Thread: Newbie Build in Chiang Mai (Don Kaew)

Well, finally have the plans approved by the Or Bor Tor. House will be a bit larger and much more expensive than initially planned. Now about 205 sq. meters, plus a large patio and fish pond. The original house budget was 2.2 M baht, but now comes in at 2.8 M baht, less finished kitchen and some other stuff. So probably close to 3.1 M baht to complete. Unfortunately, I will now have to hit up my retirement fund to finish the house, but I realize I won't be happy with less of a house, now that it appears this will be my (our) permanent home. I'll have to rent my TH in the States too. I will post pics of the plans soon. The builder will be my architect. He speaks English well, understands what I want, has experience building for farangs, and did a great set of plans. All materials (and labor too) have gone up significantly in the last year in CM what with all the construction going on. Today the crew will lay out the lines on the land and we plan on the 1st post rite next week at some auspicious time.

Good stuff looking forward to your build and the pictures of it.

Thanks BKKBill. BTW, where are some other tutorials on uploading photos. I tried the main one, but couldn't upload because my photos needed to be resized smaller. I did that (at least went through the process), but I still couldn't make it work. It's been so long I forgot!! Thanks for any help!

Originally Posted by terp80

Thanks BKKBill. BTW, where are some other tutorials on uploading photos. I tried the main one, but couldn't upload because my photos needed to be resized smaller. I did that (at least went through the process), but I still couldn't make it work. It's been so long I forgot!! Thanks for any help!

You have already posted some good photos on the previous page .

But if you want some help ....... apparently my steps are not the speediest but I have only used this way and it works ........

Posting Photos .

..... I had this difficulty too and needed a dummies step by step guide .

So........ I use Photoshop to make my photos maybe 60kb and then ----

1. Put your photos into Photobucket .

2. Go to the Photobucket Library and find whichever photo you want to put into TD .

3. Double Left-Click in that photo and it will come up as a big photo .

3. Single Right-Click inside that large photo . It will give you several Options .
One of them is " Copy image URL " ............. Single Left-click on that .

4. Now go to Teakdoor . You'll be writing some message and at the top of the writing box find for the little Postcard . It's got a mountain and a stamp on it .

5. Single Left Click on that Postcard .
It will have " http:/ /" highlighted in blue . Press Delete so that goes away . And now press Ctrl V together . A string of text will appear there.

6. Press OK ...... and that's it .

In your message you won't see a photo . You'll just see a line of text . It's the URL for your photo . But when you finish your message and SUBMIT you'll then see your message and the photo .

Bettyboo taught me this .


Wasp

Bloody Nora, 6 pages and no pics yet... You trying to beat my record or what???

Originally Posted by Wasp

In your message you won't see a photo . You'll just see a line of text . It's the URL for your photo . But when you finish your message and SUBMIT you'll then see your message and the photo .

Bettyboo taught me this .


Wasp

If in doubt click Preview Post to check your picture then if all is good Submit reply

Originally Posted by terp80

Thanks BKKBill. BTW, where are some other tutorials on uploading photos. I tried the main one, but couldn't upload because my photos needed to be resized smaller. I did that (at least went through the process), but I still couldn't make it work. It's been so long I forgot!! Thanks for any help!

It's even easier than what Wasp suggested.

Step 1: Set up a photobucket account. You can even make a library of folders, maybe call one folder, "House_Chiang Mai" or something like that.

Step 2: Upload your photos to that specific folder. If you don't say the name of the folder, then Photobucket will load to your general folder or bucket (as they call it).

Step 3: Open that folder and admire all your little pictures. As you move your mouse over each one, you will see a little gear like symbol appear on the upper right hand corner of each photo.

Step 4: When that gear symbol appears, you will see 6 options. Select "Get Links" with your left mouse button. A box will drop down and you will see a series of options. Select IMG Codes line with your left mouse button. This will automatically copy the code and url that you need to post the picture.

Step 5: Come to your post on TeakDoor and wherever you want to post the picture, right click your mouse and select Paste or just push the buttons "CTRL" & "v" on your keyboard. Initially, you will see a bunch of gobblygook. But select "Preview Post" button below and you will see a preview of your post, including your picture. This way, you can be sure you are using the correct picture.

