kamalabob2

You might also look into what exact documents you need for the "permit to build". You might be missing one of the documents and they might be blocking you on that basis. The actual owner of the land does play a role in the issue of the "permit to build", even if the person who owns the land is not the person who is named on the "permit to build". Google can help you on what exact documents you need. There is a newspaper in Phuket where the Government officials answer Farang questions with exact requirements so Farang can have a "permit to build". If the house is of a certain height then a Thai licensed engineer must sign each page of the building plans, etc.. Proof of where you live, such as a yellow house book or embassy statement or Thai Immigration statement, of the person's PRESENT address in Thailand was a requirement i our community. Not the address of the house building site.

You might consider having it put in writing in your contract how many days the wooden forms stay on the horizontal beams of concrete and rebar steel and how many days the wooden forms stay on the vertical columns. 21 days or 28 days depending where you look on the web and what experienced Farang contractors you speak with. Be clear in your contract on how long they wait to paint your walls after they have finished rendering the walls. Does your building contractor own steel scaffolding with wheels or is that your responsibility. You might consider in advance who is responsible for the materials and labor to cover floor tiles, etc.. when they go to sand, fill in, primer and paint. Be on guard for the builder switching out 3/4" pipes with 1/2" pipes. You might consider the slightly (nominal difference, and a one time pittance of a cost) more expensive 20mm water meter and 3/4" water pipes for your home. The more you can get agreed to and in writing in advance will save disputes later in the process. "Normal Building Practices" or "according to local building standards" is not the phrase I would ever want to see in another house building contract. Best of luck in your noble pursuit in building your own home. There is a real sense of accomplishment when it is finally finished.

Top grade thicker stainless steel water tanks are available perhaps at a lower cost with free delivery and the option for professional installation from the "Go To Pump Shop" in your Province. Every Thailand Province has one or two "Water Pump shops" that do a serious business in sales and installation of water pumps, booster pumps, water filter systems and water storage tanks for for Municipal Buildings, Universities, multi story apartment buildings, student dormitories, and Hospitals large and small. In Buriram at the shop I bought and had installed seven 2000 liter water storage tanks from Diamond Brand Sandstone LLDPE tanks, the current everyday price for the 18-8 top grade Red Advanced Stainless Steel Water Tank is:

5000L 32500.-

The above prices should be easy to match in any province in Thailand. The above prices include free local delivery on a proper truck in Buriram from Buriram Builders Merchants Ruangsangthai Hardware which is located five minutes from the Buriram Ekachon Private Hospital on Highway 2074.

The photo attached is NOT from Ruangsangthai Hardware Store. The photo is a large village built rain water tank very near the Kap Choeng Thailand Immigration Office.

To the OP: Members of this forum have taken the time to post real warnings if you wish to go in a direction not often found in Thailand. Posts 15, 17 and 20 are worth reading again. You might see your concept and exotic materials at the annual Architect Expo. It is held this year April 29 through May 4th at Impact Challenger Hall. You can sign up on line for free admission. It does not appear to have as many vendors this year as five years ago, but it is worthwhile to attend for those in the area who want interesting ideas for a new home. A room where you can read or watch your choice of TV without hearing Thai Soap Operas is one worth considering when you meet with your Thai architect.

http://www.architectexpo.com/

SantiSuk: The current price in Buriram at Ruangsangthai Hardware for Hydrochloric Acid 30% of Acid.

Korat has several qualified, licensed electrical contractors for such a simple electrical installation. That same electrical contractor will do serious plans, have all proof of licenses and a complete parts list to submit to the PEA on your behalf. Everything will be listed on the electrical plan, and for good reason. Often the owner of the better electrical contractors will be former PEA high ranking employees, they know all the players, they do not pay bribes and they have trucks that look identical to PEA utility service trucks, just with a different door logo. They may in fact offer better after the sales service and a strong written warranty on the equipment they sell you. You still will pay a legit connection fee to the PEA and one day the PEA crew will connect to the cables up on the poles that you bought, that your private electrical contractor installed from your property. The METER and the TRANSFORMER can be on your property, behind your fence. Once a month they ring your gate bell to come on to your property to open your meter box to take an accurate reading. The PEA service can be 100% in a farang name if you have a permit to build in your name. Remember to save the actual piece of paper with the refundable deposit figure, as some day you might want to get that deposit returned. Crossy and Naam are doing you a huge service to steer you AWAY from other types of electrical generation. If you drive around Korat you will note the orange utility trucks working on factory, shopping center, housing estate new construction that are doing the actual electrical supply cables. The same electrical contractor that does electrical SERVICE to your home, may not be the same firm you would hire for actual electrical work inside your home.

