Ceilings and tiling finished. Time for a short break to celebrate the change of the year.

Yesterday we finished all the ceiling work of the pyramid. This afternoon we finished tiling the entrance. So now it's a matter of the finishing touch, painting, get the laminate flooring and some wall carpets in and fix the outside sun protection roof ceiling and bringing in the pavement. We think this all will take another about four weeks. 

And in the mean time. The night of December 24th also another child was born (in Surin). 

Time for a short break now to relax and enjoy holidays during the ongoing holidays. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

No lockdowns so bathroom first guest pyramid finished. First 'guests' enjoying the special inner energy to sleep already.

We succeeded in finishing the bathroom of the first guest pyramid. Making progress in installing the ceiling of the bedroom. Working with mirrors in the ceiling(s) gives a special effect.

We will not succeed in finishing the first guest pyramid this year and think next year January/February we can start using this as our temporary bedroom. Some special guests this afternoon gave sleeping inside an enjoying the atmosphere and temperature already a try. 

All together all the corners we have to deal with, with nearly every construction part, ask a lot of attention so time. 

We also finished the installation of all horizontal ceiling parts and all the electricity now. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

In the process of finishing the first guestroom pyramid

Without transportation no progress. So, because our broken truck, we had to order materials to go on with the process of finishing the first guestroom pyramid. 

We had to discover a system to equalize the concrete floor and did. YouTube this time did not give us the optimal information. A hard job with a mixture of sand and cement. The first try-out part I decided to take out again. Still we now need a thin layer of special finish to make the floor great to put the laminate. 

A glas door for the bathroom is placed by a small company of our village. It's not exactly what I expected but we give it a try. We also finished the tiling inside the bathroom (connection with this doorframe) so with the exception of placing the ceiling, the bathroom is finished. 

We placed some q-con blocks and build in a safe and the bed lighting and installed the wall sockets. After that tiling and make preparations for special carpet to be glued on some walls. Just to make the internal atmosphere (sound) good. 

For the nearly flat roof parts we also installed additional 7,5 cm thick 'Stay Cool' isolation blankets. We will install a lowered ceiling for that parts. 

We got our truck back but immediately with problems again and went back to the garage. Being there it worked out not only this problems but also no possibilities to start anymore. It took the garage another day to fix them. In the evening, after having dinner at a restaurant nearby, the truck was delivered at our site. The next morning we discovered again not all the problems were solved. It's safe to drive but in a couple of days the truck need to go back again to check and adjust the back breaks. 

An ongoing process. So far I think we nearly changed 75% of the car into new. 

Again some pictures about our progress. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Building a pyramid fridge and new Kia problems driving us crazy

November 20. Climate change? Between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius during the day. 

Indeed, Surin in the North-East (Isaan) region in Thailand is a warm place on our earth. Reason why we want to equip our, for Thailand 'strange', buildings with good isolation to keep it a bit cool and to save energy (and our planet) when we have guests to visit and use the aircon. 

So, last week we build our first pyramid fridge with the 'Stay Cool' isolation blankets. A 7.5 cm thick glass fiber isolation. For now we only temporarily fixed it with galvanized metal wires. A warm job wearing gloves, head and nose mouth protection most of the time. 

In a couple of weeks, installing the Shera planks for the ceiling cover, we will fix it permanent to reach the best possible isolation value. 

We also gave the concrete floor a special primer as well as one of the walls. This primer need to support next weeks equalizing of the floor and the gluing of special carpet on the wall to get more comfort (inside sound absorption). 

This afternoon we checked the aircon unit. It creates quickly a nice fresh temperature and the isolation already is working great. 

Last Tuesday evening, after a week, we could pick up our Kia truck again with all the breaks fixed. It caused only short happiness. Wednesday morning, after our first short trip bringing garbage to the nearby recycling center, it was not willing to start anymore. So, at the moment it is still at the garage the second time this month for days. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

 

First guest pyramid bathroom 90% finished, new materials and new truck repair

Last week we managed to finish the tiling and joint filling of the first guest pyramid bathroom. We also installed the basic equipment. 

I want to use as less as possible silicone. To be sure no smell of the toilet connection enters the bathroom I used a special packing seal. Very hard to find and get but succeeded. Also the toilet shower (a great and hygienic toilet solution in Asia) is installed. 

I needed to produce an extension for the mechanical ventilation unit. Basic building in Thailand is walls of 7.5 till max 10 cm thickness. So the ventilation unit is produced for max 10 cm. We build (Dutch system) cavity walls. 7,5 cm thick isolated and fireproof blocks, 5 cm air and 7,5 cm brick. All together 20 cm thickness. With the selfmade extension it fits and works well and still the mosquito protection inside is working well. 

We have a sliding window in the bathroom with mosquito screen for fresh air connected with the outside of the bathroom and also a ventilation connection with the bedroom itself above the glass door to be installed. Also the thick isolated ceiling with ceiling lights need to be installed. 

The shower boiler and hairdryer/shaving units are installed and working. Also the tap in the shower to separately have the possibility to wash your feet is installed now as well as the washbasin. 

In between we had to buy isolation for the pyramid roof. Strange to see here it's called "Stay Cool", where we, in my country of origin The Netherlands, use it to stay warm ;). We alto bought and transported the ceiling planks.

Last week we also had to go for our yearly truck check in relation to road tax and insurance. It worked out, again, the Kia truck had problems. The back breaks were not working at all anymore so very dangerous to only drive with the front breaks. We immediately went to the garage and they discovered also the front breaks were not totally right working anymore. So, at the moment, the truck is already five days in repair again. We hope next week we will have it back. All 'unforseen' costs. It's the way it is. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com