Concrete foundation second pyramid guestroom poured

It was a very hot and busy week. 

Yesterday we managed to pour the concrete foundation for the second pyramid guestroom. After this job was done we were totally broken working in the sun with 39 degrees C. We consumed many liters of water, special sports drink from the pharmacy and juice against dehydration. 

Four days ago we rented the formwork and started to place it. Easier said than done. The laser in the evening was of great help as well as the other spirit level instruments we used. The soil is very, very hard and several times we needed a jackhammer to break the soil to place the formwork. Two days we started at 6 AM to do the work and one day we worked till 10 PM. At a certain moment we decided to fill parts of the plot with water for the night to make the land more soft. That worked out to be a great solution.

Together we placed the formwork, did the spirit leveling, cut and places the wire mesh (two layers with a distance in between of around 15 cm) and rebar. This time we choose 3 x diameter 10 mm instead of two times 12 mm diameter. Much easier to bend and the same effect in strength. We did the concrete braiding and so on. Phatsamon seems to be more used to the high temperatures than I and indeed, although exercising every day for one hour, twenty years of age difference start to show itself ;)..

We got from the concrete firm (KPS in Surin) this time truck 63. A more than great, experienced, calm and clever driver and operator that helped us a lot. What a difference operators can bring. We can talk about this now after 6 trucks of concrete with five different drivers (so far). 

After the concrete work we took a shower and a short nap. 

This morning we took the formwork off to return to the rental company.  

G4 Q-Con blocks as well as prestressed hollow core floor slabs are ordered. In the mean time we can work on the first structure again and have to cure the fresh poured concrete for about one week with water and sun protection because of the extreme high temperatures.  

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Happy to have no pressure of time

You can make plans and try to organize but, especially in Thailand, you need to be resilient. Things many times work out different than you think. 

Different than expected we needed to wait nearly two weeks longer for the excavator to come. We are not the only ones that are building. 
Monday March 8 the example of the glass rooftop should have been made but still did not arrive yet. 
Saturday March 6, on our way back home with the Kia truck, we smelled plastic burning and smoke leaving the engine compartment. Luckily on time not to have the truck on fire. This time it worked out the engine cooling fan cover dropped down on the fan and both started to melt and burn. It took till yesterday to wait for spare parts that needed to come from Malaysia. This evening everything was fixed again but for two weeks we could not pick up construction materials we already ordered. 

In the mean time we went on with the outside metal stud walls. We installed the Siemens switchboard and the first electricity pipes and wires. We worked on the 'flat' roof edging and the 'rainproof' connection between the metal stud walls and rooftiles. We also started the first brick laying (actually gluing) just to find a right way of dealing with that. 

Two days working with the excellent operator of the excavator brought us the second construction area for the second guest pyramid to build exactly the same height (spirit leveling with our Bosch materials again), the septic tank, sewage system and soak away field with gravel and cover cloth for the first guest pyramid fixed, and main water and electricity line underground installed to the sub control station. Also the basic soil replenishment around the first room is finished and the concrete cover of the septic tank. 

Temperatures during the day now are between 35 and 40 degrees C. Inviting us to take more breaks, drink a lot and slow down a bit. Although very hot, Kadhow is there to keep an eye on what's going on and if necessary to guard. 

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Very hot, so slow progress. Preparations second guest room starts

 'Winter' is over. Temperatures during the day are around 38 degrees C. We need to slow down a bit and we do.

We finished the metal stud profiles and the 'Shera Splendid Cement Planks' are waiting to be installed. Block laying of the bathroom is on its way. Preparation of the sewage system as well. Tiling the roof is finished so the rooftop can be made. Monday a model of the glass rooftop will arrive.

Water and electricity main lines are prepared.

Next week we expect the excavator again and, a couple of days ago in the evening (because of working with the laser) we did the surveying of the second guest room for it. The digging machine maybe needs two days work to refill around the first room, prepare the place for the sprit house and dig the site for the second pyramid.  

Frans Captijn

email:   pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com