Contractors To Build A House

[JimmyGreaves]

How do you find a reputable builder to organise a house build?

[splitlid]

hi jimmy,

finding a reputable builder anywhere is difficult. talk to friends who have bought. or visit an estate agent. they maybe able to put you on to someone.(may take a cut also).
are you looking to hire a company to build your home or just a local thai gang?

a local thai gang will do it cheaper but definately more problems which may cost more in the long run.
a company should enable you to kick back and relax whilst they do all the hard work.

whatever way you choose, you need a good project manager who knows what they are doing.
good luck

[crazy88]

Totally accurate onevery point Splitlid .

You might want to change the ' may' to will however . The contractor is benefitting from the agents advertising ,manhours and running costs after all .Same as if you buy a pre-built house .The seller must pay a commission to the agent .


A good contractor should provide you with an obligation free consultation wnd written estimate with breakdown of what the price includes .The next step would be to finalise the design and have the plans drawn .This incurs fees of course .Architects do not work for nothing .If choosing an existing design with minimal if any changes then no fees would normally apply .

Make sure you view previous work by the contractors !!!

With the plans agreed a final quotation should be provided for your consideration .Upon acceptance a contract between both parties should be set up so that everyone is clear on what is expected of them and when .

The project managers should be at the site daily to ensure everything is as it should be .You should receive regular feedback and progress reports either by way of face to face meetings and site visits or via comprehensive emails and phone calls, including photographs on at least a weekly basis .

Crazy88

[JimmyGreaves]

Thanks for all that info, will take all those steps if I ever find someone to start the work.

[ozuncle]

I was browsing on the property page and saw this.

Check the footings go down at least 1.5m through established earth (not newly built up earth), with at least a 1.2m square concrete padstone under the footing.

Is 1.5 m deep correct for the footings (surely not) and what is a 1.2 m concrete padstone under the footing?

[Randy Cornhole]

Newly filled plots should be left for at least 6 - 8 months to settle, preferably to include the rainy season...

[splitlid]

how many other folklore and old wifes tales can we think of????

[Randy Cornhole]

You must lay the bricks east/west, least they fall...

[crazy88]

Don't forget the pigs head,a plate of oranges,9 jackfruit leaves ,some flowers and a strange looking soup when putting up the first post .

Crazy88

[splitlid]

I was browsing on the property page and saw this.

Check the footings go down at least 1.5m through established earth (not newly built up earth), with at least a 1.2m square concrete padstone under the footing.

Is 1.5 m deep correct for the footings (surely not) and what is a 1.2 m concrete padstone under the footing?

Foundations in thailand are predominately of 2 types.
1. spread foot foundation.(padstone as above)
2. piles.
A combination of the 2 is sometimes used.

The type of foundations used in any building are determined by a few factors:
a. soil type,ground water levels.
b. load to be put on the foundation.
c. site conditions.
d. environment.

because of these factors a survey is recommended to determine which foundations are best for the house and land. The survey will take soil samples at various depths and also perform a compression test.

the survey will give specific recommendations of the type and depth of foundations to be used on that land. the engineer will use that information to design the foundations. which can be of varying size depending on the load exerted on it.

there is NO set foundation size,style or depth!

[sam]

but you do need the pigs head etc...

[splitlid]

but you do need the pigs head etc...

of course, the whole house will fall down within 6 months if you dont.

[Terry]

Some other Golden Rules of House Building

NEVER allow the bed to be positioned so that the head is pointing West or South - you will be dead inside six months.

NEVER place the front and back doors directly within site of each other otherwise you will be broke within six months.

Don't forget the strategically placed mirrors to scare the ghosts and bad spirits away.

But it's OK to omit 'U' traps 'cos it will save you money - don't worry about the stink.

Don't glue the plastic pipe together (Glue costs money) - just bury the pipe in concrete.

And last but not least - you MUST get nine Monks to bless the place before you move in otherwise you will have bad luck - for AT LEAST six months.

Other than that - it's all a piece of cake really

[crazy88]

Not just for building but we should all remember that "about tomorrow" means 3 weeks minimum and 5 days could mean 5 tuesdays or 5 29th of februarys .

All those with long term girlfriends ? Whatever you do tomorrow do NOT get tiddly over a romantic meal and fall for the footsie behaviour under the table.

It will end in tears .

Hopefully of joy for many years for those who get captured .

Crazy88

[STEVE G]

Terry wrote:

But it's OK to omit 'U' traps 'cos it will save you money - don't worry about the stink.

I know of one case in Hua Hin where the builder omitted all of the waste piping below floor level causing a large smelly pool under the house after a few weeks of occupation.