263 replies to this topic
Posted 2011-09-18 20:26:03
Done a few ammendments to the plan.
Moved the front door to the left a tad. It will probably be a double door with the glass blocks at each side. Not too sure yet whether to centralise it or not. I think I'll go and look at some doors and mess around with the positioning etc.
Moved the living room window to the front of the house and one of the main bedroom windows is now over looking the front balcony.
Moved the kitchen door to the left hand side, where you will walk out onto another balcony which will also serve as a small thai kitchen for the smelly stuff. The size isn't to scale on the drawing but you get the idea. This will also be easier access to the garage which will be to the left of the property.
Is this an improvement? It's starting to feel a bit better to me and I'm glad I've halted works for a short while to give me time to think.
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Posted 2011-09-19 02:32:44
Looking good Mr. B !
Good that you are taking the time now to adjust what you want.
As you see you do like your changes.
Walk through the house with your eyes closed & see if you want anything else done.
Your changes are nice so far & good you are thinking about your entry door too.
Just my opinion/questions but... Do you think your area is hot enough that you may leave your
front door open during the day? Perhaps with a screen door on the outside?
If so maybe you would not want to move your door to the center as you asked.
Reason being when open all day it takes up wall/room space.
As your door now sits...if you leave it at a nice single door even with side lights,
you can have the door swing open to the right & rest against the bedroom wall.
Usually the deciding factors between a single or double entry door for us is size of main room the doors enter into.If the room is quite large double doors look good. If the room is not large double doors can make the room look small & take away valuable space.
Kitchen door & porch looks good. Thinking ahead to garage location & access is excellent.
Perhaps more natural light/windows in the kitchen?
Good idea to layout any counters/cabinets you plan now & see where you would like light.
For instance a window centered over a sink?
Chok Dee
Edited by flying, 2011-09-19 02:36:29.
Posted 2011-09-19 03:41:38
Haven't built any houses myself but one thing that I think is over looked in most houses is plug sockets. Placement & number. Especially in thai houses there are never enough & they are in the most stupid places.
I like having sockets on every wall & about a foot above floor level, easy for lamps but also for extension cords & multi plug extenders, nothing more unsightly than a 5 plug adapter hanging off a wall cause the only socket in the room is at eye level.
Make sure your builder knows what you expect before you leave again, you could come back to one socket in each room at head level & have to run a huge multi plug socket off of it with wires all over the place.
Plans look good though, good luck with it all.
Posted 2011-09-19 09:07:44
What I did was putting a Thai DGPO (Dual General Power Outlet) together with a DIN (Deutche Industrie Norm) type everywhere like this
Posted 2011-09-19 09:12:08
stgrhe....just curious but...I thought the type of outlet you have on the right can accept the plugs that go in the outlet on the left.
The one on the right takes both the 2 pin or two blade type plugs afaik
Or does the one on the left accept a special plug?
Thanks
Edited by flying, 2011-09-19 09:13:07.
Posted 2011-09-19 09:25:05
 flying, on 2011-09-19 09:12:08, said:
stgrhe....just curious but...I thought the type of outlet you have on the right can accept the plugs that go in the outlet on the left.
The one on the right takes both the 2 pin or two blade type plugs afaik
Or does the one on the left accept a special plug?
Thanks
True, but then there is no protective earth and unless an appliance is double insulated I surely like mine to have protective earth.
Posted 2011-09-19 14:11:42
Boo, on 2011-09-19 03:41:38, said:
Haven't built any houses myself but one thing that I think is over looked in most houses is plug sockets. Placement & number. Especially in thai houses there are never enough & they are in the most stupid places.
I like having sockets on every wall & about a foot above floor level, easy for lamps but also for extension cords & multi plug extenders, nothing more unsightly than a 5 plug adapter hanging off a wall cause the only socket in the room is at eye level.
Make sure your builder knows what you expect before you leave again, you could come back to one socket in each room at head level & have to run a huge multi plug socket off of it with wires all over the place.
Plans look good though, good luck with it all.
Cheers Boo.
I'm right with you on the sockets and having lots of them.
