Local Labor sometimes you just get lucky

Post by **bumper** » August 15, 2008, 1:55 pm

We needed the inside of the house painted. What I saw other guys paying contactors, just seemed very high to me.

So the housekeeper found a young cousin not working with painting experience. He actually has a job with a contractor. But, sometimes the guy doesn't have work for him. So he is working for us for a bit more the contractor pays him. 200 baht a day, what can I say the kid is worker. You never see him standing around. His work product is good. I think we are going to end up with a good job for a lot less money.

The first day he was supposed to come the contractor needed him and he went there. But he called and let us know. I have no problem with that at all. His regular job should come first.

I did need to supply him with tools but that is a minimal cost.

I don't think you could do this if you are in a hurry, does require patience, since he can only do it when he has time available.

I don't think you could not have done this last year, they were all to busy.

So I got lucky this time around

Post by **papaguido** » August 15, 2008, 2:07 pm

If he's looking for more work maybe you can post his info here:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... php?t=5441

I know I maybe be able to use him the future.

Post by **bumper** » August 15, 2008, 2:18 pm

You know I don't think he isn't really looking. But if that happens I will post it. But, remember guys there is some risk. If he is available then great. But you could easily end up with a job half done, if the guy he works for gets busy. I don't know how much new construction is going on in the area now.

I was willing to take the risk cause I'm not in a hurry.

Post by **tamada** » August 15, 2008, 7:32 pm

I reckon I struck gold with my wife's family when we built our house. They all mucked in and although they took twice as long to do our 4 bedroom, single floor home, it's a lot better quality than the 2-storey, 'professionally built' place next door. That is also the opinion of the farang who lives there! I only had time for 6 visits between getting the plans, through laying the foundations, picking ceramics to moving in and it's now been through the heat and into the wet with no problems.

The key was father-out-law and brother-in-law, both had construction experience. In the case of the former, he was a journeyman builder all over Thailand in his youth until his unfortunate accident when he fell inside a lao kao bottle. He was an excellent foreman but the key was whenever he had a smaller accident with some Archa bottles, bro' would step in, kick him off the porch and grab the reigns.

I reckon at it's peak, I may have had 6 other locals, mostly neighbours, working as labour plus the another 2 in-laws mixing cement or hodding bricks. The dodgy looking chap that lurks at the end of the street was the font of all knowledge on steelwork for the roof. The chap that did the ceramics was awesome and he handled the painting as well. I wanted hardwoods which they had never tried before so we started them off with a cheaper branded product in back bedroom in case they screwed up. Perfect job! By the end, bro-in-law changed the product for the master bedroom floor because he reckoned it needed to be more durable with a great big farang in there. All houses have 'finishing' flaws but these chaps, especially bro' did a real top job and they were few and far between. My wife told him about the wellpipe water tanks we had at the Pattaya house so off he goes and builds two water tanks, first time, no worries.

The only disappointment was the sparky (isn't it always?) as I bought all the hardware and specified what went where so all he had to do was wire it up. Well that had to be redone by another electrician who only charged 6000 baht for 8 hours work by him and his mate. They got all the showers grounded, lights dimming, fans turning and photo sensors tripping properly.

I am toying with the idea if touting them for anyone else needing a decent build. Nothing too fantoosh mind you, but if you want Greco-Roman columns, there's this bloke called Somchai that they know.

Post by **bumper** » August 15, 2008, 7:53 pm

Well the only time I ran into a problem was with a so called professional builder. In the end they hire locals to do the work. The work is only going be a good as those guys can do it.

If you think about all the small parts that have to come together to construct a house, then you will have an idea of the scope of possiblities of errors. I doubt one has ever been built without a few mess ups.

Sounds like you did OK to me.

Post by **bumper** » August 22, 2008, 9:40 am

Well four rooms done four to go, works here when the contractor doens't have work for him so far labor cost is 700 baht. You just have to be patient I'm in no hurry running out money for paint anyway. Definetly need to stretch it into next month.

Post by **wazza** » August 22, 2008, 2:08 pm

good use of masking tape and drop sheets, thats professional.

Post by **handsome-Dane** » August 22, 2008, 2:16 pm

Looks ok, not normal to see that.. So Thai builders can do something right.

Post by **bumper** » August 22, 2008, 2:29 pm

No that was my prep work, you won't get that as a norm

Post by **handsome-Dane** » August 22, 2008, 2:32 pm

I love Thailand, their culture and the Thai people, I have nothing wrong or bad to say about Thailand. But as builders they are useless..

Post by **bumper** » August 22, 2008, 2:54 pm

As a norm I just take it as it comes, but this time it was not rocket science. I made up my mind I was getting it done my way. My problems were not just with the worker bit every Thai in the house. I have upset a lot of people but they all admit it looks great now.

If I had hired a contractor the only thing that would have been different would be the costs. Neighbor had this done in his home cost 10K for labor.

But like everything else here if you insist on your way you can get it done but it will be a fight start to finish. It won't just be the contractor you will fight with.