Thread: Newbie Build in Chiang Mai (Don Kaew)

Thanks for the suggestion Dr. A. The whole house will be about 190 s. m., but once the carport is subtracted, that leaves very little space on the 1st floor (maybe 50 s.m. ) to put in a living and dining area, western kitchen, a powder room (1/2 bath), and a laundry room (for washing, ironing, and hanging clothes @ GF's request). There will be a small Thai kitchen in back near the Thai kitchen and laundry room. On the left side will be mostly window walls and French doors to a future patio. The 2 car carport will be on the right. I would like to have 2 m. eaves overhang all around.

I will be back in CM before the 1st of October and will be looking for a quality builder who can speak English. Building a 2 storey house in Don Kaeo - about 190 s.m. @ around 13k baht (+/-). I will buy fixtures later myself. I am in no rush, but would definitely like to start before the end of the year. Any suggestions or referrals will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by BKKKevin

How much did you pay for the land?... Were there significant discounts for the Feng Shui & Ghosts issues?

One assumes a few well placed mirrors and a properly designed Spirit House and you are good to go right?...

The 118 t.w. land is a bit less than B1.6m, including taxes, etc., and there is water, sewer, and electric at the site. It is within a small, gated community close to the Ping River.

I can surely do some Feng Shui countermeasures, but those 6 spirit houses at Suvarnabhumi Airport did not protect the Thai Airways flight, so I don't have as much faith in them as the airport director seems to have. :P

Building doesn't have to be a headache but you do need to do some research. I can help direct you if you want. Send me a PM

Dr. Andy, would you please send me a PM, as I am unable to do it. Thanks!

I am back in CM and we will settle on the land in a couple weeks. Then it's on to the task of finding a quality builder (and architect).

Thanks to Dr. Andy and his lovely wife for having lunch and inviting me to check out their house in CM. Quite amazing really: Has a lot of character, something not usually found in a new house. Great central location plus splendid views of Doi Suthep from the top deck (complete with [non]-lap pool! Impressive build; congratulations to you both.

My pleasure Dr. Andy; and right you are. I'm in the process of speaking with several farangs and Thais about their builds, will draw up some sketches, and will get with a couple architects to see who I want to use. Thanks again.

Hope you have a good camera, looking forward to this build.

Thanks dead metal. I guess I have a decent enough camera. Just have to remember how to upload the pics once I take them.

Originally Posted by terp80

Thanks dead metal. I guess I have a decent enough camera. Just have to remember how to upload the pics once I take them.

The photos have to put somewhere on the internet. You can't link them from your computer.

Just set up an account over on photobucket. Then it's easy to just copy them over to here.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

We settled on the land this past week. She has the chanote title, and I have a [lifetime] usufruct. Now I am talking to various architects and to people re builders. Will probably make a decision on the architect first and then on the builder, but we'll see.

Originally Posted by terp80

Thanks Steve.

We settled on the land this past week. She has the chanote title, and I have a [lifetime] usufruct. Now I am talking to various architects and to people re builders. Will probably make a decision on the architect first and then on the builder, but we'll see.

Do you really need an architect?

I do. I want one who has built to "farang standards" (f/s) in the CM area. The builder needs to speak English or needs to have built to f/s in this area - so that I can actually see their work.

OK. Have finally retained an architect who can speak English, and we are starting to develop the plans. There is also an estimate in the works to build a concrete/block wall below the existing back (north) wall where dirt has been slowly eroded out when the "khlong" (really a culvert) gets high when it rains heavily in the mountains. The erosion has taken away the two cement markers at the wall, so the northwestern and northeastern corners are approximate. Obviously, at some point I have to get the Land Office out there to actually survey it.

Below is a photo of the outside of the north wall, showing the erosion underneath. I do not know the depth or size of the base of the columns. Plus, I am not sure if the erosion was from the ground on my land down to the "khlong" or if it was from periods of high water in the "khlong." The "khlong" is actually a stream or creek which originates in the mountains to the west. Currently, it is only a few inches deep.

[Test]

The ground level on the other side is about at the top of the first course of blocks. It will probably be about another block higher after all the building and landscaping is completed. Right now, you can look directly down into the "khlong" along most of that back (north) wall. Some areas of that back wall have had no erosion problems. The wall has been in place for maybe 10+ years. The wall is still vertical along its length.

My question is: What would be the best way to remedy this situation without spending my house-build budget. BTW, this area was covered up by yard debris so that there was no problem visible at the time we walked the property. I discovered it after I had put my deposit down. The property owner (a BKK company) refused to do any remedial work, and since I like everything else about the land, it's down to me. There is no access to the "khlong" from the other side, as there are older Thai houses all along it. There is no rush to do anything, but I think something should be done. Any suggestions for the cheapest method to do an adequate fix?

No suggestions? Maybe I should have said what I did, then I would probably get lots of people telling me I did it wrong. Well OK then: I'm going to build a base of rebar and concrete and put blocks up to the current base. Backfill with some pebbles and a little top soil on top. Plus a few blue pipes through the blocks to drain ground water into the "khlong."

Sounds like a fair plan...

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Sounds like a fair plan...

Thanks BB. I'm thinking that the existing ground on my side is stable enough, as it is not fill and has been there for at least 10 years and maybe much more.