Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 98

Thread: Our future home

  1. #1
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170

    Our future home

    Well, I've done a couple of posts, like the site. So why not start my own thread here on what I hope will in the next couple years be our new home..

    Bit of background, been in Asia since '98, Singapore first, couple of detours to UK and USA and then settled down in Thailand in 2005.
    Started a local branch for a now large recycling company and it's been growing little by little into a big business.
    Enjoying Thailand, with my Thai wife and 3 kids, we now live in a double shophouse, one as the family home, the other one with my workshop and some extra bedrooms in Pathumthani, close to the expressway into Bangkok.
    My company is now located in HiTech Industrial Estate, just moved there last year.

    The plan is to retire in the next couple years. (hopefully, never know, but it looks good right now).
    My wife's from Petchaburi, so we'll be hunting for land sometime late this year when Covid starts to slowdown.
    Close to the family, the nicest and modest people I've met here, a bit further south to Chaam/Hua Hin.

    I've also started posting this on CTH btw, where I've mostly posted about construction things over the last 10 years or so and where I've learned many valuable lessons on what to do and what not..
    Anyhow, the house..

    With all the houses I've seen built here and on CTH, I must say that it's been extremely useful in getting a plan slowly taking shape. Things to do and not to do, type of materials I want to use, layout. Let's start with a simple list of that:
    - AAC-Block walls
    - Colorbond roof
    - Single level
    - No hallways
    - Light-weight construction
    - Conwood where-ever possible
    - Large windows, double glazed of course.
    - Rainwater collection
    - Solar water heating
    - Solar energy
    - Modular construction

    I've always liked Mediterranean houses. White thick walls, colorful roofs, wooden pergolas.
    At the same time, modern, straight lines, practical, low maintenance are important.
    Overall, the design is efficient in its use of space, minimal hallways, mostly outdoor living space.

    Now, I'm not really good with SketchUp, or other software to design a house, but I am quite ok with wood and tools.
    So instead of the normal process flow: Find architect, explain ideas, let him doodle around, more input, more ideas, etc. I started working out my ideas in a model first.
    Gives me a much better 'feel' for the size, layout, looks. It also made it much easier to get my wife understand my ideas and eventually agree to it. And of course, with my limited command of Thai, I was afraid I'd end up with the toilet hanging off the roof and the kitchen-sink inside the bedroom closet if I'd try to explain my ideas to the architect.
    So off we went, started making some sawdust, glueing, painting and building my house.

  2. #2
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    13,577
    Look forward to the project. Know the HiTech area well. Worked at a factory there. Also worked in PathumThani. Ahhh yes, brings back the flood memories.

    Welcome to TD

  3. #3
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Our future home-img_3775-jpeg

    First day playing around with 2 walls and floor space

    Our future home-img_3786-jpeg

    Adding some paint and a to scale 2m stick to get a feel for the size of the house.
    Our future home-d307c04d-328b-4477-acef-22b86cad245c-jpeg

    Backside added (laundry and bathroom. Visually separated from the main house by a glass block strip.
    Our future home-img_3811-jpeg

    And to make sure sunlight on the front windows is minimal, a pergola added that will block most direct sunshine.

  4. #4
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Our future home-img_3895-jpeg

    The concept is modular. I could add more small or big units as and when I'd like.
    The smaller bedroom-unit has a bathroom in the back.

    Our future home-img_3894-jpeg

    The idea is to have a large natural swimming pool in front of the deck.

    Our future home-img_3893-jpeg

    Some detailing I did inside to get a better feel for how it will look.

    Our future home-img_3892-jpeg

    And a bit more close up

    The model is built to 1:20 scale btw.. See the drawing in the next post for the actual size.
    Last edited by Schuimpge; 28-06-2021 at 09:48 PM.

  5. #5
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    A friend of mine is making the first drawings. Received a message this evening with a rough first layout.

    Estimated cost will be around 2-2.5m THB for the large unit, less than 1m for the bedroom unit.

    Our future home-boss-residence-ok-model-jpeg

    Architect was laughing when he saw the model as it's totally the opposite of what normally happens.
    Sure he was happy with it, making his job a lot easier.

    He's discussing the plans with his contractor to get a first rough estimate on the construction cost.

