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  1. #1
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    naptownmike's Avatar
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    Bantak bungalow expansion

    After moving to Thailand fulltime back in February my wife and I quickly realized our holiday bungalow was way to small for us to live comfortably here. We did a full makeover on it 4 years ago when we bought this place but only really used it for our yearly holiday. Other than the horrible roof color its been ok and we didn't really want to tear it down. After a lot of back and forth we decided to just build a separate building with a proper kitchen, outdoor space and living room with a pool. Unfortunately this meant putting a hold on our wooden river shanty project which was something I was really looking forward to but there was no point ending up with two small houses. So that will be on hold for now.


    It will be an L shaped building with a covered patio space connected to a large kitchen then a living room / bedroom down at the end with a bathroom. Were hoping to end up with a Key West style tropical style garden pool house, but hay this is rural Thailand so I'll be happy just to have more space to hang out and set up my stereo gear so my expectations are realistic.


    This is the space we chose along the back wall and next to the current little house.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5629-jpg

    Sadly one of our nicest patches of grass soon to be destroyed.
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5630-jpg

  2. #2
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    No turning back now the crew has arrived to clear all our banana and mango trees from this area.


    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5657-jpg

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5667-jpg

    The ladies having a rest and observing the devastation.
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5679-jpg

  3. #3
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    looking forward to this mike, sham to plough up the nice garden but i've been there too.

  4. #4
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    This space seemed so much smaller after clearing the trees.

    I'm sure their wondering about that roof color
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5684-jpg

    Our first lumber delivery.
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5693-jpg

    Starting with these wood perimeters seems common here. Makes sense I guess it helps them get the foundation square.


    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5709-jpg

    Tractor man here to get all the roots out.
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5720-jpg

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat
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    Thanks, sometimes you have to go backward to go forward.


    Quote Originally Posted by malmomike77 View Post
    looking forward to this mike, sham to plough up the nice garden but i've been there too.

  6. #6
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    This was funny when they were trying to figure out where to dump the banana carnage at our little farm. I suggested using the driveway.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-280069240_875988817135281_1178941786521863951_n-jpg

    They probably thought silly falang
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5724-1-jpg

  7. #7
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    Cows like banana leaves and stems

  8. #8
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    naptownmike's Avatar
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    ^ They do we tried to give them away but most ended up dumped along our river bank and at the farm.

  9. #9
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    Our contractor is very traditional and hand dug the first ceremonial pole foundation hole by hand so it could be done at some pre determined time.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5728-1-jpg

    Then getting on with the others.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5762-jpg

    We got a few of those famous Tak granite boulders out of two holes. I can't wait to see what they find when digging for the pool.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5782-jpg

  10. #10
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    Here we are all waiting to stand up the ceremonial pole at 3:26

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5799-jpg

    I was mainly keeping an eye on that bag of our gold.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_6474-jpg

    Here is one showing the foundations I took with my drone.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-wzcd1840-jpg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5807-jpg  

  11. #11
    Custom Title Changer
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    Very nice!

  12. #12
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Look forward to following the project. GREAT start. Thanks for sharing

  13. #13
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    ^ Hey glad to see you back online stumps. Nice plot of land you have there Mike.

  14. #14
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Hey glad to see you back online stumps
    Thanks AO. Been incredibly busy with work as Covid controls are relaxed coupled with that I was asked to join a group of long time colleagues for a start up company in the states working on a fiber optic product.

    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Nice plot of land you have there Mike.
    Agree, nice location plus a drone pilot to boot. Look forward to more aerial pics.

  15. #15
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    Thanks it has been a ton of work getting the place to this stage.

  16. #16
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    For ages they were bending rebar for the foundation.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5890-jpg

    These looked pretty well done to me.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5893-jpg

    And then the first big cement pour.

    It's a tight squeeze through our mango trees.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5914-jpg

    I did end up having to cut down two small trees to make room.
    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5920-jpg

  17. #17
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Looking good.


    You gonna recommend yer pool guy, Stumps?

  18. #18
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    It's a constant battle keeping Chockdee away. Every day going to check for food and trash at the workers station.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5876-jpg

    He usually scores something.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5874-jpg

    Like this big bone that turned up during the excavation.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-289309155_334787328842001_3877813905290226060_n-jpg

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-289024052_774912813509698_7613793631846348698_n-jpg

  19. #19
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    The steel work looks good.

    Obviously knows what he is doing.

  20. #20
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    This is where he scores the good scrapes. Under the bending station.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5895-jpg

  21. #21
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    ^^Thanks It's a predominantly female crew and the contractor is a lady as well with a great reputation in the village.

  22. #22
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    This ground work faze seemed to go one for weeks.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5978-jpg

    Every afternoon the dog is inspecting everything.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_5980-jpg

  23. #23
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    How far inside the boundary walls are you columns placed?

  24. #24
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    More rebar showing up and being shaped everyday.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_6073-jpg

    And plumbing rough in for the bathroom and kitchen. It's sad to think of all the time and effort that goes into this stage and no one will ever see it.

    Bantak  bungalow expansion-img_6081-jpg

  25. #25
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    130 cm on the back they are super close on the long side wall but were going to be knocking down that section of wall soon.


    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy View Post
    How far inside the boundary walls are you columns placed?

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