Deck Ape's Big Gringo House

[Deck Ape]

[Deck Ape]

Here's me and the wifey praying to her heathen god. The guys from the construction crew were on hand to make sure the monks could take it easy.

All in all a good day. Didn't slip in the mud and impale myself on one of those rebar sections (almost did, but didn't) Thank god. I mean well,mai ben rai.

This was in May. One or two more days of strolling down memory soi.

[DrAndy]

yeah, good for you

hope it all goes better than your wall

[Deck Ape]

Yeah thanks Dr. Andy,

It has been going pretty well. The reason I was disappointed with the performance of my perimeter wall was due to my own neglect. The contractor, a very capable guy, suggested we put in some pvc sections and I postoned it. I'm kinda pissed no one just knocked a hole or two in the wall above the soil line once the rains came. Never felt the need before, but with this big (Gringo) house and land I will hire a caretaker when I'm not here- roughly 50% of the time.

[Deck Ape]

Here we are. The monks don't look like they're worried my big gringo wall is going to fall on them.

The whole wall cost about 200,000 all told. This was right about the time the price of oil started going through the stratosphere.

The way I've gone about this is to supply ALL materials and to contract the labor on a section by section basis. This agrees with my stops-and-starts income flow. For instance when the wall was done the contractor Nai and his guys (all local) went off to do other jobs for a few weeks before we started on the house.

[Deck Ape]

That's more like it, reading all the sucess stories just makes me jealous.

Yes but I'm sure Deck Ape is going to make it successful. I get the feeling that he is a planner and able to see things turough to a successful finish. Oh BTW, I'm saving the discussion on my problem issue with my thread construction project (the pool) untill I've worked it through so that I have to solution to offer with the irritating issue.

Khun Deck, looking forward to your construction story. Thanks for sharing.

Ciao!

Khun Sea Traveler,

Thanks for joining in!!

The funny thing is, yes I'm a planner BUT. Still find myself learning stuff either 5 min too late or just in time to scramble to get it done. (How does that thing go about that sound being God laughing while you'rew making plans?) Should be an interesting few weeks anyway- roofers and roof on the way, Q-con stacked for use tomorrow. The mortar's gonna fly and it's gonna be fu**in awesome!!DA

[DrAndy]

so, is a "gringo" the same as a "farang", or just larger?

[Deck Ape]

I'm the big gringo. But the house will be the average farang size. About 200 sq. meters if you count the porches.

[good2bhappy]

sounds like a fair size.
Good luck, look forward to more pics.

[Deck Ape]

[Deck Ape]

[Deck Ape]

This last one pretty much brings us up to the present.

Laid out my own floorplans and then brought them to an architect. Cost 5,000 baht. Permission to build from the amphur 100 baht or something like that. Will have to get a "house number" once everything is done, but Mrs. Deckape doesn't know how much that'll cost.

Footings and pillars, the usual. Ecxept I opted for 5m spacing between mine. Lots of cement, lots of rebar.

Was away winning bread when the slab was poured, but pics were taken in my absence. I was incessant in my insistance that the soil be compacted. This was done (I've seen the evidence). It also seems that Nai laid down some plastic before he poured.

The steel for the roof trusses was bought at a steel supplier inside Korat. Due to the 5m spacing of the pillars the steel from the regular building place was deemed inadequate. Na Nai told me (and it turns out to be true) that the dimensions stenciled on the side of the steel are a little misleading. If you get the tape and check them you'll see they're smaller than what they say. So we went to the steel only place. Steel cost - about 200,000. Labor cost for footings and roof trusses- 120,000.

So I've returned from work, been here for 2 weeks and have been lining things up. The blocks were all on site yesterday. So I'll bring my camera with me and post a few fresh pics later today. Hopefully.

[Deck Ape]

sounds like a fair size.
Good luck, look forward to more pics.

Thanks Khun Good2,

Your username's a good sentriment to remember when your "dream house" is in the wilds of Korat.

[DrAndy]

looks good. I have a small worry, how will you get underneath the house to put up your hammock, the columns seem a little short?

[Deck Ape]

Hammock? MMMMmm... get back to you on that.

