Click to join the Announcement List and get an email when the website is updated

Click Here To Go To The Latest POST On The Website

Click Here To Go To The Latest PAGE On The Website

Double Rainbow, Gate Runner Concreted, Wooden Floors Complete, But Folding Doors Problems

A Double Rainbow Over Our Land In Pakchong – Is This A New Start?

Does this double rainbow(see the second one above the main one) right over our land signify a new start for our retirement house build project in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand?

I would like to think that our builder has changed his ways and all is now going to plan and with good – or at least reasonable – quality.

But something in my bones tells me it won’t be like that. I fear that our prospects of getting this house finished to good quality and an time are pretty slim and explained on the Thailand Retirement House Build Plans Dashed post.

Gate Runner Concreted

On the previous post I showed the picture below depicting the ground runner for the 6 m stainless steel gate:-

Thai House Gate Runner 2

Above, the the stainless steel gate has wheels at the bottom which run along this track. The gap between the ground and the runner has to be filled with concrete to support the track when vehicles run over it. If you have seen the Stainless Steel Gate Runner Ruined you will have read how our builder ran over the track before it was concreted in an bent it.

The concreting has now been completed as you can see in the pictures below.

Stainless Steel Gate Runner Concreted

Above, it is best not simply  to put concrete under the runner but to excavate down by at least 300 mm, put reinforcement steel in the excavation and then fill with concrete.

Close Up of Gate Runner Concreted for Stainless Steel Gate

A close-up view of the concrete supporting the gate runner.

Wooden Floors Complete

Wooden Floorboards on The Balcony Floor

Above, the balcony floor looks quite reasonable, unlike the main accommodation floor which is terrible as you can see in the movie here.

Main Living/Dining/Kitchen Area Wooden Floors

Folding Doors Problem

This problem is how to fit the lower door runner for the wooden folding doors.

Issue 1 The External Security Doors

Our retirement house in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand, is designed to have two sets of folding doors located as shown on the Thai Architect’s house plan below:-

Generally folding doors need two tracks (I call them runners) in which the door sliding gear runs, one is at the top of the door, the other at the bottom.

Here is a photo showing the top and bottom runners:-

Sliding Door Runners At Top And Bottom(Alan's comments)

Above, you can clearly see the top and bottom runners for the folding doors. By the way, this is not our house, but I wish our wooden floor looked as nice as this one.

Here is a detail of the top runner (typical):-

Detail Of Typical Sliding Gear At The Top Of Folding Doors

This can be provided in the frame for the door (somehow).

However it is more difficult to provide this in the bottom of the door. Here are the details of the doors from the Kensington Architect’s drawings:-

Thai Architect's Elevation Drawing For The External Folding Doors

External Folding Doors Section View

Another Builder’s Mess Major Up – Floors On The Wrong  Level

The wooden floors in the Thai Architect’s design for this house are on three levels as you can see in the image taken from the Thai Architect’s house plans:-

Close-up view of the Thai Architect’s house plan showing the difference in floor levels for this Thai retirement house.

Pakchong House Floor Levels 2

Above, the steps in level are a convenient location for the lower door runners in the Thai Architect’s design for our retirement home.

Issue 2 The Internal Glazed Doors

This is the same issue as the external folding doors issue – the lower runners – but the problem is made worse because the builder put the Kitchen/Dining area on the same level as the Living Room. In the Kensington design there was a 50 mm step, similar to that between the Balcony and the Kitchen/Dining area.

That step would have provided a natural break line to put the lower runner for the doors.

See the photo of the Living/Kitchen/Dining area floor as constructed:-

Wooden Floors Showing Locations Of Folding Doors

There are several difficulties with installing a lower runner for the internal folding doors:-

1. If it is to be cut into the floorboards there would be no support for the floorboards at that point. Subject to actual situation on site, the support may be provided by installing two additional joists, one on each side of the runner.
2. Since all these areas are now combined with a single flat floor (which I think will actually look very nice) I don’t want ugly slots across the floor to carry the runner.
3. I don’t want a permanent runner above the floor. This would look ugly and is dangerous because people would trip over it.

Thai Websites For Folding Doors

Here are the website details of some companies selling folding doors in Thailand:-

Many Folding Door Companies In Thailand:-

http://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/TH/folding-door.html

Good Quality Folding Doors In Thailand – I Like These:-

http://www.auseco.com

Folding Door Sliding Gear (Top):-

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/242283684/Tangent_290_Standard__Sliding_Door/showimage.html

General Information About Folding Door Companies:-

http://www.alibaba.com/member/th106190841.html

Click to join the Announcement List and get a notification when the website is updated