TJ
" to do things right this time like you"
You cant say that I am still learning a lot one mistake I made and cant correct is the tread width on the stairs I take Uk size 12s and the stairs are for size 9 feet - I have got used to coming down stairs at a slight angle though .

ian
I have been involved with the rebuilding of the in Laws house as you describe it reused a lot of the wood (denailed & planned up) the new house is one third concrete the remainder being wood and the overall cost because Dad in Law sourced the labour and kept prices down (plus cut a tree down to make the stairs) was about 500,000baht that included everything - new bits of furniture the lot.

Photos are now available to view in the members photo section.

Post edited at Mervyn's request (Conrad)

Thanks Mervyn....the pics are excellent...
That is exactly what i am after, i will be after two concrete rooms below for bathroom and kitchen area so the pics you put up are very handy....
When we where in the wood house i was probably more comfortable than i had ever been,...
As soon as we get ilr and get a chance i will be over to give it go......
thanks again......

Ian
one thing that I dont have are any plans as there aint none, the only plans were on the back of fag packets and scraps of paper plus of course pointing where to put things like lights and sockets. One tip is if you buy tiles from a merchants that have them displayed in a design take a photo and print it out so the tilers know how to put them ! We did have one thick prat that didn't ask, lucky I caught him before he went too far.

Yep...i see a wood house put up not far from where we are a couple of years ago and they just seemed to be banging wood in all over the place as they went along. Looked a bit of a sham when being built but ended up a really good looking place...
Yes i agree you do have to watch them, i was all over the site everyday after they went home looking at what they had done and often found myself making a mix up and patching things up....
I normally find if you start with about 8 or 10 men that 2 or 3 will be good and turn thier hands to anything and the rest all just seem to be liabilities.....
But what really hacked me off is that if i saw something seriously wrong and said about it they would just find it funny and smile...they always put it right mind but a couple of times i come close to losing my rag...

quote:

Originally posted by ian&nat norfolk uk:
But what really hacked me off is that if i saw something seriously wrong and said about it they would just find it funny and smile...they always put it right mind but a couple of times i come close to losing my rag...

I know just what you mean here , a very informative book on that subject is called "Working with Thais" I cant remember the author but it is a good read. It explains how to get a job done not by demanding but by saying that to get the thing done will save you a problem (eg. yep yep from wife) and it worked in many of my requests.
As you say 2 or 3 of the workers are usually great and it was these workers that I kept on to build the wall round the plot, sort the garden out, construct a plant shelter up, build the carp pond, car porch, concrete driveway and all the other bits that needed doing to finish the job off that didn't need the full work force (giving them more work was my way of saying thanks and they seem to appreciate it)
Plus of course another party / drinking session once all the work was completed. (huge cost whisky 75baht a bottle does for two Thai drinkers)

Yes, we did the same plus during the build we always made sure there was an insulated bucket of cold drinking water plus ice in there for them. Then the occassional bottle each of those high-energy drinks in the small brown bottles. (no, not Chang or Singh)

Derek

Ian and Nat,

Four years ago we had our wood village house lifted up by crane, the old wooden supports removed, and the bottom half built with bricks and cement. New windows with black glass, and a metal door the whole width of the house at the front.
Still has the tin roof that makes upstairs like an oven. I'd like to change the roof to the old classic Thai design, the high pitched roof, in the future.

The local buiders expect food and drink, beer and Lao Khao.
They done a good job, no problems.

Tony

Well wont be doing nothing that advanced as the upstairs needs a total makeover..so im gonna take it all to bits bit by bit and plain down, treat useable wood and totally build again with a new room plan...
All supports are good so may leave them and put in extra....Going to be doing something simular to Mervyns pics and putting a concrete b.room and kitchen downstairs...
Im afraid if i was going to lift it with a crane i would need more than buddas luck to hold it all together....sounds a good idea though...but i couldnt risk it ...and would have no where to place the house while building below..?

Ian,
We pulled the house up by crane put in the concrete posts and then lowered the house and bolted the posts on. Then we built the walls after the crane departed. My late Mother in law loved the house esp. the inside sh**ter, and the new fitted kitchen.


Tony

Sounds a bit technical for me mate, id easy make a hash of that...was the house raised long enough for posts to set?
I remember the first time i went to my missus house we got there about midday and had a new (normal) bog in by 3.30...
Had to be done...i do love thailand and will do almost anything to live thier livestyle but no way am i using a squat bog...
My missus hated the new bog and refused to use it!!
She worked then in the honda dealership on the main road through korat and it turns out she wasnt using the new bogs in the reception but the crappy ones out the back for the car workers....mad..

Different agin here concerning the William Crapper device kids and Mrs will no use squat type but insist on western but what amases me toilet tissue is just about only used for blowing noses the bum sprays are great and can even cool the hottest ar*e down after a good and hot Thai dish passes

The toilet tissue is used to dry the ringpiece after the delightful cascade of water dances around the ar*e. Much better than the water scoop in the barrel, and no tissue to hand. When out and about I always take "Wet Wipes".

