Thread: Snowbird house build in LOS

A update on stairs wall, they're going to peg block with rebar then form and pour concrete to finish, here's a drawing daughter sent



White will be wall extension, blue and black is wall and door way to storage under steps



They poured header in wall before cutting in window, now they have concrete and block to cut to install window in bathroom, I guess that's job security



Front bedroom 2nd floor starting to take shape



Looking toward front on 2nd floor

Didn't you consider savings by use of cheap cinder blocks for the many walls inside?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Didn't you consider savings by use of cheap cinder blocks for the many walls inside?

Hi Klondyke, That was left up to the builder when it was bid, we only spec'd the outer walls to be insulated block, I'm thinking there isn't much difference when figuring in the labor on the cinder blocks, I think the insulated block are easier to work with.

Looks like door frames have been varnished / lacquered, ready to be installed

Originally Posted by dennis4558

figuring in the labor on the cinder blocks, I think the insulated block are easier to work with.

Same with both. But the blocks and the mortar cost some 5x more...(included in the "mau")

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Same with both. But the blocks and the mortar cost some 5x more...(included in the "mau")

Klondyke, Too late in the game to change things now, but since most of the block is on bedroom walls which will have AC units it may help with maintaining temps in them.

Little more work done on 2nd floor



Looks like they stopped this wall in the right place for bathroom window



Wall beside stairway, not sure if it's stopping here or gong to the ceiling, I thought we were going to have a railing.





We've got 1 door frame in place on 1st floor front bedroom

Originally Posted by dennis4558

Looks like door frames have been varnished / lacquered, ready to be installed

Build coming along nicely now, Dennis, glad you found solutions to those 'hiccups'!

I am now at the stage of fitting the termite control to zone 3.

What is the wood you are using for the door frames? Maybe you told before and if so, sorry to ask again.

It looks good and I am going to use something similar for the face frame after I have built my kitchen. Is it teak?

Originally Posted by dennis4558

Klondyke, Too late in the game to change things now, but since most of the block is on bedroom walls which will have AC units it may help with maintaining temps in them.

OK, if it is on outer walls and if they are more insulating than a single cinder wall. If more insulating than a double cinder wall with cavity?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

If more insulating than a double cinder wall with cavity?

I guess you would have to research someone that's done a test on that, as for myself I wouldn't know. I'm hoping the insulated block are easier and better to mount too, I'm just familiar with cider block being crap to mount to.

Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp

Is it teak?

Hi TD, good to hear your project is moving forward, yes it is teak, we wanted a lighter shade of teak, don't like the dark colored teak woods, and we're going with a clear varnish, we didn't want to hide the natural wood graining. Now to keep things going we need to get the crews finished with their rice harvest, they left again for a couple days. Builder thinks walls should all be finished by middle of Dec.

Originally Posted by dennis4558

I'm just familiar with cider block being crap to mount to.

In contrast to such prejudices I had realized few such constructions, also swimming pool. One can see around Thailand almost all perimeter walls are built by such crap, still standing straight (and still) after many years. If collapsing due to a soft foundation (or risen by roots of a huge tree), then in its whole entity and length...

Nice report as per the relaying of drawings. As for myself,
I have now to retro fit the fish crib to place the stairs to the upper elevation to the east to clear the dance hall "what I call it based on nothing really.

I find it strange how the east west north south lines play in house layout pertaining to stairs and bed room layout.

BTW, Best of luck with it.

the fish

Nice job, Thanks.

Originally Posted by fishlocker

I find it strange how the east west north south lines play in house layout pertaining to stairs and bed room layout.

Thanks Fish, It all has to do with customs/superstitions, there's a superstition for just about every aspect of the build, and to keep peace you just have to work around it all.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

still standing straight (and still) after many years

Klondyke, I'm not say the wall aren't sturdy, just saying cinder block isn't the most dense material to mount to.

Works are back on site, have a few poor pictures to share



1st floor front bedroom door frame filled in



Center wall for stairs being extended

Denis, i get posters points about aerated blocks but i agree with you ref their use internally, i'll put them throughout when i build to retain/insulate when using aircon. The cost is higher but its marginal in overall terms.

On the build well done to date and it must be hard doing it from a distance and waiting for updates but from what i've read you have been reasonably lucky.

Shout out to Norts for helping out too, he's a gent.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

On the build well done to date and it must be hard doing it from a distance and waiting for updates but from what I've read you have been reasonably lucky.

Thanks NPT, You're right building from afar is a headache, we seem to catch mistakes after they've been made where if I was on site I could catch them before they happen and also talk to the workers so things get done right the first time, I know it's got to be frustrating for them too to have to redo things.

Originally Posted by dennis4558

we seem to catch mistakes after they've been made .

But nothing catastrophic so i think you and the on-site team have done really well. I've not built properly despite having the opportunity for many years because i can't trust the result, i'm too much of a picky bastard and always overspec everything i do. I've plans for a round house so no one can cut corners.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

I've plans for a round house so no one can cut corners.

Good one

And thanks again

Dennis it occurs to me and probably you too that really when assessing your progress and cataloguing diversions from plan that there are two types; 1) i can live with it and change/fix it later without too much angst 2) catastrophic which so alters the plan it has to be fixed immediately.

Looks like you've filtered 2 out which is much as you can hope for in PMing from afar.

Looking great.
Try not to be discouraged by the occasional screw up.
We had a few luckily it wasn't too much $$ to fix stuff before it got to far along.