The builders are the wifes brothers. We order what we need over the phone from the builders merchants and the wife sends the money to her brother to pay the bill on delivery. We will order all the electrical stuff for when we get back in jan/feb and I will be going around fixing the backplates/boxes to the wall in the location I want the lights/sockets and TV aerial outlets to be.
Posted 2011-09-19 14:22:47
flying, on 2011-09-19 02:32:44, said:
Looking good Mr. B !
Good that you are taking the time now to adjust what you want.
As you see you do like your changes.
Walk through the house with your eyes closed & see if you want anything else done.
Your changes are nice so far & good you are thinking about your entry door too.
Just my opinion/questions but... Do you think your area is hot enough that you may leave your
front door open during the day? Perhaps with a screen door on the outside?
If so maybe you would not want to move your door to the center as you asked.
Reason being when open all day it takes up wall/room space.
As your door now sits...if you leave it at a nice single door even with side lights,
you can have the door swing open to the right & rest against the bedroom wall.
Usually the deciding factors between a single or double entry door for us is size of main room the doors enter into.If the room is quite large double doors look good. If the room is not large double doors can make the room look small & take away valuable space.
Kitchen door & porch looks good. Thinking ahead to garage location & access is excellent.
Perhaps more natural light/windows in the kitchen?
Good idea to layout any counters/cabinets you plan now & see where you would like light.
For instance a window centered over a sink?
Chok Dee
Cheers for the food for thought flying 
The front door is giving me an headache. But I have the time to think about that one. Like the idea of it opening against the wall, it does get hot in Chaiyaphum
More natural light in the kitchen was also on my mind but was afraid of having too many windows and not enough wall to put cupboards on.
Talking of windows. Any advise on windows would be greatly appreciated. Wood or Alluminium, Double or single glazed, costs etc. I have asked the wifes brothers to only brick up to window level, where there is a window on the plan (kitchen isn't an issue, as construction hasn't started there yet).
The idea is to then try and buy the windows off the shelf and brick around them, rather than bricking up and leaving a window space and having to have the windows made to measure. Will this be a cheaper way or will they be the same price off the shelf or made to measure?
Posted 2011-09-19 15:24:25
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 14:22:47, said:
Talking of windows. Any advise on windows would be greatly appreciated. Wood or Alluminium, Double or single glazed, costs etc. I have asked the wifes brothers to only brick up to window level, where there is a window on the plan (kitchen isn't an issue, as construction hasn't started there yet).
Wood is beautiful but it is a nightmare when it comes to maintenance. With uPVC or aliminium you basically get what you are paying for, there are some very good brands but they cost more. Personally I favour good quality uPVC frames using tinted tempered glass. About 40% tint reduces the heat transmission quite a lot. Double gazing is of course better but using that together with aluminium frames is a waist since aluminium is a very good heat conductor.
With regards to insulation you have to take an over-all view of the build, not only focus on one part. Remember the weakest link on the chain determines the strength of the chain. Building the walls using dual layer of super blocks, CPAC Monier's double-coated roof insulation, uPVC window frames and tinted single glazing will carry you a long way.
Posted 2011-09-19 15:39:30
Have you considered sliding door to the bathroom. It gives more space and is also safer as an inward opening door is dangerous if someone for any reason colapses against the door...it does happen often.
Posted 2011-09-19 19:29:08
harrry, on 2011-09-19 15:39:30, said:
Have you considered sliding door to the bathroom. It gives more space and is also safer as an inward opening door is dangerous if someone for any reason colapses against the door...it does happen often.
Funnily enough, at the moment when I'm watching something on TV, I find myself looking at the designs in the houses more than I am watching the actual programme. Don't know if anyone else does that.
Anyway, last night I was watching something on TV and in this house they had sliding doors everwhere. It was one of the first things that I noticed and I'm definately going to have a look at what is available.
Interior wise, I'm quite minimalist and I like clean modern looks"and these sliding doors would fit perfectly with what I have in mind for the inside. For instance, the tiles will be a neutral colour throughout. I'm not into the "traditional" multi-coloured or flowery tile look. One of the main negotiations I had with the Mrs was that I decide on the interior colour scheme and materials. 
