Cupid, our crawl space snake and scorpion tracking dog

We discovered a crack in the 10 cm thick partition block-wall between the bathroom and walk-in closet next to the bedroom. Under this wall, pouring the concrete top layer for the floor, we brought in extra rebar for reinforcement. We also made reinforced concrete lintels above the doors and made a calculation for the weight of walls on the concrete prestressed hollow-core slap floor elements. 

The crack can have different causes. Expansion because of our high temperatures can be one, because of the difference of expansion coefficients of the blocks in relation to the concrete lintels. Shrinkage can be another thing. Also slight deflection of the floor can be a cause because the top (pressure) layer is not finished yet.

We wanted to make the ceilings in our bedroom, bathroom, guest toilet and storage a bit higher. For that we need to add one more layer of block masonry extra. So also a bit more weight.

To be the best as possible prepared not to get cracks in the tiles of the bathrooms and in the plasterwork, we decided to strengthen at three places and compartments under the floor the foundation of the hollow core slab floor elements where the walls are placed. 

I can tell you, not an easy job. 

It asked creativity and digging deep into my former constructional engineering "How to repair or strengthen foundations" lessons. And yes, a couple of weeks ago in the night, my mind came with a solution how to deal. 

At these places we created a 20 cm thick reinforced concrete base. Happy we have our private concrete mixer. 

On top of that, 15 cm thick and 20 cm high, load bearing Q-con G4 wall blocks to support and strengthen the hollow core slab floor elements. 

To get pressure on the foundation we cut the the top blocks in a wedge. With a heavy rubber hammer we put them, in special block glue, in place. In between the top blocks and the floor elements a tar-foil against possible moisture to 'climb' into the floor. Actually as we did all around before placing the floor elements. 

Working in the crawl space is not really my thing. Happy we installed water proof electricity and lights before and we created a work height of around 70 cm. We also put some ventilation in and still, before entering to work, mechanically ventilated extra to be sure for enough oxygen to work safe (my fire-brigade experience). 

I working in the crawl space, Phatsamon, directly at the entrance outside, stand-by and in contact.

Opening the entrance of this space after about a year showed the construction in good order. The tar coating on the back side of the foundation blocks is doing a great job as well as the drains we installed to get rid of possible water during the rainy season. 

My son warned me against snakes and scorpions in that space because for them it's a very nice place to stay. So we needed to check first. 

Opening the entrance nearly immediately our (hunter dog) Cupid jumped under the floor and walked all around the different compartments to check for me if it was safe to work. Not a single animal (only Cupid) to find. 

During my work she also joined me the whole time. 

Phatsamon, this morning, first helped her sister and brother in law with turning the rice to dry on our new road. After her activities we finished the foundation job.

Time to go on 'upstairs' again. Put an extra layer of blocks for the inside walls, repair the crack, and go on with preparing for tiling and plastering. Happy we managed to finish this job this morning. 

Phatsamon early in the morning helping to dry the rice on
the new concrete road before doing construction work. 

    

Frans & Phatsamon

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Start of finishing work

Although we think we have at least more than a year work to do to complete the main house we are now in the stage of "finishing work". 

We made the decision to prepare the inside of the house first so, if the workers are available (after the rice harvesting), they can start plastering around end of November this year. We found people in the village who have experience in plastering (we also checked some of their work) and they are willing to do that for us. 

As I learned from my mom, we will be a good host to them. 

Why not do the plastering myself? 

First of all I do not like plastering. On the other hand I think it's not a good idea after two serious warnings of my body (herniated disc and sciatica) this can be too much/too heavy for me.

So, Phatsamon and I decided already nearly a year ago to hire workers for inside plastering and (a company) to finish the ground floor. 

We also made another decision. To focus on finishing the inside of the house as far as possible so we can start to live in it. The finishing touch for the outside can be done after that. I think this idea/option was a great thought of Phatsamon. 

Also regular maintenance starts to take time now. 

Unexpected one of our street lanterns in the garden stopped working after a cow entered our property in the night. We really did not know why. It took a while to find the cause and to fix it but we managed and everything is working again. Actually, although our CCTV camera showed, It had nothing to do with that cow. 

Focusing on finishing the inside does not say you can keep your eyes shut for things that need to be done (in the near future) on the outside. 

So we needed to install several electricity outlets in the outside walls and had to make the anchors for the sunscreens to be installed. 

After the sever storms this spring I wanted to make the connection for them even stronger so made anchors trough the walls at around every meter to fix the steel structure of the sunscreens. We will also install, every two meters, a pole (steel with concrete foot) to make the construction even stronger against storms. Off course no guarantee but still better prepared (at least in my mind). 

