216 replies to this topic
Posted 2011-08-17 19:49:47
Posted 2011-08-17 20:01:48
Posted 2011-08-17 21:12:46
Interesting to watch the progress. I was involved in turning the GF's shed into a really nice house up in Roi Et, my part was supply Baht and go offshore to earn more while she supervised the builders  Basically all my suggestions were at best "modified" to local standards or ignored. The only real problems at the end with the modification are wet areas that do not drain properly and an electrical system that was not brought up to date, just added on to. The electrical system is diabolical and I I will have to allow sufficient time to pass before gradually bringing it up to spec. They have now worked out that I have a rough idea on building and can actually improve some things, without doing them Thai style.
While you have got all the diggers on site may be time to think of a decent electrical earth. A trick I have used in lightning prone areas is to make the stake 6 metres long, but sleeve the top two metres to eliminate static charges associated with lightning. Worked really well and ensured no stray spikes back into the electrical system from nearby lightning strikes.
Cheers
Litlos
Posted 2011-08-17 23:38:10
 Litlos, on 2011-08-17 21:12:46, said:
While you have got all the diggers on site may be time to think of a decent electrical earth.
I think it is a safe bet that Crossy has this covered!
Posted 2011-08-18 19:33:13
Very much tongue in cheek reply 
Posted 2011-08-18 19:57:41
Litlos, on 2011-08-17 21:12:46, said:
A trick I have used in lightning prone areas is to make the stake 6 metres long, but sleeve the top two metres to eliminate static charges associated with lightning. Worked really well and ensured no stray spikes back into the electrical system from nearby lightning strikes.
I'm intrigued by the idea of sleeving the upper part of the ground rod to reduce potential potentials (ouch) induced by lightning.
Do you have any scientific analysis of this technique, what are you using to sleeve the rods?
I wonder about the possibility of even getting a 6m stake into the ground.
Posted 2011-08-20 21:30:41
First time I saw this was in North West Australia, which in the summer season is very lightning prone. Later on I went on course on lightning/static/earthing and it was discussed in the text. Basically the concept was that when lightning hit in an ideal situation would dissipate the energy in a half globe type pattern through the ground. In less than ideal soil conditions the energy may run along the surface area until it dissipated over a larger area. The concept of sleeving the upper segment is just to ensure where the electrical earth meets mother earth is below where the chances of stray currents exist. The sleeve is simply some PVC pipe of whatever size. The bit about 6 metres etc is the spec we used, though we had to drill all our earth holes and used to aim for 6 metres to try and get a decent earth. If you have reasonably damp soil close to the surface the ratios can probably be scaled back. Unfortunately the reference material is in Oz and I am in BKK.
Hope that clarifies things a bit.
Cheers
Posted 2011-08-20 23:23:22
Litlos, on 2011-08-20 21:30:41, said:
First time I saw this was in North West Australia, which in the summer season is very lightning prone. Later on I went on course on lightning/static/earthing and it was discussed in the text. Basically the concept was that when lightning hit in an ideal situation would dissipate the energy in a half globe type pattern through the ground. In less than ideal soil conditions the energy may run along the surface area until it dissipated over a larger area. The concept of sleeving the upper segment is just to ensure where the electrical earth meets mother earth is below where the chances of stray currents exist. The sleeve is simply some PVC pipe of whatever size. The bit about 6 metres etc is the spec we used, though we had to drill all our earth holes and used to aim for 6 metres to try and get a decent earth. If you have reasonably damp soil close to the surface the ratios can probably be scaled back. Unfortunately the reference material is in Oz and I am in BKK.
Hope that clarifies things a bit.
Cheers
For those who have not been to Darwin it has some of the best natural sound and light shows anywhere.
Posted 2011-08-21 10:11:31
From what I remember, lightning is one reason that multiple grounding systems are not encouraged in the US. A local strike can cause large differences in the potential between two ground rods and induce large amperage flows between them through the wiring.
Posted 2011-08-21 14:23:28
Pacificperson, on 2011-08-21 10:11:31, said:
From what I remember, lightning is one reason that multiple grounding systems are not encouraged in the US. A local strike can cause large differences in the potential between two ground rods and induce large amperage flows between them through the wiring.
Yup, probably the reason multiple rods are not permitted by Oz regs too.
I will do some further investigation of this technique of insulating the top part of the rod, whilst we have very wet ground (sometimes too wet when the river floods) anything that reduces the possibility of nasties getting in to my valuable technology is worth looking into.
Posted 2011-08-21 15:04:18
Posted 2011-08-21 15:17:36
Saturday dawns and the 'Big Car' is revealed as a large picker-upper, the odd angle of this image is NOT the result of too many Changs last night, honest 
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with a big bucket, fun is evidently about to be had.
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Shuttering is all set, and those poles have moved, still not apparent what they're for though.
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The first of four truckloads of CPAC arrives (actually turned out that an extra 1/2 load was needed),
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and finds its way into the bucket.
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Each bucket is about 1/2 a cubic metre
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and it can get out of hand.
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dumped out and ready to spread.
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Note that for once everybody is wearing Wellingtons, concrete can be nasty on bare skin.
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K. Dusit and Wifey supervise.
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Make sure it's flat and level.
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Each truck holds about 10 of these buckets, it's a lot quicker than the regular size buckets that were used for the beams
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Under all that kit is a rather pretty but slightly cuddly lady 
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Posted 2011-08-21 15:27:54
Well, this will be the last update for a month or so as I'm off to Incredible India to earn some cash to pay for this lot. The Missus will be taking photos so once I return we can play catch-up.
