Thread: Buying a village house to move to our land

We have been exploring various options for constructing a weekend cottage (on a budget) on our property in Lampang.



Looked at knock-down houses which seem pricey for what you get. We were just offered this one bedroom typical village house for 45,000 baht. Can probably get it a bit cheaper. It is just up the road, so transporting would be easy enough. It is built from hardwood - mai-taeng I think. The wood appears sound, without insect damage. Wondering what you all think of the price?







Our property already has a concrete foundation from a wood house that burned down before we bought the land. You can just see it in the upper right of this photo. It is just the right size for this house. Haven't decided whether I would raise the house just a meter for a breezway underneath, or go for headroom and build a workshop and kitchen downstairs. Probably the latter.



I don't care for the red stain. Any suggestions for removing it, short of a whole lot of sanding?

Was also thinking of laying a plywood or MDF subfloor before relaying the hardwood planks. Wondering which would be more resistant to insects - which are a serious problem in this area.

Appreciate you thoughts and suggestions.

Originally Posted by wimpy

Was also thinking of laying a plywood or MDF subfloor before relaying the hardwood planks. Wondering which would be more resistant to insects - which are a serious problem in this area.

Insects love that man-made stuff, must be the glue!

why would you need the sub-floor anyway?

if you are really worried about insects, get them to paint each plank in anti-insect stuff before using; it costs a bit more but may be worth it

normally termites can be spotted in that type of house as they make little tunnels up to the house and can be destroyed

Just thought it would make the floor stiffer and help keep the creepy crawlers out. Also, I don't like seeing daylight through when the planks start expanding and contracting.

There are guys coming by all the time offering to get us big teak or mai-daeng posts for a couple thousand each. Think they would have to be delivered at night. I am hesitant because the house that burned had wood posts, and they were riddled with termite damage.

Sounds a good price to me mate. My wife wants to buy a completed wooden house from a company in Pack to chai who specialize in such houses, the cheapest with then is 200,000 baht

My wife and her family bought (i paid) and dismantled a large wooden house some 20 kms away from their village for around the 200,000 baht mark. Can't recall the exact amount as it was over 7 years back.

We had a 4 bedroomed house built from the wood (mostly upper storey, huge wooden columns and real quality) and have had no problems since.

45,000 baht sounds a good price from what you have posted.

Originally Posted by wimpy

I am hesitant because the house that burned had wood posts, and they were riddled with termite damage.

not teak then

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by wimpy

I am hesitant because the house that burned had wood posts, and they were riddled with termite damage.

not teak then

I think probably mai-taeng. Hard as. They were set in concrete. The little bastards came up through the concrete and hollowed out the posts.

How about having concrete posts with wood cladding ?
Looks better than bare concrete posts.

Was thinking of doing the same and also found knockdowns way over the top.
This very small thing for 280, 000 !!




45,000 seems a pretty good price though compared to some I have seen up for sale on the following web site.

www.ddproperty.com

160,000 for this :






or 65,000 for this




Nice looking plot of land you have there wimpy. Far from the maddening crowds.

Originally Posted by wimpy

I think probably mai-taeng. Hard as. They were set in concrete

big mistake, the water gets in there and stays, then that attracts the termites

wooden posts should be set on top of any concrete post and held with a clamp and bolt

Originally Posted by wimpy

Wondering what you all think of the price?

If you haven't bought it already let me know , I'll buy it now sight unseen .

Mid is correct its a steal. Only possible thing would be the insects. So give a down you dont mind losing and say you will pay after 4 hours work the first day cash. Then you will know. Great deal. Wood is astronomical in price now. Plus its in the same province as has been mentioned.

45k seems about right (for Isaan anyway).

We looked into buying an old place like that, but realised we'd end up replacing most of it, so we're doing it a different way instead. S'ok if it's only a weekend get-away though.

Price should work ok, if the tear down crew takes care and doesn't tear up more than they can save to rebuild with. Its looks like it has had some add on from the original build. This may be different wood, thus the stain. As mentioned cement with wooden support bolted on works good. We did what your proposing and ended up putting new roof frame and panels due to damage on tear down and it was brittle from age.
good luck, appears to be a nice size for intended use.

Remember to soak it before you dismantle it.

^ why soak it?

Originally Posted by Borey the Bald

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by wimpy

I am hesitant because the house that burned had wood posts, and they were riddled with termite damage.

not teak then

Mai-taeng (Shorea obtusa) is actually stronger and more durable than teak. Because of its high oil content, it resists painting and treatment with preservatives. Should virtually last forever if kept up off the ground.

I had to look up mai-taeng. Never heard of it by that name up in Isaan. This is from Wikipedia:


This tree is known in the Thai language as เต็ง (teng), as ngae (แงะ) in the north and as จิก (chik) in Isaan. In Khmer it is known as ประจั๊ต (pra-chat) or ประเจิ๊ก (pra-choek) in the Surin and Buri Ram areas.

It's known commercially as "Taengwood Balau".


It's the provincial tree of Udon Thani.

Thanks for the info. Always wondered about Mai Taeng (Teng). I thought it looked similar to what is marketed as Philippine Mahogany in the US.

Originally Posted by Carnwadrick

^ why soak it?

I think you have convinced me it should be bought. Will make a closer inspection on Monday. Cheers everyone.

Great looking plot. I agree, buy it.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

How about having concrete posts with wood cladding ?
Looks better than bare concrete posts.

That could work. I was also thinking dressing up the concrete posts by adding a layer of polished cement. Could mix in some pigment which might look ok. Maybe a bullnose at the footing.

It's a house for the price of a nice television- it looks like you have a nice spot- unless it's completely rotten or termite-infested, how can you go wrong?

^ I agree with FailSafe.