I believe that Tomster is on the right course. Years ago I found a Buriram Water Pump Shop that does a serious business in Swimming Pool Chemicals for the treatment of water in private swimming pools and village water treatment systems. Deep discount prices, not marked up swimming pool shop prices. Free delivery in Buriram province. I am of the belief that if you google the name of your province and the words swimming pool supplies or swimming pool chemicals you will see which local high volume water pump shops sell such items. Similar discounts to buying salt from the pool company or from the salt company outlet near Phi Mai. Certainly the chemical compound names are in English on the bags and barrels of the swimming pool supplies I order.

Any evening Doctor clinic in Surin will gladly furnish the medical certificate for a drivers license. ANY. There may be a 30 day validity of the certificate as far as the Land Transportation is concerned. Cost will be 30 baht to 100 baht. No need to go to a hospital. It is a standard form, and quite often the Doctor or his office staff will look at your passport to fill in the information they need. They MIGHT put a stethoscope to your chest, they might ask how you feel. It can take as short as two minutes or as long as five minutes. If you apply for BOTH your motorbike and your auto license at the same time, you need only ONE Medical certificate. Be sure you have at least one year left on your passport. The Australian Embassy will charge you a significant sum more than the local Thai Immigration office. They are very clear at both offices on what the form is for. To Obtain a driver license. Good luck

If you do a google images search and print out the photo(s) it may help you at that office. It has proven helpful for me to do similar google searches for products prior to going into a store. This search immediately pulled up the Yellow House Book:

thailand yellow tabien baan

I've never brought my wife into a Thai Immigration office. Ever. She has nothing to do with my immigration status. For other aliens who have a different Visa, that might be a different experience. My first yellow house book was for a village address. I obtained my first yellow house book (100% free) in a town a few villages away, where people from that village do some of the Government procedures. NOT the town where they pay land tax. Not the different town where they pay the annual license to sell alcohol or tobacco. Not the different town where they obtain a drivers license or register vehicles. Not the different town where they get a passport. But it was the same town they obtain a Thai Government I.D. and even the same office they can register a prenuptial agreement, pay for a marriage license or register a divorce.

There are many procedures in Thailand where an alien must show proof of residence. You can drive to and pay Thai Immigration, you might have some luck at your local police department, you certainly will be served for a fee by your embassy or consulate, OR you can save all that time and expense by showing your free Yellow House book. Or your blue house book if you qualify for such. It is NOT mandatory to have any such book, but it is mandatory often to PROVE your place of residence. How much time, money and inconvenience you wish to obtain a time sensitive document to prove your place of residence is "Up to You".

The 13 digit number on the yellow house book is also the 13 digit number on my "Health Card for Foreigner", obtained in yet another town where people from that village go for medical treatment. If you move from one village to another village or a town, it is free and a SIMPLE process to obtain the new yellow house book showing your actual new "Place of Residence".

In reply to "Somo", I do not think the yellow house book is in any way mandatory for "Visa Purposes", yet it has proven to stop the puzzled looks on more than one Thai Immigration Officers face when looking at my annual Visa application form. It just appears reassuring to them and they process my paperwork in a timely manner. I never have allowed them to chit chat with my wife and "complicate" things as she as opted to skip those trips to the Thai Immigration office.

That blue book will save you countless trips and more than a few baht, when you need to prove your place of residence. I've had two yellow books, and in fact that yellow book came in handy when I recently obtained the Health Card for Foreigner at a local hospital. It just makes things easier for a Thai person to read since the information is in the language they are the most comfortable reading. Even Thai Immigration was confused as to my address written in English, but I showed them a copy of my yellow house book and they quickly understood my place of residence. Blue or Yellow, it will save you time, money and effort when dealing with all manner of Thai Government employees. Ownership of the house might be better established via the "Permit to Build" and backed up with invoices or bank transfers to contractors. The blue or yellow house book and permit to build document made utilities in my name a breeze.

