Project: Phen - 3 Bedroom home No.1
Posted By Alec on November 29, 2011
We have now poured the floor slab of this project in Phen, and are now on to the brick work for the walls and also preparing the roof frame. Roof tiles should be arriving on site in the next few days, by which time the roof frame will be nearly complete. Walls should also be complete and ready for rendering in a few days.
Project: Phen - 3 Bedroom home No.1
Posted By Alec on November 26, 2011
We are now into the construction phase of this project in Phen. Our clients originally contacted us with an interest in another project that they had seen on our blog, the 2 bedroom home in Fao Rai. However, they wanted to adapt it to suit their needs. We worked with them to modify the design a little to give a three bedroom layout amongst some other minor changes. Work began on construction at the end of October and we have now completed the structural framework and cast the floor slab. We will now begin work on the roof structure and walls.
Project: Nong Wua So - 3 Bedroom Home
Posted By Alec on November 26, 2011
The last time I posted about this project, we had just poured the footings, as I recall. Since then we have completed all of the rest of the concrete structural framework and installed the precast slabs for the first floor and poured the concrete floor topping. I am sorry to report, however, that since this point we have been experiencing some unforeseen delays and our schedule has slipped somewhat. Among the issues that we have faced are the following. This house was to use the same thermally insulating building blocks that we have used on a number of our other projects. However, the factory where they are made has been affected by the extensive flooding that there has been in Thailand and in fact has been forced to close. The impact of this on the project was that we were unable to source enough blocks for the build. In fact, we only had enough to complete most of the ground floor walls. We have since agreed with the client that we shall use conventional bricks for the second floor, though in a double layer with a cavity in the middle for improved insulation. Roof tiles that were supposed to have been delivered some time ago have also been delayed as a result of the flooding, however, they will at least be arriving shortly. We have also been delayed in completing the second floor pre-cast slab and topping layer due to a supplier issue and them not having the correct pre-cast slabs prepared. We will, however, be taking delivery of the correct slabs in the next couple of days. Our specialist roofing team will be arriving on site in Monday to complete the roof frame and tiling.
Project: Modern Style 2 Bedroom 1 Storey Home (Nong Kom Ko)
Posted By Alec on November 26, 2011
Some time ago we complete our work on this modern two bedroom home. As mentioned in my previous posts about this project, we were only contracted to carry out the main building construction, painting and bathroom tiling and fitting. Tiling of the rest of the house, all carpentry and window fitting etc… was to be carried by another contractor to the client. As such, despite our work being completed, the house still looks rather unfinished in the pictures. I shall, however, try to post some pictures of the fully finished home, with the owners permission.
Project: Phen - 3 Bedroom Home No.2
Posted By Alec on November 26, 2011
We have completed the design and engineering phase for a new three bedroom home in Phen, which is about half way between Nong Khai and Udon Thani. This is one of two such projects in Phen, though with this project, the precise location has not yet been finalised as there the client is still considering a number of options for the plot on which to build. As such, the design may well be subject to slight modification in order to fit properly into its setting.
Project: Ban Lao - 4 Bedroom Home
Posted By Alec on November 26, 2011
We have recently complete the design and engineering of a large four bedroom single storey home that is now under construction in Ban Lao, just out side Nong Khai. The client is self building his new home with his own team and so for this project our involvement in construction will purely be in an advisory role when necessary. I shall, however, try to add some pictures of the project with the owners permission and construction progresses.
Project: Laos Condominium
Posted By Alec on September 11, 2011
We have completed an initial architectural concept for a 7 storey condominium to be built in Vientiane, Laos. The ground floor will consist of a reception, a small shop, gym and parking. There will then be five floors of accommodation units of various sizes with either one, two or three bedrooms. The top floor will house services. The general appearance and style of the exterior has been agreed with our client, but we are now working on refining the interior layouts a little, which will inevitably lead to minor alterations to the exterior, in terms of window positioning and such like.
