Thread: Newbie Build in Chiang Mai (Don Kaew)

There are three separate builds in my moo baan, all started about the same time. Here are two photos of one, a single story house, which seems to have the roof structure resting on top of a couple columns - or rather the 4 rebars atop the columns. Is this normal? Will they add some support later? Again, this is NOT my house.

It is quite common to pour short then add concrete to make up the difference.

Everything seems to be progressing as it should.

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

It is quite common to pour short then add concrete to make up the difference.

Thanks BKKBill. It sure looks strange.

It's not my house, but if I see it in my build, I guess I won't panic. But I will ask them to make sure the additional concrete is well-reinforced.

Originally Posted by terp80

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

It is quite common to pour short then add concrete to make up the difference.

Thanks BKKBill. It sure looks strange.It's not my house, but if I see it in my build, I guess I won't panic. But I will ask them to make sure the additional concrete is well-reinforced.

You know Terp .... these accidents that you've had .... and the small faults that you come across ..... are making this a very informative Thread .

I'm enjoying it .


Wasp

Originally Posted by Wasp

You know Terp .... these accidents that you've had .... and the small faults that you come across ..... are making this a very informative Thread . I'm enjoying it .

Glad to be of service Wasp. Afterall, that's what these blogs are for. I learned an awful lot from all the other blogs I read before starting my build. I just hope these blips continue to be minor.

Originally Posted by terp80

Originally Posted by Wasp

You know Terp .... these accidents that you've had .... and the small faults that you come across ..... are making this a very informative Thread . I'm enjoying it .

Glad to be of service Wasp. Afterall, that's what these blogs are for. I learned an awful lot from all the other blogs I read before starting my build. I just hope these blips continue to be minor.

But BIG blips are more entertaining !!!!

*

Here are the progress shots for today. The concrete truck is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00p to do the columns. One of the two building foremen is watering the beams at the end of the day. The beams were watered three times today. Some of them are in the shade most of the day, but it IS hot up here in CM.

Today, they started on the fish pond. Although the building crew thinks it's a swimming pool. Who knows, the more I think about it, the better that sounds.

But one thing I did notice: where the little walkway over the narrow part of the pond is, the beam is 40 cm, which will make it impossible for the water depth to be 50 cm throughout. I had a heck of a time trying to explain myself to the foremen, but finally, they got it. We will discuss this with the architect tomorrow. The crew suggested cutting and removing the beams over that portion of the pond. We'll have to wait and see.

Originally Posted by BKKBILL

It is quite common to pour short then add concrete to make up the difference.

Everything seems to be progressing as it should.

Unfortunately, many houses where built without a concrete top beam. It is cheap, but also a very weak construction. It will collapse at the slightest earthquake.

Originally Posted by juehoe

It is cheap, but also a very weak construction. It will collapse at the slightest earthquake.

Yeah, looks pretty scary to me. I'll try to remember to take some follow-up pics to see what they do with it/them.

Originally Posted by Wasp

But BIG blips are more entertaining !!!!

By god, I hope to disappoint!

Today they poured the 1st level columns. The concrete couldn't come from CPAC as all their concrete was being used for a new Honda dealership. I was assured the concrete we got was from a reputable company. It was ST240. The foremen said a slump test was run at the factory, but from what I saw, I don't think it would have passed @70 per cent. They said it looked looser (more watery), because it was for columns and had to go all the way to the bottom, but ST240 was the proper strength. The crew vibrated the top (about 1 meter) and banged 5-7 times on the column forms with a sledge hammer. They did not use rebar to push it down. Any thoughts on their methods/reasoning?

Here a couple guys are re-plumbing the columns after the pour. The plumb bob is down by his knee.

The termite control crew also showed up today. They started running the lines all around the beams. It will take a couple more visits to finish this job.

Here are a couple follow up shots of the other build in my moo baan. Now you can see that they did "top up" the columns so they don't look so scary.

*NOT my build.*

Today, they took off the forms from the columns and wrapped them in plastic. Looks like they didn't wrap the tops - not exactly sure why. They also prepped and put up a lot of bamboo supports for the 2nd level beams. We had a good - if too short - rain this afternoon, which cooled things down a bit. You can also see the termite tubing going around the inside of the beam structures. At some point, they have to hook all that together. Right now I'm not sure how many access points they make to put in the poison. They will explain it all to me at some point I suppose.

It seems as if everything comes along really well, it looks great!

Just one question, why didn't they brace these columns in the photo below? Make sure they'll do it next time, it can save you / your crew a lot of headache later.

Looking really good Terps, interesting that they are doing the uprights before the slab, the exact opposite of my build!

Originally Posted by Koetjeka

Just one question, why didn't they brace these columns in the photo below? Make sure they'll do it next time, it can save you / your crew a lot of headache later.

For some reason, the "below" photo didn't show up, so can you tell me what you mean? They braced the columns for the pour, re-plumbed and re-braced them after the pour, and then took the braces down with the forms. What future problems will there be, so I can speak to my architect. Thanks K.

Originally Posted by FatOne

Looking really good Terps, interesting that they are doing the uprights before the slab, the exact opposite of my build!

Thanks FatOne! Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit strange. I'll ask them today.

Hmm I'm not sure why the photo doesn't show, I've copied the URL and used the insert image button like I always do.

I was talking about post #218, the last photo. It's always better to keep the columns temporarily braced until the permanent bracing is in place (usually walls or cross bracing).
If you don't temporarily brace them during this time chances are that due to vertical force the top of the column moves a few mm or in the worst case a few cm. This causes problems with the structure above the column such as as the dimensions that have changed.

A few years ago during my internship at a contractor someone forgot to brace a few columns, because of this the steel beams didn't fit anymore and it costed a few thousand Euros to fix.

Bottom line: It doesn't necessarily have to cause problems but it might.

Originally Posted by Koetjeka

If you don't temporarily brace them during this time chances are that due to vertical force the top of the column moves a few mm or in the worst case a few cm. This causes problems with the structure above the column such as as the dimensions that have changed.

OK. Thanks mucho Koetjeka! I think I understand what you are saying. The vertical force comes from the weight of the concrete in the entire column compressing the lower portion? Obviously, the rebar isn't going to compress. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding you. I will ask them about that.

We can guess the response: 'Mai bpen rai. Mai mee bpanhaa.'

I'll let you know what they say.

Originally Posted by terp80

Originally Posted by Koetjeka

If you don't temporarily brace them during this time chances are that due to vertical force the top of the column moves a few mm or in the worst case a few cm. This causes problems with the structure above the column such as as the dimensions that have changed.

OK. Thanks mucho Koetjeka! I think I understand what you are saying. The vertical force comes from the weight of the concrete in the entire column compressing the lower portion? Obviously, the rebar isn't going to compress. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding you. I will ask them about that.

We can guess the response: 'Mai bpen rai. Mai mee bpanhaa.'

I'll let you know what they say.

Sorry I made a stupid mistake.... I meant horizontal force not vertical. Forces like the wind blowing from one side, construction work on top of the column or things like that.
You might think that such things can't happen but a relatively small horizontal force at the head of a long column creates a relatively big momentum at the footing.