Thread: Traditional thai wood house build...

I would like it finished now, but i think it will be december time at least. Thanks for looking everyone.

Interesting thread. We are building a traditional teak house in Surin for future use. I learned a lot from your experience.
How did you handle your sewage? Are you using a septic field or a tank?

doing well, Ben

in fact, I am suprised at that judging from your early posts here!

well done

Great progress there Ben.... Just catching up on the thread. Looks like you have been busy since getting back to town.

Hi

Yes very much so, and were hoping to finish off for the end of the year. I hope your build is now complete and your enjoying yourselves and that great view.

More ideas for finishing soon.

We are selling house to move onto another project we want to persue, check out the information on this thread here https://teakdoor.com/chiang-mai-real-...ml#post2240850 (Teak wood House 1000m2 Chiangmai Muang)

Thank you for your interest PM me or post if anyone is interested?

Cheers

Ben

Picture of the side of the house which faces North, drainage need to go in, aggregate top soil and grass. We arent really bothering with a proper wall on this side at the moment. All of the external render is yet to be decided. Probably a light off white stucco or similar finish. In the future when I can find the right place handmade bricks will finish the first meter high from concrete base.

You can see the nice details of the ventilation holes in the eaves, the wood has been finished with a curpinol exterior semi gloss non colour wood stain.



This look towards the back of the land about 35m+ to the end of the land from the house as it is. This extension as you can see more clearly is raised from the ground to stop flooding. It also to keep the view line from the house of Doi suthep.
This wall has the kitchen on the other side and the main lounge area. The open stairs are from Mai Pradu very old thick wood from a temple we found. There will be windows that line the middle landing on the stairs. It will probably be bricked up with nice handmade bricks so that we can achieve a nice contrast to the wood and not have concrete everywhere.
The land has a big tree which might get made into a tree house in the future. In the shorter term a rice barn might go up on raised concrete platform as guest houses for friends and family.



Only the downstairs really remains to need a bit more work although its mostly all finished and rendered. Awaiting the wood sections to be put up to breal up the concrete downstairs. This was a good compromise in cost and look of the house. We have used lots of old wood doors to replace major spaces in the concrete walls. It a cheap way to fill a bay area without having to spend money on teak.

The length of the house is 21.5 meters long and you can see right through, its open to let natural cross ventilation keep it cool. The wood helps dissipate the heat from the roof downwards, and with massive ventilation built into the house it seems even on the hottest day comfortable and cool.

This area of the wall that is not built, will have a single clad teak wall that will be a nice walk in feature to the house and accompanying lounge area. The massive doors you see are what will fill the hole at the back. Golden Teak and very very heavy.


Glass windows were used on the north side to let in light without the problem of also letting in direct sunlight. The south side has only one glass window to let in light for the main lounge otherwise big wood doors that open in the day or slatted windows are used. This reception area will probably be an informal space for the buddha paraphenalia. Although in the future it will most definitely be a ensuite to the bedroom. Not sure what colour we are going to use for the walls, but tiles are going to be a nice stone looking tile light but textured.


Here is the South side of the Land. The wall you see is a barrier between the area to the right and our raised land. Concrete wall will be put up and rendered in a nice italian earth colour or blue. Each upright beam will have a feed for a light.

The wires that you can see are the main Tails for the house, they have been run 50meters from the road underground with armour shielding and stone surrounding it. This section of the wall will have wood cladding to hide the mains cable, and break up the concrete look. Again drainage topsoil and grass will be added.

Another detail is that even though the land is raised 2.25 meters from the surrounding area and is then again raised with the concrete slab, with eaves. the doors are set off the ground. this is so any driving rain will not enter an flood the downstairs.


The front section of land needs to be walled on the right hand side, gate and front section to hide the orrible house. Trees will be planted to also create a nice private garden area. we have about 550m2 at the front and this will hold both a rice barn we will rent out as well as garage and gardens.
As you can see the wood is still piling up, its raised off the floor and has metal corrugated roofing to keep off the sun and rain. Theres also a lot of wood in the house.

Hope to have this finshed by Next year. Its been a long time but the results are impressive if i do say so myself.
Thats 320m2 teak wood house on 1000m2 land. Its been an adenture and a half, and I and the wife would love to get stuck into the rice barn next, but mostly to live in this amazing house.

Great work Ben good to see the progress you have made.

Hi YasoJack

Thank you for your comments I hope you have enjoyed so far I hope to have more photos soon. We will be finishing this house in the summer, as we are currently doing another business project. We wait to see then if we decide to keep the house.
We have put a lot of our time and money into this, and have created a very nice house in a great spot. We have not compromised on the house and yet still spent a very low price.
The total space is 155 m2 on each floor over 2 floors. We will have 3 spacious bedrooms and lots of terraces and sala, lounges and a tidy kitchen. I cannot wait to see the end result, and I thank everyone for thier interest and keeness on this project.

Cheers

Ben

looks good, Ben

do you have a pic of the whole house from some distance?

Hi Dr.A

I dont have a recent one, I think there might be one somewhere in the pics, I will try and dig it out.

The house is about 50 meters from the road, this will be screened with garden, ricebarn guest house and garage in the near future.

When im back next year Dr.A Ill buy you that Laos meal near your place and take you to see it in person. Of course youll be invited to the house warming. give it a year...or 2!

thanks Ben

keep the beer cold

more pics for update



view inside the downstairs lounge.



Looking out to the outside terrace that has views of Doi suthep and the temple.

Golden teak wood doors will close this lounge and open it up in the day. There will be railings to stop people falling over the side.



5 mins from central Chiangmai but feel like we are in the country.



