Thread: Baanpong House Build

Nice build, I've been trying to read to see what my wife and I are getting ourselves into. My wife bought a lot in Roiet, presently they are adding fill so it will be ready this October when we will be back there. She presently has 2 townhouse that she is selling, one is ready to sell the other needs lots of work, that'll be my job when we're there.

I seen earlier in your thread about using pea gravel concrete surface does anyone know the additional cost to do that?

Sorry Dennis, no idea of the cost of pea gravel concrete.. I guess I will find out when we come to lay some of the stuff.

Work is a bit slow on site right now, just adding some finishing touches to the roof structure, a bit of welding and painting, plus installing the fascia before the roof tiles turn up:



As I say, all a bit boring, so here's a picture of some beer and grass:

Originally Posted by jonnyenglish

all a bit boring,

Not boring at all JE. Enjoy these moments, I sure did. Its nice to take a big step back.

Enjoying yer thread mate, crack on

A few days ago a truck turned up and offloaded the roof tiles:



The following day I turned up to the site in the late afternoon as I had heard from several people in the village that the roof was pretty much up already... a team of about 12 lads had done 80% in a day.



Starting to look like a house now. The roof is visible from across the valley, but owing to the choice of colour and variation of tone effect of the tiles, it blends in pretty well with the surrounding landscape and local people are telling me that it looks nice. (phew!).



The next day the remaining tiles and all the ridge tiles were placed, but haven't taken a shot yet, will include in next update in a couple of days.

looking good.

Looking very nice, love your background view, I couldn't get the wife to buy land out of town (city girl) so we have a lot in Roiet that we'll be building on, maybe start this Oct. or next year, depends on what it looks like when we get there in Oct.

Hey Dennis, sounds like you'll have to leave the hills in the boonies to us bumpkins then

Still, if ever you are over in Chiang Mai, pop over to Baanpong, On Tai, Sankampaeng.

OK, here's a shot of the house looking a bit tidier with the ridge tiles in place.

Next up is more building of internal walls, installation of the ceilings (plus hopefully boxing-in of major steelwork beams) then fitting of windows and door frames.

Starting to take shape jonny. Before they inclose the crawlway under the floor suggest you put in some tubing for termite control. Maybe too late but these guys are pretty good. Friend uses them in Roiet. They have n branch in CM. Have them come out and have a look re the tubing needed in foundation.

Termite Guard System | Rentokil Pest Control Thailand

You're not too far from our land in Mai On, we're just up 1317 with Crazy Horse in the background.

Originally Posted by runker

You're not too far from our land in Mai On, we're just up 1317 with Crazy Horse in the background.

Well 'Howdy neighbour'!..

I'm jealous of the view, I grew up in the country so really like the open space. Thanks for the invite, my wife's got a brother that lives close to Chiang Rai so we may give you a shout when we get up there. House looks very nice.

Originally Posted by jonnyenglish

I'm leaving the crawlspace open in any case

Good idea. Let the air curculate.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by jonnyenglish

I'm leaving the crawlspace open in any case

Good idea. Let the air curculate.

Yes it is Norton, avoid it becoming dark and damp. A termite and ant paradise because everything is soft. Plus the mold around the exposed cement.

Progress over the past few days has been pretty good.

Some foundations have been put in, plus forms put up for rear steps and small platform outside back door.

Hardwood frames for doors and windows arrived and were positioned in place ready for setting with concrete surrounds.

Bricklaying continues, and yet again the importance of daily site visits is illustrated by the fact that the brickies had put up the two bathroom walls in the wrong place, the result of which was that the doorways for both bathrooms would have opened right next to the toilets.

Luckily they hadn't put in any concrete lintels over the brickwork, so knocking them down and repositioning wasn't a big deal. Now in their correct place, the first thing you see when entering the bathrooms will be the sinks and windows instead, much more inviting in my opinion, and also what was shown on the flippin' plans in the first place!!

Following are a couple of shots showing approach to the house with wooden frames in and brickwork going up in one day:

Morning:



Evening:



Will post more shots of the rest of the house when remaining brickwork is in place, as it's all a bit unclear right now... still, getting there. Just need some more finances, donations accepted!

What are your plans for the space that is set back a few inches from the concrete posts?

Originally Posted by runker

What are your plans for the space that is set back a few inches from the concrete posts?

If you are referring to the space on the right hand side of the building, there is a flight of steps to go in yet, these are the main steps up to a raised covered veranda/walkway that runs the length of the building.

Quick sketch:

ahhh.. just re-read your post Runker old bean, I missed the 'inches' bit of your text..

The reasoning behind the set-back areas of wall is:

1) I hate flat featureless walls
2) I don't need double thickness walls all over the house, but equally didn't want to see the concrete posts inside the building
3) As the posts are outside the building and the windows are either side of each wall, not in the middle, I created double skinned wall surrounds for the windows. This hides the posts somewhat, plus makes a structural statement of the windows and allows me to have windows sills and decent depth to the walls surrounding the window frames. I can then install venetian blinds that sit inside the window space rather than flapping about against a flat thin wall with a minimal sill.
4) the whole exterior will be rendered, the recesses on the wall will add interest.

The past week or so has been mostly brickwork, but also adding lintels and surrounds to door and window spaces. Starting to get a real feel of how the space is going to look when finished.

View of house as one would approach if one was a dodgy character hiding in the shrubbery.



Eventually the pond edges and margins will be lushly planted out with rushes and reeds, Canna Lilies, ferns etc, much less grass, things like flowering bushes, yukkas, and some coconut trees for interest and heliconia all round the house.



Now we have steps! Notice the seriously dodgy brickwork going on around those windows. Have no fear, this is a trial piece done by a young bloke in the team, he was stopped and put to other tasks. It might be taken down, or just covered up, either way I'm not bothered as it's not structural anyhow.



Panoramic view of interior from front door. It really is much more spacious than this photo makes it look, in fact the house feel twice the size inside than it looks from the outside... I've created a Tardis!



View of garden from one of the bifold door/window openings in the lounge.



That's all for now.Next up will be installing the ceiling system.

No idea what is going on after that, could be exterior rendering, could be putting in conduits for electrics, or plumbing, who knows?! (not me that's for sure!)

Looking really good. Nice space inside. The views will be great.

Originally Posted by Vettronics

Looking really good. Nice space inside. The views will be great.

Cheers V, it's coming along OK, although currently I'm having to scrape together the final installment (owing to a business venture I was involved in going for a burton), so my focus is rather on getting the beans together to pay for the build to completion, whilst trying to reassure 'er indoors that all will be well in the end!

I however can envisage the finished thing, right down to furnishings and lighting, plus me parking my arse on a comfy chair looking at those views with a sundowner in hand.

Great view out of lounge, looks like it's coming along slow but sure.

You will get there. Coming along really nice. A few beers looking at the views and grounds will make it all worth it. All the Best.