Thread: Aussie Style House Build

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

but if I was the Op I would eliminate the bathtub all together. Very few people ever use them.

I fully agree. Bathtubs here in Thailand are simply not used. They sound like a good idea but like BB said even in the states tubs are not used very much and take up a lot of space. IMHO If you want a place to relax in a big tub type environment, purchase or have a Jacuzzi built that stays outside and can hold more people if need be.

Originally Posted by mikenot

If you have ever listened to the home stylists on "The Block" you should never be able to see the toilet directly from the door,

Interesting. Never heard that before. I had to think about that and every house I have ever been in both here and in the states the toilet has always been visible from the door. I have not seen a partition set up to hide the toilet unless at a public restroom but I think we all know why that is required.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

Good suggestion. but if I was the Op I would eliminate the bathtub all together. Very few people ever use them.

My kids use our bath weekly or me.

Me? I maybe use it once a year, but when I do it's nice to have.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

When does the project officially begin?

Hi JP,
We're meeting with the builder today to finalise the start date in December. Not too fussed when in December although I'm sure the mother in-law will give Yuri some dates to keep the spirits happy.
Agree with your comments on the feedback too. Very grateful for the input as my housebuilding experience can be summarised in detail on the back of a postage stamp.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Have a chat with the Boss about the location of the Buddha spirit house shrine (assuming she wants one)

Morning Dave, no little house I'm afraid. We're both heathens. We'll rely on our proximity to the Wat across the road to keep us safe / prevent the spirits from stealing our souls.

Originally Posted by mikenot

....as previously mentioned the front and back doors are facing each other

Morning Mike, we're both non-believers, so no worries regarding the door alignment. It's purposely done that way to optimise the breezeway effect.
Kitchen space is okay - there is an island bench not shown on the builder's pictorial rendering.
Appreciate the thought you've put in to the layout though - please keep them coming as I'm a great believer in looking at things from different perspectives to gain a better outcome.

Originally Posted by Saint Willy

ya sound a tad troppo to be honest

Fair suck of the Sav Willy. Crikey, you make it sound like I'm a bloody Jesuit Monk.
Far kurnell mate. I didn't say I didn't like strong beer. It's just that after three IPA's @ +7% ABV I'm buggered. Staying @ 5% lets me enjoy at least six or seven before I fall off me perch.
Salt water pools are just as much maintenance as chlorine - not gunna find this little black duck worshipping the swimming pool gods every day.
BBQ's are great - leaning over a hot grill in 38 degree / 85% humidity while creating burnt offerings. Yep, just great. I'll stay inside and have six or so 5% beers where it's nice and cool in the air con thanks cobber.
I knew you were from Melbin - it's that funny accent of yours. Kultured like you say.

For those non-Aussies reading this that need a translation, let me know and I'll explain...

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Humm, if you have the time, I warmly suggest you have a peruse of this ... An Isaan Pond

Thanks Dave, the water table problem Mendip came across may also be a problem at our land given we're adjacent to the town reservoir. Will be putting in a couple of test bores first.
Unfortunately the videos on your Life On The Farm post are unavailable. On this laptop anyway. I'll see if I can view them on my desk top PC later this afternoon

Originally Posted by David48atTD

That does look great ... aesthetically sweet, HOWEVER

The front and rear door align, any luck will blow out of the house.

Has SWMBO approved the Colourbond steel roof? Concrete tiles are more Hi-So (most Thai's believe)

That wide stone path looks a treat (the hues blend beautifully with the roof color), but in the Thai Sun could turn that into a big heatsink

Can't see a carport/garage. Thais like to have them at the front of house.
Give some serious thought to how you connect the carport/garage to your Home.
Not fun doing a dash through a tropical downpour with the arms full of shopping.

The door alignment is deliberate - it's designed to be a breezeway. Any spirits that venture inside to steal our luck have to run the gauntlet of the Wat across the road, so we're pretty safe.
SWMBO does have concerns about the roof, but only from a noise perspective during heavy rain. She's not worried about the Thai perception that steel is down market.
The wide stone path is the builder's rendering and isn't in our plan. Instead we've planned for extensive tree planting at the front of the house to maximise shade.
The car port is at the rear of the house. It forms part of an external breezeway running along the Western wall of the building. The space can also double as an outdoor entertainment area.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

Two things I can think of right now, to keep an eye on,

Thanks for the tip Buckaroo. Much appreciated.
Yes, we'll definitely have P traps on all drains and stink pipes above the roof line.

The intention is to pressure test all pipes before pouring the floor slab. We're also going for the 13.5 thick blue pipe rather than the standard wall thickness. To be sure...to be sure...

Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to make comments on our house plans and how we can improve.
Very much appreciate the thoughts and suggestions.
This is unchartered territory for me, so I'm very grateful.
Please keep them coming and don't have any concerns about offering critical advice - it often leads to better outcomes.
Except when it comes to Willy's opinions on my sanity, or should that be sobriety...

Originally Posted by peciacake

SWMBO does have concerns about the roof, but only from a noise perspective during heavy rain. She's not worried about the Thai perception that steel is down market.

You have a wise Lassie there.

Traditionally, the further north in Thailand you travel, the steeper the roof pitch.

That is due to the concept that rainfall increases as you head further north.

Your roof insulation is a key to the noise abatement.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

You have a wise Lassie there.

Traditionally, the further north in Thailand you travel, the steeper the roof pitch.

That is due to the concept that rainfall increases as you head further north.

Your roof insulation is a key to the noise abatement.

Amen to that. I used CPAC Concrete roof tiles. Between the tiles and above ceiling insulation we have to go outside to see if raining.

Originally Posted by Saint Willy

Aye, pharken oath!

These blokes are spot On

Originally Posted by Norton

Amen to that. I used CPAC Concrete roof tiles. Between the tiles and above ceiling insulation we have to go outside to see if raining.

Same us. We used Prestige ceramic roof tiles with reflective heat insulation underneath. Even in the hardest of rains we do not hear it. Money well spent.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Bathtubs here in Thailand are simply not used

Will discuss with Yuri today while we're meeting with the builder. I'm not a fan of baths either.
Waste of space in my opinion. But...SWMBO is in charge of bathrooms and the kitchen...

Originally Posted by peciacake

We haven't got plans for a BBQ / out door kitchen,

You may want to revisit the idea of a small outdoor cooking area, you cannot underestimate the way Thai cooking smells linger and this includes the need for a second fridge to store the stinky stuff. Also, frying food. You can have the best extractor in the world but the smell and splatter will get everywhere. It may not suit the overall aesthetics of the house but you'll not regret including a Thai cooking buffer zone in the long run.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

You may want to revisit the idea of a small outdoor cooking area, you cannot underestimate the way Thai cooking smells linger and this includes the need for a second fridge to store the stinky stuff. Also, frying food. You can have the best extractor in the world but the smell and splatter will get everywhere. It may not suit the overall aesthetics of the house but you'll not regret including a Thai cooking buffer zone in the long run.

I second that opinion,
an outside kitchen is certainly a must have, No debate about it.
we also have a small refrigerator there . where we keep beer. sodas , water, ice cubes etc.
Wife uses it all the time, when we have friends or family that's where we hung out.
And the time to do it is while you are building, when it is easy and inexpensive.
No need for anything fancy, Below is a picture of what we have.

Originally Posted by peciacake

Except when it comes to Willy's opinions on my sanity, or should that be sobriety...

Barstard!

If it wasn't POETS day I'd be havin words wiv ya!

I am enjoyin the Greg and SW Aussie slang. Good laughs. If I read them out loud I almost sound Aussie. Crikey.

Happy Friday.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I am enjoyin the Greg and SW Aussie slang. Good laughs. If I read them out loud I almost sound Aussie. Crikey.

Happy Friday.

Yeah... nah, ya don't!

But ee'd still 'ave a beer wiv ya.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I am enjoyin the Greg and SW Aussie slang. Good laughs. If I read them out loud I almost sound Aussie. Crikey.

Happy Friday.

I tried using google translate on Australian but the translation was almost as incomprehensible as google translating Thai. It's a shame because Australians seem like interesting people and It would be nice if I could understand a word they say. I wish more of them spoke English

Originally Posted by JPPR2

On the kitchen Greg, we initially started with an indoor western set up. Took about 2 years and we built a detached kitchen away from the house. 2 reasons. My wife and I lived in the US and she always cooked indoors with electric. Of course the weather was cooler and the kitchen seldom got hot so no AC on and it had a very well made exhaust hood. The smell never seem to settle in the house.

Here, totally different. Gas stove, high heat, oil crackling Even with a nice exhaust hood the kitchen got smoking hot and when she is whipping up some Kra Pao Moo the house smelled like Chili and everyone starts sneezing. You get 3 burners going and look out. IMHO there are many western creature comforts that you can incorporate into your build but an indoor kitchen isn't one of them.

Now with our detached kitchen away from the house, all the shrimp and fish cooking and smells are there. Deep fried fish stays there as well as boiled Crab. The biggest thing is the oil isn't all over the house and sticking to walls and windows.

Again speaking from experience here.

^ THIS

Originally Posted by ootai

One other thing is the indoor/outdoor kitchen issue. We have an indoor kitchen which has a beautiful gas cooktop and a big electric oven and neither of them has been used in the 11 years we have been in the house.
I think people have this idea that the Thai's like outdoor kitchens because of the smell but I disagree. I believe they don't like being enclosed cooking when it is so bloody hot here i.e. it just too hot in an enclosed kitchen.
Also after watching my missus for years I also think its because they are lazy fukkers and just throw shit out onto the ground e.g. the water used to rinse the wok's. Also if anything gets spilt you just get the hose out and hose it off easy as. If they are cooking with a lot of chilli (which is always) then it can become quite overpowering even outside if you are downwind.

That's enough for now good luck with your build. It sounds like you have the main part right and that is a wife who supports you, believe me no matter how well you get along your relationship will be tested before your finished.

Originally Posted by peciacake

The intention is to pressure test all pipes before pouring the floor slab. We're also going for the 13.5 thick blue pipe rather than the standard wall thickness.

You'll need to watch them, hawk-like.

It doesn't matter how great the builder is, the Somchai sticking pipes together is at the bottom of the food chain and he is there because he's not, well, all there. The builder will not stand over Somchai to watch all that he does and as soon as no one is looking he'll be doing the minimum, which means forgetting the glue because that takes time and effort and if he doesn't use it he can take it home and sniff it. And those P-traps will only be there if he knows someone is checking.

Somchai truly doesn't understand why you'd take a perfectly simple straight pipe and mess around cutting it and sticking in 4 right-angle bends, all of which would fit snugly in his bag to be traded for yaba. He absolutely does not care and once it is buried in concrete he'll be long gone.

Maybe I am over-dramatising. My point is that the individual labourers are whomever the boss can find free at the time, you or someone needs to be on site to watch over things, otherwise you'll turn up to find the concrete poured and the builder will shrug and say the truck came and he couldn't wait.