The construction of Ms. Buad hai's house

[breezer1]

Now I've been with Ms. B nearly four years. In that time I've never, ever seen her get angry or display any sort of displeasure for more than a second or two.

Until yesterday when she saw this:





WTF is this guy thinking? What a god awful mess. Why pour a big slab when the kitchen counter is going to be a nice thick hunk of granite? Why use 1/8" veneer plywood to make a form for concrete? (Ever heard of Plyform?)

Anyway, all through dinner last night Ms. B's jaw was clinched in anger her hands shaking with fury. She called "Khun Chang" and told him to do no more work until she talks to him more. She's taking a half day off to meet with him this afternoon.

I'd say the first step involves a sledge hammer.

Of course, I went over to the house before her and solved the problem in the usual manner: lots and lots of Beer Chang.

That has got to be the worst piece of building i have ever seen in my life .

[kingwilly]

excuse my ignorance, but wot wrong wiv it?

[breezer1]

excuse my ignorance, but wot wrong wiv it?

Kw do you wear glasses ? if you dont then you need to

[kingwilly]

serious question.

[buad hai]

The bricklaying sucks. The forms sag. There wasn't supposed to be a slab on the countertop at all. He was supposed to pour concrete on the floor so the cabinet bottoms would be level with the door. As Breezer said, I've never seen work so poor.

Oddly, we hired this guy because he built the kitchen at one of the restaurants we frequent. It's very nice. And, the owner of the restaurant hired him again to do work at her home. We saw that work in progress. Again, very nice.

I guess he decided to use our kitchen to regain his amateur status....

[kingwilly]

ok. i still dont really unnertand, but dat ok.

[buad hai]

^So, you think it looks OK?!?

[kingwilly]

as i said i dont really unnerstand. but i believe yers when u say it no good.

[DrAndy]

I can see KWs point

that is work in progress; after the brickwork is rendered it will work fine. The slab will support your granite, so that will be nice and strong

it is only the basic structure

[buad hai]

I hope you're right Dr. Andy. Perhaps I should tell Ms. B to stay home until it's done.

As for the slab, maybe he figured we were going to be butchering pigs with meat cleavers and pounding up a huge mess of som tam on a daily basis.

[buad hai]

I just spoke to Ms. B on the phone and told her that both DrAndy and kingwillyhggtb (I hope I pronounced that right) approve of the kitchen work so far so she's going to call Khun Chang and tell him to continue on.

More later.

[Marmite the Dog]

I just spoke to Ms. B on the phone and told her that both DrAndy and kingwillyhggtb (I hope I pronounced that right) approve of the kitchen work so far so she's going to call Khun Chang and tell him to continue on.

Wow! The power of TD!

[dirtydog]

excuse my ignorance, but wot wrong wiv it?

Got to agree with KW, I cant see what you think is wrong with it, ok if the floor is going to be raised it would have been easier to do that first, but then there would be wasted wood for making that form, most customers start whinging when the price is too expensive, so the guy has done it the normal cheapest way to be able to be competitive on price, as for the slab, any less than 8 to 10cms and it would just collapse in on itself.

[buad hai]

^Thanks for weighing in. I'll let Ms. B know that all is well....

[Thetyim]

I guess she is angry at the mess.

You might have some dirty grouting when they have finished

[buad hai]

I guess she is angry at the mess.

That may be part of it. But she was really angry that he didn't follow instructions. It appears they have now made a face-saving deal.

We'll see how it goes.

[breezer1]

The brickwork is not straight and when rendered will look worse , are units going in this brickwork ? i will take even money they dont fit . these guys are not builders this work is terrible .

Will be interesting to see how it pans out .

Good luck breezer

[Gerbil]

Looks ok to me as well.

No point doing perfectly straight brickwork if you're going to render it off anyway.

[buad hai]

are units going in this brickwork

Yep, they are. Face-frame cabinet doors and drawer units. I measured. They'll fit if they don't screw up the rendering too much.

No point doing perfectly straight brickwork if you're going to render it off anyway.

Other than pride of craftsmanship, you mean?

[Gerbil]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gerbil No point doing perfectly straight brickwork if you're going to render it off anyway. Other than pride of craftsmanship, you mean?

I don't think you'll find guys on 150 baht a day regard themselves as 'craftsmen' really.

[dirtydog]

The bricks aint straight anyway so your fighting a losing battle to lay them straight, plus the render hides that anyway so is pretty irelevant,

The cupboard door frames will be fitted first, probably with the doors still in and then the rendering will be done.

[breezer1]

Well i am glad i will not be there to see this type of work being done when we start our house , i will have the sledge hammer ready .

Breezer

[dirtydog]

The brickwork is not straight and when rendered will look worse

No when rendered will look better.

are units going in this brickwork ? i will take even money they dont fit

Obviously you haven't done this type of thing before.

[buad hai]

I don't think you'll find guys on 150 baht a day regard themselves as 'craftsmen' really.

Three people. Four or five days work. 6000 baht. That's a bit better than 150 baht per day.

[Gerbil]

^ Except the boss will take the biggest chunk of course.