A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani

**mikenot** · 19-05-2024, 01:48 PM

^ no they are not thinkers, they just do as they are told by the boss. The trouble is that he forgets things ! Probably because he is so busy, too many projects on the go at once. he forgot to tell them about the bathroom stuff, and they are not going to do something on their own initiative, that's not the Thai way. They are just labourers. Did they go to a trade school ? no probably not but that's not unusual in Thailand, is it ? I've got no problem with the quality of what these guys are doing, just with the boss not supervising properly.

We are out at the site every morning, and back again in the evening. That's how we picked up this error in the bathroom.

**helge** · 19-05-2024, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by mikenot

he forgot to tell them about the bathroom stuff, and they are not going to do something on their own initiative, that's not the Thai way. They are just labourers.

Thais I know, are better with a phone than me. You and I would call the Boss, if there was any "dark spots".

Originally Posted by mikenot

Did they go to a trade school ? no probably not but that's not unusual in Thailand, is it ?

No

Was actually my point

Originally Posted by mikenot

I've got no problem with the quality of what these guys are doing

Then everything will be OK; maybe a little late, but OK

**mikenot** · 24-05-2024, 03:47 PM

Haven't been able to get on here for a few days, but nothing much happening on-site lately. The electrician has been here a few times, he reckons they are waiting for the ceiling guys to finish and clear out so that the painting and tiling can start. "Hmmm...they have finished the outbuilding so why not start there ?"
anyway by yesterday afternoon all the interior ceiling was done, just a few more boards to put up outside under the side verandah roof.

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-20240523_160426-jpg

It seems there was a lack of communication between sparky and ceiling crew, the wires for down lights in bedroom did not get pulled through so now he has to climb up in the roof space to access them. Lucky he is skinny because those manholes in the ceiling are not very wide. Are we allowed to call them manholes now?...access holes for people of non specific gender.
The builder tried to talk the wife into using some special decorative wavy ceiling boards outside, at an extra cost of course, saying that otherwise there would be mould in a couple of years. Not if you use the special "green" boards for damp/humid areas matey!

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-20240523_160451-jpg

A front view of the house, doing the last little fiddly bits of ceiling:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-20240523_160548-jpg

May not have been much progress inside the house but I have been busy in the back garden, turning dirt into soil. Any gardeners among you may have heard of "lasagna garden beds", for people who haven't it is where you lay down a layer of cardboard, then various organic matter in layers. The cardboard smothers any grass or weeds, then the grass clippings, leaves, manure, vegetable scraps etc decompose over a few months to form a good dark soil, a great improvement on the usual Issaan dirt.
The wife scoffed at me, she would just throw chemical fertilizers at it, but she is starting to change her tune.
start with the cardboard from the bathroom tiles:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8126-jpg

Add some green matter:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8127-jpg

Then some brown:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8129-jpg

Wet each layer thoroughly, and keep repeating:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8121-jpg

Leave it for a few months, for the wet season will be fine, and you should end up with something like this :

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8119-jpg

Dark, soft and full of organic matter, that's one I started a couple of months ago and still has a way to go, but already much better than the original dirt:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-img_8122-jpg

That's 3 small "lasagna" beds and one large one done, perhaps another 3 small or one long one to go. Not much I can do about the front garden yet until the builders have finished.

**helge** · 25-05-2024, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by mikenot

The builder tried to talk the wife into using some special decorative wavy ceiling boards outside, at an extra cost of course, saying that otherwise there would be mould in a couple of years. Not if you use the special "green" boards for damp/humid areas matey!

And why won't mould grow on "special green boards for damp and humid areas" ?

Just curious...matey

**peciacake** · Yesterday, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by mikenot

a great improvement on the usual Issaan dirt

You mean pseudo cement don't you Mike? Isaan dirt, rock hard in the dry season then plasticine in the rainy season.

I like your "lasagna garden beds." Tried to get SWMBO to do the same with our garden beds, but because it was my idea it wasn't any good. She being the expert gardener that she is and all....

I've kept a stack of cardboard just in case a Thai comes along and tells her how good "lasagna garden beds" are.

The house is looking good. Looks like the sparky will be finished this week.

**HuangLao** · Yesterday, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by helge

And why won't mould grow on "special green boards for damp and humid areas" ?

Just curious...matey

Never heard of these panels.
I'm guessing they're treated or coated with zinc substances. [??]

**helge** · Today, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Never heard of these panels.
I'm guessing they're treated or coated with zinc substances. [??]

I take it that they are 'wet room gypsum plates'.

Not treated

Not a bad choice for the purpose, but has to be treated like other materials, he could use.

With paint containing fungicides, for outdoor use only.

**Norton** · Today, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by mikenot

A front view of the house, doing the last little fiddly bits of ceiling

Hang in there mate. Fix as you go common but looking pretty good so far.
Thanks for sharing.

Thread: A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani

Thread Tools

Display

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions