Thread: DrAndy's Wife's New Project in the old city

C'mon Andy wheres the Pics or have the builders downed tools for a funeral

Cheap rentals (slum lords) always outperform expensive rentals, A million dollar house doesnt even pay the interest on the loan. Herein Florida, been buying
20k-30k houses which are giving me a 22%-33% return on my investment.
What is a 30% return on 1000,000 house , that is 25,000 month, only 5mil houses in calif or coast get 25k mer month. Buy used bargains for sure, Yes and buy worst house in good neighbor hood too (51 yrs experience)

Coming along very nicely, and quickly.

Originally Posted by Sailing into trouble

Looks exciting, to do as long as you know how many bits of wall are needed to keep the roof up :-)

I have read lots of comments regarding "why do Thai's use posts and beams rather than supporting walls?" the answer is " it doesn't matter what walls you knock out".
If you had to worry about which walls were supporting the roof or floor above this would be a totally different renovation, it is quite simple when you don't need to worry as long as you don't take a post or beam.

In my opinion the hardest part would be being able to see what could be created out of a the original dump. Well done DrA. I hope you never make too much money so that you never stop doing this type of thing, which of course means keeping us entertained with the threads on your projects.

Originally Posted by Sailing into trouble

This is not a quick reno and resell job is it.

no, it is a buy-to-rent project; my wife likes money coming in and capital appreciation is a bonus

Originally Posted by ootai

I have read lots of comments regarding "why do Thai's use posts and beams rather than supporting walls?" the answer is " it doesn't matter what walls you knock out".

exactly, none of the walls are load bearing, it is all supported by the posts and beams

a very simple structural concept, not the most elegant but practical

and thanks Ootai, Davis et al for your kind comments; what we try to create is something we would be happy to live in, the style reflecting our taste to an extent

Originally Posted by DrAndy

what we try to create is something we would be happy to live in, the style reflecting our taste to an extent

That being the case this thread is going to just get better and better.

Andy, we hear and see so many horror stories about people being accidentally electrocuted, how do you make sure the electrical install is good and safe. Do you have a tried and trusted electrician?

The builder is using his electrician in this project

I will go around the house with a wet finger to test the work later

cheers Nigel; that Qcon stuff is much easier and faster to work with, and very easy to cut exactly

Health and Safety? how does that work? special flip-flops? a wooly hat stuffed with styrofoam?

so, they have started building the roofs for the new rooms

this is the upstairs kitchen




another view of the same, just painting it rusty




This will be the upstairs main bedroom at the front of the house

you can see, more or less, where the roof will be (using the existing rear support)




and the first signs of a kitchen - we have had the kitchen cabinet doors delivered today so they can be fitted exactly in place

Hi, Dr.A as you are building in the centre on town, knocking down and building up around close to other houses, did you need permission for this? How have the neighbours been?
Are there any restrictions building back up?

Thanks looking good.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Qcon stuff is much easier and faster to work with

You use the 'special Qcon glue' ?

Bloody strong stuff and hard to remove from where not "needed"

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

Hi, Dr.A as you are building in the centre on town, knocking down and building up around close to other houses, did you need permission for this? How have the neighbours been?
Are there any restrictions building back up?

Thanks looking good.

This is a renovation so no planning regs apply; it is sometimes a good idea to get a bit of paper from the local gov. approving your works, esp if the neighbours are a pain

we have been lucky in that most of them are out during the day when the noise is going on, so no complaints...so far

Originally Posted by helge

You use the 'special Qcon glue' ?

not me, but they might

I would have done a bit more cleanup on the walls before erecting any cabinets. It's your place but I think the paint would stick better than going over all that mold.

yes, Elim, that will be the painter's job; he uses some special algae killer first

mind you, I get the point it would be easier to do before any cabinets are put in place

so, here is the basic roof structure completed for the front bedroom



these are the kitchen cabinet door sets, nice old teak

I will give them some teak oil when in place






The new build! this will be the side entrance for the upstairs flat. There will be the main door where the guy is, then you come into the lobby, through the arch and up the stairs

At this end there will be a door leading to a small patio



This is the kitchen roof at the back - the first tile goes up

I know this is not really the most exciting part of the project, but it is progress

here is a pic of the front upstairs bedroom, roofed and being blocked in

of course, we specified QCon, and there were lots stacked, but the worker used normal blocks as the boss was away for the morning....sigh, never mind




The side entrance is roofed



Some outside plumbing excitement





The upstairs kitchen is roofed. The best part of the roof is that, for the bank, is stage one. We were sitting in the cafe at the end of the soi when a nice big SUV pulled in, out jumped the woman from the bank, took 2 pictures, jumped back in and off they went. They charge B800 for that check, and they missed the kitchen roof! Anyway, they will put some money in the bank tomorrow, as promised




The upstairs bedroom from inside, and our favourite woman worker





The existing roof is interesting in that they used cement tiles to the front and cement board tiles to the rear; I suppose that made the houses look posher when they were originally viewed






The old upstairs bathroom; this has a cement fillet running around. We will just infill and get a nice flat floor, then tile. It will make a small step UP into the bathroom but you have to make some compromises!

What's the green pipe for ?

Originally Posted by DrAndy

It will make a small step UP into the bathroom but you have to make some compromises!

Make a sign. I broke a toe on a bathroom fitting like that. Its not natural.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

What's the green pipe for ?

hot water; we will have a multipoint water heater feeding the bathroom sink, shower and the kitchen sink

Originally Posted by aging one

Make a sign. I broke a toe on a bathroom fitting like that. Its not natural.

oh dear

I made a sign just now (crossed fingers behind my back)

anyway, I bet you only did it once!