Block laying finished. Time for a short break

This afternoon we finished the preparations to receive the hollow core slab floor panels. Delivery will be half of December. Yesterday evening we received a call the new waterpac (water tank with pump) extension cannot be delivered before end of the month.

 
So, we decided to take a short break. Also good for some recovery of an old injury of my right thumb striking up again (fell down on a slippery stable floor of our horse in The Netherlands around twenty years ago, and got a dislocated joint). 

We keep you posted when we start up again. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Blocklaying, first pipework, preparation of earthing and lightning rods

Three days ago, at the end of the afternoon, we did the leveling again with our laser to get the blocks in the correct position on the strip foundation. We also checked the foundation height (reference / measuring point is the heart of the labyrinth). It's great to see the horizontal green light from the laser level all over our site in the dark.

The day before yesterday we prepared pipework in the morning to fill the pond to keep the water level in the pond stable during the dry season. It is great to see how many animals are attracted to the water in the pond. With water in the pond all year round, we hope to see them as much as possible all year round as well. Our idea is to eventually use the pipe to make a small waterfall, but that's something that will take several years. Kind of a bonus ;).

In the afternoon we started bricklaying / gluing blocks (the special strong G4 quality blocks from Q-Con). Copper grounding pins (1.8 m length) and first thick copper wires for grounding the electrical installation and two lightning rods have already been installed. Just for some extra safety.

The pyramids we are building will be the tallest in the vicinity and we already have some experience of severe thunderstorms here. The steel roof construction (Faraday cage) is also specifically grounded.

Today and tomorrow we will continue laying the concrete blocks and the first pipes will also be installed to get electricity and water in, and to drain waste water from the sink, the shower and a scrubbing drain out. The toilet drains separately to the septic tank.

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Construction materials arrived and are on their way

Wednesday morning we removed and cleaned the formwork and brought it back to the rental firm. After that we cleaned the area a bit. 

This morning the Q-Con G4 quality blocks arrived as well as already the roof tiles. Yesterday we picked up the septic tank and pipes for the soak away field and sewage system. We made a start with the electrical installation (grounding) and some sewage work. 

We have to wait two weeks for the additional 2000 L water storage tank with pump and four till five weeks for the hollow core slab prestressed floor panels. 

To wait for the last was a bit disappointing to hear, but it is the way it is. They are not used to work with this type of slabs for houses in the area we are building. So the had to be ordered far out. We discussed other options as well (as solid plank slabs or just pour a concrete floor) but we want to stick to the plan and drawings we made so... we wait. There is enough to do and maybe we take a short break in between. 

The materials arrived just on time because the weather forecast shows this afternoon and tomorrow rain so the land will be a bit muddy again. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Concrete for the first guest pyramid drying.

This morning we were one of the first for the company to deliver concrete. Early we prepared everything already. One of the former concrete truck drivers returned and we all were happy to see each other again. The driver was very surprised to see the Labyrinth ready and gave us several compliments of the job done. 

It worked out, after the long rains, the truck only could use the gravel road at our site. Two times it was stuck in the mud. So we had some more work to do (carrying concrete in buckets) for the last part. This is really exercising with 31 degrees C in the shadow and very high humidity after the rains. Hard work for all. Only Kadhow enjoyed the shadow under our temporary house. 

We managed also to pour the concrete for the extra water tank . Phatsamon did not only help with raking the concrete but did all the leveling of the top layer as well. Nice to really do things together.

For the driver the job unfortunately took a bit longer than expected because the marshy land. At the end, with his tip, snacks and a bottle of beer he was happy. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

  

Tomorrow finally concrete for the strip foundation?

Last Saturday, after again tropical rain showers, I decided to buy a submersible pump to try to pump the water out. Great idea. It took some hours but with good results. After that, in the night, unsuspected a new depression and early Sunday morning I had to pump water out a second time. 

The weather forecast is no rain (is that possible?) till Thursday. So today we worked on the strip foundation, braiding together, and at 4 PM the two layers of wire mesh, the steel bars, earthing, etc. was finished. The formwork already oiled (safes us effort to get the formwork off again. Happy to have a laser level so the formwork really is horizontal to the millimeter. 

We also prepared, if we get too much concrete, a formwork for an extension (extra tank) of our water installation.

At lunch time we ordered concrete for today but after over nearly three weeks of rain more clients had the same idea. So, like it seems now (and as we hope) we will get a truck of high quality (strong) concrete tomorrow. 

Yesterday evening we did a small ceremony with Phatsamon's mom, one of her brothers and two nieces for Loy Krathong (celebration of the November full moon and official end of the rain season (I am not so sure ;)). We brought so called Kkom Fai from Chiang Mai and it was the first time we used the new labyrinth as a place to release them.  

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com