Posts Tagged ‘Build House’

This Email Will Rattle Most People – It’s How I Felt (And Have Been Feeling For A Long Time)

I actually sent this email to my lovely wife, Kanyah. Apart from intending to explain my frustration and discomfort with what she is doing out there in Pakchong, it was also intended to have an effect – to change what seh was doing.

I Deleted The Email From Her Email Account After She Phoned Me

The she called me. Yes she was eventually getting round to doing what I had been imploring her to do for months – basically to stop living in the hotel and to move into the house.

She told me that…

• The house itself would be finished and ready to move into in three days time
• The drive (for the car) would be finished in three days time
• The local Sherrif had been to see her about getting her house papers and getting her name registered on them
• She would be leaving the hotel at the end of the month (one week away) and moving on to stay with our neighbour
• Tomorrow she will go with our neighbour to see the monk to get the date for blessing the house so that she can move in
• and… please send more money!
• She also said that when I push her and we end up arguing, she feels “down” and loses her motivation to push things forward.

Kanyah Is building This Retirement House in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand, For Me Not Just For Herself

But what really  prompted me to delete the email was when she said the “when you see how wonderful the the house is you will be proud of what I have done”. Then the penny dropped with me. She was doing all this not just for herself but also to please me. She wanted me to be proud of her. That’s why she was doing it – for me – not just for herself.

Anyway, here is the email. It’s still in her gmail account in the deleted folder – I can undelete it at any time.

Message from Your Husband Date: 24 October 2011 Dear Kanyah, I have always sent you money when you have asked for it and I have done it again today. But this is the last time. There are three reasons why I say this:- 1. I Am Not Saving for Retirement to ThailandI am supposed to be saving for my retirement, but I’m saving nothing – all my income goes to you. 2. You Are Wasting Money You are spending money on things not necessary and what I did not agree to. A lot of the money you spend is wasted on things not necessary. 3. You Won’t Finish The House First You are supposed to finish the house so that you and I can stay there. ________________________________________________________________________________ DETAILS 1. I Am Not Saving for Retirement to Thailand Look how much money I have been sending you:- Description Sent £ Sent Baht TOTAL House and Land 94,517 4,651,335 Land Cost 20,000 1,000,000 TOTAL House Only 2011 74,517 3,651,335 Nearly £100,000 and 5 million Baht! That is crazy money. When we started this project you said you could get the house and land for £20,000. Now you have spent nearly £100,000 (3.6 million Baht) and it’s still not finished. Pongsak’s price to build the house was 1.7 million Baht. You are over double that! Look how much money I have sent you in the last four months:- Month £ Baht July 11,000 539,000 August 6,000 294,000 September 7,000 343,000 October 6,000 294,000 That is all my income – before TAX. I didn’t pay tax yet. I have to go back and pay tax on my income. That means I have to work a month or more just to pay my tax. And I’m not saving anything for my retirement to Thailand. You are selfish and thinking only about yourself and the house. Spending money without thinking about our plans for the future. I think of you like Jalan and Pongsak – sucking money from the rich farang. Not very nice is it? 2. You Are Wasting Money First the toilet. Look at the toilet:- Rendering The Blockwork On The Right Hand Side Of The Toilet Block I was thinking about 1.5 by 1.5 meters. This toilet block is about 10 meters by 3 meters. It’s big enough to be a house. You never asked me about the size and you never tell me how much things cost or what you want to spend. The toilet is so big you can’t even take a photo showing all of it! Not fair and a waste of precious money. Next, the concrete. Look at this photo:- Toilet Block and Mass Concrete This is just the concrete in the front of the house. You have it all round. What’s it for? In the photo above exactly what is that concrete for? How much did it cost? Did I agree to it? Did you ever ask me? Did you tell me the price before you did it? In this case you are eating into the land where you want to grow plants. Does not make sense to me. Now the marble floors. Look at the photo. Reflections Of The Windows On The Shiny Surface Of The Highly Polished Terrazzo Marble Floor In The Workshop This is my workshop. A workshop is a dirty place. My machinces will scratch the marble and spoil it in weeks. The black colour is wrong. When I drop tiny pieces on the floor I won’t be able to find them. This marble floor is not necessary for a workshop. 100% waste of money. Next picture:- This is the car park! Whoever had marble floors in the car park? A car park gets dirty from the cars. The wheels make a mark and the oil drops down. You keep it clean then. 3. You Won’t Finish The House First I keep asking you to move out of the hotel and into the house. But you don’t do it. In a few weeks I’ll be coming there for Christmas. If you haven’t moved in where do you think I’m going to stay? In The Mansion? Forget it. If I can’t stay in my house that has taken 2 years and 5 million Baht to build just give me my car back and I’ll go stay somewhere else, without you. ________________________________________________________________________________ Guesss What? Can you guess? Do you know what I am thinking? In case you can’t let me make it easy for you, my Darling. I AM NOT HAPPY! I feel cheated. I have been ripped off. I have no money. I have been too soft. I’m p****d off and angry. See you at Christmas (Maybe) Love, Dad.

