happy builder

 Coolthaihouse Photo Gallery

Construction Photos
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installing_windows.jpg
Windows and doorsPictured is the best available quality in locally assembled aluminium window and door parts. It's what is used in modern hospitals and clincs. The paint is hi-bake epoxy powder enamel and will last for decades. The extruded aluminium parts for the windows and doors were cut to size and assembled on site for perfect accuracy.
This cannot be done with uPVC frames because the welding has to be done in the factory - requiring greater degree of accuracy in the measurements. Nevertheless, some minor adjustments to the masonry will always be necessary.
jazzmanMay 12, 2007
brixmix~0.jpg
BrixmixThe mix of cement and fine aggregate is made in this thing which looks like a commercial baker's dough mixer. These 39 x 19 x 7 concrete blocks, erroneously called breezeblocks or cinderblocks, are the most commonly used, most economical and practical solution for non load-bearing walls, and have excellent insulating properties. Almost every village in the country has a brickworks, our village has two. Here's ours just 600 m from our house. The price of a brick in 2009 was still only 3.50 baht, including free delivery of course.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
Einweihung.jpg
EinweihungThe house was blessed: everyone paraded round the house three times, holy water was splashed amply around then everyone into the house to deposit gifts on the bed in the master bedroom. Candles were lit and holy string tied round our wrists. More mumbo jumbo, and we moved in and spent our first night there.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
up_to_the_hopper.jpg
Up to the hopperThe mix is sent up to the hopper.
The compressive strength of these bricks is quite good, although they are not recommended for load bearing walls. 'Breeblocks' like these are available in other dimensions, particularly a 10 cm thick one, but they are no so common.
The only argument NOT to use these breeze blocks for normal walls was posited by a CTH member who was worried about what would happen if he drove his car into the front of his house...
jazzmanMay 12, 2007
Guest_WC_2.jpg
Guest bathroomjazzmanMay 12, 2007
kitchen_base_doors.jpg
cupboard doorsClose up of the kitchen base unit doors. Factory made and beautifully finished. Kanyong in Pattaya, and HomePro and GlobalHouse DIY outlets.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
DSCF6735.jpg
Legrand connectorsThai electricians generally twist wires together and cover the joins with insulating tape. More modern methods would be chocolate strip or caps which are squashed with a crimping tool. These Legrand connectors are a push fit and neither require a screwdriver nor a pair of crimping pliers. There are now also similar brands on the market. Print this photo and take it to your electrical store.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
curing.jpg
CuringCement mix or concrete mix does not dry - it cures and the process must not be accelerated. These racks just allow any excess water to evaporate slowly, and to prevent the bricks damaging each other.
To build a wall, allowing for mortar, 13.5 bricks are needed for 1 square metre. The method is much stronger, cheaper, far more insulating, and much less labour intensive than using the small traditional red clay bricks still favoured by some constructors.
jazzmanMay 12, 2007
the_form.jpg
The 'jelly mould'This form makes two bricks at a time. The tongues are the bits that create the holes in the bricks. In this installation, two workers can produce about 1,000 bricks per shift.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
vibrating.jpg
filling the formA measured quantity of mix is drawn into the 2- brick 'jelly mould' which is then mechanically vibrated. It takes about 15 seconds to produce and stack a pair of bricks. Two people working the plant can produce about 3,500 bricks in a day. That's enough for 290 m2 of wall, or about 1.5 houses the size of the Jazzman house. About 1,000 bricks were used for the motel.jazzmanMay 12, 2007
curtains_1.jpg
CurtainsI believe they are more often called 'drapes' in AE. In the same way, the thing on the top is called a 'pelmet' in standard BE as used in central and SE Asia, so it's probably best not to confuse the Thais by calling it a 'valence'. jazzmanMay 12, 2007
new_IMG_0808.jpg
trehanseMay 11, 2007
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