Thread: Shoestring Renovation.

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

Originally Posted by Ennis

After hunting around we paid 6,990 Baht + 349 Baht delivery.

I'd say that was a very good deal.

Hi Mate,

Once we receive the stove I will take pictures & (try) review it as best I can. Also for those interested, I will let you all know where to get AND my experience buying through them. We got a 53% discount.

Thanks for your comment.

ENNIS

.

My mate CMN bought one a few months ago after searching for a deal I believe he got a similar one for around 9000 so once again, good deal.

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

My mate CMN bought one a few months ago after searching for a deal I believe he got a similar one for around 9000 so once again, good deal.

Yeah... RRP of B15,000 so B9000 is still very good buying... German made I believe (wife said so)...


Ennis

STOVE

I will still review but for those wanting more info......

Dyna Home ????? ????????? Gas Oven4 ???????? ???? DF-5050-G (Silver) | Lazada.co.th

Despite the strange looking "link" it still works (For me anyway)




Hope it helps


Ennis

Thanks, I'll pass it on.

I hve aluded to the fact my Boss loves trees, she would not let me cut any down, hence I had to have them relocated...

Below is a couple of pics that show the process....





They were re-planted at the rear of the house.... (Bet they do not survive?)


Ennis

The Laundry and Storeroom are now finished, except for the cosmetics....

Here are a couple of pics of them both.... You will notice that the roof still has to be joined, this will be done soon and I will post a pic of the finished result.



The storeroom is a lot larger than it looks in the picture, when the floor is safe to walk on I may try and get another angle..



Now a couple of trees are out of the way I will try for some "perspective" shots. Tomorrow the builder starts on the dinning room.

Ennis

For some weeks now we have been living without a kitchen and without an area to wash dishes - at least in any western sense of the process.

For me it is yet another insight into how, those living in corrugated tin huts (Like you see on some building sites, etc..).

Whilst my wife & I are no strangers to hardship, (We cycled around the world together - WEB_Page) having spent over 400 nights in a tent - it must be quite tough for those that have so little.



Above is an Akha Kitchen - the image is free to use for non commercial use. Hard to find others that I am "free" to use??

I do help "some" where I can, but have no real "means" to make a difference.


Ennis

There are three pillars on the un-rendered wall, in this pic. they are about 4.5 metres between the two outside ones.

This 4.5 metres will be the width of our dinning room.



Holes were dug and pillars erected..... Lots of "precision" here, I could not fault this "precision" in my checks - good work guys.



Finally the roof timbers were added, the room will be approx 4.5 metres X 3.5 metres




Well it is Sunday today and the workers have their one day a week off.

Will add more next week - AND some valuable hints & tips for those on a shoestring budget - like us..... Stay tuned!!

Ennis

Originally Posted by Ennis

I hve aluded to the fact my Boss loves trees, she would not let me cut any down, hence I had to have them relocated...

Below is a couple of pics that show the process....





They were re-planted at the rear of the house.... (Bet they do not survive?)


Ennis

5 years back we had to dig up 10 palm trees, about 15 feet tall, wrapped in burlap and watered daily for 3 months, they all survived. Your trees will survive.

Firstly, I'm very happy that you are making a big effort to retain your trees, nothing worse than a house raped of the trees.

Secondly, I really like how you are developing and extending the original house, this is what i love to do. Reno's like yours starting from a solid base spread over time are very satisfying.

Thirdly, I cannot do this stuff anymore as there would be no end to it, I'd just go on and on and on.

Finally, all the best with your project, it's brilliant.

Originally Posted by RPETER65

5 years back we had to dig up 10 palm trees, about 15 feet tall, wrapped in burlap and watered daily for 3 months, they all survived. Your trees will survive.

Just got a 30 metre hose yesterday so that I can set up a "daily" watering system..

I do hope they survive, but I am concerned my wife may drown them

Thanks for your response & encouragement

Ennis

Originally Posted by terry57

Firstly, I'm very happy that you are making a big effort to retain your trees, nothing worse than a house raped of the trees.