Posted 2011-09-19 19:48:58
sliding doors are a great idea & a big space saver. they also look good imo. very sleek
Posted 2011-09-19 19:59:41
stgrhe, on 2011-09-19 15:24:25, said:
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 14:22:47, said:
Talking of windows. Any advise on windows would be greatly appreciated. Wood or Alluminium, Double or single glazed, costs etc. I have asked the wifes brothers to only brick up to window level, where there is a window on the plan (kitchen isn't an issue, as construction hasn't started there yet).
Wood is beautiful but it is a nightmare when it comes to maintenance. With uPVC or aliminium you basically get what you are paying for, there are some very good brands but they cost more. Personally I favour good quality uPVC frames using tinted tempered glass. About 40% tint reduces the heat transmission quite a lot. Double gazing is of course better but using that together with aluminium frames is a waist since aluminium is a very good heat conductor.
With regards to insulation you have to take an over-all view of the build, not only focus on one part. Remember the weakest link on the chain determines the strength of the chain. Building the walls using dual layer of super blocks, CPAC Monier's double-coated roof insulation, uPVC window frames and tinted single glazing will carry you a long way.
Thanks stgrhe.
Do you know if it's cheaper buying pre-made windows or is the price the same for having them made to measure?
As for insulation etc. All the walls are dual layer concrete blocks (i think you can see them in the pictures I have posted). As for the roof. When I was up there a couple of weeks ago we went to look at a manufacturers place. The one I am going for is a metal sheet and I think it is cut in one piece for each side. There were cheaper options but I went for a brown colour coating that has a guarantee for no fading (thus not poisoning the water that is collected from the roof). It also has a silver coating on the back. I'll try and get a sample picture. With the brother-in-laws discount, it ranged from 160 baht per sq metre to 230 baht and I am going for the 230 baht. The total will be about 90,000 baht for the main roof including ridge and edge trims and screws with colour caps etc and then the kitchen will be extra as I mentioned, this will be built later. I didn't think that was too bad a price.
Posted 2011-09-19 21:26:29
Sliding doors can be quite cheap....normal doors can be used as long as you use good paint or varnish as I have....well I have two different coloured ones but that can be fixed if I wasn't lazy/
The bathroom and kitchen turned out pretty good as it was the old filled in space between the house and the fence...smartboard does wonders.
You may like to notice the fans..there is one in each of two corners of each room...they work well.
I am quite proud of how the house turned out as it was very basic to start. It is now a nice comfortable accessible home.
ps If plastic chairs are good enough for villagefarang they must be good enough for me. 
Edited by harrry, 2011-09-19 21:34:56.
Posted 2011-09-20 07:30:58
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 19:59:41, said:
Do you know if it's cheaper buying pre-made windows or is the price the same for having them made to measure?
The way the Thais are construction houses one must purchase tailor made window and door frames. The builders just make an empty slot and the measurements will be what they will be so standardised frames would not fit.
Posted 2011-09-20 09:40:51
stgrhe, on 2011-09-20 07:30:58, said:
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 19:59:41, said:
Do you know if it's cheaper buying pre-made windows or is the price the same for having them made to measure?
The way the Thais are construction houses one must purchase tailor made window and door frames. The builders just make an empty slot and the measurements will be what they will be so standardised frames would not fit.
That's a bummer. In the UK I have had several big extentions done and I used to go direct to window manufacturers and buy any that they had made wrong for previous customers. Saved a fortune but never lacked on quality.
Posted 2011-09-20 10:37:17
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-20 09:40:51, said:
stgrhe, on 2011-09-20 07:30:58, said:
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 19:59:41, said:
Do you know if it's cheaper buying pre-made windows or is the price the same for having them made to measure?
The way the Thais are construction houses one must purchase tailor made window and door frames. The builders just make an empty slot and the measurements will be what they will be so standardised frames would not fit.
That's a bummer. In the UK I have had several big extentions done and I used to go direct to window manufacturers and buy any that they had made wrong for previous customers. Saved a fortune but never lacked on quality.