Most every province has a genuine water pump specialist shop that does high volume water pump installations and repairs. Google might help the OP. The same water pump shop that installs and repairs water pumps at government buildings, hospitals, sports stadiums, hotels will be worth consideration. I've had a water pump shop from Buriram come to our small town for the design, installation and repairs, both during the warranty period and after the warranty period on 4 water pumps. Welding the tank is possible and inexpensive on a Mitsubishi Water pump. Hitachi and Mitsubishi genuine water pump tanks and parts are readily available to the larger independent dealers who stock and repair hundreds of water pumps. Parts for those two brands of water pumps from a water pump specialist will not be high. You can tell you are at the "water pump specialist" of your province if they offer a Free loaner water pump, if they have to take your water pump from your home back to the shop for repairs. The Thai business owners, hospitals, etc.. would not accept otherwise. It's been my observation that even "Bangkok Building Contractors" who land the contract to build a huge new hotel, sports stadium, multiple story Government Building or larger hospital building in Buriram province will sub out the actual water pump purchase and installation contract to a Buriram water pump shop that has the staff with the proper training to install the pumps and maintain the pumps properly for the general contractor. Pattaya must have that sort of family owned water pump shop that will best serve the OP.

You might get "real" answers if you go meet in person with the owner of a popular high volume local, not chain, air condition shop in your community. They can send out experienced trained installers to look at your specific situation and then you can go in person back to the shop and sit down with the owner. The owner of that shop can show you the brochures of the brands, and specific models he thinks will accomplish your cooling goals. The salesman at some stores might be working on commission for a hot water heater or sanitary ware fixture company next month. The brochures all have enough English for you to see electrical consumption and db noise levels. The length of the tubing, the size of your electrical breakers, the place where the water drains, all manner of considerations a real PRO in the field, who has done air conditioning for many years can help you consider. The local high volume air condition shop can generally offer lower total installed prices, since that same sort of shop will be the shop that does significant business with Government Buildings, Hospitals, etc.. In Buriram Province, two family owned air conditioning shops do the lions share of such Hospital and Government buildings contracts. I take note of what a/c shop staff are performing repairs and upkeep on the a/c units at the large Buriram Government Hospital. The owner of Buriram Supply on Thani Road set me straight on why I should blow off any fantasy of ceiling mounted a/c vents. "What could possibly go wrong" during the installation, normal use, or a repair of such piping? Not to mention the over the top pricing of such ceiling units.

I've owned two Amena air conditioners since 2005. I also own Samsung, LG, Mitsubishi, Daikin and Panasonic air conditioners since 2008. I see and hear the difference in the "grade level" or "series" of each brand. I regret buying a bottom series LG unit for a guest bedroom as it is plain noisy and seems flimsy when it gets cleaned. All the brands have brochures with enough English language specs to help you understand DB level and electrical usage. How long is the warranty from the manufacturer if you were the actual homeowner would be of great consideration. The Amena units I bought for a 2000 baht a month rental house worked fine, and we moved both units to a home we own in 2008 and both units still work fine. They are not as quiet as the newer more expensive Inverter units from Daikin or Panasonic, but much quieter than the lower end series LG. The DB level on the brochure will be a direct reflection of how well made that unit is in my observation.

I have experienced a "minor fire" due to NOT using NYY and NOT using proper HDPE conduit. For 3 front gate lights and a door bell. That yellow pvc filled with water, the copper wire (not NYY) corroded and it could have been real bad. The only part of our electric service NOT on the house electric plans, this gate lights and door bell wire was an "extra not on the original budget" item. Now we do have NYY for the lights, doorbell, and it is underground in proper HDPE black conduit. Home owners insurance covered the fire damage and destroyed electronics in the house, but if I was not home and heard the 299 baht surge protector explode into flames it could have been a different outcome. NYY and the proper black conduit is available at any "electric shop" and certainly Thai Watsadu or Global House.

You have not priced architect plans in rural Thailand. Not even near 30K. A fraction of that. In fact it could be plans from a "book". They do not need to be signed by an engineer if not of a certain height or size is my understanding. What is on the plan turned into the department that issues "permit to build" does not have to have any real bearing on what actually gets built. But you will have a "permit to build". A Thai licensed architect charges by size to design a custom home. Think about what middle class Thai people would pay. It will not be 30K in Isaan. But a proper plan done in Thai and English will make it easier for your foreman to follow. The signature at the planning Department will be less than 700 baht unless your house is real large. Do not leave yourself "open" to a shakedown from utilities or other officials if you do not have a permit to build. I've seen it time and again where people blew off the permit to build and it cost them significantly more for bribes and delays in the future. You do not need a drivers license, car insurance, car registration either in a village. Just pay a bribe if you get caught. OR you could insure the car, you could get a Thai drivers license, you could pay the road tax. Heck some Expats do not do a 90 day report, do not get an annual Visa, up to them.

