My Traditional Thai House Too

[maraudingscot]

Cool, I have been following some of these builds on here, as it will come my turn in the future.

Anyway as I posted on one of the other threads I like these traditional style houses made of wood. They say Teak is good but not the best to build, I did read somewhere that there are a couple of other woods that are better than teak, but I must say I failed to ear mark the site

WIll have to search again!

Anyway will watch this build with great interest, as it is along the lines that I am planning to go, not sure tuther half will agree.

[DrAndy]

I like it. I wish I could convince my better half to build wood.

she wears the trousers?

[Twocam]

We've just had a few days holiday in Chiang Rai and spent some of it in the second-hand wood yards around the traps. The north has a greater choice of recycled wood & house components, and far better quality than we have found in the dealers around our area of Isaan (east of Nong Khai). THe only downside for us is that it's mostly teak - we're building in mai-daeng and pradoo. Plus I imagine there are issues transporting it from province to province. But if we were to build again and didn't have enough wood of our own I'd look at sourcing recycled stock from the North if at all possible.

[bifftastic]

We've just had a few days holiday in Chiang Rai and spent some of it in the second-hand wood yards around the traps. The north has a greater choice of recycled wood & house components, and far better quality than we have found in the dealers around our area of Isaan (east of Nong Khai). THe only downside for us is that it's mostly teak - we're building in mai-daeng and pradoo. Plus I imagine there are issues transporting it from province to province. But if we were to build again and didn't have enough wood of our own I'd look at sourcing recycled stock from the North if at all possible.

Hi there, new to TD but very interested in this thread. Where are the second hand wood yards in Chiang Rai you visited? Any up near Chiang Saen by any chance?

[SiamRick]

Love this thread. Wanted to know if you could post bigger, higher resolution pictures? This project, with its beautiful wood, cries out for sharp pictures! Thanks.

[Twocam]

Hey Biff, the two main ones were on the road out of C.Rai if you are headed to C.Saen. Just past the airport turnoff there is one on the left of the road, they have mostly doors and windows and a small selection of 'sao' posts and boards. A bit further out of C.Rai on the other side of the road is a much larger yard which has everything you would need, mostly in original condition, but they will clean/patch wood for you before delivery.

SiamRick sorry bout the photos, most are taken on a phone so not great quality.

Today's update is that the roof tiles are on, with a final bit of cosmetic work due tomorrow. Then Monday they start on the walls.

[Twocam]

Well things are moving along slowly - we now have the tiling done, floors down and the windows and doors are being delivered next week. We chose 80 year old doors at a secondhand-wood shop in Udon and had them finished. We also got them to make the windows from old wood from their shop.

[jandajoy]

Plus I imagine there are issues transporting it from province to province.

BIG bloody issues, mate.

[maraudingscot]

Plus I imagine there are issues transporting it from province to province.

BIG bloody issues, mate.

So its a late night truck taking back roads, and a wad of money in hand incase of stops!!!

Just got to be careful not to run into the other trucks doing the same thing.


Not that, I hasten to add, That I would ever do such a thing at all! nope not me never ever ok?

[bobbysan124]

Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks.

[lozillionaire]

Looks great so far; I look forward to ongoing posts.

[DrAndy]

Teak is good but not the best to build, I did read somewhere that there are a couple of other woods that are better than teak

for the roof timbers maybe, but teak is best overall

The north has a greater choice of recycled wood & house components, and far better quality than we have found in the dealers around our area of Isaan (east of Nong Khai). THe only downside for us is that it's mostly teak - we're building in mai-daeng and pradoo.

true, the woodyards tend to have mainly teak secondhand, but you can buy an old house in other woods quite cheaply

With a mixture of 40year old wood and some of our own younger wood seasoned for 2 years we hope it will stay that way.

it will shrink whatever you use!! we have small gaps between our floorboards even though it was ancient wood

they came out rather well I think, if a bit more expensive than we budgeted at 3000 baht per set

they look nice. Is that price including the frame? why didn't you use secondhand as you did the doors? prob about B1500 incl frames

[benlovesnuk]

I like the roof, could you please explain what materials you used for tiles and also your end gables?

[highlander]

"With a mixture of 40year old wood and some of our own younger wood seasoned for 2 years we hope it will stay that way.
it will shrink whatever you use!! we have small gaps between our floorboards even though it was ancient wood "

this probably sounds silly or at least naieve but why are the boards only ever butted together and never the tongue and groove method used,

regards scotty

[DrAndy]

not a silly question. They can be tongued and grooved if you want. It just uses quite a lot of extra wood (unless you have wide planks) and the carpenter also charges quite a lot extra

so it is down to cost, and is it worthwhile

[Twocam]

We considered tongue and groove. But it is essentially a budget built holiday house and a tad too close to budget overrun for my liking.

Dr Andy couldn't find any good solid windows locally. Most of the wood shops don't keep much stock & good stuff goes straight to Bangkok.

Ben - the roof frame is all metal, rust-proofed and painted a red/brown colour. Roof tiles are traditional terracotta "kabuang kroc". The builders laid the roof tiles, then along the edges put down PowerSeal tape covered with chicken wire & then cement. Cement painted the same colour as the metal after it dried. I'll post a pic if I can find one.

[Twocam]

Here you can see the process of edging the roof tiles.

[Wallalai]

The small tiles looks very good. The front view as well, very nice.

[shunpike]

Roof looks great, nice.

[jandajoy]

Twocam,

Can I ask you what the roof materials cost?

That's a really nice look. Congratulations.

[nevets]

I think its absolutely wonderful thanks for taking the trouble to do the thread .

[Twocam]

Here you can see one of the builders working on the end gables. The two reddish-brown metal beams running horizantally beneath him not only support the roof but also form the ventilation gap which will run around the top of all 4 walls. Yet to decide how to enclose the space, but probably use lattice lined with mesh to keep out the mossies.

[Twocam]

Putting up the supports so the roof ends can be closed in. We tried to get the builder to put in triangular shaped ventilation gaps in each end but he thinks the gaps around the top of all 4 walls will be sufficient. He was insistent that ventilation gaps in the ends of the roof might make it sail away in a high wind!

[Twocam]

Thai partner tells me we are nearing completion, with windows in place and the walls on their way to being finished. Steps are made - I asked for "extra wide" so I can sit on them confortably to drink my morning cup of tea! Next is concrete and terracotta tiling downstairs and then to hang my hammock Visiting mid-June when child's school breaks for the summer. More pics then & final budget tally. Think we are running over by about 100K (700k versus 600k initial estimate put together this time last year).

[Twocam]

Noticed another thread talking about wood filler - here's what our floorboards looked like when first filled with the glue/sawdust mixture.