Thread: Shoestring Renovation.

It's much the same story here in Laos, you can't own fook all as a farang, I bought our place 8 years ago as I figured things land prices weren't going down , just up, at the time I had my "application" in with the authorities who decide if you can marry a Lao girl or not, still very very commie here , got permission to get married 18 months later by then we already had a sprog ( illegal) the bottom line is if I didn't trust her I wouldn't of bought it, having said all that I'm happy with the result, as is ennis. Happy with the bride to,

Originally Posted by FatOne

Great thread Ennis, keep up the Pics. Good to see more Ozzies on here.

Yea mate, Love OZ to death... Just cannot afford to live there.

Originally Posted by Ennis

Just cannot afford to live there.

That is so sad and so true.

Our politicians have abandoned most hard working honest Aussies.

Good on you Ennis for doing something about it and taking your life back and I wish you all the best.

Next stage of the build will be ceilings AND electrics combined. Combined due to logistics and cost.

First some background: We got quotes to do the ceiling inside the house. The best of these was 20,000 Baht, labour only - we supply materials.

My wife ask a whole ton of questions and said they were all a rip-off. Soooo...

Back to square one... We located a specialist ceiling company (Local Lamphun) He and his wife came out... showed us a heap of pics and set about measuring... etc.. etc..

Cut to the bottom line, we get the whole house new flat ceiling, parts and labour for 15,340. Firm.

The electrician works in with the ceiling guy as we want "pot" lights throughout. Also "safety cut" earth to ALL plugs. 1.8m copper earth rod... and countless socket outlets. Each room will have universal as well as three prong Thai sockets.

We have been unable to source sockets with inbuilt USB plugs! Anyone reading know where we can buy in Chiang Mai/Lamphun?? We can order from Alibaba.. but would prefer not to go down that route...

Pics will follow the ceiling/electrical work which (we hope) will commence this week.

Ennis

^^

I can afford to live there but the money it costs to maintain a decent lifestyle in retirement is severely compromised.

It's great to go back every six months just to remind ones self how good it is here dollar for dollar and the great lifestyle one can have here.

That said, I will go back and do another jaunt up to Far North Queensland from Perth.

I'm only doing that because I want to waste 30 K in fuel, beer, caravan parks, car repairs and breathing the air.

I'm not going to live forever you know.

Originally Posted by terry57

I'm not going to live forever

Terry Bon Jovi hey?

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by Ennis

Just cannot afford to live there.

That is so sad and so true.

Our politicians have abandoned most hard working honest Aussies.

Good on you Ennis for doing something about it and taking your life back and I wish you all the best.

Thanks mate...

^^

They are playing Impact tomorrow night.

Jesus, the girls will be twisting off.

I'm not going though.

Originally Posted by Ennis

Could not get a perspective as there is too much vegetation on the block and cannot find an angle to see through... Here is a few pics that may help.

Hey Ennis, yet another Aussie here.

I see we have a new Prime Minister this morning btw - it's like a tag-team match lately. But I'm sure the filthy rich ex-merchant banker from Sydney's Eastern suburbs (by the harbour) will fully understand us ordinary folk.

Nice house, mostly nice garden - I cannot believe that price. Good on you for giving prices btw, it's a real help for those of us still at the planning stage.

I'm curious about the aerial photo pic - google earth? I thought north was straight 'up' on those - no? I'm going to have to take a compass when I visit our land later in the year I think...

Originally Posted by bindog

Originally Posted by Ennis

Could not get a perspective as there is too much vegetation on the block and cannot find an angle to see through... Here is a few pics that may help.

Hey Ennis, yet another Aussie here.

I see we have a new Prime Minister this morning btw - it's like a tag-team match lately. But I'm sure the filthy rich ex-merchant banker from Sydney's Eastern suburbs (by the harbour) will fully understand us ordinary folk.

Nice house, mostly nice garden - I cannot believe that price. Good on you for giving prices btw, it's a real help for those of us still at the planning stage.

I'm curious about the aerial photo pic - google earth? I thought north was straight 'up' on those - no? I'm going to have to take a compass when I visit our land later in the year I think...

Mate, google earth has "issues" in both Thailand and China (maybe others too??). You will notice on that pic, the roads are offset about 3-5 metres. It has been a known issue for years. North is accurately displayed on the pic... We checked with a compass for the missus Feng Shui thingy...

Saw the news last night re Abbott - We'll still get shafted, whoever's there, I reckon...

Thanks for the comment......... Ennis

Slight update on Electrics.... So those reading, following, planning their own renovation can get a handle on approx. costs...
Old wiring removed COMPLETELY... We are retaining NOTHING.

Lounge: 6 power outlets + 2 universal, Air Con wiring & switch, 5 pot lights each containing an 8w globe.

Passage: 3 pot lights and "safety cut" box located here, plus two power outlets.

