Thread: Aussie Style House Build

Originally Posted by peciacake

couple of crime gangs in the local area running yabba etc that are definitely trouble, so I can see her point to an extent.

See herein lies the problem. It was always viewed that if you put up bars on windows or big steel screens you have something of value you are trying to protect. Like adding a safe. IMHO in this day and age, CCTV's and motion activated lights are a far better deterrent against people trying to break and enter to hurt you or steal. My wife used to be a bit concerned of "Intruders" early on but with the add of CCTV she never even thinks about it and of course our 4 dogs create a stir with anything entering the yard. I also believe being our living area is on the 2nd floor, it would make a break in quite a challenge.

Knock on wood, our place is in an older mooban and everybody knows everybody and if someone broke in and took something from someone I guarantee that our Grand Poobah leader would be on the PA system making an announcement about it.

Originally Posted by Norton

Whoa, those look pricey.

I looked at a similar product when we moved in.

A quick mental estimate led me to conclude that mesh on every window would cost almost as much as I'd paid for the land and house.

We got burgled 20+ years ago and anyone who robbed us these days would struggle to afford a blowout meal for two afterwards, anyway.

Originally Posted by Norton

Buy screens that keep out insects and a shotgun.

I like that Norton. Albeit knowing Yuri, she'd want to be in charge of the shotgun...

Progress Update 26.06.23

Definitely in the home straight this week, with lots of finishing off taking place around the whole house.
The guest bathroom is complete and the on-suite bathroom is close to completion: Kohler are due to come and install the vanity, then it will be finished. Khun Pu's team could do the job, but the price included installation, so for peace of mind (warranty) we opted for Kohler to come and do the install in early July.

The following images are from the on-suite:

Bath looking good. The shelf being just right for a glass of what ever you fancy. And yes, it fits two comfortably.

On-suite toilet tucked away around the corner

More to follow

Progress Update 26.06.23 - Pt 2

The painters arrived this morning and were straight into it, putting a second coat on the interior and exterior walls and sealing the doors with a clear epoxy. We were too late in advising Khun Pu of wanting the doors sealed with Teak oil - the painters on site early today before we had a chance to talk with Pu. They reassured us three coats of clear epoxy will be more than adequate to keep the door surface sealed and looking good for many years.

Front doors looking good - two more coats to go,

Back door with first coat of Buffalo H&W Wood Coating

Progress Update 26.06.23 - Pt 3Water system just about finished:

Water tank install this afternoon: Khun Pu and Chang Nhy discussing pipework position while Project Manager Yuri looks on. Pu has provided all components - I priced them separately and his price including installation pleasingly came in below Global House and Thai Watsadu's components only prices.

Settlement tanks in place and ready to have the outflow pipes and settlement pits installed. The fibre cement pipes and settlement pits will be dug in Tuesday 27.06.23

Coming together nicely, Pecia.

Originally Posted by peciacake

On-suite toilet tucked away around the corner

Originally Posted by peciacake

More to follow

That's the whole idea with it


Looking good

Looking good! Thanks for the info about the screen doors gentlemen!

Originally Posted by peciacake

the painters on site early today before we had a chance to talk with Pu.

Mendip simply loves stripping wood, invite him over for ya dong and pea fritters and he'll be all over them, he'll oil them too

Progress Update 30.06.23 - Painters

A lot of activity over the last four days. The painters finished their work yesterday and they did a top job. We were concerned about paint drops and splashes on the floor however they made sure the floor was left spotless. These guys are all over 55 and work like trojans - nothing was too much trouble for them in dealing with SWMBO. The teak doors were originally getting three coats. On request, they increased it to 4 and left us 2 litres to do another 3 coats once the first coats have hardened up.

Some samples of their work:

Front doors - I know I've already posted an image of these but we're both really happy with the look of the doors

Sliding door to the guest bedroom









































Further updates below

Progress Update 30.06.23 Pt 2: Waste Water System

Koh Kay Constructions included 25 metres of waste water pipes and settlement pits in the build price. Ended up we needed 95 metres. I was expecting the variation to be approx 50,000 THB for the additional 70 metres. It was a pleasant but not unexpected surprise for Khun Pu to charge an additional 35,000 THB. He continues to impress in every aspect of the build, from build quality to the way he approaches variations. We are very pleased with his approach, so much so we paid the final instalment yesterday despite there being work in progress: his workers deserve the reward for the effort they've put in, particularly Chang Nhy.

The following are from today:

Waste water pipes across the back of the house

Nhy doing the lion's share of the hard work, as he always does, while his sidekick the statue watches on. A lovely guy, but would not work in an iron lung.

More on progress to date below

Progress Update 30.06.23 Pt 3: Water Filter

We were initially going to do the water filter system ourselves based on a spec provided by a mate in AUS, but after asking Khun Pu for a price it was a no-brainer to have him do the job. The village has just had a large scale water filter system built which replicates the filtration method of ours: activated carbon & resin. We tossed up whether to proceed with installing our own filter system but who knows how well maintained the new village system will be? It incorporates a large bypass line which worried me - if the filters aren't serviced it will automatically go into bypass mode, so we opted to run with our own system, installed by Khun Pu.

The filters, pump & tank. Roof to be installed in the near future.

And the the village filtration system on the other side of the fence. Our place is the first connection after the filter plant.

Originally Posted by peciacake

Progress Update 30.06.23 Pt 3: Water Filter

We were initially going to do the water filter system ourselves based on a spec provided by a mate in AUS, but after asking Khun Pu for a price it was a no-brainer to have him do the job. The village has just had a large scale water filter system built which replicates the filtration method of ours: activated carbon & resin. We tossed up whether to proceed with installing our own filter system but who knows how well maintained the new village system will be? It incorporates a large bypass line which worried me - if the filters aren't serviced it will automatically go into bypass mode, so we opted to run with our own system, installed by Khun Pu.

The filters, pump & tank. Roof to be installed in the near future.

And the the village filtration system on the other side of the fence. Our place is the first connection after the filter plant.

We recently had a tank/pump/filter system installed, as severe problems with both pressure and poor filtration. I put a cartridge filter in as the first step, to remove most of the sediments etc, before going through the carbon/resin filter. The actual cartridge is stainless, and I wash it and the housing internals around every two weeks, backwashing the carbon/resin filter at the same time. Not seeing any unions in either side of the filters, so you're going to have to cut the pipe to remove them for topping up/replacing the medium (nor an isolation valve to do so).

Theives love somewhere to hide and if it near a window or door that is the point they will attempt to access the house.

Also dark areas are a magnet for theives so make sure your home outer perimeter is well lit.

I have a 1 kg terrier cross dog and she barks if there is something happening around our boundrary.

i also have a 50 kg pit-bull who will savage anyone who tries to enter the property.

Heaps of lights, which can be solar charged, as well of clearing all the plants around your house will lesson the chance of home intrusion.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I have a 1 kg terrier cross dog and she barks

i'm not surprised she's cross mate, you need to feed her more

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Heaps of lights, which can be solar charged, as well of clearing all the plants around your house will lesson the chance of home intrusion.

Indeed. We have many solar lights around our place and many are motion activated which triggers the cameras. We also have no plants / shrubs against the dwelling, they are all separated by a full width walkway. But again in fairness all our living area is upstairs with only one way in unless someone slams a ladder against the house in an attempt to get in which really will not work as the dogs would already be going bonkers in the kennel. Downstairs is all open underneath sans the family room which has nothing of value in it. That said though, a single level home you clearly have to consider things a bit differently if you are worried about intruders.

Originally Posted by Stumpy

downstairs is all open underneath sans the family room which has nothing of value in it

That beer fridge is awfully tempting

She's a terrior and will fight well above her weight

And as she is fed regularly she is never cross.

Anyway, instead of installing cameras and guards make sure your house perimeter is clear of trees amd plants and there is a good chance no thief will try to enter your property.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

That beer fridge is awfully tempting

Oh...thats the pool bar and I have that rigged with C4. They might open it thinking that they hit the jack pot but its short lived. I'd sooner buy a new fridge and re stock then let some fkr nic my beer while I was gone...

Originally Posted by PAG

We recently had a tank/pump/filter system installed

I see a brass one-way valve in the corner. I put one in so that when the village water fails the system won't drain back into the street supply. Cheap and useful. Of course the main tank fills from the top so it's not like we'd lose all our water anyway.

Originally Posted by PAG

Not seeing any unions in either side of the filters

Thank you for your observation and comment re unions. Please note the installation was still a work in progress when I took this photo - see tools, pipe fittings etc scattered around the tank base.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

make sure your house perimeter is clear of trees amd plants

Good advice Loy Toy. We've a 500 metre perimeter fence (topped with two strands of razor sharp barbed wire), 200 metres of which has vegetation and trees on bordering properties right up against the fence . There will be two dogs on permanent guard duty. We're on the look out now for a couple of Thai Bangkaew breed pups. Great snake catchers and absolutely fearless guard dogs. Did I mention we've plenty of snakes for neighbours...

Originally Posted by peciacake

Good advice Loy Toy. We've a 500 metre perimeter fence (topped with two strands of razor sharp barbed wire), 200 metres of which has vegetation and trees on bordering properties right up against the fence . There will be two dogs on permanent guard duty. We're on the look out now for a couple of Thai Bangkaew breed pups. Great snake catchers and absolutely fearless guard dogs. Did I mention we've plenty of snakes for neighbours...

Damn! Will call ahead before arrival for your house warming.