    That's all for now..
    Cheers,
    Luc

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Palace Far from Worries
    Posts
    14,393
    Looking forward to watch the progress of the build ... thanks for sharing

  7. #7
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:03 PM
    Posts
    24,761
    it is missing the workshop / mancave

  8. #8
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 08:22 AM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,901
    Will be an adventure and learning experience for you and interesting for us to warch the build progress. Thanks for sharing.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    katie23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    PI
    Posts
    6,594
    Wow, a wooden scale model. Kudos to the OP! Best of luck in the build. Will watch this space. Cheers!

  10. #10
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by baldrick View Post
    it is missing the workshop / mancave
    Good point. It's in the plans though, a 'bedroom' unit to be adjusted for that.
    Once we've (finally) bought some land, I'll be able to put a more definite layout on paper.
    There's some friends that have shown interest to take up units as well, and we're thinking to add a few bedroom units for a B&B to generate some income.
    My target for land is about 4 Rai, which would also give me space for some aquaponics farming.
    Becoming as much self-sufficient as possible is a target for the project.

  11. #11
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    Wow, a wooden scale model. Kudos to the OP! Best of luck in the build. Will watch this space. Cheers!
    Well, gotta work with tools that suit you best.. It also helps me as I can adjust and change on the fly.
    My original idea was to have a tile-roof at the front for looks, but I abandoned that due to space constraints for example.
    The deck and pergola is another thing. It's close to scale, but normally the rafters are notched and fall over the supporting beams. A detail I didn't bother to add in the model.
    With a poly carbonate roof and linen sunshade below it, it will be bright but at the same time shaded.
    Battens on top also provide a nice light 'play' on the deck below.

  12. #12
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Will be an adventure and learning experience for you and interesting for us to warch the build progress. Thanks for sharing.
    Lol.. Indeed.. 'the experience'... Well at least, I did 2 full house renovations here, and learned many things I will try to avoid with building our house.
    One of them being to use a construction company that knows how to build a proper house.

    Currently, the plans will be reviewed and a cost/BOM done by a Bangkok based architect/construction company.
    Some staff in that company and my friend where all in the same year/class at university.
    Met 3 of them in Vietnam when I was at my Hanoi office for work, young and enthusiast guys.

    Here's a reference from his company: House COVE(R) / TOUCH Architect | ArchDaily
    To make it into Archdaily is always a good thing of course...lol.
    Lots of nice ideas and projects shown in there for inspiration..

    Time is on our side, but I'm quite impatient when it comes to taking up a project..want to finish something and then start the next thing.
    Will be forced to learn to be patient though.. no choice..

  13. #13
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    JPPR2, yes, the flooding... memories indeed. We had just finished the Reno on our house. Lucky we decided on a concrete kitchen, so we just took out the wooden doorframes and equipment..
    Our son was in Petchaburi and we decided to stay and take care the house, fish and stuff.
    Amazing experience, especially how the few neighbors still staying in the village all banded together and taking care of each other..
    Our company had a record 2012 because of the floods and many of those customers are still with us to this day..
    It literally lifted our company to the next level and many of the staff we hired January 2012 to help clean up and restart are also still with us today.

  14. #14
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:03 PM
    Posts
    24,761
    Quote Originally Posted by Schuimpge View Post
    that knows how to build a proper house
    I would also suggest having active, neutral and earth pulled to all outlets and switches - not having the neutral at lights and fan switches can be a problem if you decide to fit smart devices later

    and get cat6 run everywhere - much easier to do it during the build and it is cheap

  15. #15
    Freelance Astronaut
    Thai Dhupp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Last Online
    23-02-2024 @ 12:36 AM
    Location
    Thailand...just Thailand!
    Posts
    2,103
    Good luck with it!

    I'm looking forward to sitting back and following this tale.

    So... flat roofs - a couple of reasons why it may not be such a good idea:

    1. water will sit on it rather than running away. if theres a place to leak in, that water will find it!
    2. The roof sits, baking in the sun all day, and that heat radiating down from it has to go somewhere. With a flat roof, the roof void, if any will be small and heat will accumulate. a pitch roof / heat rises / vents and air flow through it can solve a lot of this problem. A pitched roof show less 'face' to the sun at any one time

    Seems like you are giving this a lot of forethought what with your model n' all so maybe you already have a plan for heat and water ingress?

    Anyway Schuimpge
    ...bring it on - we all love a build thread!

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last Online
    30-04-2022 @ 02:44 AM
    Posts
    11,204
    Quote Originally Posted by Schuimpge View Post
    few bedroom units for a B&B to generate some income.
    Your inlaws could move in for free...

  17. #17
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 01:18 PM
    Location
    Ubon Ratchathani
    Posts
    394
    Quote Originally Posted by Schuimpge View Post
    A friend of mine is making the first drawings. Received a message this evening with a rough first layout.

    Estimated cost will be around 2-2.5m THB for the large unit, less than 1m for the bedroom unit.

    Our future home-boss-residence-ok-model-jpeg

    Architect was laughing when he saw the model as it's totally the opposite of what normally happens.
    Sure he was happy with it, making his job a lot easier.

    He's discussing the plans with his contractor to get a first rough estimate on the construction cost.

    That's all for now..
    Cheers,
    Luc
    2.5m baht for a one bedroom place, and another million for the second unit, seems a bit pessimistic at first glance but when you go back to your list of requirements I guess it adds up :
    AAC-Block walls
    - Colorbond roof
    - Single level
    - No hallways
    - Light-weight construction
    - Conwood where-ever possible
    - Large windows, double glazed of course.
    - Rainwater collection
    - Solar water heating
    - Solar energy
    - Modular construction

    Do you have any idea how much the extras like solar energy and water heating, double glazing etc have added to the cost ? If the walls have been costed using Q-con prices rather than the equivalent TPI/Diamond blocks that could easily be 50% more for no real gain.
    And of course the cost depends on the fittings you choose ...a toilet for a couple of thousand, or a hi-tech "Japanese" automatic one for 100x that !
    Anyway, best of luck for the project,

  18. #18
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    13,577
    Quote Originally Posted by Schuimpge View Post
    yes, the flooding... memories indeed
    My wife now and I had bailed out of the area but my BIL was stuck. I have some crazy pictures. We were wheeling in water and supplies to them with water coming in the door sils. At one point the only way to them was military 6Xs. I remember all the Pig and Duck farmers had moved their livestock to the over passes.

    The company had gone 4 ft under water in HiTech industrial park. Millions lost in inventory.

    Fortunately Hitech now has that big levy around it so if that deal should happen again, all in their is safe.

  19. #19
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2 View Post
    My wife now and I had bailed out of the area but my BIL was stuck. I have some crazy pictures. We were wheeling in water and supplies to them with water coming in the door sils. At one point the only way to them was military 6Xs. I remember all the Pig and Duck farmers had moved their livestock to the over passes.

    The company had gone 4 ft under water in HiTech industrial park. Millions lost in inventory.

    Fortunately Hitech now has that big levy around it so if that deal should happen again, all in their is safe.
    We where in Navanakorn at the time. Had about 120cm inside the factory, 2 meters at the gate. Went there 2x during that period. First time it took us a full day, 8am wading to the main road, long tail boat to Rangsit, 6-wheel truck to Navankorn and from there our security company had arranged a motor-boat to the factory (Free Trade Zone).
    Sit on top of the fence/wall, pictures, go back again.. Sightseeing tour around Nava.. what a mess there..
    Military truck back to Nantana Garden/Punsab Market. Back home 7pm.

    We had electricity and water throughout the floods and our house was properly wired up during the Reno. ripped out all wires, replaced the breaker unit with an industrial unit, and everything properly grounded.
    Otherwise we'd sure would have left as well.

    When it comes to that flood wall around HiTech, I wouldn't place any bets on it. Can't even see it anymore, all grown over.
    Navanakorn did a marvelous job. Sheet piling all around, 3 meters high and 4 meters into the ground.. And even then there where companies inside who didn't trust (or there insurance companies didn't) that and put in even higher sheet piling walls around their own factory..Looks like a giant prison..lol.

    Rohm in Nava continued working throughout the floods. They had a bunch of pontoons to move stock, staff, supplies.
    Their first floor was flooded, but 2nd floor was operational. Quite a feat.

    And indeed, the express way next door, was one big parking lot.

    Cheers,
    Luc

  20. #20
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by Thai Dhupp View Post
    Good luck with it!

    I'm looking forward to sitting back and following this tale.

    So... flat roofs - a couple of reasons why it may not be such a good idea:

    1. water will sit on it rather than running away. if theres a place to leak in, that water will find it!
    2. The roof sits, baking in the sun all day, and that heat radiating down from it has to go somewhere. With a flat roof, the roof void, if any will be small and heat will accumulate. a pitch roof / heat rises / vents and air flow through it can solve a lot of this problem. A pitched roof show less 'face' to the sun at any one time

    Seems like you are giving this a lot of forethought what with your model n' all so maybe you already have a plan for heat and water ingress?

