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#1
15-02-2007, 06:53
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Building a Shed in Thailand..
Ok I know.. But with the wall finished I thought it might be an idea to build a shed in the garden. Somewhere to put a fridge and a kettle for refreshments while watching the world go by and possibly take a shower afterwards.
I also thought it might be an interesting way to test the water so to speak. The first task was to choose a builder. This was done by recklessly riding about on a moped in Pak Chong, I am not normally a bike rider, and looking at houses. The sight of me wobbling along on my honda was enough to raise a few eyebrows and some shouts of "farang farang" while the children ran for cover. The trick was to see a nice looking house, knock on the door and ask to look around. Then gently to enquire about the plumbing and so on. Very educational. After a while I began to realise that the quality of the houses was mainly distinquished by the roofs. With this in mind my search became more specific and I found a dream house which was being built by a lake for some thai pop star. I spoke to the builder about my shed and he bowled up to the wall in the afternoon. As usual the price negotiations for my shed were a little vague. We agreed on a price of 9000 baht per square metre. But, and this is important, Thai builders seem to count the roof as a separate entity. My shed is 45 sqaure metres.. the roof is 45 square metres as well. Hence the building is 90 square metres. 90 x 9000 is 810,000 Baht. After the price was more or less agreed an architect was roped in to draw up the plans for the shed. This cost 20,000 baht. Armed with the plans it was off to the planning office and the plans were submitted. Fees of 25,000 baht were paid and the permission promised in 4 weeks. Came in four days... With the plans submitted an auspicious day was chosen for the monk ceremony at at 09:09 in the morning the monk came to wish us good luck. This was quite a ceremony really and we had to prepare a money pot and some refreshments. Sanook Last edited by Mac : 15-02-2007 at 07:37. 
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#2
15-02-2007, 07:03
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Thai Construction
The builder and I had an interesting discussion about construction in which all my helpful advice was ignored and the day after the monk ceremony work started on the foundations.
As usual concrete and reinforced steel wire seem to be the mainstay of the thai builders craft. But I wanted bricks. So as a token to the mad farang the walls were made of brick and then covered in cement...
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#3
15-02-2007, 07:09
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Thai Floors
With the walls more or less finished choices were needed about the floor. The outside terrace will be a marble but the internal floors will be reclaimed teak. Where the teak came from no-one knows, but I fear for the pop star's house on the lake..
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#4
15-02-2007, 07:18
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Thai Plumbing and Electrics
Hmm.
As it turns out Pak Chong does not have mains drainage. The drains under the road are for rain water. This involved digging a cess pit in the garden. After the incident with the neighbours' washing line and in view of the requirement to empty it sometimes the 4000 litre cess pit has been put next to the neighbour's house by the road. The electic company has given us a 20 amp supply for the shed at a cost of 12,000 baht. The standing charge appears to be 20 baht per month.. SEB could learn something.. Unfortunately, not used to the demands of farang consumerism the builder suggested one plug in the main room and one plug in the kitchen. I requested 12 plugs in the kitchen and 10 in the main room... This caused some amusement until I showed them a picture of our kitchen at home... 24 plugs were then purchased. After some negotiation we decided that the main room should be air conditioned and Daikin were contacted. The airconditioning will cost 50,000 baht. We also wanted a power shower in the bathroom and a recessed flush unit for the toilet. A large water tank has been put in the roof! Last edited by Mac : 15-02-2007 at 07:31.
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#7
15-02-2007, 07:27
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Conclusions
This building project has been remarkably hassle free and great fun. I have learned a lot, not least the thai words for cement and grommet. It is nearly finished now and I am off next week to choose the paint for the walls and, of course, a fridge!!
The cost of this project is: Plans: 20,000 Permissions 25,000 Electric 12,000 Air Con 50,000 Address 2,000 Kitchen 200,000 (Including all appliances, Cooker, Extractor, Hob, Sink, Taps, Microwave etc) Bathroom 40,000 Building 810,000 Total Cost: 1,159,000 STG £17,500 Mac Last edited by Mac : 15-02-2007 at 07:52.
