Thread: Japanese House

How long have you had this 150 rai farm for OM ?

This is the seventh year, the first to wait for the farmers who rented to get their hot pepper out, after garlic, after rice, like it had been done for 42 years.
The original 11 rais, with paper, rice paddies, had extended gradually over this half century, encroaching on the mountain and gradually covering more ground, limited on the East side by a stream, and in the North by neighbors. I bought 6 rais once, then an extra 4 where I built 2 houses. When I got here there were tree stomps all over the place, except in the rice paddies.
My wife had a road built first, 700 metres long, and had 7 fish ponds dug, all still in use, except for the future swimming pool.
The first year, no change, to see what's being done already, rice and garlic, and corn, prices were very low.
Then I decided to go organic. Extensive drainage works, to slow down erosion, irrigation, km of pipes and 650 sprinklers for orange trees, 1000 + trees were planted every year.
Lots of trials were errors, like in "trials and errors", very scientific approach, but a bit discouraging.
Now, we've been in control of rice production, which helps, and pigs are becoming the key to independance financially. Other trials are growing...

I called this project « the japanese house », this involved a style of roof not seen in Northern Thailand. When I showed the pictures of the Golden Temple, Thais would laugh nervously… My wife was against it. Refused to live in a temple.

So, at first, I didn’t back down, I insisted to contractors « you can do round roof? », no?, « bye,bye ».
Thai roof technicians at hardware stores, and my wife, made a point :
« Tiles have to be flat, or water gets in! »
This caused a dilemma.
At the hardware store, two hours of arguing, mostly with my interpreter-wife, discouraged me of persuing this course, what with the technicians and owner ganging on me « medai, cannot be done ».
In Thailand, there is only one way of doing things, be it shaving, driving!!! Or building!
On Internet, I could not find good examples of japanese curved roofs.
Ready to give up, but not quite, I started pencil drawing over the roof pamphlet pictures I had gotten from the harware store.
Then, it hit me, I did not really wanted a rounded roof, but a line, a silhouette with upturned ends.
I imagined a small structure added to the corners of the roof, that would suggest an upturned line.

In fact, only the lower 4-5 corner ridge tiles in a bed of cement needed to curve away from the 30o slope straight line and could suggest a round line.
This would be outside the house itself, at the overhang, only at the corners, so no worry about being waterproof, and nothing stopped us from having the line of eaves tiles from continuing under the addition on top of the four corners.

It took a lot of explaining, but there is hope now.
So, here, the welder asks me at what angle it would be OK. He’s cut a 2X4 steel so it can be curved, once welded back. I think a straight piece would be ok, the curve could come from the cement bedded ridge tiles only. We agreed on a 22cm raise.

With all this, I had picked a wood look alike square tile rather than my previous choice, a losange shaped tile which made it impossible to go in a curve, see DrAndy’s pick quoted earlier on this tread, so, the square one will make it more possible.
Each tile weight 6,5kg! 20 tons of cement on top of my head! I hope the welder is as good at it looks from downstairs! It will take 3 trucks to carry the roof… Uncertain about the delivery date.

I have to admit at first I thought Old Monkey was a nut. And you know what? He is! But, I do love what he is doing. This is one farang home I may make a trip to see.

With permission of course...

it´s OK Hilly, two nuts do not make a handful

Originally Posted by hillbilly

I have to admit at first I thought Old Monkey was a nut. And you know what? He is! But, I do love what he is doing. This is one farang home I may make a trip to see.

With permission of course...

No problem! You'll be welcome.
I've been called that a lot, and worse...
Young, I was pretty sensitive, and always jumped up to defend myself. Now, always nut, but hopefully a bit wiser, with age, I explain my reasoning and hope the person will understand.
I know I'm too far out in the margin to hope to please a majority.
At the same time, when a society faces up a brick wall, or a cul-de-sac, it then turns to its marginals to study their options and take a turn, they represent the alternatives...
And, you cannot please everybody... and your father. Le meunier, son fils et l'âne, Jean de la Fontaine.
Furthermore, I chose to go in the margin, and I like it there.

Avocado for the first year, I love this, ripen on the tree, organic, with a bit of salt!

Yum yum, soon pomelos, also for the first year

This is the apparition from the terrace of the house I live in now.

And this is a view from away on the farm

The teak has two faces flat, will be stacked inside, with spacers in between to dry at least six months. When I come back, I'll get a woodworking shop together and finish the house my way, with shojis.
The ramp up the stairs, and garde-fou all around the house, some decking floors, some furniture... I'll trip on planning that during the summer, while I'm away.
Good woodworking tools, I'll check in Chiang Mai tomorrow, if the soldiers let me get there. The whole situation should calm down soon.
I had it all set up home ten years ago in a special room I built for that, but I very soon got invaded by cardboard boxes from floor to ceiling... My secretary has my power tools in her workshop now.
This time will be the right time!
There will be no need, this time, to wait for workers to come, if and when they don't have anything better to do! You want it done? Do it yourself!

And, for today, the long ditch progresses, with a starting curve :

A nice beginning:

And a long stretch. About one third completed.

House looks crooked ??

Avos look good....love em.

But.....6.5kg per tile....bugger me, that is crazy.....you should have gone for the ashphalt....even though I do not like ashphalt.