Bedroom one: Three power outlets and one universal, four pot lights with 5w globes. Air Con wiring and switch

Bedroom two: Three power outlets & one universal, 4 low profile pot lights as ceiling is different in there due to a lower/sloping roof. Air Con wiring and switch.

Toilet one pot light.

Shower room one pot light. Fittings for 6000w Water Heater.

Entrance Two fancy lights (Will show pic in situ when finished). We bought these separately. Thai Watsadu, Normally 333B each reduced to 169 each. We of course bought two.

All wire is H/D - Earth, neutral, positive. 1.8M copper earthing rod. All wiring in conduit.

I may have missed something and will comment further as the build progresses.

Fixed price of 21,000
I must supply globes and "universal plugs".

Orright, compass it is in the suitcase for my next visit - thanks a lot, I've learned something useful.

That Feng Shui is a pain eh? I'm playing around with designs for a new-build we will do, and my wife took a look at my current favourite. No good, cannot have the crapper behind the head of the bed. bugger bugger bugger!

And that reminds me, I meant to ask further up your thread about the little wall you had to put in because of Feng Shui. What's the deal with the doors? Is it when they are directly opposite each other it's a problem, or is just one door being visible from the other that is bad?

Oh and re your total rewire - what's a "universal"? Ta.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by terry57

I'm not going to live forever

Terry Bon Jovi hey?

Terry Mercury more like

Originally Posted by bindog

Orright, compass it is in the suitcase for my next visit - thanks a lot, I've learned something useful.

That Feng Shui is a pain eh? I'm playing around with designs for a new-build we will do, and my wife took a look at my current favourite. No good, cannot have the crapper behind the head of the bed. bugger bugger bugger!

And that reminds me, I meant to ask further up your thread about the little wall you had to put in because of Feng Shui. What's the deal with the doors? Is it when they are directly opposite each other it's a problem, or is just one door being visible from the other that is bad?

Oh and re your total rewire - what's a "universal"? Ta.

There are many types, and they slot in alongside Thai three prong sockets within a frame. I would like THIS:


Here's a triple.

According to she that must be obeyed... doors must not face each other.... Duh!!!

Ennis

^

One day in the next 3 hundred years the Thais may make the great leap forward and actually put on/off switches on every socket.

Sockets are available at Thai Watsadu B110-120 for single B257 double. You can mix with Thai sockets within one frame. They are a "drop in" for an Aussie plug, and quite a few others, including the "Poms".

Ennis

Originally Posted by terry57

^

One day in the next 3 hundred years the Thais may make the great leap forward and actually put on/off switches on every socket.

Totally with you on that one....

^

They are available,

Home Pro sells them, most Thais don't use them as they cost more, same as supplying a decent amount of Power points in each room.

Why do that ? Just run six mile of extension leads through out the house.

Same as Somchai the Electrocutioner not using an Earth wire.

No need, Thai Eltikity different .

Originally Posted by Ennis

Sockets are available at Thai Watsadu B110-120 for single B257 double. You can mix with Thai sockets within one frame. They are a "drop in" for an Aussie plug, and quite a few others, including the "Poms".

Ennis

Didn't know they existed. That's brilliant. Will definitely install a few of those.

Geez mate, two things I've learned today from your thread. I'd better go and watch 'wheel of fortune' or something for the rest of the day, my brain is already full.

Originally Posted by terry57

Thai Eltikity different .

Wasp

Originally Posted by bindog

Originally Posted by Ennis

Sockets are available at Thai Watsadu B110-120 for single B257 double. You can mix with Thai sockets within one frame. They are a "drop in" for an Aussie plug, and quite a few others, including the "Poms".

Ennis

Didn't know they existed. That's brilliant. Will definitely install a few of those.

Geez mate, two things I've learned today from your thread. I'd better go and watch 'wheel of fortune' or something for the rest of the day, my brain is already full.

LOL :-)

Double power Points with on/off switchs available for 300 Baht at Homepro, had a look today when in there.

A shit load cheaper in AUD.

Originally Posted by terry57

One day in the next 3 hundred years the Thais may make the great leap forward and actually put on/off switches on every socket.

Ever the optimist Terry

Time for a few more pics....

This is the beginnings of the wiring... and where our "safety Cut" will be placed.
I have an expat friend who I would (normally) have drawn on for advice as he is a "pommie" electrician. He is unwell at the moment hence, I will probably make some mistakes. HOWEVER, he is the reason why I have had the old "un-earthed" wiring completely removed. Thanks B & W.



In this pic the guy has a piece of conduit. He is using what looks like to me to be a pair of secateurs. He is cutting a "spiral" on the end of the conduit, to go round corners..



An axample of the finished conduit in situ...



More pics tonight......

A couple more pics of land etc.. as it gets cleared....

Towards the bottom of the block.....



Cleared driveway....


This is how the wiring from the street attached to the house.... It will NOT be like this after today (hopefully).



Ennis