New Home Build "LET THE HEADACHES BEGIN"

[Baht Man]

Day 30. The 4 man painting crew arrived in the morning and started spraying.

Two day process of applying the primer was followed by a third day adding a top coat of high gloss enamel. I’m not sure why the top coat was added as I’ve never seen anything but primer sprayed on, but I was not one to complain.

Day 34. After a Christmas Day off work stared again with the welders showing up to begin what was to be a 5 day process of making the 5 trusses needed for the main part of the house.
Jigs were laid out on the floor and the work began. A slow process compared to the prior work as I didn’t see much changing in the structure happening. I’m guessing that after they finish and the crane arrives for the lifts, things will move along. I’ve got plenty of time to wait.

[KHONDAHM]

To protect against capillary action, I had my builders use water-proof bonding concrete (not the correct term, but you get the gist) as they built up the walls. I have 20 cm SmartBlock throughout. SmartBlock (and all aerated blocks, I believe) are absolutely water sponges.

BTW, mine was a mostly "family" build; so I used load-bearing 20 cm blocks as "insurance" against poor concrete quality in the columns and beams. Best damn decision I ever made. The weather and sound insulation is outstanding. Also, in hindsight, I found where "mistakes were made" but having the extra load-bearing capacity proved to be key.

As for termites, I have an all-wood staircase which I treated with 3 generous coats of anti-freeze (yes, what you put in your car) to protect against rot and boric acid to protect against rot and termites. No finish glaze at all on it because it would come off with wear and I really like the texture of raw wood. Just some varnish for color. The wood remains as "new" as the day I finished building the staircase. If you go with anti-freeze, apply one coat per day and let the wood cure in the sun for a few extra days after applying. The common wood here shrinks and warps after it gets wet, so let it do that before cutting and sanding.

My stairs have exactly the "creak" I intended. If creak is not your thing, the local method is to pour the stairs and then glue(?) the wood onto them. Not something I was keen to do...

[bluejets]

I used some Thai high gloss enamel to paint a steel clothes line structure i made there and it is really good stuff.
Fast drying and stands up to the elements rather well. Have to use the thinners recommended though but not expensive by any means.
Can't recall the brand but I see similar all over Thailand.

[Baht Man]

To protect against capillary action, I had my builders use water-proof bonding concrete (not the correct term, but you get the gist) as they built up the walls. I have 20 cm SmartBlock throughout. SmartBlock (and all aerated blocks, I believe) are absolutely water sponges.

As for termites, I have an all-wood staircase which I treated with 3 generous coats of anti-freeze (yes, what you put in your car) to protect against rot and boric acid to protect against rot and termites. No finish glaze at all on it because it would come off with wear and I really like the texture of raw wood. Just some varnish for color. The wood remains as "new" as the day I finished building the staircase. If you go with anti-freeze, apply one coat per day and let the wood cure in the sun for a few extra days after applying.

Good tips here about the anti-freeze, would not have guessed.
I have no staircase to worry about tough as this is a single story.

Cheers

[Baht Man]

I used some Thai high gloss enamel to paint a steel clothes line structure i made there and it is really good stuff.
Fast drying and stands up to the elements rather well. Have to use the thinners recommended though but not expensive by any means.

Yea, they thinned as needed b/c they were spraying.
Not sure why they painted it though as it won't ever be seen but they seemed happy and I didn't want to rain on their parade.

[bluejets]

Would be cautious about antifreeze though, appears it is highly toxic.
i.e. maybe it knocks the termites but it also gives people and animals a touch up.

[Baht Man]

Would be cautious about antifreeze though, appears it is highly toxic.
i.e. maybe it knocks the termites but it also gives people and animals a touch up.

It is quite toxic but also sweet smelling and tasty (so I've heard).
A lot of dogs and other critters were killed that way, sucking up the stuff that was left out (intentionally or not)

[parrot]

Mountain Dew is sold in coolant-yellow bottles, and from what I understand about the soda, it's as toxic as coolant.

Words of wisdom from lessons learned:
Add a few outdoor wall sockets and a few extra outdoor water faucets. So much easier to do when building rather than after the fact.
Good luck with the build!

[Baht Man]

Words of wisdom from lessons learned:
Add a few outdoor wall sockets and a few extra outdoor water faucets.
!

Already on my "electrical" to do list.
Thanks for the input P

[ronan01]

Enjoying this thread - good stuff. This looks like a well planned and organised project - well done and continued good luck. It seems you have found a good "tradesman" in your builder - from what I have read they are a rare breed.

[Baht Man]

It seems you have found a good "tradesman" in your builder - from what I have read they are a rare breed.

So true, but I made it very clear from the start about what I expected and his options:

If I found that he tried to cut corners or was cheating me it would be very difficult for him to get any other builds from expats here (without changing his name) or any referal from me. I also told him I was documenting everything here (good and bad) and on other forums that were being read by a lot of potential customers and those with "expert" knowledge about building.

He knows I have connecting home sites for sale and if he does well here, he may get their business also.

So far, he's overbuilt everything and I've made rather time consuming and costly changes that he's done without any up charge or complaints. "It's your house and I will do what you want" has been his standard response.

The wife has feed me and the crew, washed the dishes and cleaned an adjoining building.

I couldn't be more pleased, but the technical aspect of the build has yet to come.

Time will tell.