Project: Amoon on the Mekong
Posted By Alec on September 10, 2011
We have completed the basic concrete frame for the garage and are soon to begin adding the steel roof frame structure.
We have been somewhat at the mercy of the weather, and pile driving has been on hold for a number of days. Fortunately, with such a big project, there a a lot of jobs that can be done in parallel to the pile driving, so ultimately our schedule should not be adversely affected. Currently, we are preparing the hug he number of steel reinforcement cages that are required for the footings, columns and beams. We are also fortunate that the site is so large and we are not short of space to store these cages. One potential issue of stop piling these components is the oxidation (rust) that can occur if they are exposed to the elements for prolonged periods. The steel re-bar has already been sprayed with light oil once on leaving the foundry. However, through handling from foundry to stock holder to site, and then then cutting and forming it into the cages, some of this oil has inevitably worn off, exposing it to the risk of rusting. To prevent this, once complete, the cages are sprayed with light oil.
Another task on this site was to reposition the main access point into the site. First we had to obtain the necessary permission from the local government department, as there is a government owned strip of land between the plot and the road. Once approved, we installed the necessary drain pipe, as required, and have built up the new road way. We shall allow this to settle for several months before applying the finished road surface, using the existing access in the mean time.
Project: Amoon on the Mekong
Posted By Alec on September 2, 2011
After a delay due to extremely heavy rain and bad weather, pile driving has now recommenced and is going very well. In fact, despite the delay, we are still on target to complete all pile driving on schedule. There are many issues that can be encountered during pile driving, from hitting impenetrable ground and fractured piles, to simply slow progress due to ground conditions. However, in this case, we have not encountered any such issues.
While pile driving is underway on the main house on the elevated section of land, we have also been busy constructing the separate garage unit on the lower lying land. We have already constructed footings and grade beam and are now preparing the reinforcement structure ready to pour the concrete floor. As the floor will be taking a relatively high load, we are not using pre-cast slabs, but have back filled with sand and will be casting a heavily reinforced slab in place. In casting directly onto sand, it is important to ensure that the underlying layer is adequately compacted. If not compacted this layer of floor support may settle over time and ‘sink away’ from beneath the floor. This may then lead to cracks and other structural weaknesses in the floor slab. With the garage, we used a mechanical compactor on the supporting sand to minimize problems in the future.
Project: Modern 2 Bedroom 2 Storey Home (Thip Thani)
Posted By Alec on August 19, 2011
The plot on which our latest modern two storey home is to be built, in Thip Thani, had an existing concrete framework which needed to be removed. The structure was basically a complete concrete column and beam framework for a 2 storey home, up to roof level. This had stood unfinished for at least 5 years. In theory, this framework could have been filled in with brick walls, a roof added and then all of the finishing work carried out to give a complete home. The problem would first have been that one would be limited on the layout of the house to that already defined by the column and beam positioned. The second more serious problem, is that the internal structure of the columns and beams is a complete un-known. What size re-bar has been used? How deep are the footings? What strength concrete mix has been used? It is for this reason, that I personally would never undertake such a project and why all of this existing structure had to be removed. In actual fact, I would say that it quickly became clear that this was the right decision. The footings were clearly too shallow and too small and the re-bar used was totally unacceptable. Re-bar is the steel that puts the ‘re-enforced’ into ‘re-enforced concrete’. The steel re-bar used to make the cages that provide reinforcement to the columns and beams should look like that in the second picture below – a round steel bar with an almost screw like, or gnarled appearance. These gnarls provide grip to the steel bars within the concrete, binding the steel and concrete together firmly. The contractors we used to demolish the old structure were also extracting all of the metal re-bar from the concrete for recycling. This gave us a good opportunity to inspect the re-bar used. We found that ALL of the rebar used was not what we expected, but rather a completely smooth round section, as shown in the third photo. Using this type of steel significantly reduces the integrity of the structure and has only been used here in an attempt to cut corners and save money by the original builder. In addition to this, the diameter of the steel bar was also smaller than one would expect. With the evidence from the re-bar and footings, I would also not be surprised to find that the concrete used was also of a cheaper, lower strength.
Construction of the new home is to begin in around a months time, though a firm date has not yet been set.
Project: Amoon on the Mekong
Posted By Alec on August 15, 2011
We have built up a temporary access ramp up to the raised area of land on which the house will be built. This is to provide access for the piling crane and other heavy machinery.
Project: LiveInn Nong Khai
Posted By Alec on July 26, 2011
We have completed the interior design concept for the hotel reception and are still working on the coffee shop, main restaurant and the standard rooms and suites.
Project: Modern Style 2 Bedroom 1 Storey Home (Nong Kom Ko)
Posted By Alec on July 18, 2011
We have now almost finished the interior and exterior rendering of our project in Nong Kom Ko. The next step will be to begin installing the suspended gypsum ceiling and the bathroom tiling and fitting. As I mentioned in a previous post, tiling in the rest of the house and carpentry work will be carried out by third party contractors.
Project: Modern Style 2 Bedroom 1 Storey Home (Nong Kom Ko)
Posted By Alec on June 15, 2011
The roof is now on and some of the architectural features in the roof area have also been cast in concrete. We are a couple of days away from finishing all of the block work and installing the windows. After the block work is complete and the walls have been rendered we will then begin adding the the remaining architectural detailing.
With this project, the terms of the contract we such that we would be carrying out all works except the carpentry work and tiling, which will be carried out by a friend of the owner. (We will, however be tiling the bathrooms to facilitate installation of bathroom fittings.) As such, the beautiful wooden window and door frames have been supplied to us for installation and we can not take credit for the excellent craftsmanship of them in this case!
Project: Modern 2 Bedroom 2 Storey Home (Thip Thani)
Posted By Alec on May 22, 2011
We have just begun work on the design for a modern style 2 bedroom 2 storey home, with construction set to begin some time in July. More details to follow as the design develops.
Project: Modern Style 2 Bedroom 1 Storey Home (Nong Kom Ko)
Posted By Alec on May 5, 2011
This morning, the site received its official ‘blessing’ in a traditional Buddhist ceremony, so construction can begin. We have now begun pouring the footings and setting the steel column reinforcement structures in place. Meanwhile, some staff are also preparing the steel beam reinforcement structures. Ready for installation over the coming days.
Project: Modern Style 2 Bedroom 1 Storey Home (Nong Kom Ko)
Posted By Alec on April 27, 2011
In January I posted images of a concept for a modern style two bedroom home. Since then, we have worked with the client to develop this concept into a final design and a full set of engineering drawings. Planning permission has now been granted and today we began clearing the plot of land and marking it out for construction. The lucky Buddhist day for the first columns to be erected is 4th May. Between now and then we shall be digging the footings and preparing all of the column reinforcement structures.
Project: Thip Thani - 4 Bedroom Home
Posted By Alec on April 26, 2011
Today we completed the initial concrete structural framework of our latest project in Thip Thani, and began work on the steel roof structure. We are now awaiting delivery of the precast concrete floor slabs, and will begin the block work.
Project: Other Projects
Posted By Alec on April 25, 2011
We recently completed the design of a low cost 2 bedroom house in a 1.5 storey configuration for a customer who has his own construction team ready to build for him. He came with a basic idea of the style of home he wanted and we developed this into a floor plan and exterior in keeping with this style.
Project: Fao Rai - 2 Bedroom Home
Posted By Alec on April 25, 2011
It has been a busy month, hence the lack of updates on the blog! We have all but completed our project in Fao Rai. All that remains is a little bit of finishing to the wood work. The following pictures were taken about a week ago before clearing the site. I shall post a full video of the interior & exterior in about a week.
