Advice on building materials; bricks, tiles etc

[hhfarang]

^ Agreed, a lot of information is a good thing to have but with all the "experts" here, it's easy to get more confused by conflicting views of what is best.

I'm certainly not sure, but it seems to me that a Thai builder would know how to build a house in this climate better than a European builder, but that's only from my experience. I started with a European builder, had to fire him 60% into the job and finish with Thai subcontractors who knew the best way to build in this environment... actually had to rip out a lot of what the European builder did and do it over.... no offense to any builders here but I'm just sayin'... building here is not the same as building in England...

[poosmate]

European house builder? Not in Thailand. Developer maybe who uses Thai builders. I have never seen or heard anyone trying or even discussing building a European house here.
Thai builders in general yes know how to build a house. The majority however have not progressed for several years. They usually lack the ability to finish to a Westerner's required standard . Knowledge of new technology including insulation, paint finishes and even safe electrical wiring and drainage is very limited or non existent.
The guidance of an educated manager who is usually Western is proven to ensure Thai standards are improved to ensure the safety and comfort of western clients. If the standards are are applied correctly.
There is a difference between trying to build a European house and trying to include relevant aspects of building already tried in The West and applying them here.
As for 'experts'. Anyone can now easily form an opinion sometimes gained from experienced professionals on many subjects thanks to the internet. This does not make experts but does encourage discussion which can hopefully lead to no one else being left with poor quality Thai standards or bad management of any nationality.

[buksida]

Also been looking into this so for the OP I'll post a few resources:

http://www.cpacrooftile.com/
http://www.superblockthailand.com/index1.html
http://www.qcon.co.th/products/property_e2.php?id=e201
http://www.coolthaihouse.com/

Tip: Not buying your materials in Hua Hin will save you a tidy sum if you need a lot, say ... for a house.

[hhfarang]

Not buying your materials in Hua Hin will save you a tidy sum if you need a lot, say ... for a house.

That's the best advice yet Buksida! We bought most of our own materials and shopped around. We saved hundreds of thousands by getting them in Tha Yang, Petchaburi, Pranburi, and even a lot of stuff in Samut Songkhram and Bangkok. We used a lot of 60 x 60cm marble and granite tiles and the savings from that alone in getting it in Petchaburi was around 30% as compared to Hua Hin.

[Terry]

101%

[crazy88]

Done your shopping well there HHF. Cha Am is pretty good also if you know where to go, also Puttamonthon or however you spell it. A couple of places in HH will match the prices if you have done your homework and put them on the spot with pricing.

Crazy 88

[miked]

fft100 wrote
What i was think of was using a block and brick ( or 2 bricks) combination with a 5cm gap. In that 5cm gap i would place foil.

you have the right idea but that 5cm cavity must not be filled. you have to vent it or condensation will build up and this will turn to mould and appear on the outside and interior walls of your house. also by venting the cavity you will stop the inside brick heating up and in turn turning the house into a greenhouse.
we are venting the cavity into the roof area, this in turn will vent out through the roof vents. we are also installing extractor fans in the roof area to assist ventilation on very hot days.
if you look at the picture of the blocks that spitlid posted you will see what i mean. the air will be trapped inside the blocks. the blocks are of very poor quality ( 10 baht what can you expect ) the solid area of the block is so thin that the heat will pass straight through it. as i said the added problem is of condensation.building up and turning to mould.
if your interested in having a look we are about 4 weeks away from having the brickwork finished. don't post on here, send me a pm. you will be more than welcome to come and have a look.
don,t take to much notice from the so called " master builders" on this forum who imo are building sub standard, damp greenhouses.
i am keeping a photographic record of the complete build process and you are also welcome to have a look and see the standard that we are setting.
miked

[splitlid]

welcome back miked.

could you explain this condensation thingy in more detail please.
how and why is it forming in the cavity?

[poosmate]

i am keeping a photographic record of the complete build process

Why not show us some? I am genuinely interested in the standard you are claiming to be setting.

[miked]

splitlid
search the internet. so much information. why do you think in the U.K. the cavity has to be vented. ??? surely you are aware of this. ??? do you understand why you ventilate. ???
miked

[miked]

poosmate
because i will be ridiculed for building to a high standard by forum members who imo don't understand the building process in Thailand.
miked

[poosmate]

What is there to ridicule if your standards are as high as you claim?
I would have thought you would be proud to demonstrate how you have improved the way houses are constructed in Thailand.
If there is any ridicule it surely must come from you towards the poor quality that you are putting to shame.
Why be afraid of criticism and constructive debate?

[splitlid]

splitlid
search the internet. so much information. why do you think in the U.K. the cavity has to be vented. ??? surely you are aware of this. ??? do you understand why you ventilate. ???
miked

uk eh?

so where it has months of cold, damp weather, with heaters on constantly.

you do know how condensation works?
cos i just googled it and i think im right on to it.

[miked]

this is the way to build. more pictures will be posted.
please note.
base of post 120 x120 cm. re bar 16mm

re bar in post 6 x 16mm. post size 25cm x 25 cm

footings dug 2.5 meters deep 1.5 meters square.

total concrete per footing 2.25 square meters.

total concrete for 15 posts = 33.75 square meters.

SJ and spitlid. look and learn.
miked

[miked]

http://www.ausinspect.com.au/ventilation.htm

spitlid,
not quite sure what your " right on to"
perhaps you should follow the above link. i can only think of two reasons for your choice of block.
1 price. 10 baht a block.
2 it looks like an expensive wall when finished because of the size. wonder why developers have a poor reputation.
miked