Thread: Ootai's wife builds a house

Fantastic house. I love the massive size, wish I had waited a bit before starting my resort/retirement home.

What do you think your AC bill is going to be in the hot season here in Thailand?

Good progress, looking to a good strong house.

In response to the replies since my last post.

Marmite the Dog - she knows that they are not the best quality but most of her buying is done on price. I have tried to explain buy 1 good one or 3 ratsh*t ones in the end you will end up paying the price of the good one.

nigelandjan and kiwinev - thanks for the cmments.

sunsetter - no way mate as I don't clean cars the missus may well do something like that though.

hillbilly - its not really that big. I calculate total floor space, including patios and carport as 235sqm. It looks massive as the floor is 700mm above the ground and Thais like a high pitch angles on their roof so it then becomes 6.5m above the ground level to the top of the roof.

Here's the latest progress.

The back steps are in


This will be a tank stand, tank is 2000L so stand needs to be able to support the 2 tonne


The supports for the ceiling are being put up


The electricians have started if they think I've been picky before they better be careful as I think this is the crucial bit.


Looking out of the main bedroom to our patio which will only be accessible from the bedroom, unless of course someone climbs over the rails or whatever she has planned for there.


same as before but looking from the outside in


The exterior is getting rendered and the trimmings are going on


Close up of the trimmings


more of the same


The inside of the carport has been boxed in and rendered


We needed water so the missus made some phone calls and these guys turned up, I had marked a rough spot where I would like the pump to go, so one of them wandered about with his "diviners" and they settled on a spot which was fine for me. The missus is a believer in the divining but its not for me I reckon they could have drilled anywhere on our land and hit water.


The spirits past were pacified


and drilling commenced


a few hours later after drilling down 35m they installed the pump and we had water. According to the pump chart the pump will draw 12L/min from that depth which matches what we get at the current house.


When the pump is initially turned on the water reaches the timber scaffold at the corner of the house. Total price including the pump was B15,000


just a random photo of the backyard showing the current house.


well that's all for now, so until next time...........

here's the latest...

The internal ceiling has been put up. In the living area


and in the kitchen


she made them repalce this section


the bottom is being closed off with some holes left for ventilation. I have asked for stainless steel screens to be made and fitted so I will wait and see what we get?


ventilation hole at the back none were put in at the front (wouldn't look nice)


at the side


the eaves bieng closed in. not sure of what the product is feels a bit like cement so maybe some sort of fibre board?


a closer view


another view of the same


the joins in the plaster board being sealed up and screw holes patched over


this is the ribbon they use over the joins


work has started in putting on the sandstone decoration. I reckon this will take the longest of all the work to finish as it is very tedious work.



until next time.....

Firstly I should apologise to hillbilly as I didn't totally answer his question regarding cost of AC. I don't see it being an issue as we will be only using airconditioning in the main bedroom on a regular basis. There will be an airconditioner in a second bedroom for overseas guests if and when they vist other wise the house will be as per a normal Thai house i.e. people cooled by fans. Hopefully the q-con blocks and vented roof do help keep it slightly cooler. Time will tell I guess.

sunsetter not sure of when it is going to be finished but the contract was for 6 months before penalties start to be applied and that gives him until the middle of next month. We're hoping it won't be that long.

today's pictures....

ther ceiling has been put in in the main entrance its a different garde of plaster board they have used that is for outside installation


The eaves getting covered in prior to the plaster board being installed in the carport.


The living area ceiling has had its first coat of paint


I am waiting with great anticipation as to how they are going to install the covers for the eaves under the roof in this area where the roof of the main bedroom patio is only a few centimeters below


ventilation holes for the space under the house


the entrance with the pillar having been covered with sandstone tiles, this is a slow process as he cuts each tile to fit.


Something I thought I would never see, them cleaning up some of their mess. I've told the missus that we don't pay the final payment unless they have cleaned everything up. Its the one thing I hate most the bloody mess they work in or around all the time.


I was blown away when I saw this. The pwoer point was installed before the window border and something didn't quite fit, so their solution? I (the wife did anyway)asked the builder to move the power point lower and to fill in the cutout bit of the border.


the view from the front, to me it doesn't seem to chnage much.


the view from the back, with the coat of promer I think it can now be called "the white house"


until next time........

Wow very nice job.

looks like it is really coming together.
I think your right about the soffits & think that is cement wonder board with slots.

Good to see that insulation above the rafters.

Congrats & love seeing your progress pics

Great place Ootai and i hope you and the Mrs are very happy there!

Been following this thread the whole way through,you certianly have a bloody nice place there ootia

Originally Posted by ootai

I was blown away when I saw this.
........

great job

there is another thread somewhere about intelligent Thais

Great thread - thanks for sharing.

Having just decided on a life in Thailand and building my own house this has provided me with some valuable insights.

I look forward to your final posts and seeing the finished article.

Originally Posted by SciFly

Having just decided on a life in Thailand and building my own house this has provided me with some valuable insights.

better get in touch with Smeg about your lifestyle change

building your own house is very stressful and really frustrating

it is great when finished though

Finally got time to post some more pictures. I wasn't in any hurry as to me very little has changed BUT when I had a look at the last pictures I posted there has been some improvement in reaching the end. The contract says we are supposed to be in the house by the 15th of October, we'll see?

anyway here's some pictures as they are worth more than words apparently.

the back patio still needs a roof and tiles the base around the bottom needs rendering and screens for the vent holes.


The pillars in the foreground are for the tank stand we will have gutters to catch the rain down this side and around the back.