Front of house, the concrete areas will have hamdmade brick made locally in Chiangmai. We have sourced many of the materials from local yards and business, it is one of the joys of building. We have met many nice people and continue to be amazed by thier hospitality. We are know known by many woodyards who call us when they have new wood coming in from old houses.



front of house, with only the walls for rendering and the front door to finish. There will be a seat in the porch way.



reception area, this still needs to be blocked up on the bottom with a wooden window placed in between the outside sala seat area and inside. All wondows are Teak from a doors and windows shop in sam kampaeng.



Inside is now mostly finished with the floor the only thing left to be finished. I think we are going to use tung oil and see what that gives us. The gap between the walkway and the raised lounge will be filled in Teak wood.



The front terrace will be a great place to eat and chill out to look over the gardens and take life easy with a beer or 2. outside living and some space for my drawing studio.



We have many posts and timber still left, most will be used in the gate, rice barn and garage. Trees have been planted by the builder, because I think he felt we needed some greenery. He has worked on and off on the house for 2 years, and has been a real asset to ths project.



Here is the lounge for the 2nd bedroom and the walk way to the master bedroom and terraces at the back. The side window at the back perfectly frames the temple on Doi Suthep the window an glass are yet to go in.



Master bedroom still be worked on, the electrics need to be worked out and then the Teak will be clad over. The ceiling will have the same finish as the rest of the house. We will hide the metal with Teak and redwood cross beams and use joists and plasterboard to lighten the feel of the room.



bedroom downstairs will have aircon and is situated on the north side so should be the coolest place to sleep in the warmest months. This will be for guests and family.

cracking thread and house, well done!!!

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

wood is still piling up, its raised off the floor and has metal corrugated roofing to keep off the sun and rain

watch out for termites, they will eat the lot!!!

Hi Sunsetter

Thank you, we are very happy that we are coming to the end of this long awaited project.
Thank you for the advice of the wood, all of it is very old, mostly Teak wood. It has been sprayed with the very nasty chemical termite solution. We have the builder who checks the wood and the grounds every week. I hope it lasts out till May.
Cheers

Nice job, good price. Dryers may not be practical but a washer I feel is a plus. We hang cloths to dry on a cloths line.

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

He has worked on and off on the house for 2 years, and has been a real asset to ths project

Is this your main asset?





the house is looking good, Ben

when all the crap is cleared away, it will look brilliant

Is that your Mrs?

The house is looking very good and I'm still enjoying the updates, good luck and keep them coming!

Originally Posted by fishlocker

Nice job, good price. Dryers may not be practical but a washer I feel is a plus. We hang cloths to dry on a cloths line.

Hi fish locker, yes in this heat a dryer doesnt seem to be important. The wife likes Electrolux so I guess one of those. Of course it will have to match the rest of the kitchen wares.....

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

He has worked on and off on the house for 2 years, and has been a real asset to ths project

Is this your main asset?





the house is looking good, Ben

when all the crap is cleared away, it will look brilliant

Hi Dr.A sorry I didnt catch the meaning when you say main asset? Was it humour or are you asking me, is this my only house? If the latter yes Im 29 and its possibly the only way I can afford a home. Its my first home, my first build and I think my wife and I have done a good job. A litle overspending but you can see it in the detail.

I agree the mess is really annoyng now, but we need to gather the good wood and keep it for rainy day projects. The rest can be used as rubble for the areas that need fill. Then I would quite like main water connection, rather then the well we have.

We have a list of things to do and this should start august time. black soil grass will help improve the look of the house. a nice wall with a coloured earthy render and the finishing part of the house.


Thank you for your continued input. Have a great 2013, you and your family.

Originally Posted by jizzybloke

Is that your Mrs?

The house is looking very good and I'm still enjoying the updates, good luck and keep them coming!

Hi Jizzy

No, My wife is far more beautiful, that is her cousin. Thank you for your interest I hope we can get some pictures to you in the latter part of the year when we hope to finish.

Cheers

What are yo going to do with all that exposed wood Ben, lacquer or oil?

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

Hi Dr.A sorry I didnt catch the meaning when you say main asset? Was it humour

yes, but Jizzy was a little clearer!

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

No, My wife is far more beautiful, that is her cousin. Thank you for your interest I hope we can get some pictures to you in the latter part of the year when we hope to finish. Cheers

give our regards to the cousin

Originally Posted by Necron99

What are yo going to do with all that exposed wood Ben, lacquer or oil?

Hi,

The wood in the main house has been treated inside and out. The outside had a woodstain that has moisture and UV repellent properties(apparently). I wanted a matt look I hate gloss, absolutely hate it. So we went with Cuprinol it was 850 badt a tin with 200 badt back on each one if you bought the tin lid back.
first it was sanded as were the windows to achieve a nice finish before it was stained.
The inside of the house has had a composition of finish applied to it. It seems they have sanded it, added colour, shellac and sanded down then a lacquer. I believe anyway.

The look is very good but in hindsight I think with the rest of the wood in the extension (which is nicer) and downstairs I might just go for an oil like tung oil.
Also because we have a very good planer that we bought for the job, sanding seemed a bit pointless apart from on the windows.

I actually like the finish and colour of the wood untreated, because of the design of the extension there is really only 2 sides of that part of the house that get sun on it. So in truth I would just like to leave it as is, but dont know if there is a risk to doing that. As far as I can tell because Teak it just went grey?!

For the floor, I was going to put a tung oil finish down, again im not that bothered about hardening it with a finish because you dont use shoes inside upstairs. So a urethane finished seemed less likely, but seeing Wimpy's finish on his floor I might be turning round to the idea.

I hope that answers your question, because we are in the midst of doing it, its fresh to my mind.