Thread: Building our Retirement Home in Nan Province

Rendered wall in the master bedroom. Had a nice look and feel to it today after 48 hours of curing.

The first outside cement rendering was underway today on the level 1 covered deck.

Electrical wiring coming on nicely. I'm not sure whether the build team or more likely a specific electrician is doing this work. I've not actually seen it being done, but the progress is there.

I'm pleased with the way the electric work is being done.

Oops! Think someone was a little heavy handed on the electrical prep. Suspect the two bricks on the floor are for a repair. As I've said previously in the blog if I was in Australia I'd be going off and be upset this had happened. But I'm in Thailand and I'm comfortable that this type of issue will be repaired, it will be structurally sound and no one will ever know there was once a hole there.

We'll visit the site next on either Thursday or Friday (8th or 9th). Hoping to be there when the kitchen folks from Phrae turn up to do their pre-installation site inspection. (Actually it is likely a pre-manufacture site inspection.) Regards, BiP.

Land Available near Pua, Nan Province

I've become aware that Mark our builder has a relative with land for sale near our land. It is just over a rai, closer to Pua than our land and a bit lower down to the rice fields but with good views back to the mountains. There is good road access and apparently in addition to making a nice place to build a home, has commercial potential for a cafe/restaurant/etc. I know the vicinity of the land and seen photos but haven't actually see it first hand. It is available for sale via a third party but the owner also has the right to sell direct. Likely price somewhere in the 2-3m baht range. PM if you have an interest in being connected to our builder. I've no financial or other beneficial interest in any subsequent transaction.

My daughter, her husband and their two kids visited us in mid-October from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. My granddaughter now just turned three fell in love with some ceramic ducks at a coffee shop half way between Santisuk and Nan on top of a ridge with very scenic views. To the extent we had to go back a second day. She was giving them names and picked up a leaf to brush ants off them. We talked to the owner and tracked down the shop she purchased them from only to learn they were no longer available. Yesterday we found a tired and dusty shop in Nan on the other side of the river and while not the same, they had six ducks of two different types that were similar enough. Had to get them and only 700 baht. The daughter and family are coming back in May and hopefully my granddaughter will not have grown out of loving ceramic ducks.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

I'm pleased with the way the electric work is being done.

Nice neat trunking - good reflection on the builder I think. you too have found a 'little gem'!

There are plenty of nice handicrafted things in Ban Tawai near Chiang Mai:

My God Klondyke, don't let my wife see this! But maybe I should get something for the grandson, he'll be 17 months in May, Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by Klondyke

There are plenty of nice handicrafted things in Ban Tawai near Chiang Mai:

Yep TD, think I'll find out later in the week who is doing this work. As I said I'm not sure if it is someone or someones in the build team or someone else, presumably an electrician Mark has contracted. Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp

Nice neat trunking - good reflection on the builder I think. you too have found a 'little gem'!

Bit of a generalisation but the women do work hard, seem more reliable too. I Nepal, same same and i always employed women where i could - they were more honest, kids etc seems to have that effect, more to lose i suppose. Build is coming along great BiP

I like all of our build team and yes the ladies certainly hold their own. As I said previously I'm yet to see any of the build team slacking off when we visit. They are always busy and doing something productive. I think it reflects a few things, they seem largely a team that has worked together previously, they individually know what they are doing day to day, they work hard and someone, whether it is Mark, his supervisor and/or who I think the team foreman is, they are keeping them organized. It would be hard for me to be happier with these folks. Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

Bit of a generalisation but the women do work hard, seem more reliable too. I Nepal, same same and i always employed women where i could - they were more honest, kids etc seems to have that effect, more to lose i suppose. Build is coming along great BiP

Seems to be the biggest challenge in building in Thailand, a good and reliable construction team so well done for finding one and all the best for the rest of the build.

When thinking about a gate sliding opener, I can recommend to buy in Global House the Foresee machine, 10,000 Baht (+ something for accessories). I have had this over 8 years on 2 locations, one with very heavy frequency every day, another installed for friends, also no problem over years. The tiny remote controller works over 60 meters. Seing in Internet that the same type is marketed in UK.

Other types sold by other shops are mainly more than of double price.

We went with our builder because he had a good reputation and we believed we could trust him. I think he has used this build team previously and maybe they have contributed to his good reputation. And I've got to admit, we got lucky. Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

Seems to be the biggest challenge in building in Thailand, a good and reliable construction team so well done for finding one and all the best for the rest of the build.

Thanks Klondyke, not quite sure how to say this because it will likely confirm I'm a bit different...we are not going to have any sliding or automatic gate. It will be a get out of the car, unlock and swing it open variety, the type where you want someone with you, particularly if it is raining. Regards, - BiP

Originally Posted by Klondyke

When thinking about a gate sliding opener, I can recommend to buy in Global House the Foresee machine, 10,000 Baht (+ something for accessories). I have had this over 8 years on 2 locations, one with very heavy frequency every day, another installed for friends, also no problem over years. The tiny remote controller works over 60 meters. Seing in Internet that the same type is marketed in UK.

Other types sold by other shops are mainly more than of double price.

Site Visit 7 November 2018

Still bored so headed out to the home site again this morning. On the way saw the first mechanized rice harvester making its way north of Nan so perhaps the switch from manual to mechanical rice harvesting will be commencing. Had an upsetting trip though as a dog was run over by the vehicle in front of us. It dodged a small pickup but didn't see the close following delivery van. Back half of it went under the rear left double wheels and left it immobilized and in severe pain. I love dogs and while I'm yet to see the charms of soi dogs, Thai dog breeds and domesticated but unsupervised dogs in Thailand, it was distressing to see this incident.

Once again there was little progress to see from the outside front of the house but there was a lot inside. The brick laying now appears complete, more electrical work on level 1 and prep for same on level 2, more completed cement rendering and a lot more of that happening while we were there. There were 11-12 folks on site plus the builder's supervisor. Four ladies today. We also confirmed there is an electrician doing the electrical work, not the core build team. We've paid 35% of the contract price to date and paid another 10% today.

On the way back to Nan I decided to make a change request in regards the electrical work and have the ability to connect a portable electrical generator to the house if there is a need. The wife called our builder to discuss and I followed up with a confirming LINE message. When I borrowed the wife's mobile to send the LINE message I noticed his name is Mart, not Mark. Felt slightly embarrassed to have not known that. It appears my wife knew the correct name but that I misunderstood when she told me months back. So from now on it is Mart the builder.

Still very happy with the progress and quality. Likely next visit will be 9 or 10 November.

Some electrical work in the master bedroom.

More electrical work in the master bedroom.

This is in the kitchen where the electrical switchbox will be located.

The wife checking out the wall finish on the level 1 covered deck.

Looking west along the level 1 covered deck. High window into the kitchen, then the sliding doors into the dining room and then the end window into the master bedroom.

Plumbing for the level 2 bathroom 4 above, seen from inside the level 1 bathroom 2.

I'm going to go out on a limb and describe this as screeding. Certainly that is what I would call it for the similar task on a concrete pour.