Worried more about whether I will ever get some walls or a roof. Here is this afternoon's pic. The blocks are stacked nicely. Yeah, that's the ticket. I HAVE A VERY CLEAN, ORDERLY WORKSITE. Very quiet, too. A little quieter than I expected.

[jandajoy]

Very good Deck, and entertaining

[Sir Burr]

Looks like you are going to have a massive garden.
What are you plans for it?

Would love to see a thread on that.

[SEA Traveler]

Beginning to take shape and looking good Khun Deck Ape (DA). I know you will be keeping a close eye on the efforts.

Don't hesitate to ask the contractor lots of questions as to what he is doing and why this and why that because invaribly, he will be thinking onw thing and you will be thinking another. Way too much gets lost in the translation so it does not hurt to always keep the commo line open.

Keep up the good work. We are all rooting for your construction project to be successful in every way.

Ciao!

[Deck Ape]

Gents,

Thanks for your input. Khun Burr, if you should like to know, my wife is Isaan. The garden (whatever it shall be) is up to her and is an excellent excuse for my beloved mother in law to visit-- whenever she wants.

Khun Sea traveler your words do not fall on deaf ears. Yes I do communicate regularly with Na Nai, our contractor. Unfortunately, my slothfulness and poor planning (I know you gave me credit in this area) create "situations".

Case in point. Well honestly if I posted what I am about to do tomorrow (which is one day overdue the first "blocking" day) you might not believe me . Needless to say certain blocks intended for certain areas will be returned to the homestore. Certain blocks will be ordered for delivery posthaste. And the blocks for the exterior should suit my interior rather well. Clue?? Should have a few hundy left over for the doghouse.

Still trying to nail down all those pesky window and door placements, too.

In any event. Once it gets going, rest of the build is pretty straightforward. Single course of Q-Con in and out. Cement headers (prolly a little rebar) and so on. It IS all small stuff- the only hard part is (obviously) when you f##k it up at this stage of the game it literally is set in stone. I'm off- better wake up early!!!

[ataloss]

[quote=Loy Toy;723594][quote=RPETER65;723531]

The solar panels that you can see for water heating only and the results are fantastic.
Have 6 people showering twice a day, laundrey and kitchen use and never run out of boiling hot water (you could almost boil an egg int it).Done away with all of those ugly dedicated hot water units that continously break down and overload.Never could fault these units which for a house of that size costs around 150,000.00 Baht including instalation, with all the copper piping and a back up heater (which we have never had to switch on).Highly recommended.

These are available at Global house for 35,000 to 45,000B for the larger unit. Good quality. Prices seem to have dropped considerably, so now I am considering one. Cheers

[Deck Ape]

Here's a quick look at the plans. Very simple, one story house. 1.3 m eaves and ceiling height of 3.5m. I know two master bedrooms means a trip through the kids room, but that could be changed easily. Third room should be my office. Walk in closets. And so on..... Definetly didn't try to re invent the wheel.

[Deck Ape]

Another superblock in the wall!!

Due to some drunken decision making last night the small red blocks in the foreground will go back to the supply store. The 15cm Qcon will make the interior walls, and I anxiously await the delivery of the 20cms for exterior walls. Painful decision, as the bigger blocks will "eat" more interior space.

View of my office, with back porch aka laundry room off to the right.

[Sir Burr]

Gents,
Thanks for your input. Khun Burr, if you should like to know, my wife is Isaan. The garden (whatever it shall be) is up to her and is an excellent excuse for my beloved mother in law to visit-- whenever she wants.

Bugger.
That means no flowers, all fruit trees and vegetables.

[Deck Ape]

Yeah Khun Burr You're mostly right.

Lemon trees? Were mentioned initially. She's got a real yen for artichokes, too. We also bought about 200 talang wa in front of the wall. Really want a bunch of banana plants in there.

The rest of the land's for a garage+ driveway, swingset etc. I'm still young yet, a lot of building years left in me. Scaled back the house plans as they developed, and hope to make a little office/ doomsday shelter around back. Real alternative construction- soil cement, adobe, dugout shelter whatever.

[Loombucket]

Nice one Deck Ape, youre project looks a good one. Best of luck with everything.