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  1. #1
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    The House that Jan Built

    This will be another thread on the building a house in Issan and I’ll update the thread as the events and problems occur.

    It has always been the dream of my girlfriend, Jan, to own a Baan Thai like her grandfather had when she was a young girl. So when a plot came on the market in the same Soi as her mother’s house she grabbed it. The plot is about 640m2 and at the time had three small houses on it, so it should be plenty big enough for a house and garden.




    Jan is an industrious girl who has a shop selling agricultural supplies in Phiboon Rak outside Udon Thani. She looked at various wooden houses that are built to order, but they were expensive and as her boyfriend is a farang, she decided to have a Farang style Baan Thai. That is a Thai style house but with a concrete frame and ground floor and wooden first floor and Thai roof.

    The design found on a Thai Government site seemed to fit the bill, except there were slight changes in room arrangement and height/style of the roof.

    An artist impression and the elevation drawings.





    The builder (known as “the Engineer”) is a friend of the family who worked in Pattaya building houses for Farangs, so hopefully understands the quality expected. After weeks of negotiations and discussions on amounts to include for the wood, floor tiles, windows, roof tiles, etc. a price was agreed and a contract signed. Now this really surprised me, as the contract included specifications, a schedule and delay penalties if he is late!

    I will not give the price agreed for construction here as Jan wants it kept confidential between her and the Engineer, but I must say it is very reasonable and I will be surprised if he can complete for the agreed amount.

    As soon as the contract was signed, truck loads of fill arrived and work started on the all important fence.





    The house construction had to wait until February 18th which was the date deemed to be the most auspicious by Dad, so this was the day the first column was erected and the monks came to do the necessary.





    We are now two weeks into construction and columns are up and the first floor beams should be concreted in the coming days.

    Whilst the initial construction works is going on, we are searching for decent quality timber windows and doors.

    I'll continue in a few days.

    Cheers

  2. #2
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    good2bhappy's Avatar
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    nice artist impression
    160 talang wa sounds great

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat jandajoy's Avatar
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    Good stuff. I look forward to the updates. Good luck.

  4. #4
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    nice pics will follow the tread

  5. #5
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    aging one's Avatar
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    looks like something to keep tuned into. For you now the fun really begins. Best of luck.

  6. #6
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    Good stuff. Love these threads.

    good luck with it all.

  7. #7
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nelly
    at the time had three small houses on it
    If there is any be sure to keep the wood from the small houses. Could come in very handy in the new house.

  8. #8
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    Never seen monks at the start of a house build,normally they come at the house moving in party to scare the ghosts off or was they just passing.

  9. #9
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by boloa
    Never seen monks at the start of a house build
    Common in Isaan. Once the footing holes are dug, monk show up. The owner and family throw coins and gold leaf into the footing holes to ensure prosperity. Guess they figure a money tree might sprout.

  10. #10
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    Well I've lived in Surin ( 5 years )and Koh Samui ( 3 years ) and have never seen monks at the start of a build and I've been to laods (I love a free beer ) ,normally just an old man from the village. But wedding normally just have an old man too locally, but I have been to a few weddings that have had monks in other provinces .Must be different in different provinces.

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by boloa
    Well I've lived in Surin ( 5 years )and Koh Samui ( 3 years ) and have never seen monks at the start of a build and I've been to laods
    You can learn more about Braham First Post Ceremonies (Braham 1st post ceremony) on this forum.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton
    Guess they figure a money tree might sprout.
    Just my luck a Stang tree...


    Great start, can't wait to see how the home develops.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtydog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by boloa
    Well I've lived in Surin ( 5 years )and Koh Samui ( 3 years ) and have never seen monks at the start of a build and I've been to laods
    You can learn more about Braham First Post Ceremonies (Braham 1st post ceremony) on this forum.
    Can't see any monk's ,just an old man ( priest )

  14. #14
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    ^Oh! Feck off, why not just enjoy the post and don't get hung up on monks or no monks

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carnwadrick View Post
    ^Oh! Feck off, why not just enjoy the post and don't get hung up on monks or no monks





    Ah to monk or not to monk that is the question!!


    Cool and new thread on a build. and a combination of concrete and wood. cool!


    could this be the solution to appease the Thai trying to please and become more farang and the Farang wanting a traditional house!

    Ok I'm ready to sit back and watch with great interest.


  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by good2bhappy View Post
    160 talang wa sounds great
    so whats that in acreage!! ok yes I am being lazy and cannot be bothered to get calculator and conversion chart out.

  17. #17
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    maraudingscot
    400 talang wa = 1 rai = 1600sqm.

    160 talang wa = 0.4 rai = 640sqm

    640sqm = 0.1581 acre (had to use an online calculator for this step )



    Nelly
    Looks very good, will be interesting to watch it progress to completion. I don't know about anyone else, but I like to hear the stories behind the pictures. Are you there watching it or getting updates sent to you?? I know you said it was the GF's house, so it sounds like from what you've said so far that she'll be keeping a watchful eye on everything.

    Cheers

  18. #18
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    I like the architectural drawings, it looks real promising. I will keep an eye out for updates to this thread as eventually I plan a build in the North. One quick question; I notice most of the time the first thing to be built is the wall. Is that to protect the site and materials or to keep kids out? It seems to me a wall could get in the of the construction process.
    Life is a state of mind.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carnwadrick View Post
    ^Oh! Feck off, why not just enjoy the post and don't get hung up on monks or no monks
    I love these building treads too,can't wait to see it finished, and what a great location too,nice view's

  20. #20
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    I hope your Builders where faster then you ..... Nice start but I would like to see some progress too. Maybe I am just impatient.

    Anyway, thanks for taking the time and post this thread

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat jandajoy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cenovis
    Maybe I am just impatient.
    Hmmmm

  22. #22
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    good start, looking forward to the thread!

  23. #23
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    Okay, I've just made a nice cup of tea, and some toast. Looking forward to this one, bring it on.
    Good luck, I hope all goes well.

  24. #24
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    Thanks for the constructive comments, its good to see that others are interested in seeing how a house develops in NE Thailand.


    Construction of the house been going for two weeks now and they are making amazing progress. I think this is partly due to Jan taking a bottle of whisky to the workers each day and occasionally treating them to the best Som Tum in the village.

    The contract states the work will be complete in 7 months, and at the current rate I’m sure they will easily achieve that. But maybe the Engineer is pushing ahead with the concrete works as the second instalment is due when the erection of the roof frame starts. With the second instalment, he will have received 60% and in theory this should allow him to buy the roof tiles and timber.

    To date they have laid the ground floor slab, built the columns to the first floor and completed the first floor beams. At the same time they are building in the plumbing pipes. Over the next few days they will concrete the first floor slab. I have been impressed at the way the house is being built - using steel forms, high tensile steel, proper support props and ready mixed concrete. All they need is hard hats and safety boots (and maybe some proper ladders) and the site would look like it does in the west!

    Here are a few photos taken over the past two weeks.









    We are trying to finalise selection of the wood for the first floor and it appears there are three possible types: Ta-Bag, Pa-Du and Ma-Ka. All this is double Dutch to me but I am sure it is meaningful to some of you who live in Issan. Anyway, at the moment it is keeping Jan and the Engineer occupied in discussing the various sources and prices of the different types available. I know he is off to Sukotai to see what is available there.

    The second floor slab should be in place in a day or two and then just the columns and beams before the roof framing starts. Hahaha then Jan will see what a enormous house she house is building.

    Stay tuned as the house grows.

    Cheers,

    Nelly

  25. #25
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    nice pics a green is sent look forward to the next pics

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