Thread: A beginners Build in Thailand

Originally Posted by Wasp

Ohh ! I used the Preview Post just now and it's very handy .

I've used it for script, but now I can use it for pictures. Excellent! If you want to edit you can go back and do so for a small window I think?

Nice that you take your time to finish this thread with pictures.

6kon

Good job posting your pictures. It would be a shame to stop commenting on the "local aspects" do think it enhances a building thread, looking forward to more.

Originally Posted by ltnt

Mountain people are very different from flatlanders.

Amen to that. My BIL's family lives about 30 kms from us up in the hills. We went and saw them on the last trip. He has 2 sisters and 2 brothers. Each has their own business. One brother owns a drinking water purification bottling company, the other owns a Cab Moo(Deep friend pork skin packaging business), The sister owns a pig farm and the other sister a fish business. Very diverse hard working family. Nicest people I have met in years. We all met up and had dinner and it was just simply good times. City folk are a different breed for sure.

Congrats on figuring out the pic-posting! It is quite confusing at first - I also had my difficulties. I'll have a look-see here from time to time. Other pics from the locale are great too. Cheers!

Thanks for the posts. Looks like a real nice spot. Good luck with the build. And nice comments. Thanks again knew you could get it.

Thanks Fishlocker. Without everyone's positive support I wouldn't have continued trying. Now that I have, it was well worth the thought's of "computer suicide." The lap top and I we're becoming estranged from one another.

Not sure where to start with the next bunch of progress photos. I need to sort through the move from Phuket and the sorting out of the old Thai house for livability I think before we actually commence the actual build.

Thanks all...

Originally Posted by ltnt

I hope the non-build interruptions are not too offensive for a building thread? I figured it would enhance the thread to sort of weave in the rural aspects, people, scenic sites and advantages of this area.

Mate,
You may consider saving your non building pictures for another thread further on down the track. You will be putting in a lot of time just doing this Building thread, they are time consuming but very rewarding for all. We all learn something from them.

The way you frame your pictures and then tell the story tells me that your picture threads will be very good. Your pictures are great.

Also the subject matter you have regards the area in which you live is brilliant. I've traveled through there a few times now, its a great part of Thailand.

Further more, once you crack on posting up your pictures you may consider asking the Mods to clean this thread of unrelated posts including this one, break it back to the original concept of showing your build.

Good luck with this thread.

Back in Phuket loading up household effects for transport to Ban Doi

Transport Truck, cost for move 30,000 baht, loaded, delivered in 2 days transit, and off loaded. He arrived in Ban Doi on schedule, but didn't have people to help him unload. My wifes family jumped right in as they were there to help anyway. The guy got stuck in the mud and one of the family got their tractor in to pull him out...cost however was 500 baht.

As you can see some of the re-bar has arrived, the bending shed is in place, the survey level is set in the far left hand corner and wife with folded arms is in "full Superintendent Mode." Note how much growth the jungle has had from the previous set of land leveling photos.

You can see the EDM/Level setting and the "batter boards," in place to layout the parallel runs of columns. This is called "establishing construction control grids." Most important as everything going vertical will work off these control points from here on in. At least they're suppose to. The GC screwed up his very first point by 2". Fortunately we were able to catch the error early on and make the necessary adjustment. By then the GC had become a ghost to the project. Nothing more than a supplier of bodies and materials.

^ ^ ^

Nice lookin house that one, what did that run you at when you purchased it ?

First column excavated and mud slab in place. The wire is the control grid working out.

Originally Posted by terry57

when you purchased it

It was 4.5 million baht when the $-dollar was 42B/$1...the good old days.

This is more of the control grid with a better perspective.

This is "K," who was the GC's man on the spot. Nice kid, but very used by the GC. He took a lot of beatings from me. The small backhoe dug all the footings as well a hole big enough to stuff three septic tanks/pc rings, into 5 meters deep. Had him moving old stumps around but he got stuck one day and never ventured forth again. I'll post a photo later on.

Lots of this for the mud slabs. Some houses are built entirely in this manner, but not this one!!!

Originally Posted by terry57

You may consider saving your non building pictures for another thread further on down the track.

You may be right, but I have loads of travel and domestic pictures to form a decent thread later on. I'll certainly ponder on your suggestion as well intersperse some local in here as it adds to the build environment...

Originally Posted by terry57

Further more, once you crack on posting up your pictures you may consider asking the Mods to clean this thread of unrelated posts including this one, break it back to the original concept of showing your build.

Yes, I think you're correct about all the difficulty dialogue with posting up pic.'s, but then it kind of gives this a flavor of the title "beginners build." It would certainly put off any new reader who isn't willing to go further on the thread. The MOD's have already done 1 sanitizing job so a 2nd wouldn't be an objection as long as they leave valued content such as you're recent suggestions as I reply. shows you people are thinking these posts through as well have questions about other aspects of T.D.'s variety of personalities and experiences.

Of course no build in Thailand goes without some form of blessing. My wife's brother and Uncle are setting up the Spirit House, "Animist Style, as is the norm here in the far North. Nice way to observe the beginnings of any new endeavor regardless of your beliefs. Intentions are way good.

Blessing the first column hole. The uncle did this with every one. Water and prayer for good strong wholesome build. Wife is duly respectful and when Uncle was away carried on throughout the final column holes prior to pour outs.

When you build in the rural areas you attract visitors. You are the entertainment factor. Every day of the build we had visitors. A good way to enter a society as well getting to know the local Thai ways.

The Wife's blessing. She's got a certain style to it. Enthusiastic! There was no doubt from the very beginnings that this was her house, her build and she was not going to let it fail. She worked day and night pushing and shoving this project through to its final day. I think I learned more about who she was from this build than from the previous 8 years of marriage. Wonderful soul this lady.

^^

Considering the size of your build I'm quite sure it was the talk of the town EH.

Big deal up there I imagine.