Thread: Building a house in Nakhom Pathom

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They did not allow enough time, after applying the smoothcoat, to let it dry and cure. They then applied the paint and the cracks showed up. PD House has since gone back and fixed the cracks.

Steve

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Didn't someone post on your thread that the workers can get some kind of training, from a Q-Con rep, on how to properly install them ? If not, I'm certain they can find a crew that can do the job, even if it costs a little more to bring them in and put them up for a week or 2. It's far better, in the long run, than living in an oven.

Steve

Steve
Thanks! Although I have been with the same woman for 10+ years (& have lived >12 years in LOS), I have just discovered that there are communication problems. (I have a lot to learn!)
Q-con - there is NO debate! A certainty!
I have just discovered that the builder does have experience with Q-con - 2 homes & 1 office. Yes, not all employees have experience with Q-con - not a problem. In rural Thailand "red brick" is far more popular - price? (the average new house price where I will live is B1.5m).
So, we proceed with Q-con - thanks for the advice, Steve!

Before we start the perimeter security wall, the wife wanted our property on the east end of our first lot, to be fairly level with the area around the house. I figured we'd be raising that area anyway, to further lessen any chance of flooding.
So they started coming today, delivering loads of what looks like some nice dirt, instead of the cr@p that they used around the septic tanks. Since we'll be doing landscaping and plantings in that area, I'm happy.
My only stipulation to the wife was not to harm the mature Australian mango trees we have on the edge of the property. These trees produce fruit averaging 2 kg each and they are good. I expected that since the fruit was bigger, taste would be bland.
I guess, it wouldn't be interesting if there was a little excitement in the process. My wife tells me one of the truck got stuck. I think you see which one in some of these photos.












And an exciting action shot !!!




I understand more trucks come tomorrow.

Steve

Originally Posted by stevefarang

So they started coming today, delivering loads of what looks like some nice dirt, instead of the cr@p that they used around the septic tanks. Since we'll be doing landscaping and plantings in that area, I'm happy.

That's some good looking dirt.

Steve
Thanks for your advice & sharing your experience - esp re Q-con bricks.
In hindsight, would you use the same roof color again? My wife likes brown or grey. I did have a leaning towards red - true terracotta. Now, I sway with the branches - but not blue.

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I am not a fan of darker color roofs, such as brown and grey. I do like the color blue, but that would not have worked for the roof color.

Yes, I am happy with the roof color we picked out. We had an option to upgrade to some type of ceramic roof, but I figure we could always do that sometime down the road (when the roof needs to be replaced).

Steve

It looks like they had a little party last night at the house. All I know is that, from this angle, the house looks pretty good. Even if it really needs some landscaping ! I'm going to have to swap the existing lights with LED. The exterior lights, on the left are LED already. Nice and bright and no attraction to bugs. Whenever we turn on the lights in the carpark, the bugs swarm to those CFL light.

I don't know if Terry will be reading this, but I was informed by PD House that they applied a silicone seal on my "water resistant" exterior lights on the south side. I'm looking forward to getting back there and checking them.




The rest of the dirt was delivered today and smoothed out. It really raised the level up, although I'm sure we'll get some settling, especially with the rainy season coming. These are pics the wife sent me.










My Australian Mango trees have been spared, for now.







They even put some dirt back behind the kitchen area. Now our water tank is truly underground. This should help give us cooler water, as the tank was always exposed to the sun.



Steve

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Shouldn't that be ..................









Wasp

That's a lot of dirt there SF.... what do you have to pay for a truckload in your part of the world. Our latest delivery cost 300 baht per truck...up from 250 about six months ago. We are having dirt inflation.....

You will likely get quite a bit of erosion around the edges if we get anything like the kind or rains we had last year, but there's not much to be done about that until a wall is built around it. Be really nice when it's all settled with manicured lawns, exotic trees, Peacocks, fountains, vintage cars...............a proper Chateau needs these things in the grounds.....