The pillars at the front of the carport still some panelling to be fitted and painted


The centre of the front of the house. here you can see the original colour (orange brown) that we chose for the ecthing around the windows but we (she) have now changed it to the lilac


The front entrance


Looking into the main bedroom


The living area looking at the front entrance and toward the kitchen


The main bedroom being tiled


The kitchan (eventually)


The living area from the kitchen end


a closer view of the future kitchen


the windows of the main bedroom this is the south end of the house


the eaves have been sealed only thing left to do to them is more painting


a rear view


and the front view


thanks to those people who have commented and I can agree with DrA in that building your house can be very stressful and frustrating luckily I can't speak Thai or I would have sacked most of the people working on our house but that's for another day.

shes coming along a treat! cheers for the update, love these threads

Originally Posted by justincase 13

...your going to have to get a juicer for all those bananas

not a juicer, they hate bananas; you can make shakes though

house looks good, soon be in!

Originally Posted by ootai

Finally got time to post some more pictures. I wasn't in any hurry as to me very little has changed BUT when I had a look at the last pictures I posted there has been some improvement in reaching the end. The contract says we are supposed to be in the house by the 15th of October, we'll see?

anyway here's some pictures as they are worth more than words apparently.

the back patio still needs a roof and tiles the base around the bottom needs rendering and screens for the vent holes.


The pillars in the foreground are for the tank stand we will have gutters to catch the rain down this side and around the back.


The pillars at the front of the carport still some panelling to be fitted and painted


The centre of the front of the house. here you can see the original colour (orange brown) that we chose for the ecthing around the windows but we (she) have now changed it to the lilac


The front entrance


Looking into the main bedroom


The living area looking at the front entrance and toward the kitchen


The main bedroom being tiled


The kitchan (eventually)


The living area from the kitchen end


a closer view of the future kitchen


the windows of the main bedroom this is the south end of the house


the eaves have been sealed only thing left to do to them is more painting


a rear view


and the front view


thanks to those people who have commented and I can agree with DrA in that building your house can be very stressful and frustrating luckily I can't speak Thai or I would have sacked most of the people working on our house but that's for another day.

Looks like, according to the photos, it it going down well. Having done some research since this will be down my path... (living in the city for now)

You are doing a good job mate, any update on a completion time, I am sure there will be a run over time, it will then give me a good idea on how much extra time will be on my build. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the pics and a great report so far, I may have missed it in the report, but how much you expecting the total costs to be Ootai??

Well I am finally making the time to post an update. I have been a bit busy lately, I thought I was coming over here to live in retirement i.e. do nothing but its turning out the opposite. Building the house, buying some toys to play with, the missus buying a car, me trying to make snse of applying for a 12 month visa, spending 2 days walking around cranky because of the F**k**t BIB. My missus says to me when they pull me over for their lunch money "just pay and go, don't make a fuss!" Grrr!!!

Anyway to those who have added comments thanks I do read them and appreciate them also.

UdonThani Pete
The house was supposed to be finished next week but it won't be. The builder and his staff never turned for 5 days last week, made a whole pile of bullshit excuses. His staff have said to the missus that he hasn't paid them for over 2 months. The local hardware store where he has bought stuff on credit paid a visit to site as they are concerned with the amount he owes them. The missus reckons he may do a runner. If he does then we will need to get people in to finish the job we shouldn't lose as we have adfhered to the payment schedule as agreed at the start. I personally think he doesn't have a clue about managing money or a building project but then again he is Thai.

Norton
I couldn't agree with you anymore than I already do and I suggested putting some fine stainles steel mesh on the back of them as they were being installed but she (the missus wouldn't) sometimes I lose a battle to hopefully win the war. I to think we will have to do it later after exterminating the residents of the roof space.

bororamboy
The contract is for 5 payments of 474,000 each a total of 2.37million. When I did a rough calculation on the floor space its about 235sqm so roughly 10,000 per sqm. However there are extras that we have added along the way which I believe will add another 200,000 to the total. For example we will more concrete laid at the back for the water tanks, the missus also got better quality on some things than he had in his budget. She goes to him and says " how much have you budgeted for doors and tiles" he gives her a number then she goes shopping for what she wants and we pay the difference.

Anyway here's some pictures so you might be able to see what I struggle to see, taht is any progress.

The front view with no scaffolding.


The southern end of the house


Looking into the main bedroom


Don't know what these are for but we had to pay for them as the builder had no money that day. Its times like these when I am glad my missus knows how to manage money.


This is the internal fittings i.e showers, basins dunnies etc as well as the three wtaer tanks. Each tank is 2000L and 2 will be for rain water and the other for the bore water which will feed the toilets and showers.


This is one of those extras she paid for a centre piece of 4 tiles, I must admit I like it.


This bit (the living room looking toward the kitchen) is almost complete and gives me hope.


The shitty view out the front door


So far the kitchen bench is only a partially built formwork


The plumbing in the ensuite bathroom


It comes out here


The vacant space waiting for a shit tank



They're in but not yet buried totally


I asked the builder to make sure the stairs were all at least 300mm wide, which of course they weren't so he said he would fix it. They addes a small brick onto the front of each step. I couldn't get through to them that yes that fixed the top one but not the next 2 down.


The back of the house with the patio roof going up


This stuff goes on top


another view


this is what it looks like viewed end on


and this is what it is. I initially thought it would be useles but today I was under it with the full sun above and it actually does a good job


until next time......................

Thanks, pity about the builder.

Originally Posted by ootai

My experience with such kind of roofs made of PC is that it is quite hot underneath. Will see what you will say in some weeks...

Originally Posted by ootai

the F**k**t BIB. My missus says to me when they pull me over for their lunch money "just pay and go, don't make a fuss!" Grrr!!!

Try just sitting there ignoring them and refusing to pay. That works for me.