My windows were custom built in about one hour for round 3500baht including flyscreens. Because I did not want to remove the existing shutters and security grills (or the better half didn't) they fitted them on the inside of the house they worked out quite well.
Posted 2011-09-20 11:00:02
Is that for Alluminium harry?
Posted 2011-09-20 11:01:37
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-20 11:00:02, said:
Is that for Alluminium harry?
Yes with fairly thick tinted glass and good sliding flyscreens. This is in Chiangrai. We remade an existing house that belonged to my wife's family...it was a rental so was in prety poor shape but it came up pretty well. refloored...did new toilet and bathroom upstairs and downstairs painted with good paint windows new kitchen and all new electricals with a 45/100 amp power supply and new water tank and pumps.
Edited by harrry, 2011-09-20 11:07:41.
Posted 2011-09-20 11:12:35
stgrhe, on 2011-09-20 07:30:58, said:
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 19:59:41, said:
Do you know if it's cheaper buying pre-made windows or is the price the same for having them made to measure?
The way the Thais are construction houses one must purchase tailor made window and door frames. The builders just make an empty slot and the measurements will be what they will be so standardised frames would not fit.
Depends on the type of frame, most wooden window frames are bought from a shop and come in standard sizes, fitted then the wall built round it.
Aluminium or PVC the builders will leave a gap at roughly the size in the house plans, the fitters will come and cut to size on site, so every window will not be a uniform size.
Posted 2011-09-21 06:14:16
mrbojangles, on 2011-09-19 14:22:47, said:
Talking of windows. Any advise on windows would be greatly appreciated. Wood or Alluminium, Double or single glazed, costs etc. I have asked the wifes brothers to only brick up to window level, where there is a window on the plan (kitchen isn't an issue, as construction hasn't started there yet).
The idea is to then try and buy the windows off the shelf and brick around them, rather than bricking up and leaving a window space and having to have the windows made to measure. Will this be a cheaper way or will they be the same price off the shelf or made to measure?
I see some folks already gave good advise on windows ( double glazed & Low-E coatings glass )
http://www.efficient...ws.org/lowe.cfm
As for prices of built versus pre-built...I do not know the prices there in LOS.
My guess is the builders there are cheaper but as to what overall quality I do not know.
We did have some installed/built for the in-laws house & they are ok & same as another poster showed pictures of.
Since you said you stopped the walls short of the windows I guess it may behoove you to go take a look
at both options since your not committed by the building yet.
Good Luck
Edited by flying, 2011-09-21 06:14:53.
Posted 2011-09-22 07:10:46
Mr B,
I'm keen to see how you get on and the overall cost, I'm looking at starting building something similar in November, I'm in the same boat as you (in KSA) so hoping the wife and her family will supervise the work. Did you get your own plans drawn?
Posted 2011-09-22 12:55:47
flying, on 2011-09-21 06:14:16, said:
Since you said you stopped the walls short of the windows I guess it may behoove you to go take a look
at both options since your not committed by the building yet.
Good Luck
Cheers flying. Looks like that's the way I'll go. It will obviously slow down progress but I'd sooner do it how i want it than rush the job.
Posted 2011-09-22 13:00:51
spoon1967, on 2011-09-22 07:10:46, said:
Mr B,
I'm keen to see how you get on and the overall cost, I'm looking at starting building something similar in November, I'm in the same boat as you (in KSA) so hoping the wife and her family will supervise the work. Did you get your own plans drawn?
No problem with telling you the costs. I don't know if you have read the full thread but it's the wifes brothers who are buiding it. We buy the materials they need and then we pay them 250 baht ea per day. It's good for them because we are not in a rush, they just fit in a day here and there in between other jobs.
They have built loads in the area and the wife went to look at a few, she then did some adjustments to incorporate her ideas of one that they built last year and they then just cracked on. No plans were needed just a rough sketch.
Posted 2011-09-22 20:04:52
rgs2001uk just gave me a link to some very useful building terms in English and Thai. I've had an headache upto now trying to get some of these words in Thai.
many thanks rgs
http://www.pvcwindow...eful_words.html
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