Building a house in Maha Sarakham

[MGV12]

Very innovative the Thais some times, but they have a lot to learn about good concrete practises still. Like no expansion joints in slabs (6mts max between) and the normal excess water

Local guy and his wife were helping me to lay a shed base by mixing the concrete. I left them mixing it in the tub ... having insisted "Not too much water".

I returned to find grey soup ... "Too much water, no good" says I ... he replied smiling "Right amount ... less water harder to mix!"

Says it all .......

They had a lesson on how to do it properly ... I was then the only one smiling.

[jazzman]

...and a waste of several bags of good Portland cement at ฿ 125 a bag, not to mention the sand and aggregate. In this country, cememnt/concrete is almost always mixed with too much water - especially when done by a non-branded ready-mix 'company'. Always cement a reputable firm such as CPAC or Insee, and be prepared to accept the small extra cost of ready-mix for large jobs such as footings, ground beams, upper-storey beams, and floor slabs. Large jobs (and small) must always be laid in one contiguous cast. if the workers don't understand, show the the slump test.

[Mike Judd]

It is hard to get through to them, but understandable when you tell them " no more water" but want them to water the concrete after to cure it. (Stupid Farange) My two guys know I will go bananas if they use too much water in any concrete or cement mix, so they don't now. I did mix up two small buckets of concrete once, one with loads of water Thai style, and the other with just the right amount to be-able to mix it, a couple of weeks later I got them to break them up with a lump hammer and they saw how much stronger the right one was compared to the soup like one . The other thing I did was cut holes in one of their mixing hoes, what we call a " Larry" in Oz, it makes mixing easier if mixing in a barrow or tub, especially mortar for laying blocks. I ended up taking a proper" Larry" over from Oz on one of my trips. The next thing I must take over is a proper Wheel barrow.(As mentioned in one of my other Posts) All the ones available in Thailand are a joke.

[codfish]

" but want them to water the concrete after to cure it. (Stupid Farange)
The next thing I must take over is a proper Wheel barrow.(As mentioned in one of my other Posts) All the ones available in Thailand are a joke.

Everyone thought I was crazy when I watered the concrete the next morning. lol And I would love a wheel barrow that would actually stand up to a little abuse.
The contractor had 2 at the start of the build of my house and both were destroyed in less than a week.

[codfish]

A little slide show I put together of my house from the start to the finish.

[geordie]

Just the garden now then nice house looks like you gor reasonable quality too well done
in spite of the usual hickups you got there

[Mike Judd]

B5,500 barrow top of the line.

B5,500 barrow top of the line.

Here is a photo of a wheel barrow, it's the dearest one in Oz (Made in China like everything now) $178 ( B5,500) H/D builders with wide wheel and Poly tray. They go down to B2,800 narrow wheel for the cheapest one that is still 10 times better than the Thai ones.

[codfish]

Just the garden now then nice house looks like you gor reasonable quality too well done
in spite of the usual hickups you got there

Its been a long bumpy road, Glad it almost over.

[codfish]

IMG_0311.JPG

IMG_0311.JPG

Here is a photo of a wheel barrow, it's the dearest one in Oz (Made in China like everything now) $178 ( B5,500) H/D builders with wide wheel and Poly tray. They go down to B2,800 narrow wheel for the cheapest one that is still 10 times better than the Thai ones.

I would buy one if I could, Would come in very handy around the garden.

[pattayapope]

I would buy one if I could, Would come in very handy around the garden.

I have seen the same wheel barrow in True Value a couple of weeks ago I think it was around the same price (5,500 baht). If I get chance I will check this weekend and confirm.

PS Codfish sorry to mention this off topic post on your building story

[Mike Judd]

That is interesting if Pattayopop has seen those wheel barrows in Thailand , I would get one for sure to save the hassle of having to bring one over from Oz on my next visit in May. Are there any other True Value stores around Bangkok, it's all Global House /Home Pro/Home Mart around Khon Kaen where I get most of my materials from. I often wonder why most of the stuff coming out of China that we get in Oz now is not made in Thailand. The Labour cost are still much lower there than China. The best thing about those particular barrows is there are no welds ,all bolted together.
P.S. My apologies also for using this Post but it has produced a good result.

[codfish]

I would buy one if I could, Would come in very handy around the garden.

I have seen the same wheel barrow in True Value a couple of weeks ago I think it was around the same price (5,500 baht). If I get chance I will check this weekend and confirm.

Thanks for that. I haven't been to True Value in a few years, The price on everything in there was way over the top IMO. I think it is time to go take another look.

[otis-a]

nice utub sum'ry vido
with foile under roof, how exits z hot airs?
Did u leave or make access hatches in case inside roof repairs needed?
Cement stairs with storage was nice.
Will u put ac's?

[codfish]

nice utub sum'ry vido
with foile under roof, how exits z hot airs?
Did u leave or make access hatches in case inside roof repairs needed?
Cement stairs with storage was nice.
Will u put ac's?

There is still air movement from side to side, But good point, Not something I thought about. I was thinking more about keeping the hot air out.
Yes there is a access hatch in the bathroom to get into the attic.
Not much storage in this house, I know it well become a problem, Lucky I have a lot of bedrooms I don't need.
I put AC in the master bedroom only.

[Sometimewoodworker]

The attachment IMG_0311.JPG is no longer available

The attachment IMG_0311.JPG is no longer available

Here is a photo of a wheel barrow, it's the dearest one in Oz (Made in China like everything now) $178 ( B5,500) H/D builders with wide wheel and Poly tray. They go down to B2,800 narrow wheel for the cheapest one that is still 10 times better than the Thai ones.

I would buy one if I could, Would come in very handy around the garden.

Why not get one like this?

It has motorcycle tyres and a rebar axle to me it looks as if it will last the coures

I got it in ToolPro in Udon Thani

Good wheel barrow

Good wheel barrow 2