Thread: Disaster alert! New Build...

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

My plan is to take photos every weekend (the work should be, hahahahaha, I can hear your laughs!) pretty continuous over a 3 1/2 to 4 month period.

Boo hoo...no, no, no. You have to be there daily!!! You have to be there otherwise they go crazy. One morning I showed up late and the guys were backfilling my sewer trench with rock, broken concrete block and rubbish. No stop now! All heads turned about on cue, what now boss? Take it all out. Ok, they took it all out. what now boss? backfill with sand. OH, ok, boss. they threw the scraps over to the lot next door to me and used it as backfill for the poor turd who bought that shit hole. You've got to be on site daily or some really trusted soul has to be there. You're wife simply will roll with the "Thai way." Its gotta be a white face. Amazing how much crap can be buried and covered with concrete in a single day.

Originally Posted by Simon43

Any company who sells a property on the basis of a 30+30 or 30+30+30 year renewal lease are misleading you big time.

What is the proof of this, may I ask. Not having experience anyone who has lived 30 years here and tried to renew the next 30 let alone 60 total years in addition. That would make you almost 165 eh?

BTW, the names on the lease are both seller and buyer. I've often thought on this as I have one of those 30+30+30's. No guarantee's that the seller will still be alive or even available to offer his/her approval signature on said lease.

Fair Question I think?

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Youve chosen one of the best makes to see your money devalue the quickest.

Complete bollocks.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

You not consider a Dmax 4 door 2.5 diesel auto ?

Complete overpriced shit.

Don't listen to these experts who visit for a few weeks every year. You buy a car to drive it, not to worry about its resale value. The days of Ford being 'less valued' are pretty much over as even thick Thais are realising they're the best vehicles out there at the moment.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

but I ain't gonna be sending my blood pressure through the roof here...

Anyone taking bets on this? I reckon about 1 week into the build.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Don't listen to these experts who visit for a few weeks every year.

Couldn't say it better myself. I bought a Vigo 4x4 3.0 diesel long body. Love it, but I ain't saying its the best, just that it suits me and my needs. I like the power, but then everyone does.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

I may have won an argument.

Boo, you are a dreamer....

Originally Posted by misskit

Originally Posted by tsicar

if you are not present to supervise and know nothing about building, this is the worst possible way to build a house.

Have to agree with this. I tried it with bad results. My house was built using local village builder and local labor. The house didn't come out like the plans due to their inexperience with following a 'map'. There were few electrical outlets installed, though they were included on a separate page in the plans. I had to have the whole house rewired just a couple of years after the build. Windows installed where convenient. Thai bathroom installed instead of western. The tile work was crap. I could see the plumbing was wacky when they started the installation (PVC being the smallest size possible) and hired a professional plumber. I can go on.......

You can spend more money correcting all the mistakes than you would by hiring professionals in the first place.

I'm surprised Misskit. I would have thought you would have none of it? I guess the question is, have you satisfactorily corrected the deficiencies of the house or just accepted it as it exists? Sad.

the next episode will be "I gave my father in law 600k for the house and all I got in return was a new pickup truck with a 5 year lease"

Originally Posted by Butterfly

the next episode will be "I gave my father in law 600k for the house and all I got in return was a new pickup truck with a 5 year lease"

Surely his FIL would not cheat his daughter? Cynic.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

^ I was thinking about a solar hot water heater, as per DrA's.

A nice big bath, mmmmmmmm

Along with the bath & water heater, you will also need a nice big air-con in the bathroom, else you will be jumping into your nice bath/sauna thinking its a tad warm in here! WE have a bath, we never use it it's too bleedin hot! brings new meaning to the term "sweating like a rapist"....

A quick question:

Do you folks reckon it's possible to build a house for 8000 baht/sq.m? 7,000 baht/sq.m? 6,000 baht/sq.m? Am I just getting too greedy now???

I'm reading through many other threads, wanting a bit more space, wanting a bit lower cost, you know, getting greedy... If I could do a 3 bedroom house of 100 sq.m for 700k then I'd probably write up those plans - I'm thinking the difference between 80 sq.m and 100 sq.m is important for me - I've looked at a few areas of those 2 sizes; one feels too small, one feels okay...

Another question:

The way the floor has been done on this build. Do you guys reckon it's okay, correct process and technique for a single storey property?

https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...pattaya-4.html

Basically:

step 1: holes and posts



Step 2: outline the floorplan:



step 3: poor concrete to the required raised floor level:



step 4:

He hasn't posted pics yet... But, am I right in presuming that they compact the dirt to a reasonable level then poor a 'thin' concrete 'top' - which basically, they just tile on top of later?

Any treatment needed at any stage here (for insects or rot or damp, etc)?

It all looks simple and cheap enough, if that's the process. Take care to have the required depth, and allow the concrete to set strongly, then you're on your way...

Would prefabricated pillings be put in the ground at this stage, instead of the partially made/created concrete poured posts? (I told you I was an utter beginner...)

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Do you folks reckon it's possible to build a house for 8000 baht/sq.m? 7,000 baht/sq.m? 6,000 baht/sq.m? Am I just getting too greedy now???

I think you're pushing the boundaries of size for money with the construction method you're pursuing. It'd be cheaper and actually more practical for this climate doing it as Tiscar briefly outlined earlier of concrete posts/piles, wooden joists & frame clad with Shera board, steel frame and lightweight metal roof with lots of insulation under the roof and in the naturally created wall cavities behind the plasterboard.

That is exactly how I intend to do my place (until I change my mind again), but your folks might lose face because it's not one large lump of concrete.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Don't listen to these experts who visit for a few weeks every year.

You paying attention Betty ? I'm sure he's old enuf and of sound mind to make up his own mind about that .

^ I'm gonna go back to the start of the thread and read all the posts again; I've been through 10 pages on our construction sub-forum and am getting a much better idea of what's going on.

This page, from Sharon, gives a really nice end to end picture development of how a simple house is constructed - very useful to see the general picture and thus better understand people's advice/comments.

https://teakdoor.com/construction-in-...-design-4.html (My House Design)

Originally Posted by ltnt

I'm surprised Misskit. I would have thought you would have none of it? I guess the question is, have you satisfactorily corrected the deficiencies of the house or just accepted it as it exists? Sad.

I was working and not in the country for most of the time the house was under construction so wasnt there to keep an eye on the work. The work that was done is the local 'standard', if we can call it that, so there wasn't much sympathy for me wanting a high-so job.

My house is 16 years old now and had many re-dos over the years. It is very beautiful now.

What is the proof of this, may I ask

No proof is needed since Thai law specifically states that a maximum lease term is 30 years. You can sign a contract that says the moon is made of blue cheese and you're the owner after 30 years, but that doesn't make it either possible or legal.

Thai law also specifically states that any attempt by a foreigner to circumvent the law of land ownership etc is illegal. Since they interpret the law, they can decide whether or not your 30+30 lease is actually a means to circumvent Thai law.

The bottom line is - do not listen to the 'scum' who try to sell you Thai property on 30+30+ contracts. They have nothing to lose by lying to you do they??

Simon

Originally Posted by misskit

Originally Posted by ltnt

I'm surprised Misskit. I would have thought you would have none of it? I guess the question is, have you satisfactorily corrected the deficiencies of the house or just accepted it as it exists? Sad.

I was working and not in the country for most of the time the house was under construction so wasnt there to keep an eye on the work. The work that was done is the local 'standard', if we can call it that, so there wasn't much sympathy for me wanting a high-so job.

My house is 16 years old now and had many re-dos over the years. It is very beautiful now.

Great, you didn't toss in the towel.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Would prefabricated pillings be put in the ground at this stage, instead of the partially made/created concrete poured posts? (I told you I was an utter beginner...)

No, they pre-form and insert what I call pencil rod /re-bar wire cages and hand or truck pour the columns. These are common practiice here.

I have 12 base piles under my house and the spread foundation is completely interlocked.

Of course the extra earth is spread evenly and excess relocated.

All electrical and or plumbing below grade should be installed as well prior to pour of floor slab.

I have a "pest," control tap located at 4 points around the base of my foundation. I call in the pest spray occasionally, every three or four years to spray and control any and all bugs and would be termites.

Elevated floors are usually made by formation of a ring or series of concrete floor beams all interlocked. Then precast panels are laid across the open spaces, butted against each other. Next the floor is poured about three inches deep and screed off smooth. this seals all openings and or cracks. Again installation of all electrical and plumbing should be in place prior to pour. floor drains, conduit etc.

My surrounding wall is about one and a half meter deep with spread footings. cinder block goes up to about 6' with concrete cap. All is pencil wired together for strength. (Be sure to set your sewer and other plumbing electrical outlets and runs prior to pouring footings around your walled in area. I placed electrical conduit runs inside my re-bar cages pre-pour as well and even inside columns.

Electrically I'm an idiot, but be sure to know your power needs and use. Pre think the location of your fuse box as all terminations will eventually lead here.

We decided that all purchases were going to be made by me and the wife. When the contractor wanted or needed materials we accompanied him to the distributor. Very often he selected cheap materials that I knew was not what would last,so I upgraded many of his selections. He was over the moon. As for appliances and fixtures, bathroom and lighting, tile, trim etc. Its you're house you select the colors, styles and quality. You won't be disappointed and have nobody to blame for later grief.

All my water supply is pvc inside the red brick walls. As well is my pvc electrical conduit. Appearance sake. One always worries about leaks and possible repairs, but I simply said to myself, I'll deal with it if and when it happens. I have and I will.

[at]BettyBoo

Re step 4 - yes, they should compact the soil and then lay a grid/mesh of reinforcing metal, (bit like very strong chicken wire) - then pour the floor concrete. The mesh should be supported so that it lies in the middle of the poured concrete. A typical depth of concrete would be 10cm, but often they will try to scrimp on this and only pour a few cms ==> possible floor movement/cracking later on.

You should always be there when concrete is being poured or mixed. When mixing concrete, they will try to save money by minimizing the sand/gravel mixture, or by pouring only a thin layer of concrete.

Simon

Originally Posted by Simon43

No proof is needed since Thai law specifically states that a maximum lease term is 30 years.

Yes, agreed, however the title submittal through the 'Land Department," clearly states that this title is under a 30+30+30 lease. They do not reject such leases and house ownership titles. I have spoken and been audited by the tax agency as well and they discussed this title as well as straw company formation with me. They as well as I were very up front regarding this process and according to them there is nothing wrong with this process for land home ownership by ferangs. Common practice was my impression. Different strokes, for different folks IMO.