Thread: Building a house in Nakhom Pathom

tell that to Looper in his virgin thread!

anyway, the house progresses well

Gidday Steve, Congrats on this good thread. I think we must live nearby as we have a place at Sampran town - Nakorn Pathom province. Our place is very near Wat Rai Khing and I watch your development with a lot of interest.

G'day Rob and thanks very much. Concrete blocks have finally been delivered to the site last week and I'm hoping construction resumes this week.
I am rethinking about the wood front doors. I might forego them for now, just to save a little money for other house stuff and have them done 2-3 years down the road.
Keeping my fingers crossed the place will be finished before the end of the year.

Looking forward to the next set of pics Steve

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Looking forward to the next set of pics Steve

Me too Nigel !!

I was hoping that they would have been busy putting up concrete block all of June myself. But apparently, due to the flooding earlier this year, there is a backlog at the concrete block factory. They say work will resume on Wednesday, so I'm hoping there is some progress to show next weekend, when we go for a visit. I think we will also be meeting with PDHouse next weekend as well, so I can voice my displeasure to them personally.

I really like the design of the house and the process they use in building it. Everything seems well thought out and not just a bunch of villagers showing up to pour some concrete, play with a welding torch, run some wire and put in a window and door or two. I'm just frustrated by the delays, granted part of it was my fault.

Looks great, the views are fantastic and the build looks very good also.
That is the firt time i've seen gal trusses. Much better than the steel ones that are rusty when delivered and as been said, tach welded together with an old stick welder, by a guy who does'nt know how to weld, ( l havent seen a Thai that can weld ) the only thing holding many welds together is the flux. Actually most times they dont use welding shields or sunglasses at best, they turn out good, not for me though.
Excellent thread mate.

Going to be a nice view from the office. Rest of the build looking good too. Going to be a big place, lots of space.

Thanks all, we're pretty excited as well. It looks like the next stage starts in the coming days, finally. The 4,000 concrete blocks were delivered late last week and the crew starts to set up camp later this week. Then the block work starts early next week. Hopefully it will go fast.

Concrete blocks still sitting there, waiting for the work crew. We are now told they will start 25 July. Looks like someone is setting up the little camp they will use. I don't want them to use our "House 1.0" sitting on the opposite side. My mother-in-law's boyfriend will be staying at the property, once the workers arrive to keep an eye on things.
But here's some pics from Saturday, July 21.





Here's a shot showing the little temporary camp they are setting up on the east side of the property. The plan is to put a swimming pool over on this side, as well as an outside sitting area and garden. There will be an outside (sheltered) Thai style kitchen on the east side as well. The western style kitchen will be in the lower left corner of the ground floor.

I know you posted about the concrete blocks you have pictured here, but could you tell me the name of them and the material. I remember that they are supposed to be superior to cement blocks, but are they superior to red brick?

Your place is looking good Steve, you and your wife will be very happy once it's completed I'm sure.

All the best.
Pete

Originally Posted by MrG

I know you posted about the concrete blocks you have pictured here, but could you tell me the name of them and the material. I remember that they are supposed to be superior to cement blocks, but are they superior to red brick?

I'm not sure the name, since the house building company is the one buying them. I've seen others talk about "Q-blok" and I think these are the same. These are solid blocks and definitely lighter than what i expected. I think they do hold up better than red brick, but I think red brick is cheaper.

If I do find out the material, I'll post it.

Thanks Pete ! I can't wait to get it done now too.

Thanks for that.

To follow up on a previous post, I contacted PD about estimates. Seems nobody in the office speaks (writes) very good English. Maybe the English speakers were out.

Originally Posted by MrG

Thanks for that.

To follow up on a previous post, I contacted PD about estimates. Seems nobody in the office speaks (writes) very good English. Maybe the English speakers were out.

Yes, even with their english language version of their website, having english speaking staff is a problem for them.
We're having dinner with our PD house reps this Friday to "patch things up". I intend to make the lack of communication/failure to answer my inquiries in English an issue and will mention that others have had trouble trying to get info in English. I still don't think they are a bad company, but if they want to do business with foreigners, then they have to change their ways.

Steve, I have been in that situation many times with my build here, it seems to be a common problem here in Thailand, but it never comes accross during the lead up to signing the contract unfortunately, I also think they know more than they let on but it still does not seem to make any difference.

I hope all goes well on Friday! keep us updated. Cheers.

Pete

OK, we had a decent conversation, with PD House, on Friday night and, hopefully, cleared up some issues. Unfortiunately, they only really have 1 guy who speaks english, so communication can be slow and the guy admitted it. But I got some answers on some technical issues finally.
And...finally, they have started working on the walls. But...2 of the guys had a medical emergency with their family and had to leave the 2nd day. So only the foreman is there, along with his wife and 2 kids. Supposedly, we will get 10 people working later this week. But I'm pleased with the foreman. He seems to be doing a good job and doing thngs with care, even if he doesn't follow any US safety practices (Hey TIT !!).
I took these pics early afternoon on Sunday. He made even more progress after I took these.

Of course, now PD House puts up their promotional billboard.






Looking towards what will be the Master bedroom:



Looking towards the front east corner, upstairs, of the house.



And a view of the eastern side of the house. Their camp is still not set-up, which is an issue we will be addressing. I don't mind them using our little "House 1.0" for a few days, but I want it back for our use.



I hope there will be a ;lot more done next weekend. But it's finally going forward.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Thanks for the update Steve , were still viewing mate .

BTW excuse my ignorance on Thai build but those blocks stood on they're ends in the second pic with rods sticking out of them ? is that to bond into the pillars ?

I often wonder about they're block/ brickwork how great slabs of it don't fall down as it appears a lot of it does not seem to tie in around corners with all these pillars ?

No Ian, they've marked out the floor plan upstairs and those blocks are just helping to mark corners and interior wall locations. you can't really see it in the pics, but they've chalked out their location of all the walls and doors.

Now the rebars on the edges, I believe they do use those to tie into the walls and add rigidity. I can't be there everyday, so not sure exactly. But I noticed a lot of rebar sticking out at the ends on the first floor and I assume these will bed upwards for the exteriod walls.

No need to apologize. I sometimes ask some real silly questions as well.

^ Cheers mate BTW I am Nigel the wife is Jan ,,, I'm not sure about Ian

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

^ Cheers mate BTW I am Nigel the wife is Jan ,,, I'm not sure about Ian

Doh !!! Damn my eyes !!!

Sorry N-i-g-e-l !!!

Jeez mate, that is one very serious house. Really nice and being well built by the looks of things.

You will be having lots of visits from the out laws that's for sure, hope your ready for that.

Great looking build with very nice view's Steve. My wife has suggested we purchase land a short distance out of town to build on, l didnt particularly like the idea, but after seening your views, l have changed my mind completely. No doubt you are looking forward to the day when you can sit in your family room and admire the ever changing land scape, l envey you mate.

Originally Posted by MrG

I know you posted about the concrete blocks you have pictured here, but could you tell me the name of them and the material. I remember that they are supposed to be superior to cement blocks, but are they superior to red brick?

Quite sure they are Q-Con blocks. Have greater insulating properties than red brick. They are becoming less expensive as production volumes have increased but still more expensive than red brick. No significant structural difference.

Welcome to Q-con

Originally Posted by stevefarang

She is sensitive to my wanting private space and to make it our house.

You have an understanding wife there Steve ,, its good she has a grasp on our western ways .

Yes as we are different cultures we both have to make compromises to make it work for sure ,, some of that includes us having to sometimes mill around with the hordes ,, but also by the same token they have to realise we need to retreat alone to our sanctuary to have some time to realign our senses