Been browsing the site for six months now. I especially enjoy the construction threads, so since I'm currently constructing, I thought "HERE'S MY CHANCE"!!!
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Been browsing the site for six months now. I especially enjoy the construction threads, so since I'm currently constructing, I thought "HERE'S MY CHANCE"!!!
Anyways... The idea for our new house started to gel about three years ago. We are currently living in Tilac's grandmother's house which I "bought" 6 years ago for 40,000 baht. Good deal you might say? Well, yes, but there was a minor (major) termite problem. Spent 150,000 fixing it up and then went home to make some more. In the ensuing years the heat- we have a low tin roof, clearance- I'm 6'5 and have to "wai" to enter certain doorways ", and proximity to mother in law (next door) convinced me to explore other options.
We spent some time shopping for land. Not surprisingly the only reasonable plot was the one Tilac pointed out to me the first time I uttered "new house"
We bought 700 talang wa on the outskirts of our ban and commenced filling with the dirt of many trucks.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...l_DSCN2777.JPG
This is the low corner of our land, or "the swimming pool". I had this great idea for a French drain/ soakaway. Big gravel pit with big PVC to let some pressure off the wall Felt no need to install it las time I was home because I wasn't expecting much rain in May.
We can all guess what happened. The high water mark is still visible a good 1 meter high on the wall. The water managed to escape under the footing, taking a good 20 cu m3 of dirt with it. Have since installed soakaways (4), but they don't seem too effective with heavy clay soil.
Here's a look at the bottom of the wall. We used double blocks anywhere the wall will be supporting the soil we've brought in. I was assured this was "very strong". Unfortunately I think I should've put some "dead men" (concrete supports) in to strengthen it even more. But I didn't know.....
One other thing that set off alarm bells but I said nothing about is they laid the footing for the wall ON TOP of the ground instead of digging in a little bit.
That's more like it, reading all the sucess stories just makes me jealous.
yes, always wondered about that, too, and:Quote:
Originally Posted by Deck Ape
why do they build footings so narrow? back "home", the footings are sunk 600mm, laid 600mmwide, and 300mm deep. this for "normal", stable soil conditions- clay soil conditions need more specialised solutions.
Where about are you in Korat? (If you don't mind me asking)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tao
My big gringo residence will be near kahmthaleso road. Near sichan more specifically if you're familiar with the area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deck Ape
When you see dumb shit like that correct it otherwise when you lean on the wall and it falls down just say "Oh Well"....
Deck Ape I don't know how much you are paying per square metre for you labour but I have never seen anything like it.
Showed my foreman your pictures and he turned blue.
Not my postion to comment but just imagine when it rains your gonna have rising damp imediately. Better paint your walls lime green mate.
The structual strength will also be a problem especially if you have subterranean subsidence. Those walls will just drop in the centre.
I will find some pictures for you and as an example but for gods sake get a second opinion mate before they go much further.
i dont think it matters that the concrete footing is laid on the surface
the ground is not natural base soil anyway so it makes no difference
(as long as theres re-bar inside the concrete that is--)
a better way would be , to lay a concrete "raft" in other words , a solid slab of concrete the whole external size of the property
build wood shuttering around the outside property footprint, 6 inches high
place re-bar mesh over the whole area then pour in concrete to the top edge of the shuttering
use straight wooden tamps to level the whole pour whilst its still wet
thats what i would do anyway
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...0683/HP158.JPG
These are the footing for quite a small single storey house and for your reference.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...0683/HP159.JPG
The next step and once we have the re-inforcing steel tied in with the main footing columns and before we poor the footings.
Yes but I'm sure Deck Ape is going to make it successful. I get the feeling that he is a planner and able to see things turough to a successful finish. Oh BTW, I'm saving the discussion on my problem issue with my thread construction project (the pool) untill I've worked it through so that I have to solution to offer with the irritating issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
Khun Deck, looking forward to your construction story. Thanks for sharing.
Ciao!
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...0683/HP160.JPG
Now we compact the soil and in readiness to pour the concrete slab which overlaps the footings. Make sure your spray the soil base with a good insecticide or place a PVC pipe irrigation network covering the whole floor plan and so you can pump insecticide throughout the network of pipes and to keep the termites and ants at bay. Of course you have to drill holes in the pipes so as to distribute the insecticide which you would do annually.
Wow , this actually being done properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
Except for the GODAMM supports providing for the FUCKING retarded size Thai Rooms.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deck Ape
I think if you did not know that, then you should get some professional advice before you start building your house
by the way, the best solution to your drainage problem, now you have built the wall, would be to knock some holes through (and insert some 6" pipe pieces) around ground level.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
Are the panals on the roofs of the houses in the background solar, if so for what purpose
^
I think the water tanks might be a clue
The solar panels that you can see for water heating only and the results are fantastic.Quote:
Originally Posted by RPETER65Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
Are the on the roofs of the houses in the background solar, if so for what purpose
Have 6 people showering twice a day, laundrey and kitchen use and never run out of boiling hot water (you could almost boil an egg int it).
Done away with all of those ugly dedicated hot water units that continously break down and overload.