    Anyway Schuimpge
    ...bring it on - we all love a build thread!
    Good points TD,.. roof is sloping to the back, though the minimum required for a colorbond roof.. Backsides will have gutters to collect rainwater.
    Your second point is sure valid. Trying to avoid that with the PU-Foam backing, insulation materials on top of the ceiling and likely some sort of venting at the front.
    It's still design phase, so those problems need to be tackled when we start with the constructions drawing and of course with input from the architect.
    Might be as simple as an extractor fan that pulls the hot air into a pipe hidden in the 1m thick side walls. Then have that coming out at the back-side.

    Cheers,
    Luc

  21. #21
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRealKW View Post
    Your inlaws could move in for free...
    Lol.. the average Falang nightmare..

    We actually tried to persuade my wife's parents to move in with her sister a couple of times, but they refuse.
    They're well into their 70's, still running some small business selling coconut deserts and they refuse to stop.
    Aside from that, they have lived in the same small community for well over 50 years and enjoy their lives their.
    Other relatives are all equally great people. Always welcoming and enjoying if we're heading down there.
    Lovely people, as are the sisters and brother of my wife, all working hard and supplying for their own families.

    We help with extras whenever we can, but not once has any one of them asked us for money or help.

    I might be lucky on that front.. but sure appreciate having a great family.

  22. #22
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by baldrick View Post
    I would also suggest having active, neutral and earth pulled to all outlets and switches - not having the neutral at lights and fan switches can be a problem if you decide to fit smart devices later

    and get cat6 run everywhere - much easier to do it during the build and it is cheap
    Good point on the neutral wires. Will keep that in mind! Thanks..
    Cat6. yep, sure thing.. wireless is still crap..

    Cheers,
    Luc

  23. #23
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Quote Originally Posted by mikenot View Post
    Do you have any idea how much the extras like solar energy and water heating, double glazing etc have added to the cost ? If the walls have been costed using Q-con prices rather than the equivalent TPI/Diamond blocks that could easily be 50% more for no real gain.
    And of course the cost depends on the fittings you choose ...a toilet for a couple of thousand, or a hi-tech "Japanese" automatic one for 100x that !
    Anyway, best of luck for the project,
    Thanks for the comments Mikenot..
    Solar Water heating is about 80k I estimate for a 150 liter tank. I paid something like 50k 10 years ago for the 'workshop-house' with a 120 liter tank.
    Solar system might be around 250k max for 3-4kW system with PEA backup power.
    If going with battery, then add another 250k for batteries.

    Our company provides batteries for solar systems, new and build from recovered Li-Ion car battery packs. So I'm sure going to try and get a good deal with them.
    We've just opened a large battery recycling facility in Singapore and are in the planning stages to get our HiTech factory on Solar and Battery backup power.
    That will give me some good info over the next 2 years on what I'm going to do there.

    Overall, I don't have detailed pricing yet. That's now being done.
    Don't know the TPI/Diamond blocks.. Need to look that up.
    Fittings, yes sure.. a 25k shower head and a 100k Japanese toilet with massage spray quickly get stuff out of control..
    I appreciate high quality stuff, but in many cases, I always feel its wasted money here in Thailand. Somehow, they always find a way to:
    a. Make a mess of installing it
    b. Somehow break it when they don't know how to use it.
    So that kind of things will be in a normal price-range, no super-expensive branded stuff, but at the same time, no cheap china brand.

    Just to add, first ballpark figure given by the architect after seeing the model: 18 to 20k p/square meter.
    No talks yet on what is included in that price though..
    guess fully build with standard fittings but excluding kitchen.

    cheers,
    Luc
    Last edited by Schuimpge; 29-06-2021 at 08:20 PM.

  24. #24
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    Checked TPI Diamond Blocks. Looks like Qcon blocks.
    Price for a standard 70mm thick block is 16 Baht at OneStockHome..
    Looks to be about the same as Qcon?

    Didn't do any serious material pricing yet, so I might be wrong.

  25. #25
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last Online
    28-11-2023 @ 02:31 PM
    Posts
    170
    One more detail.. Large windows.

    It's always nice to see those large floor to ceiling sliding doors.
    But that would cost a tremendous amount of money, which I'm not willing to spend.
    So I've specified standard sized windows and frames, but double glazed.
    Fits within the style I'm trying to achieve as well.

    Conwood part, same again. Low maintenance, lower cost and no termite problems.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •