Looking at houses from readers (25)
It was Christmas 2010 that we decided to build a third house within our compound. Until then, we were rarely in Udon Thani and when we were there for a few days, we had our own room in the house, which was mostly occupied by my parents-in-law.
On Christmas Day I made the rough sketches with a cousin who is also a contractor while enjoying a good glass: two floors, downstairs mainly a “home office” for me, upstairs a spacious bedroom, bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
On New Year's Day, the first set of construction drawings was on our garden table. Had another good glass, made some adjustments and finished the construction price at THB 680.000. That includes all installation work, but excludes the luxury finish. The first ceremonial pile went into the ground two weeks later, and while I went back to work elsewhere in Asia, my wife supervised the construction minute by minute for 5 months.
Later, about THB 300.000 was added for a custom-made book wall, behind which sliding doors to the toilet and storage space have been concealed; luxury toilet downstairs and bathroom upstairs (with slate floor), solid wooden parquet and a wardrobe / dressing room with storage space on 3 walls and professional (Daikin) air conditioners.
My wife shares the kitchen with the rest of the Thai family and I have made a nice covered barbecue area between two houses. That cost another THB 7.000 (and a multiple for the custom barbecue).
With covered terraces on both the ground floor and first floor, we live a lot outside, so that the 64 square meters of indoor space is just right for two people. Mom and Dad live comfortably in the first house we built in 2006 and one of our sisters lives in the third house. Everyone respects each other's private lives, enjoys each other and shares joys and sorrows: three generations in a large garden.
Submitted by Paul
Dear reader, have you also had a house built in Thailand? Send a photo with some information and the costs to [email protected] and we post it.
There is a lot of life warmth in your story. I regularly read don't get too close to the family, they eat your fridge empty and if you're totally ripped you can screw up. With you, the opposite is the case, so it can be. Unfortunately I have different experiences myself, but well let's just say life is rich in contrast.
Your description of the situation is a reality experience of using the space you have and excluding unnecessary interior space. You often see the opposite, castles of houses, with a lot of unused interior space, while around the house, there are plenty of opportunities in this climate to transform that space into living pleasure at low cost. A good example in your story is your barbecue area. Finally, I see a lot of space around your house with plants and flowers and fantastic light, seems like a wonderful place for a drink or beer before dinner and to talk through the day and come together.
Lots of living pleasure for many years to come.
A story with a lot of warmth indeed.
Beautiful house with a beautiful decor.
You will not find the stories where the farang has been cheated on many sites.
No one is going to hang out their dirty laundry anytime soon.
The only information about less favorable things is from other Farangs who live there or have been there often
Incidentally, in my opinion it would be good to make a section where mention can be made of the pitfalls and also to mention the unpleasant things and how to possibly avoid them.
One of the problems for the Farang is that there is a great diversity in the Thai population, which we can recognize in the Netherlands, but difficult in Thailand.
From extremely neat and well-educated to completely unhinged families where alcoholism, drugs, gambling are commonplace.
Finally someone who lives in Thailand and doesn't impose Western standards, nice result, Luc
Beautiful house, and also yard living with family
No problem with us either, just what you agree on.
For making a closet I think 0 too much
And I think the upstairs balcony is almost never used, with so much beautiful outdoor space
lots of living fun
Gr Pete
Look dear Paul,
If you can do business with your cousin, it will of course be done in Dutch. Then you can make clear agreements without confusion. And if there are problems, you can talk to your cousin about it because we as Dutch people don't feel that as a loss of face, but we know what we have in common!!
Lots of family and living pleasure
I've always been a construction worker myself, but when I see the scaffolding it sends shivers down my body.
Hopefully no one was injured, but the house looks very good.
Have fun and happiness in your home.
Greetings
Get used to it.
If you were to apply the Dutch Working Conditions Act in Thailand, the vast majority of contractors would immediately go bankrupt because of the fines imposed.
Just for fun, you should visit some construction sites and count how many violations of the Working Conditions Act are committed. The mere fact that you can walk onto the construction site in this way is already a violation.
Nice series by the way, this “Viewing the House”.
I do ask the entrants to describe in detail the considerations made for design and choice of materials.
Dear Paul,
Very nice house and especially with regard to all the glass that keeps some space and heat or cold out.
I noticed that the roof at the bottom of your beautiful barbecue is not yet closed.
A nice tip I got from my wife's sister who has a Danish husband.
Of course you can make it as expensive as you want with wood or metal, but she told us;
just take drywall with metal strips that you also use with a lowered ceiling.
Adjust these strips and secure with metal screws.
We did this and it looks good, is paintable and much cheaper than other solutions.
If anyone has an even cheaper or smarter idea, I'd love to hear it.
I am also very glad that you wanted to share it.
With friendly living,
Erwin
I do indeed have a smarter idea for that roof, leave it like that!!
hans