Step 6: Submit post and enjoy the adulation of fellow TD'ers in admiring your fine photography skills.

Here's a typical pic, from my photobucket account, as an example.




It's really quite easy.

Steve

Originally Posted by Wasp

You have already posted some good photos on the previous page .

BettyBoo, I forgot what I did before - after all it's been 3 months, and I am old. Wasp thanks for your help! I followed Stevefarang's steps, and I think they work easier. Thanks Stevefrang and BKKBill.

This is the 2nd floor plan. 3 BR's and 2 FB's with center hall. I'll have to figure out what to do with the very large MBR suite after it's built. The bed will go against the wall on the right.

Originally Posted by terp80

I forgot what I did before - after all it's been 3 months, and I am old.

We're all old and senile here, so you're in good company...

Keep up the good work.

It looks like you've got you a big window looking out from the MBR tub, but all the bedroom windows look tiny. Am I reading this right ?

Be sure you put an electrical outlet on each wall of every room. I hate how the Thais will have one plug in a room and then use an electrical strip and extension cords for everything in the room.
I'm also a fan of ceiling fans in each room. I think it helps circulate the air, especially when the a/c is on.
Multiple down lights in each room, maybe arranged with 2 lights per switch so you have some flexibility in lighting.

Are you using Q-Con block ? I'm really impressed by it in our house. Our south facing wall does not get hot at all. I'm sure it would be a different story if it was the standard red brick.

I like the 2 sinks in your MBR. That's something I might change/add in a year or so.

Steve

Thanks for persevering looks like a mighty fine house.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

We're all old and senile here, so you're in good company...

Thanks Bettyboo. I feel better already.

Originally Posted by stevefarang

all the bedroom windows look tiny. Am I reading this right ?

Originally Posted by stevefarang

but all the bedroom windows look tiny. Am I reading this right ?

I think these elevations show the windows better. The main living areas for me and "wife" have a lot of windows. The other [bed?]rooms only have one decent sized window each. The two smaller windows would have a bed between them. But we probably will have only one guest BR. The two other rooms will serve as an office and 1st floor laundry room for now.

QCon on outside walls. Electric outlets all over (but still maybe not enough?). Fans in all 4 "BR's" and in living room.

Better front elevation showing the fish pond on the left side.

1st day of digging! The skeleton of an equipment shed is in the front left. I think the sand and gravel is for the bases. I was sorry that the three nice mango trees in the rear had to go.

The obligatory spirit house w/ M150, etc. I hope the spirits don't mind no actual house (yet?). It is the dry season, so don't need a roof.

I was curious to see what the ground was really like. Looks pretty solid, not much clay at all. I may add just a couple truck loads (10 cm or so) to fill in the low spots and even the land, then some nice topsoil (din dam) after the house is complete.

Wife decided we did not need a monk or any phu yai to do the ceremony for us. I agree: it's always better to speak directly with the powers that be. So here we are, with the foreman, preparing the 1st post foundation hole.

Here is the offering table, minus the whiskey, soft drinks, etc. that were added later.

Pouring the first foundation footing. It looked a little wet to me, but I was assured that CPAC had prepped it at 240kg per cubit, which was supposed to be correct. I guess I have to trust my builder, as I sure don't no what I'm doing.

This was taken around 4 pm. You can see that the western half is in the shade. That is the side with the patio and fish pond and most of the glass.

Today, the 2 foremen explained that the concrete mix was 240 ksc as CPAC standard, and that CPAC takes samples and later tests them to assure that the concrete is strong enough. I can see that the current mixes could not pass a slump test. QUESTIONS: If they plastic wrap the concrete well, etc., will I be OK? If I insist now (half way through) that future mixes pass a slump test, will that adversely affect anything? Suggestions?

When I got there today, I saw that they had removed the forms, and there were 2 problems: one column had rebar that was off-center to the point where the rebar was showing a little. The other column had a gravelly appearance for about 40 cm starting from the bottom up. I took photos but, unfortunately not with my decent camera, so I can't post them. Fortunately, my architect/builder was there, and we decided to completely redo those two columns. The foreman said the gravel effect was because the 1st pour out of the CPAC truck was too dry. There was no excuse/explanation for the rebar showing.

Redoing the column with the poor bottom portion.



Redoing the one with the exposed rebar.