Tony

quote:

When out and about I always take "Wet Wipes".

Not medicated one's though OUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Not sure about wet wipes but always had bog roll in the glove box or under the seat on bike...
The missus is ok with the bog situation now as she has no choice...
If i was given a quid every time i walked in a toilet somewhere in thailand and thought to myself "what the fxxx am i going to do here" i would now be a rich man...
Im always the guy running into the shop nearby buying anything i think i can wipe **** on....
Also beats me how the bigger service station can even have a couple of full time cleaners holding up mops and still the place is just minging....

quote:

the bigger service station can even have a couple of full time cleaners holding up mops and still the place is just minging

How true and ever those outside urinals only 50% are insect free - now I dont want bitting at least by insects while having a jimmy

quote:

a very informative book on that subject is called "Working with Thais" I cant remember the author but it is a good read.

Could be this one ....


Working with the Thais
Henry Holmes

quote:

"Excellent reading material for businessmen, trainees, students and professionals working with the Thais, regardless of their nationalities. The book captures the very essence of the Thai value system and provides a relevant guide to successful, workable relationships with the Thais. Flops and cultural mistakes can be sealed off. Working with the Thais is a MUST READ for anyone planning to spend time in Thailand."
Kazunori Somaya, Managing Director, Sony Thai.

Regards

Tht's is just the one Paul and if anybody want it in UK the ISBN number is 974-8496-50-3 Authors are henry Holmes and Suchada Tangtontavy with Roy Tomizawa and published by White Lotus.

Guess what I am at home now with the book in front of me !! It really is a very informative good read though and very amusing at times.

paid 86,000m bht for 3 rai(full land) off a main road to nang rong this year, think we got a good price, huge industry going up in front of it now, can build a house on land for 200,000bht family have given me all the timber. how much would i expect to pay for two bed wooden house, with western toliet and bathroom..... nothinhg flash more like a big each bungalow.. thanks people

To build the Outlaws house it is three bedroom/two bath and reused timber from old house it cost about 300,000 bht in all.

just out of interest on the land thing, we just paid 86,000 bht for 3 rai, nang rong, set back from the man road wich runs to korat, we have deep water canals surrounding the land, i wanted to build a wooden house , sort of like a huge 2 bed bungalow with a western toilet and western kitchen. I have been given all the timber by my wifes family, i wanted a balcony all the way round, becuase we have views over surrounding fields. I have been told by her brother that building isnt a problem becuse he is head of village and he gives the go ahead...
just be interested to know what sort of outlay i am expecting here???
thanks for your help

There are too many variables to give you an answer really, if the land has to be raised above any possible flooding (insurance now as opposed to flooding later) you can gauge about 40,000bht per one meter per rai two meters is a good height ! not for all the land but certainly for the house and 5 mteres round. What foundations would you use raft construction or just supported posts ? Depends upon the fill if any needed, raft is better as prevents one post subsidding. Who is doing the building ? will they overcharge does the wood need to be dressed? Western kitchen would need to be concrete floor really as tiles dont like sitting on wood I spent 100,000bht on the kitchen and fittings (in our own house), same with toilet and shower (we put a jacuzi bath in the ensuite bathroom that alone was 60,000bht again in our own house). You say large bungalow how large ? What finish do you need to the ceilings (suspended is good inlaws house 40,000bht for ceilings throughout)?, aircon ? drive way & car porch, location of electric supply cables, well water or piped ? So as you can see there are so many variable here it is impossible to give a clue all I can say is to build the house for the outlaws is above and photos of it are in the members section photos under "In Laws House"
I would seriously suggest getting some plans sketched out (note sketched) and ask the local builders, Thai builders can follow plans but they can also follow sketches and its cheaper! The main thing is to make sure you are on site once the building starts to supervise and suggest plus control the materials if you employ builders as labour only (which saves money with materials being hiked up in price)
By the way below is a map if of any use

thanks mervyn

the land is already full and is stiting approx 3 metres high, havnt a clue why they made full land a few years ago and put crops on it.
i wanted a concrete floor for bathroom and kitchen but the rest to be built out of wood, i think sketching it all out is a good idea. i can get my brother to draw it up when i am happy with the plans,

the outlaws have a good enough house but they did give me the option to build on there land but my wife and i want a quiet place away. my wife has aslo suggested to me not to build yet, she is 32 i am 33 we both have alot of years over here together to make our money first . that map is good I am about 15 mins on bike from there

hI Derek firstly thanks for the informative post its nice to see some of us on here still try to post constructive information to help others, my only question is how big is the land your house is on cheers.

quote:

its nice to see some of us on here still try to post constructive information to help others

TJ
A strange thing to say why ??