Never could fault these units which for a house of that size costs around 150,000.00 Baht including instalation, with all the copper piping and a back up heater (which we have never had to switch on).
Highly recommended. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
Too late, they have gone much further. These pics were a recap of the work done about 6 months ago. Not sure what subterranean sub sub..... well anyways. These walls are not part of the house structure. They are the perimeter walls around my land, about 50 meters per side.
I'm going to be here this rainy season. If I've got a drainage problem I'm confident I can fix it.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...l_DSCN2776.JPG
It's your standard Thai wall. A little on the short side as it's more for keeping the critters out than anything else. Other than keeping the dirt in, of course.
If I can't get this part right my plans for the particle accelerator might need a little oversight.
......:rofl:. Love your sense of humor. Hang in there!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Deck Ape
Anymore pics
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...0_DSCN2797.jpg
This one's dedicated to Norman. Tried to resize it, too.
Here we are at our wan yok sow ekk. Doesn't translate very well, but then again imagine trying to explain this one to the folks back home. Tie the string around the perimeter to ward off all the bad ghosts. It appeals to me greatly.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...0_DSCN2811.jpg
Here's me and the wifey praying to her heathen god. The guys from the construction crew were on hand to make sure the monks could take it easy.
All in all a good day. Didn't slip in the mud and impale myself on one of those rebar sections (almost did, but didn't) Thank god. I mean well,mai ben rai.
This was in May. One or two more days of strolling down memory soi.
yeah, good for you
hope it all goes better than your wall
Yeah thanks Dr. Andy,
It has been going pretty well. The reason I was disappointed with the performance of my perimeter wall was due to my own neglect. The contractor, a very capable guy, suggested we put in some pvc sections and I postoned it. I'm kinda pissed no one just knocked a hole or two in the wall above the soil line once the rains came. Never felt the need before, but with this big (Gringo) house and land I will hire a caretaker when I'm not here- roughly 50% of the time.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...l_DSCN2800.JPG
Here we are. The monks don't look like they're worried my big gringo wall is going to fall on them.
The whole wall cost about 200,000 all told. This was right about the time the price of oil started going through the stratosphere.
The way I've gone about this is to supply ALL materials and to contract the labor on a section by section basis. This agrees with my stops-and-starts income flow. For instance when the wall was done the contractor Nai and his guys (all local) went off to do other jobs for a few weeks before we started on the house.
Khun Sea Traveler,Quote:
Originally Posted by SEA TravelerYes but I'm sure Deck Ape is going to make it successful. I get the feeling that he is a planner and able to see things turough to a successful finish. Oh BTW, I'm saving the discussion on my problem issue with my thread construction project (the pool) untill I've worked it through so that I have to solution to offer with the irritating issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
Khun Deck, looking forward to your construction story. Thanks for sharing.
Ciao!
Thanks for joining in!!:)
The funny thing is, yes I'm a planner BUT. Still find myself learning stuff either 5 min too late or just in time to scramble to get it done. (How does that thing go about that sound being God laughing while you'rew making plans?) Should be an interesting few weeks anyway- roofers and roof on the way, Q-con stacked for use tomorrow. The mortar's gonna fly and it's gonna be fu**in awesome!!:sexy:DA
so, is a "gringo" the same as a "farang", or just larger?
I'm the big gringo. But the house will be the average farang size. About 200 sq. meters if you count the porches.
sounds like a fair size.
Good luck, look forward to more pics.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...l_DSCN2878.JPG
This last one pretty much brings us up to the present.
Laid out my own floorplans and then brought them to an architect. Cost 5,000 baht. Permission to build from the amphur 100 baht or something like that. Will have to get a "house number" once everything is done, but Mrs. Deckape doesn't know how much that'll cost.
Footings and pillars, the usual. Ecxept I opted for 5m spacing between mine. Lots of cement, lots of rebar.
Was away winning bread when the slab was poured, but pics were taken in my absence. I was incessant in my insistance that the soil be compacted. This was done (I've seen the evidence). It also seems that Nai laid down some plastic before he poured.
The steel for the roof trusses was bought at a steel supplier inside Korat. Due to the 5m spacing of the pillars the steel from the regular building place was deemed inadequate. Na Nai told me (and it turns out to be true) that the dimensions stenciled on the side of the steel are a little misleading. If you get the tape and check them you'll see they're smaller than what they say. So we went to the steel only place. Steel cost - about 200,000. Labor cost for footings and roof trusses- 120,000.
So I've returned from work, been here for 2 weeks and have been lining things up. The blocks were all on site yesterday. So I'll bring my camera with me and post a few fresh pics later today.:):):) Hopefully.
Thanks Khun Good2,Quote:
Originally Posted by good2bhappy
Your username's a good sentriment to remember when your "dream house" is in the wilds of Korat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deck Ape
looks good. I have a small worry, how will you get underneath the house to put up your hammock, the columns seem a little short?
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...hpatFPHEAM.jpg
Hammock? MMMMmm... get back to you on that.
Worried more about whether I will ever get some walls or a roof. Here is this afternoon's pic. The blocks are stacked nicely. Yeah, that's the ticket. I HAVE A VERY CLEAN, ORDERLY WORKSITE. Very quiet, too. A little quieter than I expected.