Thread: BD dream getting there

Good information and I appreciate the PM. This is pretty much what I am looking for to add a guest house/man cave to my land. I want to put it down by our pond and "hang out" away from the family. I may have a hard time keeping my BIL out though, since he is now living in the garage/storage. He takes very good care of the land and our building site, so I can't complain too much.

I will be watching your progress closely BD. Oh, I was not able to open the link you supplied, but you can add it through the toolbar at the top of the Submit Reply page. I have also cut and pasted links in the past.

Glad I could be of service Rick, it's not a link but if you copy and paste it in you tube it works that way. The guy filming is a passing Thai man the house he is looking at cost B250,000.

OK, got it. I will have my wife watch the video and translate for me. There must be Thai and Farang price differences. I would like to take a look at the yard and see the product first hand and it might be a good road trip for December. I will also be going to Chiang Mai for a Consulate visit and may stop in Phrae to see if I can find some similar yards. There must be several between Udon and Chiang Mai, I just need to ask around.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

There must be several between Udon and Chiang Mai

We drove from Korat to Chiang Mai and back 3 years ago there are plenty the closer you get to Chiang Mai.

Mate, while you might have old floorboards, which if teak are usually ok, the rest of those knockdowns are usually new, not very good quality wood. Young teak does not have the same qualities as old growth wood.
Make sure you put in a termite system.

Further photos just received from the builder showing the front and balcony floor.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Mate, while you might have old floorboards, which if teak are usually ok, the rest of those knockdowns are usually new, not very good quality wood. Young teak does not have the same qualities as old growth wood.
Make sure you put in a termite system.

Thanks Necron

The new wood is good quality, but I will definitely be installing a Termite killing system.

Originally Posted by bankao dreamer

Sometimes the villagers are really useful, they put the drainage pipes in at the entrance for 4 bottles of Leo and 2 bottles of Rice whiskey. Joking aside they are not a bad bunch.

OP, what's this? Where does it go to/from? Just trying to learn... Interesting thread, thanks.

^ My house has only two rooms and a sala.
I spend 99% of the day outdoors so you dont really need a big house.
Done that in Oz and had whole rooms that we never entered.
Key is making sure big storms arent going to wet your outdoor area which I did with blinds that we only use on the side of the prevailing rain/wind.

I agree about those built in seats though. Never found one to be comfortable as a proper chair, either width or height is always wrong.

^I'd be concerned that the built in seats were symbolic of the prebuilt structure as a whole; preconceived and difficult to live with?

Originally Posted by Necron99

I spend 99% of the day outdoors so you dont really need a big house.

Yep, makes sense; using outside covered space well is a core design element of my house (starting in 3 weeks). Though I fukin hate mozzies... I'm also planning a nice little sala as a separate structure; FiL reckons they're very easy and cheap to put together by local guys (might become a bbq/beer drinking area if cited well...).

Building a house is a process of integration. Having 3 separate independent structures could be problematic, thus I'm wondering how the OP plans to integrate the structures and make it all functional; certainly could be a great home if successfully done. I also realize that the OP has thought about this because he was originally looking to build a wooden home to his specification; when that plan went awry then there's potential issues, imho, but I'm sure the OP and others on the board know an awful lot more than me in this regard.

^^^
Betty this is just the first phase, this build will be our bedrooms. The in-laws have an old teak house approx 5 x 5m. We will move and rebuild this next to the house pictured. This will then become the lounge. Further to this I am having Por's old rice barn and another one which will be rebuilt as guest rooms. All these will be joined by raised walk ways, sort of a mini traditional compound home. The kitchen will be on the ground. The toilets will be raised next to our bedrooms and guest bedrooms and again joined to the main buildings by raised walkways.
There wont be any plumbing in the main rooms just lights and a few sockets (for decadent western objects ). Personally I can live quiet frugally and have always wanted my home in Thailand to be a traditional type of dwelling. The pro's and cons have been debated much on this forum so I will find out in due course what it will be like to live here full time. Wish me luck.

The pipe in the picture is at the front of our land, There is a ditch which takes the run off from the fields. We had to put the pipe there when we put the drive ramp in.

^Good stuff, BD; I know you must've put lots of thought into it; very much hope it comes together well for you.

Originally Posted by bankao dreamer

Personally I can live quiet frugally and have always wanted my home in Thailand to be a traditional type of dwelling.

Here is where we differ, but I like your style.

Very interesting thread which I'll follow.

My place might parallel yours in build time (land raised a few months ago, starting the build in 2-3 weeks, hope to finish by February or March ishhhhhh), but will be a bit of a concrete atrocity with plenty of livable outside space; maybe similar cost? I've given FiL 700,000 baht and told him to get it done!

Originally Posted by bankao dreamer

The pipe in the picture is at the front of our land, There is a ditch which takes the run off from the fields. We had to put the pipe there when we put the drive ramp in.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Building a house is a process of integration. Having 3 separate independent structures could be problematic

Traditional compound homes where not really designed as a whole but rather extended and added to as more space was needed or the owner became more affluent. The slight missmash of design with some of them adds a quaintness that I find appealing. This is my get out clause if it doesn't look quite right, I will say it's meant to look like that.

^

Yes, to an extent. The initial structure should be core and functional, then additional functional structures added to suit. You've kinda got 3 structures then built the functional elements (bathroom, kitchen, lecce) around them... I'm looking forward to watching it come together perfectly, but I reckon these concerns should be highlighted early on.

I agree that adding additional structures in a compound style is nice. I plan to do the same: sala, car port, a Daddy inside area (that's me, btw), a Daddy outside bbq, fishing area (that's also me...).

^^
Hope it all goes well mate I look forward to seeing it all come together.

Beautiful little house you have there.

Just noticed your change of avatar. What have you done to your nice dog? He's looking a bit embarrassed.

Originally Posted by misskit

Beautiful little house you have there.

Just noticed your change of avatar. What have you done to your nice dog? He's looking a bit embarrassed.

It was his winter hat to keep his ears warm, actually no it was one of the wife's weird hats she put on him for a photo although he didn't seem to mind and he kept it on for ages then tried to eat it.

It has been a busy couple of weeks so here are a few photos.

16 posts old wood from reclaimed yard.


1st we made a slope to hopefully make it easier to get the lorries up where we want the house to go.



The house arrives.


1st attempt to get it on site failed so quick call to local builders yard, 10 m3 of stone please delivery date now.



We now have a road.



Positioning the house.







Next the gang arrive who will jack the house up,dig the post holes,lay foundations,connect wooden posts,raise it some more,set concrete posts and then connect it all together.













Next job stairs using old wood from reclaimed wood yard.

Sweet!

Looks great. How did they get them off the trucks?