All the electricity outlets, pipes and most of the wires, in the house are in. A very dusty job, milling pipes and grinding the spaces for the outlets and switches. After cutting the holes for pipes and outlets with a Kango and bringing the electricity pipes and steel bases for the outlets in, we filled up with special plaster to get a flat wall again. Ready for further plastering or tiling. 

Tiles for the kitchen arrived and all the preparations for the kitchen walls are made. 

We installed the bathroom door with temporary red/white protective tape and changed the direction of the prepared installed deadbolt lock (by the way a hard job to find out how to do). A special foil will be added to the glass as decoration. Also the frame and cabinet doors of the meditation/yoga room storage, to build, at the first floor, are fixed.  

We have to spend more time with our animal family (five dogs and four cats) now. Happy again not to have a schedule, so, no rush to finish. 

In the mean time our rice field is ready to be harvested somewhere this week.  

Cupid checking the clarity of the glass of the
bathroom-door before the foil will be added. 

After their morning walk with the pack and having breakfast,
Baijka and Taffy are waiting for their regular quality check/taste
of all the construction-materials before use in the house. 

Frans & Phatsamon

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Kitchens, ceiling, and more...

Slowly things are going back to 'normal' after my, at the moment, 97% recovering of sciatica. Still not working full-time and taking enough rest. The good thing... last month we see growing progress again.

The rainy season, slowly, is at its return. Better weather, with better temperatures and humidity levels to work, are on their way to stay for a couple of months. But still we have to deal with unexpected wet 'surprises' that bring us to mud road lockdowns like last Sunday. 

The main house electricity line now is connected to the main switchboard in our control room. I made a temporary construction outlet at the place where we will install the main house consumer unit. Happy we do not need to work with extension cables to the house now anymore. 

We had to change our plans for the outside corners of the house. We wanted to use mosaic tiles at those four corners but the corner profiles are not available anymore. We already found another option and bought the materials for that. 

We cut the holes in the back wall to install the ventilation units for the walk-in closet, the bathroom, guest toilet and storage room. Because our walls are double thickness of the regular Thai way of building, I had to make adapters. The hole for the hood / exhaust fan of the kitchen we still have to make. 

Painting of a part of the steelwork at the first floor (yoga/meditation space) to prepare for installing the bamboo ceiling is finished. The bamboo mats arrived. Sad to say they are of a bad quality and already full of mold. We tried to get the mold as much as possible off and Phatsamon and I painted the mats with the same coating we use for the wooden frames, stained glass panels and front door. 

Four Philips warm white flood lights for indirect lighting we ordered arrived Saturday October 26.  

I made a separate drawing for the wood company to order the wooden frames for the entrance of the house. I think the company never saw this type of construction drawings and it took a while to explain. Happy the result is of a good quality to work with. 

The wooden frames with stained glass as well as the door were delivered on time. It worked out the custom made door was made wrong (right turning instead of left). We could change this door at HomePro (great service) but had to wait another two weeks for delivery at Saturday October 26 as well. In the mean time we could install the frames and panels already and gave the wood a first double layer of coating. 

Because of the changing process of the main (front) door we needed to wait for a while for all kind of paperwork at HomePro. Waiting there, by coincidence, we 'met' a Western style (Kitzcho brand, Majestica model) full rubber-tree wood kitchen we both like, including a breakfast/lunch/dinner island table with storage. 

With our own construction drawings, Kitzcho staff made a 3-D drawing of the things we wanted. It took three days to make a first quotation. Thursday October 26 the same staff members visited our site to do final measuring. We wanted to make some small changes in relation to the first concept. Saturday, October 26 again, we got new drawings and a quotation including installation and special treated white marble kitchen top. We decided to agree with that one. The pictures below just to get an impression. 

It takes two months to arrange everything. No problem for us because we are not ready for installation yet. HomePro, for free, will store our new kitchen for about half a year. The induction cooking unit, hood, double sink, cold/hot water tap, etc. we already bought. They only have to be installed. A combined Grill/Microwave oven we will buy later. 

A small 'Thai kitchen' will be made outside on the back side of our house as well. Just on the other side of the wall were we will install the western style kitchen. 

It offers the possibility also to cook (stir fry and wok) on (bottled) gas. 

Time for us to do the inside preparation. We already prepared the kitchen walls with a primer and ordered the 30 x 60 cm tiles (same as the show model).   

Last week we found somebody from our village who is willing to do the inner plastering of the walls, together with two friends. We saw already several plastering he did before and trust the quality he delivers. They can start after the rice harvesting, that just started last week, around end of November.

Because I do not like plastering and because of the two times warning of 'overload' of my back already I do not want to do this job myself.  

Frans & Phatsamon

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com