood floor) will all be the same light manila (light ivory) color. I can not remember if the tiles are 16 or 18 inches square but they are similar in size to what is found in most of the construction supply stores in Pattaya and Rayong areas. I selected the same color for all rooms as both the Mrs and I liked the color and because is seemed the practical thing to do. This way we only need to keep a few of 1 type of floor tile as extras. Another reason was to avoid another 3 hour session for having the Mrs decide what color it was she wanted for seperate rooms. I felt like a winner when I made the suggestion to use the same tile in each room and recived a thumbs up. (Let me divert here just for a seconds to put things in perspective... when men go out to get a pair of sandles we get them because we need them. additionally, when men go out to purchase a pair of sandles we know what we want, go into a store and tell the sales person our size, buy them, and go home. On the other hand, women find it difficult to pass a sho store with out trying on a few dozen pair of shoes/sandles. doesn't matter if it is their size or not. doen't mater if they were in the same store the previous day or not. doesn't matter if they have 4 pairs of similar sandles at home still in the box. they still have to try them on. Now, if they are serious about buying a pair os shoes/sandles, us men better have a good book to read handy.)

Both the Master and Guest bathrooms will have the same type and color of tile. For similar reasons as mentioned above. Each of the rooms except the bathrooms will have the stepped ceiling.

In the Master bathroom, there will be a large mirror that extends accross the whole length of the sink. One thing I did notice in one of the pictures received is that on top of the sink where the mirror will be placed, there is no tile being placed. I found that a little pecular. If there is any one with the profound knowledge of the local building practices and the proper method to be employed, can provide advisement if this is acceptable, the key word is acceptable, it would be appreciated.

There is also some tile being placed on the wall behind the kitchen counter top that will be hidden by cabinet doors that will extend under the whole of the counter top. This tile is a nice feature to lighten up and give a nice clean appearance under the counter top for when the doors are opened. The counter tops, as previously noted on the fourm, will be granite.

One other item that was completed were the steps outside of the Thai kitchen.


Above photo: East side of house where the framing of the windows can be seen.


Above photo: arches in the front of house and soffit partially installed.


Above Photo: Guest bedroom tile being layed.


Above Photo: Bathroom tile being layed.


Above photo: stepped ceiling in guest bedroom


Above Photo: steps exterior to the Thai Kitchen.

"Until the Next Report".

[sunsetter]

nice one sea, your getting there mate

[SEA Traveler]

nice one sea, your getting there mate

Thanks Khun Sun. This effort is not being accomplished without a lot of up front planning and a little gut wrenching pains, soul searching evenings, and consternation. Oh yea, there has been a little vino and wheat beverage intake along the way as well....

Caio!

[AZZZEY68]

Keep em coming excellent report.

[HINO]

Looks like its time to get some more photos for your gallery. Its been raining almost every day the last week,,,,,,,,,just a downpour for 20 or 30 minutes and then nice and cool. Maybe we will go on Monday to take a look,,,,,,,the tile work and all is moving along.

[HaiSoh]

Good thread SEA :thanks:
Looking forward to see more Pics soon, as I am flying to Thailand (where else) next month, thinking about "just passing by" to have a look at your castle and the surroundings....meanwhile, Keep'em coming, the pics....

[a. boozer]

Went down to the development on Saturday, it's looking good!

[HINO]

Hey boozer,,,,,,,I cant reply to your PM yet as I only have 20 posts,,,,,,,,but that drink offer is welcome,,,,,,,,,,thanks. We will be in touch

[Marmite the Dog]

^ Have you tried using one of these? --> .

They're much better than lots of these --> ,,,,,,,,, and people won't think you're such a twat.