Secondly, I really like how you are developing and extending the original house, this is what i love to do. Reno's like yours starting from a solid base spread over time are very satisfying.

Thirdly, I cannot do this stuff anymore as there would be no end to it, I'd just go on and on and on.

Finally, all the best with your project, it's brilliant.

Thanks Terry... Did you see the movies on Perth & Walpole earlier in the thread?

Done with a "drone", by a Pom, who lives in Perth - did a good job. Best downloaded & viewed rather than stream online - for me anyhow.

Ennis

^

Ive just noticed your cycling blog.

Bloody amazing what you have done.

Originally Posted by terry57

^

Ive just noticed your cycling blog.

Bloody amazing what you have done.

Thanks Terry, that journey (almost 3 years) was one of the highlights of our lives together....My beautiful Thai bride & I, have been together over 17 yrs. We cycled together - she is one of the most courageous women I have ever known. She endured everything without one single word of complaint.

Round the world on a bike

There are other bits & pieces on our site, i.e. we did a bit of volunteering in the Philippines after a dreadful cyclone, that killed many.

Ennis

The roof finally went on the dinning room today, there will be a ceiling installed in the room when finished... They were using a circular saw on the "super six" roofing sheets, so we purchased some (best we could find) quality masks. They did wear them so I guess they understood. Probably no asbestos in those type of sheets anymore??



The builder said he was concerned about guttering and wanted a "specialist" I must admit I was wondering how he would fill in the gaps and make a gutter, that was both aesthetically appealing and functional...

Well the man came and quoted 18 metres of guttering - Parts & Labour B4,500 - he starts on the 9th Sep (Friday). Will post pics as they happen.

Sorry I cannot get a better perspective, we have lots of trees & plants. The "vista" from the dinning room - when finished - "should" be quite nice (I hope)

Ennis

First part of the job we are not happy..

The guttering is flimsy and way too expensive.... 18 metres 4500 Baht.

I will be modifying the outlets with a "Leach Drain" I cannot afford to collect the rainwater and store.

However they are so flimsy I don't expect they will be there in a couple of years.. (If that)



DOWNPIPE



Cannot win them all

Ennis

Originally Posted by Ennis

<snip>

I will be modifying the outlets with a "Leach Drain" I cannot afford to collect the rainwater and store.

<snip>
Ennis

Mate, I'm not understanding what you wrote above.

"I cannot afford to collect the rainwater and store." How can afford not to?

At the Farmhouse where we live the captured rainwater stored in those big jars is our sole supply of drinking water.

We just run a flexible 1 1/2" pipe to each jar and when full, transfer to the next.

Let it settle for a few months and that what we drink.


What is your plan for drinking water?

Hi David,

Thanks for your reply.

What I am about to say is subjective and can be challenged on a number of fronts.

In Chiang Mai/Lamphun we have serious air pollution (and I mean deadly serious compared with many parts of Thailand) for about three months per year.

We have significant pollution for much of the remainder of the year in our area. When it rains, it collects those particles and dissolves many of them, into the rainwater.

When in Issan we did what you suggested and harvested rainwater into about 10 of those large jars, we filtered and drank this water. We did not have the pollution issues that recur EVERY year in Chiang Mai/Lamphun.

Could air pollution cause brain damage? - BBC News Amongst thousands of other articles this raises questions. Magnetites, small matter and small particles are the most dangerous.

Haze forces hospitalisation of 64,000 - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum This article on Teakdoor, whilst not extrapolating the causes, does point to my area. 64,000 + people hospitalised due to pollution and I live in one of those areas.

We have chosen to filter the village supply. With a simple 5 stage filtration system. Costing less than 4,000 Baht. Our village water is crystal clear, well maintained, oxygenated at source and drunk from the tap by some villagers.

Your method may be better, I do not know. Were we still in Issan we would probably continue drinking filtered rainwater. However, the pump/filters did cost a little to install.

I guess there is no easy answers - we are currently looking at channelling much of this to our fruit trees and veggie patch... However, the seasons are more distinct in the North than central/south. Hence we have significant rain for up to half a year and not so much for the rest. (Which I know, supports your argument)

There are a multitude of factors in this "solution" too and not all money related.

