Building a house in Isaan, for Dummies.

Aha, Dan, what you need to do is start a new thread. Here's how:

1) Log in, then from the home page click the bit saying 'Forum Home' (top left)
2) Click on 'Construction in Thailand'
3) Scroll down a bit until you get to the bit on the left side saying 'Threads in Forum'. Just above that is a button with 'New Thread' written on it.
4) Click the 'New Thread' button
5) Enter your title (House Water Tank) and cut & paste your post from here into the message box
6) Click 'Submit New Thread'
7) Wait for lots of largely irrelevant posts that don't really answer the question you asked, a bit like my post here... :)

Good luck

Thanks Roobarb. Your directions were easy to follow and should be included in the Newbies section or somewhere else easy to find for new boys and girls. Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by Wasp

What actually saddens me though is knowing that if I say detergents shouldn't be run off into a jungle SOMEBODY is bound to leap in with some criticism

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I can't 'unsadden' you because we continue to merrily drain our brown water directly onto the land, and stuff grows like wildfire there (ps- it ain't virgin jungle). Perhaps we should have a health warning that our isaan eggplant, basil &n papaya is fertilised by soap!

But I am a bit curious- recycling of brown water was all the rage some years back, people were doing it and proudly boasting of it in cities. What changed? I seem to be a bit luminescent at night these days, but apart from that i'm just yer average isaan peasant.

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Originally Posted by sabang

Perhaps we should have a health warning that our isaan eggplant, basil &n papaya is fertilised by soap!

But I am a bit curious- recycling of brown water was all the rage some years back, people were doing it and proudly boasting of it in cities. What changed? I seem to be a bit luminescent at night these days, but apart from that i'm just yer average isaan peasant.

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There is that little problem with todays hygiene standards. Brown water means faeces and they contain bacteria. Most of them perfectly harmless but some can be nasty to some persons. Todays standards would require that the mixture be heated to above 60°C to kill off potential harmful bacteria.

Fermentation like in bioreactors to produce methane may be able to achieve that.

It may or may not be a real problem. But those city dwelling do gooders who invented the idea of using faeces may be the same people who abhor the bacteria.

If you have gone through a few cases of diarrhea you should be good.

[QUOTE=sabang;2622983]

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Originally Posted by Wasp

What actually saddens me though is knowing that if I say detergents shouldn't be run off into a jungle SOMEBODY is bound to leap in with some criticism

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I can't 'unsadden' you because we continue to merrily drain our brown water directly onto the land, and stuff grows like wildfire there (ps- it ain't virgin jungle). Perhaps we should have a health warning that our isaan eggplant, basil &n papaya is fertilised by soap!

Well ...... if you can't treat matters seriously .... you can always choose sarcasm .

Saves you doing the right thing .

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Originally Posted by Takeovers

Brown water means faeces and they contain bacteria.

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Not in our case- it's just shower, laundry and and tapwater run-off. Sorry, I got the name wrong- 'grey water' is what I meant. I'd endorse it as fertiliser were it not for the ecomafia:rolleyes:. The septic tanks are emptied by the standard shit trucks, and probably dumped in the Mekhong.

They've been on the move, and you pay a lot more in urban centres than for rural land, or land on decent arterial roads. I'm out of touch basically, but doubt it's easy to get rural land for less than 50k per rai, and if you want to live in downtown Ubon it's over a million. Still fairly cheap though. But you don't own the land remember- so you've gotta be the trusting sort. :)

Hi Sabang

Thank you very much for your building (in Isaan) for dummies. I share your cynicism and am very wary of getting ripped. I am going to go a little further than you regarding ripping off other peoples intellectual property, I am going to rip off your whole approach. Hidden Farang, 5 or so formal quotes and everything.

I am thinking of building a simple shoebox in Loei in the next few months as a weekender (in my wife village where she has 2 rai), something REALLY simple. I am also going to build our main house in Khon Kaen in the next 18 months (where I live and work). If you could PM me the name of the KK builders you mention, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again for your story. Using your approach I am sure I will stress (a little) less.:aus:

This has to be my favourite thread on thai building thanks..I`m learning and getting ideas for my future build. Hope to get more progress photo`s from you

People joke a lot about the MIL but you seem very kind about the life she has had . Well done you .

You know if I say again that I think you show unusuall kindness to your MIL it also helps me get my count up ! I think I need 10. But I mean what I say.:)

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Originally Posted by KKCam

If you could PM me the name of the KK builders you mention, I would really appreciate it.

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Pretty sure I missed this- I'll get a PM off to you soon (when the wife stops snoring). Best of luck with the build(s), and sorry for the delay.

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Originally Posted by Brunswick

you show unusuall kindness to your MIL

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Karma? Anyway, MIL's house/ upcountry retreat became Home, thus freeing up our ridiculously oversized house (for a couple) near Pattaya, for renting out. If I add the rental cash flow to the 'cost of living' savings compared to Pattayalife, I'd say this Isaan dummies house has already paid for itself- so maybe karma works both ways!

But regardless, it was still worth it. She really is a very good person- and, I am pleased to say, a diligent steward of the house. There is some talk of our hamlet, combined with a couple of other nearby family hamlets, being incorporated into village or 'ban' status. I don't know if that will ever happen (frankly, I think our puny size & numbers doesn't warrant village status)- but if it does, it is basically unanimous who we would want to be Pu Yi Ban. Just some indication of the respect she is held in around here.