The Next Day Everything Was Different

The next day I was glad I deleted the email before Kanyah saw it because she phoned me with some great news as you can read on the  ”Thai House Address – Baan Lek Tee In Thai Language” Post. Go there right now to be cheered up!

The House Build Has Started In Earnest Now – Steelwork For The Posts & Pouring Concrete

The pictures were taken on January 13th 2011.

Our House Build Pakchong - Two Post Ceremony 1

Above, getting ready for the “Two Post Ceremony”, the “Yok Sow Eg Sow Tor” Ceremony.

Our House Build Pakchong - Two Post Ceremony 2

Above, I recognise the lady second from left – she is our neighbor. The other people I don’t know.

Notice how the steel rebar for the column reduces in size at ground foor level. I remember this is correct from the structural drawings. Will just check the drawings to make sure, though.

Our House Build Pakchong - Posts 1

Many steel columns ready to receive concrete. This is January 13th. Works started on January 6th. i.e. day 7. Not bad progress, I think.

Our House Build Pakchong - Posts 2

Above more posts – called “sow” in Thai and “columns” in western building language.

Our House Build Pakchong - Pouring Concrete 1

Above, getting ready to pour concrete. Now the building really hs started! Note that it’s ready mixed concrete delivered by the concrete truck – not mixed on site.

Our House Build Pakchong - Pouring Concrete 2

Actual concrete being poured into the footings. Wish I could have inspected before the pour. But I am here in the U.K. – some 6,000 miles from where the action is!

Our House Build Pakchong - Many Posts Rich Colors

I just love the rich colors in this photo. The red and green clothes of the workers and the brown of the clay soil. And the vast number of posts just waiting for concrete. It’s going to be busy over the next few days…

House Build Prices Received From Thai Builders

Kanyah received the quotations to build our retirement house from the Thai builders in Pakchong, Thailand, on or around November 15th, 2010.

And I’m Not Very Impressed At All!

Just to recap, my Thai wife, Kanyah, went to Thailand and issued a set of house plans and Bills of Quantity (BOQ) to six builders and/or construction companies that she located in Pakchong, where we want to build our retirment house, while I stayed here in the U.K earning the money to pay for it all. I am in contact with Kanyah by phone and sometimes by email, but the communication is not very good.

Anyway, she told me that the prices from all the builders was the same! The quotations we received were well above what we wanted to pay and way over our budget. I’m not going to reveal the price here (I can call it ‘the’ price because all the prices were the same) because we still have to arrive at a figure that we can go ahead with and this isn’t it!

I asked Kanyah to get the completed BOQ’s from all the builders so that I can compare the quotes. She said there is no point in that because all the prices are the same! Talk about frustration, I am tearing my hair out trying to make my point that if I get all, or even just one, completed BOQ I can at least do some checking as to what the builder has allowed for. After all that was one of the main reasons for commissioning the BOQ in the first place.