[KHONDAHM]

Would be cautious about antifreeze though, appears it is highly toxic.
i.e. maybe it knocks the termites but it also gives people and animals a touch up.

As long as it isn't left out where animals or kids might drink it up, he should be fine. Otherwise, there are no worries. If animals or kids decide to eat the wood after it is applied, well then I think that might be a whole other problem.

------

"Time will tell"

Gets my vote for the understatement of 2013. Been there done that.

[Baht Man]

Off and running again after the holiday break.

Jan. 6 Day 45
The trusses started going up today, not by crane as I had expected, but by chain fall.

Tubing was attached to the scaffolding, chain fall to that and up they went, one a day.
After they were in place, the back side was welded as it was facing the floor prior and only one side was visible. Temporary support steel was welded in place. Chipping and re-painting as they went along.

Quite a site to see even from the road (being blue) and an old man even brought his daughter and niece by on their mb hoping to find them employment as he thought a factory was going up. (I would have hired them on the spot by the way).
The last of the 5 trusses was raised and welded in place on the 11th. and the other 9 or so trusses were being readied for installation.

The 5 main trusses were up just in time for a few Leo's.

[Barney]

Great work and photos Baht Man and things are looking good. May the force be with you all the way.

It does make me smile though when i see your photos especially the last few, Within the industry that I am in and the sometimes over the top strict OHS requirements the photos would all be used in the safety training courses as to the "what can you see wrong with this photo section"

Keep you and them as safe as you can and keep the Leos for after work

[bluejets]

Would be cautious about antifreeze though, appears it is highly toxic.
i.e. maybe it knocks the termites but it also gives people and animals a touch up.

As long as it isn't left out where animals or kids might drink it up, he should be fine. Otherwise, there are no worries. If animals or kids decide to eat the wood after it is applied, well then I think that might be a whole other problem.

------

"Time will tell"

Gets my vote for the understatement of 2013. Been there done that.

Back a couple of posts you said you used it on a staircase.
This would I assume be used by "kids and animals" , just touching the wood would transfer an amount of the poison surely.
Your approach seems to be that if "kids eat the wood then that would be a whole other problem", it appears you assume the problem would be for them alone and you would be ok.
One hell of an attitude if that is the case, not to mention an open invitation to get your ass sued, whatever country you live in.

[Baht Man]

It does make me smile though when i see your photos especially the last few, Within the industry that I am in and the sometimes over the top strict OHS requirements the photos would all be used in the safety training courses as to the "what can you see wrong with this photo section"

Keep you and them as safe as you can and keep the Leos for after work

I really have concerns when I see these guys walking up there like they do.
One slip and they're on the slab and that would really bother me..but the misses even more.

The ocassional Leo I'll bring comes after a full days work while we sit around and try to understand one another

[KHONDAHM]

Would be cautious about antifreeze though, appears it is highly toxic.
i.e. maybe it knocks the termites but it also gives people and animals a touch up.

As long as it isn't left out where animals or kids might drink it up, he should be fine. Otherwise, there are no worries. If animals or kids decide to eat the wood after it is applied, well then I think that might be a whole other problem.

------

"Time will tell"

Gets my vote for the understatement of 2013. Been there done that.

Back a couple of posts you said you used it on a staircase.
This would I assume be used by "kids and animals" , just touching the wood would transfer an amount of the poison surely.
Your approach seems to be that if "kids eat the wood then that would be a whole other problem", it appears you assume the problem would be for them alone and you would be ok.
One hell of an attitude if that is the case, not to mention an open invitation to get your ass sued, whatever country you live in.

Clearly, you do not understand and everyone else does. So, I will leave it at that and not clutter up Baht Man's thread with a silly flame war. Have a good one!

[KHONDAHM]

@Baht Man

Do you have an artist rendition and floor plan of the end result? It looks like you are going for the traditional old-style. Given that it is single-story, it also looks like you could have one helluva vaulted ceiling.

[Baht Man]

@Baht Man

Do you have an artist rendition and floor plan of the end result? It looks like you are going for the traditional old-style. Given that it is single-story, it also looks like you could have one helluva vaulted ceiling.

Well, I have my home made (plan) drawings that I made some changes to until the posts were set and the elevation was a rendering I got online.

I'll scan my plans next time and send them along.
I did however post this asking for thoughts on ceiing/roof insulation.

Ceiling height will come in at about 5.5m from the floor.

IMG_0006%20(500x333).jpg (33.89 KiB) Viewed 1657 times

[Baht Man]

Work day 42.
So the welding of the roof structure continues. They’re into the 15th. day (on the roof) and have the 5 main roof trusses up, the connecting 8 horizontal ones (see pic) in place and should finish the south (car park) side today.
This wing (being two different levels) is taking them some time. They weld c-channels to walk on then remove them as work progresses. Seems like a maze up there but they act as though they know what they’re doing. The boss is constantly walking the floor, looking up from different angles and calling out orders. Sometimes he’s up there assisting and seems to have the big picture (based on an A sized print in his pocket).

In connecting the steel lower on the post to run horizontal for the wing, they notched out a section of the concrete and welded the channel to the re-bar inside. Similar to a lap joint in woodworking.
When going perpendicular to the post, they welded a plate in first, then the channel to the plate. It allowed them to make slight adjustments in the alignment should the post not be exactly placed.