Anyhow I guess I could have just answered your question by saying "We drink 'filtered' village water supply" But I am a bit daft like that and tend to waffle on...

Ennis

Slowly slowly things are starting to come together

The dinning room from one of our house windows. The room will be 4.5m X 3.2M.
Not a huge dinning room but OK for us.



A front view, and the two holes will have large windows that will overlook a "lush" garden.



Storeroom access from inside the kitchen.. Storeroom is 2m X2.2m - big enough for now. We will add a larger storeroom when our carport is built. Probably next year - not sure at this stage.



Serving Hatch



Lot's of work still to go....

Ennis

No pic's just now, HEAVY rain these last few days, apparently with more to come.

Anyhow our builder noticed our dead trees. We did not remove them because there was hope they may recover - they did not. Those following this thread will know we lost a few trees whilst in OZ for 9 months.

He organised for them to be cut down as long as he could have the wood. I often thought my dear wife would/could get Thai prices, being Thai 'n all - she cannot!!

The builder organised a guy with a chainsaw to cut down 7 trees AND chop them up into preferred lengths.

He paid the guy 100 Baht TOTAL, three hours work and some hard yakka!!

Ennis

Hi Guys,

With just two villagers working it is slow going, for us it is only a minor inconvenience.

The first pic shows what will become our benchtops in what will be a "galley style" kitchen.
In the area you see in this first pic, it is about 3.4M X 60CM - a generous workbench for any "household" kitchen.



Entrance to the kitchen from the dining room will be via an archway 90cm wide (about a yard). We dispensed with the door as we did not see a need?? The builder did this "freehand" and it is far from finished.



The first of 4 walls in the dinning room was rendered today, increadibly heavy rain has meant that we are currently on hold - the workers have gone home in fear of flooding on their properties.



In this area below will be our cooker, gas bottle and double bowl SS sink. Under the sink is a water heater - not one used in showers, it delivers hot water at one temp only - quite hot. We should use a mixer tap, but have been unable to find one locally - those we did find online are more than $100 Aussie dollars - way too much. SO we will have a switch - when we need hot water, simply throw the switch, fill up the sink and away we go. Mostly I would imagine, we would not need hot water. Those of you reading that live in Northern Thailand, know it can get quite cold in Nov/Dec.



Not much more to show - of interest - right now.... Stay tuned

Ennis

.

5555 did not think of buying two taps hugh??

great thread btw..

Originally Posted by Ennis

Hi Guys,

With just two villagers working it is slow going, for us it is only a minor inconvenience.

The first pic shows what will become our benchtops in what will be a "galley style" kitchen.
In the area you see in this first pic, it is about 3.4M X 60CM - a generous workbench for any "household" kitchen.



Entrance to the kitchen from the dining room will be via an archway 90cm wide (about a yard). We dispensed with the door as we did not see a need?? The builder did this "freehand" and it is far from finished.



The first of 4 walls in the dinning room was rendered today, increadibly heavy rain has meant that we are currently on hold - the workers have gone home in fear of flooding on their properties.



In this area below will be our cooker, gas bottle and double bowl SS sink. Under the sink is a water heater - not one used in showers, it delivers hot water at one temp only - quite hot. We should use a mixer tap, but have been unable to find one locally - those we did find online are more than $100 Aussie dollars - way too much. SO we will have a switch - when we need hot water, simply throw the switch, fill up the sink and away we go. Mostly I would imagine, we would not need hot water. Those of you reading that live in Northern Thailand, know it can get quite cold in Nov/Dec.



Not much more to show - of interest - right now.... Stay tuned

Ennis

.

I see water supply pipe but no drain..under power cord reel?

..The trouble with most reno’s be they be shoe string or blank cheque, is that they are fraught with..so many “buggers!!”…wish I had thought of that’s, should have’s, could have’s etc.
Case in point as to your reno’ is that perhaps could have tied the extension roof into existing roof after removing a few roof panels maybe sacrificing ½ meter of ceiling height?..Ergo no need for intermediate gutter and maybe less expensive than 4kbt?