If you spend the great sum to obtain the "permit to build" is will make things easier for utility connections is my experience. The name on the "permit to build" establishes ownership of the building. A signed permit to build can prove what size your house was in the event of a dispute with a home owners insurance company. You will get less delay in obtaining a "house number" once your house is complete if you have the "permit to build". What is "on the building plans" does not mean that will get built, but some sort of "plans" will make the whole process less stressful. Permit fees are the same Nationwide. Based on size and height. Less than the cost of a case of domestic premium beer for most one story houses, even some 2 story houses.

How is the fee for a building permit calculated? It seems that no one can explain the process. Can someone from a local administration organization (OrBorTor) or legal advisers explain it?

“The building permit document itself incurs a 20-baht fee and there are other fees for inspection, depending on what the building permit is for.

The inspection fee for a building of no more than two storeys or of a height up to 12 meters is 0.5 baht (50 satang) per square meter of the total building area, combining the areas of each storey if there are more than one.

For structures of two or three stories, or between 12 and 15 meters tall – the fee is 2 baht per square meter of total building area, combining the areas of each storey.

For structures of more than three stories or of heights over 15 meters, the fee is four baht per square meter of total building area, again combining the areas of each storey.

The fees I have given here are the inspection fees for new buildings only. There are different rates used for other aspects of building permits, such as in renovating a property, not building a new one.

These rates are listed in the building permit fee section in the Interior Ministry’s Ministerial Regulation Notice 7 issued in BE 2528 (1985), which updates the Building Control Act BE 2522 (1979).

A copy is available for download from the Thai Council of Engineers website at www. coe.or.th/co15law/act_control/building/L%2007.pdf

You can also visit Rawai Municipality for further information.”

Typo in my previous post correction: I have 2 million baht IN PATIENT coverage with BUPA Thailand. I do not have "out patient" coverage with BUPA.

The OP asked for info on "Global Based" health insurance, and I am NOT insured that way. However I am 59 and have been insured with BUPA Thailand through a competent bi-lingual licensed insurance broker for five years. Previously I was insured with another good Thai based HEALTH insurance company "Thai Health Insurance". I have the two million baht outpatient coverage. I'll take my chances with the restrictions imposed by BUPA. I paid 58,990 baht for an annual policy. I also paid 2800 baht for the laminated "Health Card for Foreigner" at my local Thailand Government Hospital. One was easy to apply for, the other took 5 simple visits to obtain the 2800 card. Both have "restrictions", but I feel I will have acceptable cards in my wallet should I need emergency admission to most any hospital in our area. I've been through the "pay after the visit, prior to departing the hospital" at a Private Hospital and then being re-imbursed in 7 days with a direct bank deposit by BUPA, for in patient treatment at a small private hospital not in the direct pay system of BUPA.

Buying travel insurance should I desire to travel to a cold USA will be easy. The same broker who sells health insurance for expats in Thailand, also sells travel insurance for inbound and for outbound travelers. The "affordable health care act' is not part of my concerns as I no longer reside in the USA. The OP can check the web sites for the terms and conditions of most any International Health Policy, as well as the BUPA and "Thai Health Insurance" web sites. Details in English for the "Healoth Card for Foreigner" have been covered in other postings on Thai Visa. Anytime I complain to myself about Health Insurance costs in Thailand I need only look at Blue Cross or Kaiser Health plans in the USA. The same Insurance Broker in Phuket, Eric Dohlon, also offers health insurance through reputable International Health insurance companies. He or most any licensed broker can e-mail policy coverage details, restrictions and premium costs to help you compare options.

You might check with an actual owner of those "portable units". They can be VERY noisy. You might also check around on a/c units with different shops. A properly installed quiet, energy efficient a/c unit will make life more comfortable, and might save you on the electric bill. If you deal with the right independent shop, you can obtain in writing the price to install and remove the a/c unit from a rental. In my observation, good a/c installers are worth the money and MOST landlords are cool when you move out and do some sort of wall patch. Some of the portable a/c units are SO LOUD you could hardly sleep in the same room or hardly watch TV in the same room.

