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The still wet surface is 'roughed' with a broom in preparation for tiling. (20-Apr-04)dozerSep 28, 2011
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A square mesh pattern is created above the sand sub-flooring.dozerSep 28, 2011
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Roughed surface.dozerSep 28, 2011
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A stick is used to designate the height of the pour. Here we used a height of 7 centimeters for the pour (allowing 3 centimeter for the tile).dozerSep 28, 2011
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To prepare for the pour 2 hun metal is hand tied into a mesh pattern. (20-Apr-04)dozerSep 28, 2011
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The pour in progress in the front bedroom.dozerSep 28, 2011
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Here is what what should happen. First a square hole is dug which is 1 meter square. Then a base of concrete is poured to keep the rebar pillar frame in place. Then form wood is used to make a large square for a foundation pour up to the ground level. The sizing of this form box will be about 60 centimeters wide. This is an important step as shortcuts will lead to foundation pillars shifting and walls cracking, among other things.

In this case the foundation hole was just 60 centimeters wide. Then a can was used to do the pour. The can was inserted and then dirt was placed around the can. The pour was done and then 5 minutes later the can was lifted out of the ground. This method is commonly used to create the post for a perimeter wall, but if used for a house proper will lead to an substandard structure. (This is what the picture to the left is showing, ie. the can pulled out 5 minutes after the cement pour).

Doing the foundation column like this can cause a lot of settling cracks, and other problems which only time will tell. It just isn't very sturdy. If you compare the house done for a foreigner and that regular Thai house: The house built for a foreigner will be a lot prettier and will be 'finished' off to a foreign standard. It will have things we take for granted -- like a sheetrock ceiling. The Thai house will be much simpler and cheaper (maybe 200,000 Baht or so total cost). But important things like the foundation columns will almost always be done to standard.

What follows are some shots of the standard way of doing foundation columns for a single story building......
dozerSep 28, 2011
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Form wood is wedged in place over the square upright rebar frames and then the concrete is poured in. The foundation columns should have a width of about 20 centimeters square. (24-Apr-04)dozerSep 28, 2011
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This shows an example of foundation columns as well as a partially finished roof truss. (13-Mar-04)dozerSep 28, 2011
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The wire being snipped in place. dozerSep 28, 2011
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The cross supports are held in place by wire strands.dozerSep 28, 2011
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The metal substructure which uses 4 hun full guage steel with 3 hun full cross supports. There is additionally another strand placed in the middle of the pour (4 hun full) which hasn't been inserted yet in this picture.dozerSep 28, 2011
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