The Chateau is looking grand, Steve. Isn't it amazing how cheap a good dirt fill is in LOS??? The sort of fill would cost an arm and a leg here in Oz.

Steve
I prefer red color roof too - terracotta style! However, wife has already ordered grey color - at least it is not a dark color & not blue (& different - good - bad???).
All seems to be moving in the right direction.

Originally Posted by koman

That's a lot of dirt there SF.... what do you have to pay for a truckload in your part of the world. Our latest delivery cost 300 baht per truck...up from 250 about six months ago. We are having dirt inflation.....

You will likely get quite a bit of erosion around the edges if we get anything like the kind or rains we had last year, but there's not much to be done about that until a wall is built around it. Be really nice when it's all settled with manicured lawns, exotic trees, Peacocks, fountains, vintage cars...............a proper Chateau needs these things in the grounds.....

I don't know how much per truckload, we paid 110,000 baht for it all. It was a large area that was raised, plus that spot behind the kitchen, where the water tank is located.

If I had my way though, I would have some of the dirt from our second lot moved over to where we just filled in. We had ducks, geese & chickens on that land, for several years. I bet it's pretty fertile soil !!

The perimeter wall construction starts next month. My wife has some guy lined up who apparently has an excellent reputation for wall building.

I'm actually thinking of getting a peacock to wander the grounds. Although, some of my family is telling me that they can be noisy and cranky. First though, got to get the landscaping going. I hate to think what the cost of sod will be for an area of that size. Plus, all the watering to get it established.

LOL Wasp, I love it !!!! Thanks !

Steve

When you check the lights make sure the bead is complete.

It will need to be once the wet season really kicks in.

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I will, thanks Terry.

I also still need to swap out for LED bulbs, as I'm assuming that they didn't do a bead of silicone top of the light fixture. Although, at this time, these lights don't get much use.

Steve

What's the extra land for?... Are you planning on building a restaurant?...

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I think I stated before that the wife doesn't want the perimeter wall dipping and rising, so she wanted the land fairly level. Hence the extra fill. Plus, it makes us even more flood proof. And it gives some nice dirt to work with when landscaping and doing plantings.

There's not enough people around the area to justify a restaurant. And I wouldn't want them wandering around our property if we did.

Steve

Had a peacock outside my hotel window on Phuket during my honeymoon. Damm thing would start around 5 am and wake me up every day. My wife thought I was crazy because each night when we got back to the hotel around midnight I would make sure to wake the damm bird to get some revenge! :-)

They've started installing mosquito screens for all the windows. Supposedly this group works with PD House, knows these windows and have a good reputation.
My wife sent me these pics and I spotted a problem right away. Let's see if anyone else picks up on it.











My dog has finally been relocated to the house as well. They do exercise him, but when the workers are around, they keep him in his new home. It's in the shed where we used to have all the ducks & chickens. I bet he hates it, as he is used to running around freely. But it is shaded & well ventilated. I want to try and set up a run for him, the next time I go over there. I don't know where I can get the stuff for a run over there, so I will probably buy a kit, in the USA, and take it over. No real trees, on the east side. So I will have to look at planting some concrete poles temporarily. Once the wall is up, he will have free run of the property.








Steve

Nup, what's the prob? I intend to get my windows made up with screens and some sort of grill before they are fitted, so handy to know?

In the third pic, the window opens inwards, when the window is open there is no screen doing its job.

Originally Posted by palexxxx

In the third pic, the window opens inwards, when the window is open there is no screen doing its job.

This is quite acceptable in Thailand? Isn't it? (ISO - BS)

Nice dog. Looks like a thoroughbred Bankeow....? They would hate being in a cage... they love their freedom. Better get that wall built ASAP....the last thing you need is a neurotic Bankaew...

Don't see the problem with the screens......ya reckon the mosquitoes can figure it out?.....

Originally Posted by palexxxx

In the third pic, the window opens inwards, when the window is open there is no screen doing its job.

That looks like the screen to me.......not the window....