Makita is the #1 best selling "premium" brand of power tools sold in Thailand. Maktec is the #1 "value brand" of power tools sold in Thailand. Maktec are only made inside Makita Manufacturing assembly plants including the new Makita Manufacturing Plant in Chonburi, Thailand. Makita Tools sold in Thailand are made in Japan, Thailand and China with a few from Europe. The Maktec Tools that I own are made in China, but have served my family well for years. Maktec and Makita have actual authorized service locations in every province in Thailand that stock genuine parts. My Thai relatives have had good luck with Maktec Tools. Makita started Maktec to sell in Asia, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe in 2002. Consumer Reports magazine has unbiased reviews of some power tools. I've seen prices can vary quite a bit on name brand power tools from store to store in Thailand.

There might not be any advantage to a larger pump for the O.P. other than a higher electrical bill each month. Certainly pays to shop around as some of the independent builders merchants have lower prices than larger National chains. Certainly was my personal experience with air conditioners, TV's and appliances in Buriram Province. It has been my observation and experience that a "pump shop" that offers professional installation, prompt repairs at your house or back at the local store is worth consideration. A Buriram water pump shop might not be the best place for a home owner in Chonburi, maybe not even in Korat, but I believe that in each province you will find the high volume water pump shop with an area and policy shown in this current photo at Ruangsangthai Hardware in Buriram.

6400 baht for the Mitsubishi EP-205QS INCLUDING testing the water pump out of the box at the store, prior to you taking the pump, or pump shop staff bringing the pump and doing a professional installation at your house in Buriram Province. Most any independent Mitsubishi Water Pump Dealer in Thailand could match that price. It is not on promotion this month, that is the normal selling price at Ruangsangthai in Buriram seven days a week. Any good water pump shop in Thailand could set up the water pump in their repair department and test to make sure it works perfect prior to taking the pump to your home, or prior to you taking the water pump with you from the water pump store. It has been my experience in Thailand to do business with stores that facilitate "testing" of most any electrical item prior to departing from the store. It is not just the DVD players or Garmin device that need to be tested prior to leaving a retail store in Thailand.

Everyday that Mitsubishi EP-205QS is less money in Buriram at Ruangsangthai Water Pump Shop than the price posted at Thai Watsadu or Homeworks. In my opinion the major differences when purchasing a water pump for a house in Buriram or any province in Thailand, would be exactly who is performing the installation, under what guarantee is the installation. What exact water pump repair team would come to your house to adjust or repair your Mitsubishi Water pump. Does the retailer actually have a repair staff at that store, do they maintain a stock of water pump spare parts, do they have actual repair teams with training, and will they at no charge install a "loaner water pump" in the event they had to take your water pump, even a deep well pump, from your home and back to the store for repairs. I am of the belief that most every Province in Thailand has independent water pump specialists who sell, maintain and repair the major brands of water pumps including Mitsubishi, Hitachi, and Grundfos Water pumps. Those independent Thailand water pump specialist shops generally have lower overhead, higher sales volume and lower prices to sell, install and repair water pumps than the major big box home centers. It is the same sort of water pump shop that the Thailand Highway Police would have install a water pump in their offices or the Thailand Election Commission would trust to install Grundfos water pumps in their three story offices in a new Buriram Province office. Those sort of customers, not to mention the Hospitals would be unforgiving of shoddy installations and incorrect water pump choices. Farang are not the only "fussy" customers. What water pump shop would the owner of a major Buriram professional soccer team trust to install and maintain his stadium water pumps or even his private residence water pumps. Every Province in Thailand has similar high profile customers which demand top notch quality workmanship and will not accept some "moon lighting" big box store clerk attempting water pump installations or water pump repairs on his day off. Those customers are not going to wait for water pump repairs from a Bangkok repair center.

It is a breeze to cancel one house book and get a new house book when you move. The "old house book" office makes some notations in the book as I recall and then I brought the "canceled?" yellow house book to the proper office in the new city. I had a "permit to build" my wife had land papers, we had a "house number" so it took less than twenty minutes to print out the new, current address house book. I'm recall the new amphur office kept the "canceled" yellow house book.

The free yellow house book issued by a small town outside of Buriram City, was part of the documents I used this month to obtain the "Health Card for Foreigner" at the large Buriram Public Hospital. Perhaps one does not need the yellow house book, but I was able to apply for the 2800 baht a year "Health Card for Foreigner" and there was no doubt about my address due to that Yellow House Book. My marriage certificate was not part of the Health card application, my wife was not present, and I do not speak or understand nearly as much Thai as I should. But having the original and copies of the yellow house book seems to "calm" uneasy Thai officials, as they can work from a Thai Government Document all printed in Thai, so they are not forced to read English. This is but one of the many uses I think went smoother due to having a yellow house book.