Not a lot to report on the home front really- it still stands, no problems to speak of. I'll take a few snaps anyway- and show you our adopted tribe of reptiles in the process. We have become a haven for tokays!

Great thread Sabang,,, please send a PM of the builder you contracted out of KK,,, I am looking to build my "Lil House on the Praire" near Mahasarakham.

:)

Great post Sabang. I'm also building a house in Issan (Sisaket), and even more of a dummy than you. your house looks great, and would just like to know if you're still happy with everything, or is there something you would have done different.

I chose to let my BIL do it for me since he is very knowledgeable, and knows a lot of people since he is the village head man. I have paid about 750,000 so far, and only the walls, floor, and roof are done. I told him to wait until my wife and I move there from the U.S. in a few months before doing more. I want to be there for selecting and overseeing windows, doors, floor coverings, and plumbing (water pipes have already been brought to the house.

I think that what I have paid so far is not out of line. It is 3 bdrm and 2 1/2 ba. about 180 sqm. I'd like to hear what others might think. I will attach a pic if I can figure out how to do it.

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Originally Posted by Stone Club

supply natural stoned

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Ratch's avatar is most interested. :)

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Originally Posted by phinik

is there something you would have done different

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Nothing to speak of. When the time comes to replace the wooden window frames, I'll go PVC- but they've got a few years left in them yet. Security fly screen doors on the front and back doors too- but after one false start which I destroyed myself they were so damn flimsy, had some strong and 'functional' (read- ugly) ones made, which do the trick just fine, and we never close our wooden doors, day or night. Could've done without them frankly, but I suppose a house has to have doors, even if you never close them.

My only regret is the ridiculously overcapitalised house I (well mrs sab) owns near Pattaya, in a country that wants to return to third world status. But that's a different story.

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Originally Posted by sabang

If it is cleared of trees, and just needs ground clearing and leveling, Mrs reckons around 300 bht. Seems cheap.

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Could you please tell me who was your house builder

Hello Sabang

Please help us! Could you please tell us who built your beautiful house?


Please please

Hello Sabang I need your help please

Her home is complete but I am looking for a guide as to the current costs of constructing a home about 150km NE of CNX.
Excluding land, excavation costs, built-ins, furniture, curtains & drapes, additional insulation, termite control, landscaping & electrical appliances.
Norton & Stevefarang (???) were our benchmarks.
Quality - Q-Con, CPAC etc with most sourced in Chiang Mai.
Surprisingly, I am satisfied with the quality of construction. (My father was a builder in Oz).
Termite control was included.
It is 375sqm, of two levels and excluding car accommodation.
FIL was on site for coordination.
Construction was completed 12 months ago (???) @ B1400sqm (???)

Great read and lots of insight into building out in the stick'.

Great thread Sabang and Musty. Can one of you please send me the contact info for your builder. Can't figure out how to send a PM to you or maybe I just don't have access to that, as I am a newbie. Can send message to me here on teak door or to my email [email protected]

Thank you!

Sorry dfs, I haven't been on TD for a few weeks. I've sent a message to my ex to see if she still has the contact details, will PM you if so. Last I knew the builders were doing well, but that was some years ago now.

Hi Sabang,

I am wondering if you have the copy of a floorplan for me? Perhaps the (old) one with 3 bedrooms instead of the 2?
How is the house now (in 2020?), no big problems or tears in the walls?.

Can I get the name and address sof the company, assuming that they are still active? do you happen to know that?

with kind regards,

PieTi

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Originally Posted by sabang

I'm well qualified to write this guide because when it comes to construction, I'm a Dummy. I also speak next to no Thai, and have the healthy mistrust of Isaan standards of craftmanship and forthrightness that only a resident expat can have. My sole qualifications to embark on this project were a Thai wife, whom I trust, and a certain knowledge of how business should be done- combined with a healthy cynicism as above, and a functioning 'Bullshit meter'.

The mandate- put up a decent but basic bungalow in a village about 30 km outside of Ubon Ratchathani, to serve as both my mother in laws residence, and our upcountry retreat (the house is in my wifes name). The original budget- 800K baht, plus sundries. The end result- it cost 900K, plus sundries. Say a million baht- but the end product surpassed my expectations, and was in fact completed not on schedule, but three weeks early.

https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/...4/S6300847.JPG

There it stands- 2 bedroom (actually adjusted from a 3 BR plan that I stole- more on that later), two bathrooms, a Thai and western kitchen. More photoes to follow of course, but lets start at the beginning.

Any feedback welcome- fair price, did I pay too much, did I get a good deal?
I'm a Dummy, remember. :bunny3:

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Cheers mate- the house is real good, although I haven't been there for a while. The Builder doesn't do private houses anymore I am afraid- he does industrial stuff, and is doing very well I'm told. kinda big company projects.

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Originally Posted by sabang

Cheers mate- the house is real good, although I haven't been there for a while. The Builder doesn't do private houses anymore I am afraid- he does industrial stuff, and is doing very well I'm told. kinda big company projects.

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thank you !
We will try to find another option then (building in the Khonkaen/Phon/Chayapum) area)