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#9
15-02-2007, 08:53
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Cheers Mac
Quote:
5555555555555 Great Thread very informative.
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#10
15-02-2007, 09:03
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Nice one Mac, I enjoyed reading your well written posts and the pictures helped to understand exactly what was going on.
 I hope you spend many happy days in the shed 
__________________
Only a woman can break his spell. Pure in heart who will offer herself
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#11
15-02-2007, 10:27
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sounds like one of my projects here Mac......55555.......
just goes to show that the building process is pretty much the same all around the world........... BTW I would love the teak ceiling and eves you have installed..........would not be affordable to have that here (NZ).....and the detailing looks very nice indeed.......looks like your builder knows what he is doing with how it is laid out.... congratulations......and thanks for the well written multimedia overview..........it looks great!!!
__________________
 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
Last edited by nelsonone : 15-02-2007 at 10:29.
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#12
15-02-2007, 10:56
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When I read your shed build price in the top post I nearly had a heart attack.. Then I opened the link for your shed plan and realised thats a small house your building..
Then add in your using teak and marble.. Then add in your doing nice stuff with the bathroom.. Well that all starts to come together much more.. Personally if I was to go that far I would probably go the whole hog and make it 100 - 120 SQM and a house.. the bathroom and kitchen are large investments. Dont know if you paid a premium to use bricks.. I find cinder block goes up faster and costs less down here.. Also if building for myself I would always force them (they are ****ers about doing the extra) to make a double skin wall.. The insulation aspect in keeping a building cool can make a big deal, as can being logical about airflow and 'usual' wind direction, large eves protecting walls from direct sunlight and roof refelective insulation partnered up with airlflow through the rood crawl spaces. It looks like a shed to be proud off.. I have lived in far worse places.. Please show us pics when completed.. I love these threads..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#13
15-02-2007, 10:59
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Also should say.. Cant rmemeber how large you land plot is.. But if you do decide to do more later.. Will make a great guest house or pool house as the plot develops..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#14
15-02-2007, 12:17
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Quote:
Building with blocks is a lot faster. I went with the premium Q-Con. It is a german tech. It blocks far more heat than any other brick and you can get away with a single wall. The great thing is it does not retain heat. So if you have a deck near an external wall, you do not feel heat radiating back at you. Also it renders very smooth. It is worth the money for insulation. I went with the dual layer where they have bubble wrap in the middle. Reduce heat in the house by at least 5C. Plus you are a friend of the environment Like you said, then good airflow above, big roof overhangs (especially on the south side), and high ceilings really help in keeping it all cool.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#15
16-02-2007, 00:25
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Hey Mac,
A great read. Thanks for posting this as it was very informative and helpful as I'm in discussion with the Mrs. now about building a house. Look forward to seeing what the finished product is.
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#16
16-02-2007, 09:23
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Teriffic thread - my g/f has a house which is a block one and it was quite cool with only fans, I will be paying to add a second story probably next year and maybe A/C as well.
__________________
to err is human........but to shift the blame to someone else shows management potential
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#17
16-02-2007, 11:13
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What a great read Mac. Thanks for that. Hope the finished product is exactly what you wanted.
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#18
16-02-2007, 11:29
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Thanks Really Enjoyed The Thread,and The Photos Are Also Very Good.
Not Really A Shed Is It. Keep Us Informed About The Finishing Touchs.
__________________
MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#19
16-02-2007, 11:42
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Next to my g/f's house on the family plot is a proper shed (unlike Mac's) only a roof with 6 columns holding it up.
She said to me that a builder built her house in 2.5 months and her younger brother and father built the shed in.............................5 years.....555555 Its nice to know that whatever coulntry you're in things just dont change eh....5555555
__________________
to err is human........but to shift the blame to someone else shows management potential
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#22
19-02-2007, 19:12
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Thai for Walden Pond?
Enjoyed this thread. A farang Henry David Thoreau we have in our midst?
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#23
19-02-2007, 19:51
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enjoyed all the threads on this 'shed' project. all very interesting and helpful.
according to costs posted previously by Mac, he has a achieved a very nice 'shed' and posh surrounding wall for about 1,933,000 thb (£29,287). In the UK thats about the foundations and a few breeze blocks. well done Mac looks lovely. please post pics of the finished article
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