The formwork is off the floor slab and the mystery poles are now revealed as part of the scaffolding.
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Shuttering for the columns is under way
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using a handy jig to keep things parallel
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a couple of general views of progress.
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Posted 2011-08-21 17:51:14
A couple of people have asked about our house design, the answer is here http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4640009
And for those too lazy to follow the link:-
It's a No27 (from here http://www.crossy.co...lans/index.html ) but with the kitchen / diner moved downstairs and the upstairs space becoming the master bed / bath, the third WC upstairs moved downstairs making the lounge bigger.
We also added extra ground beams to enable more of the downstairs to be walled when She Who Must Be Obeyed wants to open a shop. A few other cosmetic changes but nothing major. The Missus also ordered a lot of Teak for doors and windows including that massive folding lounge door, this is not a cheap build 
The plans are rather dynamic, things are getting adjusted live on-site, the contractor has one set of marked-up plans, hopefully he will copy them before the rain gets them as it inevitably will
Oh, forgot to say, the outside steps have gone, improves both the view and security
Posted 2011-08-21 17:59:49
As you are possibly still in planning stage for electrics a couple of other things that are worth mentioning, though may be superfluous.
I saw in Home Pro a while ago Clipsal brand GPO's, takes flat and round pins with earth and has the switch for each outlet.
The other day the bum gun in the Condo Thai bathroom failed and let water go everywhere. I heard the noise and switched on the light for a look, or should I say I went for the switch and got a pretty good boot from the wet switch mechanism. Maybe ELCB's on a lighting circuit are a good idea in a country where such things can happen.
Someone I used to work with spent a lot of money getting 2c + E in Thailand, later I asked "why not use 2c and separate earth", oh shite was the answer.
I am also heading off for a month of fun and games to support my lifestyle, though a bit closer to home. Hope all goes well on the site during you absence. Working in the construction side of things in Thailand I am constantly amazed, and sometimes confused during the execution phase, though it seems to work out in the end
Cheers, Litlos
Posted 2011-08-24 13:08:52
Hi Crossy
I'm in the early design stages...
Interested why you feel the need for a termite system in a masonry house.
I live in a wooden house. It has a small area of termite damage from before I came here. They've gone. Honestly there's nothing new except in some cheap wood I made the kitchen from....and that only because it's in a corner I didn't check and it ain't treated or anything.....which I should.
Seems to me if you keep your eyes open and in the event of a termite mud tunnel just knock it off. They don't seem to come back there.
cheers
Edited by cheeryble, 2011-08-24 13:11:56.
Posted 2011-08-24 16:38:49
For the $1000 US it cost (including 3 years maintenance) I can't imagine not having a termite management system. Both my contractor and several posters on TV recommended having one.
Whilst the house is structurally concrete there will be a lot of wood involved and (even though it's mostly teak and less prone to attack by the beasties) I'd like to protect my investment. A mate has a concrete home in Manila, he only discovered a termite infestation when his lounge ceiling collapsed, the whole place was riddled, you really don't want to know how much it cost to sort
Posted 2011-08-25 13:46:24
That's the trouble with termites. You often don't know you have an infestation until severe damage has already been done. One evening I had clouds and clouds of winged termites flying about my living room. They had come out to set up new nests. I did not know I had an infestation. There were no outward signs. However, after this incident I checked every room and there were a number of wooden panels that looked fine from the outside but were really paper thin. Luckily I live in a rental. Lesson learned, my new house will be properly protected.
Posted 2011-08-30 19:37:50
best of luck crossy.. looking great so far... Ill be another following your build..
Posted 2011-09-13 13:33:08
Houston, we have a problem!
Well the arrival of the Chao Phraya has stalled work for a while, at least our re-designed ground floor level is well above the river.
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I'll update properly when I manage to escape from Incredible India (Mumbai and Bangalore).
Posted 2011-09-13 13:46:59
Crossy, on 2011-09-13 13:33:08, said:
Houston, we have a problem!
Well the arrival of the Chao Phraya has stalled work for a while, at least our re-designed ground floor level is well above the river.
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I'll update properly when I manage to escape from Incredible India (Mumbai and Bangalore).
Looks like you should get your next shipments of materials barged in now to save transport. It is a MIRACLE you have got as far as you have.
Posted 2011-09-13 13:51:30
Oh dear. Sorry to hear that Crossy. At least as you say, the new height seems to be coping well.
Posted 2011-09-13 14:52:51
harrry, on 2011-09-13 13:46:59, said:
Looks like you should get your next shipments of materials barged in now to save transport.
The noodle-soup lady was already coming by boat up our small khlong every day, she can now get right to the road and apparently does brisk trade as all the restaurants (including ours) are closed. We've always been aware of the flooding issues and tried to design for the levels achieved in the past, this is not quite as high as last time when Pathum Thani immigration on the other side of the river (Sam Khok) got flooded and had to move to the local hospital.
Water is currently about 1.5m above normal level, we've still got at least 30cm of rise before we get worried about flooding the ground floor and if it gets that high it will overtop the road where there is a lot of rice area to flood and absorb the additional water.
Posted 2011-09-22 18:32:16
#40 And the first cement mixer I'd seen in Thailand was delivered.
LOL. There's a couple blocking the soi back of our place, one in the vacant lot across from the front of the house, and the MIL has one slap bang in the middle of the front yard!
No shortage in my area of interest!
Posted 2011-10-02 16:16:20
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