I'm not really sure what these are called in English, the Thai word is 'sauw', which I'm terming 'Foundation Columns'.  There isn't the same kind of foundation done as in European building, but it is fairly simple and durable.  The house is anchored with foundation columns which are set in concrete footings in deep square post holes.  The process is as follows:  1.)  Post holes are dug at 2.5 meter intervals 2.)  A rebar frame is put in place for a base 'footing' 3.) The foundation column frame is attached to the footing. 4.)  Concrete is poured over the footing.  5.)  Lastly, the concrete is poured within wood frames around the post frame to create the foundation pillar.

Groundbreaking on the house building project. (29-Feb-04)	The metal support structures for the house use metal of guage 4 hun full with the cross supports 3 hun full. They are temporarily held upright by a wood support.
Cement is hand mixed, adding in sand and stone. Notice on the left is a support rebar base.	The base rebar (4 hun full) is placed on top of a gravel sub footing. The stick represents the middle of the foundation post which is to be poured.
The vertical supporting rebar structure has be wired on. The height of the structure depends on the roof height of the house.  For this house the posts are 3.5 meters tall (above ground) for an overall height of 4.5 meters.	The foundation post holes are 1 meter square and 1 meter deep. For this house there are 15 foundation posts.
The cement is poured to anchor the base in place. The depth of this pour is around 20 cm.  After this there will be a pour up to ground level which is 60 centimeters wide.  Form wood is used as support for this pour.	5 people looking at 1 person working.
The size of the footing of the house depends on many factors. For this house 20 inches is used. (05-Mar-04)	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).
The cross supports are held in place by wire strands.	The wire being snipped in place.
This shot is from the neighbor's development (since I missed the foundation column pour), but this gives you an idea of how the foundation columns are poured.  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)	This shows most of the foundation columns as well as the partially finished roof truss. (13-Mar-04)

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