Building my house in Sattahip

[fredlk]

The Land Office did a final survey, this time to ensure that the boundaries were still in place.

On Monday the first building works commenced with the excavations for the lower retaining-wall.

The cross marks the exact border of 4 plots.

At about 1 metre we’ve hit a kind of sea-sand even though we’re 60 metres above sea level. This means that concrete piles will be needed under the foundations of the houses and swimming pool.

The final engineering drawings are delayed because the architect is having a bit of trouble convincing the engineer that the roof with its odd angles and large overhangs is achievable.

[fredlk]

Steel and first concrete pour.

[fredlk]

Just to show the value of a good project manager ... and one who can read the language. Apart from the daily photographic updates, I received this document showing that the grade of concrete used, was as specified by the engineer, 240 KSC.

[fredlk]

Another hard day's work.

[dozer]

Just to show the value of a good project manager ... and one who can read the language. Apart from the daily photographic updates, I received this document showing that the grade of concrete used, was as specified by the engineer, 240 KSC.

Very well done. I happen to really like the free QA service at CPAC and others where they come out and do the slump test verifying if the mix is too watery or too dry (or just right!!) and also take samples for the factory compression test. This is something that needs to be requested and like I say it is totally free, so I encourage all to follow fredlk in this! BTW the 240 KSC stands for the amount of Kilograms of pressure per square centimeter that the concrete can withstand.

[fredlk]

Thanks for the praise, but I had no knowledge of this beforehand. It's all being handled by the Project Manager who obviously knows what he is doing.
I thought that this information might be of use to some other owners / builders on CoolThaiHouse.
I know about bricks and blocks, steels and roofs, but when it comes to concrete and its properties, I'm completely in the dark so thanks for the explanation.
I have though made it clear that I want my house to remain in place on its sloping plot for many many years.

[fredlk]

If you ask me, this is a brave and trusting man.
Jokes aside, this is the kind of dedication to the task in hand that I admire in Thai workers.

[fredlk]

The water diviner came yesterday.

He found a place in the garden which he prefers to use for the borehole. His contract includes a guaranteed find at whatever level and a lifetime's guarantee of a minimum 2,000 litres per hour. (Whose lifetime I have yet to ask.) Regular service is also included as well as a (Franklin) submersible pump. Because he might have to drill again in the future in the unlikely instance that our source dries up, he wants to have easy access at that time. In the garage with its roof that will not be possible and in the lower garden I had already planned an access gate for service-trucks.

[fredlk]

I had a meeting with the builder and the architect / project manager. I got my first peek at the almost completed engineering specifications. To say I'm thrilled is a bit of an understatement.
50 piles will be sunk under the entire construction, but in phase 1 we'll do about 25 for house number 1 and the staff-house.
The red dots on the floorplan are the posts, 2 of which have to be selected for the blessing ceremony on the 26th. They must be on one wall, not have a door in the middle, not be adjoining a bathroom and preferably pointing north-south. The family Shaman will do the final selection and the builder will start preparing for the 2 posts tomorrow. He has received special permission from the land office to construct these 2 posts because the plans have not yet been submitted for the building permits.

Here you can see the hidden roof guttering I spoke of in another section of the forum.

This is a cross section of the garage, house 2 and the swimming pool.

This time with part of house 1.

Here the interior heights are visible. There will be no ceilings.

[fredlk]

Today they started drilling for water. For a good flow I am told that they might need to go down 50 metres.

[apetley]

Hi Fred, how much is your well costing?
Our local 'cartels' are charging 50k bht with no guarantee! Bandits!!

[fredlk]

Hi Fred, how much is your well costing?

Hi Apetley,
80,000 Baht is the price we have to pay. We tried briefly to barter him down, but had no luck. It is no cure, no pay and a lifetime's guarantee of water at a minimum 2,000 litres per hour. Free service is also included as well as the Franklin submersible pump. There were other companies in the neighbourhood who were willing to have a go for I think 70,000 Baht, but this company seemed better and more reliable. The owner is a gentleman ... and he drives a nice new 4-wheel drive. (I'm paying the first few installments. ) Oh yes they are also available 24-hours in case our water ever stops pumping.
Fred.

[pklongball]

80k is not a bad price for this area and 50 meters is good depending on how close to the sea. We just had a well drilled with basically the same promises for 70k and used the Franklin pump 1 hp 750 watt submersible coupled to a pressure switch. I'm more than happy with the output to the garden hoses. 4.5 bar constant pressure with up to 4 hoses open and I can run it 3 or 4 hours so far with no lack of water. Same guys did one down the street about 100 meters away and could only go about 20 meters as the water was too salty tasting down deeper. I'm in Banchang 400 meters from sea and 400 meters from Utapao airfield.

Had a friend lives on Phoenix golf course land paid 120k for 75 meters about 5 years ago.

[fredlk]

... depending on how close to the sea.
... the water was too salty tasting down deeper.

All concerned are convinced that the water will be of good quality. I will most probably need a filter to remove an excess of zinc. I am about 4 kilometres from the sea and 60 metres above sea level so I think that there won't be salt water down there. (Never say never so watch this space. )

[fredlk]

It is now estimated that we'll need 61 concrete piles under the foundations. They'll be 6 metres each in length and 35 cm diameter. The cost is 1,000 baht per meter. I suppose that's the risk of wanting to build on a hill.

The second day of drilling and they've hit rock. Tomorrow they change drill heads and hope to reach water.

The wood is being assembled for the shuttering for the concrete pour tomorrow.

The steel connectors are already in place for the posts to be poured at a later date.