Here are the considerations I put in the balance before taking this decision :
Under asphalt, you need half inch plywood, felt, and then, shingles. Every 12-15 years in Canada, you have to get on the roof and tear the shingles out, and redo. With the heat and the sun here, this will not last as long, I think. Price wise, with the plywood, and the workers not knowing how, and the framing in metal...
I have no idea how asphalt shingles would hold up here. Finally, I refused to use this material on any of the roofs I built before, I think roofs should be left alone once up, one should not have to redo!
Tiles are heavy, true, large ones heavier, small ones need more per square metre, anyway, this is supported by steel, welded, I chose first grade steel, it should hold up.
The wavy tiles seen everywhere and corrugated metal, the only other choices here, are lighter, they have their advantages, cheaper, but the color is not so long lasting, and rust appears within very few years.
Finally, this will look good, rustic! I'll have to live with it!

hope these work...

http://www.google.co.th/imglanding?q=japanese%20roof&imgurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/images/japan-garden-5-large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/2005/06/30/index.html&h=600&w=800&sz=337&tbnid=uSSYtkYk6HCOxM :&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djapanese%2Broof&hl=th&usg=__UKSRkZ5GB O2xGZmCErmpq6ki2wg=&ei=-_L1S56_Kse3rAf1y-HaCg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0C CMQ9QEwAg&start=0#tbnid=Y06GQjacdMWmVM&start=16

http://www.google.co.th/imglanding?q=japanese%20roof&imgurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/images/japan-garden-5-large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/2005/06/30/index.html&h=600&w=800&sz=337&tbnid=uSSYtkYk6HCOxM :&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djapanese%2Broof&hl=th&usg=__UKSRkZ5GB O2xGZmCErmpq6ki2wg=&ei=-_L1S56_Kse3rAf1y-HaCg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0C CMQ9QEwAg&start=0#tbnid=hY9h0Qm-IIrMaM&start=45

http://www.google.co.th/imglanding?q=japanese%20roof&imgurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/images/japan-garden-5-large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://anil.recoil.org/gallery/2005/06/30/index.html&h=600&w=800&sz=337&tbnid=uSSYtkYk6HCOxM :&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djapanese%2Broof&hl=th&usg=__UKSRkZ5GB O2xGZmCErmpq6ki2wg=&ei=-_L1S56_Kse3rAf1y-HaCg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0C CMQ9QEwAg&start=0#tbnid=OqhtDIMRKy_-mM&start=53

It worked, their "tiles" look like pipes... That would explain the flexibility, but I still don't get it.
The generator blew a valve, is being fixed.
While waiting, they jury rigged my 8 HP diesel motor to turn a 5HP electric motor we had, and this produces enough electricity to weld!
Anyway, here is the first corner, structure ready.

There will be two rows of tiles at corners

Driving around our area the other day i found this water hole.

Interesting to note that the first pic the waterhole is surrounded by reeds and the water is very clean and clear.

The second pic is the same water course on opposite side of the road...I am standing in the centre of both waterholes on the road.....and it is mud brown, no reeds and all cleared.

No not sure if this is from work being down at the site of the second pic, could have contributed, but I believe it is the filtration by the reeds and other water plants that is doing it......of course once the wet starts for good and it rises and flows from the muddy side to the clear side, it will be interesting to see the effect then,

Maybe, like you said, it's the work, it's brown. But it will turn green with algae, without the reeds, I'm sure.
Except for the welder team, nobody came to work for more than a week. They're getting the hot pepers in, sowing the corn, even starting the rice. For us the rice will be next week. It rains every day, I don't like the erosion, hope to be able to finish the erosion control before I leave, mid june! I got taiai promises for mid-week...
I asked for numbers, my wife did the adding, with the roof tiles, and work, I'm at the 800m line, which is twice as much as the 6 bedroom house built 4 years ago. Will finish next year, with new money!
Will try to get as far as possible before.

800m ??

Originally Posted by Nawty

The second pic is the same water course on opposite side of the road.

What is the name of that golf course?

We can see the wings...

The smaller roof is started.

Originally Posted by Nawty

800m ??

huit cent mille baths, 800 000tb

Originally Posted by slackula

What is the name of that golf course?

not a golf course....looks like an old estate that has been done up a bit and now trying to sell again.

Maybe they read this tread, or maybe they had completed their chores, the Thaiai team showed up!

I'm very happy, it rains every day and erosion shows right away.
They started right away on the large stairs that will descend to the swimming pool.

Note the steel squares, there will be a layer of concrete before the stairs, No erosion possible after that.

Meanwhile, the demolition is complete at the pig house

This is what it looked like before : Six years ago.

This had to be done, it was becoming impossible! Notice the broken sidewalk, built very thin, with no reinforcement. I fell once and seriously scratched my leg.

Now getting ready to prepare the base for the posts.

The houseroof contractor requested this contract while waiting for the tiles, that's him making sure the bases are at the right height.
.
There is no welding on the roof today. The generator will be fixed at noon, and the electric motor was not powerful enough to weld with (3 HP)

Old Monkey, where are you?
Have really enjoyed your thread so far.
Hope more good stuff is to follow.
Cheers
HAWKEYE