Unfortunately, my wife being Thai is happy to have things done (or not done as the case may be) the Thai way, rather than the Western way.

The Project Is Now On Hold Until I Go To Thailand Over Christmas (2010)!

The plan was that by 15th November we would have several quotations to build our house and the next few weeks would be spent checking the quotes and BOQs, clarifying any questions or misunderstandings over the Scope of Works and materails and fittings selection and quality. This would then allow us to select the preferred builder and when I visit in December I would be able to negotiate and sign a Contract with one of the builders.

Instead, Kanyah is doing nothing and getting no more information. “Wait until you come” she says. Well that is just wasting time and for me extremely frustrating.

Bottom line is, you have to be in Thailand when getting prices from Thai builders to build your retirement house in Thailand. So everything is on hold until I get out there.

I Have Just Received The Finished Construction Version Of The Thai House Plans To Build Our Retirement House In Thailand

Yesterday, September 29th, 2010, I received a set of construction drawings from our Thai architect to allow us to move forward on the road to building our retirment home in Thailand.

The house plans consisted of a set of very detailed Thai house plans, 46 sheets in all covering, Architecture, Structural, Electrical and Sanitation works.

I was delighted with the quantity and the quality of the drawings. I will describe what I received here in the post and show one or two of them but to do justice to the house drawings I have displayed them in the Galleries Section of the website.

Or you can go directly to the Architectural Construction Drawings Gallery

Samples Of The Thai House Plans – Construction Drawings – Designed By Our Thai Architect In Bangkok

Above, a sample of one of the construction drawings. This is the architectural layout for the second floor.

Construction Drawing Our Pakchong House End Elevation 2

Above, another example of one of the construction drawings. This is the front elevation.

Construction Drawing Our Pakchong House End Elevation 1

And above is the side elevation of the drawing for our our retirement home.

Construction Drawing Our Pakchong House Section BB

Above, another sample of the Thai house plans designed by our Thai architect. this time it is a section through the house that is shown.This is the last of the Thai house plans that I am displaying in this Post. I will be uploading more of the Thai house plans to a separate web page.

How Many House Plans Do You Need To Build A house In Thailand And What Level Of Detail Is Necessary?

There is a minimum quantity and level of detail that your house plans need to satisfy in order for you to build your hosue in Thailand. The minimum level depends upon the size of the house (i.e. how many rooms) the capability of the builder and the degree of control over the detail in the finished article that you want.

For our small house to be built in Pakchong, it is only 200 m2, our Thai architect has produced a set of house plans of construction stage quality and comprising 47 sheets of drawings. Here is a summary of what the set of construction drawings comprises:-

A Thai Architect In Bangkok Is Making Our Retirement House Plans

On 14th July 2010, we gave the go-ahead to a Bangkok-based Architectural design-and-build company to proceed with producing the construction drawings for our retirement house we want to build in Pakchong, Thailand.

The company is called Kensington Company Limited and according to their Thai Builders website they have designed and built many beautiful and prestigious properties and won several awards including the Conde Nast Hottest 100 Asia Hotels Award May 2008 for designing and building “The Villa Water Orchid”.

Although I was a bit apprehensive at appointing the company from arms length i.e. from U.K. via email and not having met them in Thailand, I must say that to date I am very impressed with their service and the quality of their design work. The architect has now produced the final ground and first floor house layouts which I have now approved. Also, he has produced some very nice perspective views of the house obtained from a 3D computer model he has made.

I have posted some of these drawings on the website on the Thai Architects House Plans page at http://retiringinthailand.net/house-build-thailand-2/thai-architects-house-plans. I have some more perspective views which I’ll post there in a couple of days time and as I receive more details I’ll post those on that page also.

In addition to the high quality of the drawings, plans if you like, the architect is producing I want to mention other things that has made me very glad that we chose to proceed with the Kensington Company.

Excellent Service. I deal exclusively via email with Chris Clayton the Managing Director of the Kensington Company. Chris is always quick to respond to my emails usually within hours and always on the same day.

Further, both Chris and Yos, the Thai Architect, keep telling me that they want me to be happy and nothing is too much trouble. If I want to change something or don’t like what Yos has proposed for a particular situation, Yos will change it if I ask for it to be changed. Here for example are typical snippets from some of Chris’s email:-

“I am glad it all seems clearer. I know it can be difficult doing it thousands of miles away by e-mail. But have no worries. Yos and I will work on this design until you are happy which I think will come together fairly quickly now. Now things are clearer to all.”

“No problem at all. It’s my pleasure and also my job to help. Yos will happily make whatever changes you ask for.”

Quality Assurance. Another concern I had was that I had produced sketches of my concept for the house and knew that there were certain areas where my concept needed some development to make it work. One example is the roofs. My concept is visually pretty but as Yos pointed out for several reason is unpractical and would lead to leaks and difficulties in construction. Hence the architect’s roof solution is different from my concept and I have to accept this. At every step of the way Yos is checking my concept to make sure that what he delivers is practical and complies with the Thai building regulations and standards. This is from one of Chris’s emails discussing my concept for the roofs:-

“Dear Alan,

Thanks for all the comments and ideas.

Yos has gone over them carefully. He is happy to help you in anyway and try to come up with solutions. However he is particularly concerned with your desire for this roof design you have created. Naturally he wants you to have the home as you like it but as an architect he has to point out to you and make it clear if your choices are potentially going to cause problems to you, the home or the construction contractor. He was worried about this roof and asked me please to point it out again to you. He suggested the roof style he did because it is practical for construction and Thailand’s weather. Whereas if he does it as you want, you will have problems with leaks and practical issues to be concerned about.

He has written a explanation with drawings to try and help everyone understand what he means. He is happy to do as you ask but wants you to know it could very easily cause you problems with the house.

Look forward to your comments and resolving this issue. If you have any thoughts or ideas please forward them. Very important you the customer is happy but at the same time the home will be practical.”

And this is an extract from Yos’s messages to me:-

“Dear Alan

What we are most concerned about is the house has to be comfortable for living, be suitable for the Thai weather, and be in line with Thai construction methods and practical. So as an architect I may make comments or observations that from experience in both design and construction I feel are necessary and the best advice for you as the home owner. I hope you do not mind me doing this but I would like to explain one more time perhaps better than before so it is clear regarding the roof. I can do whatever you ask but naturally I am responsible for the design of the home and I need to make sure everything is clear, in case something asked means the house will have problems or not be practical. Here are my thoughts and comments:”

Ease of Communication. I was again concerned about the ability to communicate ideas and thoughts across the world to a Thai company in Bangkok from my home in the U.K. In fact this has turned out to be very easy because as you can see in the message from Yos above, Yos has an excellent command of the English language.

In summary, therefore, we are very happy with the way the production of the construction drawings is progressing. Although the process is far from complete, the service we have received from the Kensington Company to date gives us confidence that the final set of drawings will be perfectly acceptable.

Assuming that will be the case then we will have proven that you can commission a Thai architect in Bangkok, Thailand to design your retirement home in Thailand even if you live half way round the world and never even visit Thailand.

Having said that, the drawings are not yet complete, there is still much work to do, and only then will I be able to give a 100% recommendation of the Kensington Company.

More Information And Thai House Plan Drawings

Please make sure you visit the web page Thai Architects House Plans  periodically to check out the latest drawings and perspectives of our planned retirement house. In fact, to make sure you are alerted whenever I post new information why not join the Announcement List by entering your name and email at the top of this page? I will then send you an email whenever anything interested is posted on the website.

Get A Free Consultation For Thai House Plans – Have Your Retirement House Designed Or Built In Thailand

Chris, Managing Director of Kensington Company will be happy to meet with anyone who contacts him from this website or from my recommendation and he will provide a personal service and a free consultation. If you do contact  Kensington Company mak sure that you ask for Chris. To make is easy for you I have put a Contact Kensington Form on the website for you to use.