kamalabob2

I've seen one model of oil filled heaters at the Korat Global House. It was not a name brand, but Global House in my experience will honor the money back warranty if the product is defective for 30 days. The heater was under 3000 baht when I considered it at the Global House in Korat. A name brand appliance that is sold in Thailand is Delonghi. I had not seen if they stock or service the oil filled portable heaters in Thailand that De'Longhi sells at big box retailers in the United States and Canada.

I'm not sure what Province in Thailand or what type of retailer for the house water pump JimSiam was shopping, but prior to purchasing a Fujika FCP-250 he might wish to compare that model (and the REAL availability to spare parts, fit and finish of the build and fine print of the warranty) to a Mitsubishi Electric

It can NOT be unique to Buriram Province where the high volume "Water Pump Specialist Store" will not only give a genuine discount to list prices, but will provide trained actual store staff working under the guarantee of the store, (NOT a sales guy "moonlighting on the side on his day off with minimal tools and no formal training" offering an installation) to safely and correctly install your water pump. It can't be only in Buriram Province where the "water pump shop" will have in stock actual spare parts for the models they sell so ON SITE repairs can be done at your home AND the staff will bring in the truck a free "loaner water pump" so if the water pump had to be taken to the shop (not sent off in a box to Bangkok) you still would have a water pump at your house. Think about where hospitals go to have water pumps installed and serviced. This must be a similar situation in any province in Thailand. Hospitals all over Buriram Province have water pumps bought and installed by Ruangsangthai. Check the stickers on the water pumps at the hospitals in your province to clue you to the water pump specialists in your area.

The owner of Ruangsangthai Hardware in Buriram read the posting by JimSiam and suggested a better value, long term water pump would be the Mitsubishi EP-205QS. That same shop owner stocks and sells thousands, of Hitachi, Lucky Pro, and Lucky Star water pumps, but in the specific posting of a three story house, with an in ground water storage tank, the water pump shop owner with 20 years experience in selling and servicing water pumps, would highly recommend the Mitsubishi EP-205QS Constant Pressure Water Pump which has on site service and actual spare parts in any water pump specialist shop in Thailand. Before you buy a water pump for a house in Thailand you might consider to look at the actual repair department at that store, actual stock of spare parts for the brand you are considering at that store, and look to see the supply of "loaner water pumps", so you can never be stuck without a properly maintained water pump. You will pay less, get guaranteed installation, and have professional prompt local service from a water pump specialist in your province, rather than a fancy store with sales staff getting a "spiff" or secret commission to push a 2nd tier brand on trusting customers. Think about how quiet a Mitsubishi Electric floor standing fan is compared to ANY other brand of free standing floor fans.

http://www.fujika-electric.com/product_detail.php?part_no=FCP-250%20&type_no=02

http://www.mitsubishi-kye.com/ProdDetailEN.asp?prodid=55

http://www.burirambuildersmerchants.com/mitsubishi-water-pumps.html

Most any hardware store offers several brands of tile grout sealants. Yes the artist brush will work fine. That same tile grout sealant will look terrible on actual tiles. Sorry I have no experience with your question #2.

Decent links to help you with the answer

http://www.boomboomme.com/resources/holidays/thailand/

Daily Ban on Sale of Alcohol, Elections, and Religious Holidays
The sale of alcohol in Thailand is banned between 2pm and 5pm and again between midnight and 11am seven days a week. This rule largely affects supermarkets and chain shops, such as 7-11 or Tops. It is common knowledge that the law is not always enforced at smaller, family-run shops.

The Election Commission of Thailand also bans alcohol on Election Days for the offices of Prime Minister and Senator, including advanced voting days. In addition, the Government of Thailand has also been known to ban alcohol during religious holidays.

I'm not sure where the OP is located. If a home owner or renter was concerned with water quality and wanted real advise and written costs of various water filter options they might seek out which "Pump Shop" is the "go to" place in their community. The Hospitals, Government Buildings, Universities, Sports Stadiums and well to do Thai citizens do not ignore water quality. In Buriram Province the same "Pump Shop" that set up and maintains the water pumps, water filtering and water storage at my modest home also sends the same crews to the Buriram Government Hospital Complex, and various other notable buildings. In Buriram Province if you go in person and bring 500 ml of water in a plastic bottle with a cardboard box suitable for mailing, the owner of Ruangsangthai Hardware on Highway 2074, Pichai Ruangsuksriwong, will at his expense, send the water to be tested by a private lab in Bangkok and give you a written lab report in English in 10 days. I suspect other "pump shops" in other provinces provide a similar service as they want the edge to sell, install and service whatever water filters, water tanks, water pumps you think will best serve your needs. Note the "stickers" placed on the water filters, pressure tanks, water pumps at the better Government Hospitals in your province. That same Buriram Builders Merchants just installed Grundfos water pumps in a three story "Election Commission Building" very near the Buriram Makro on Highway 218. The Thai Business people who run successful hotels, restaurants and businesses in each community could tell you which water pump specialists they rely on for safe dependable water. It is not going to be a chain store or franchise, it will be the local high volume water pump shop with the significant Government contracts.

The 2800 baht a year "Health Insurance for Foreigner" is issued in Buriram on the 2nd floor of the Buriram Government Hospital Building near gate #2. That office does have caring, helpful staff who understand English well enough if you use "short words". They can set you on the simple process to pay for the 600 baht physical, 2200 baht year's Health coverage as long as you have enough documentation to make it simple for them. You need NOT be married as a condition to this 2800 baht a year health program. You do not have to fill out ANY forms, the staff will do all the paperwork. You do not need to bring a native Thai speaker to the office on the 2nd floor where the process begins. The usual current 1" BY 1" photo, original and copies of various Passport Pages, a longer stay Visa and some real proof of your address in the Thai language will make it go smooth. I was "Papered up" with the yellow house book, but that might NOT be necessary, if you had your address in Thai on some Government document the staff was comfortable with. I did not cancel my BUPA Platinum in patient Health insurance, but this 2800 baht a year plan made sure my information was in the "Government Hospital Computers". In Buriram Province, quite often the better equipment and more qualified medical professional might be at the large Government Hospital rather than the private hospital at a given time of need. In Buriram, the medical test is done on one day, and you return a week later for the results and to see a Doctor in that two story smaller building, then you receive the card on a third visit. But you will receive the parasite medication from the pharmacy, as a foreigner on your 2nd visit.

"ceiling teams' can build sheet rock walls with metal instead of wood. Every decent building contractor knows several "gypsum ceiling" teams. It is always helpful in my experience to bring a "print out" or picture of what you are trying to source. Often the store staff really do not "understand' even though they might speak some English.

Thai Watsadu and Buriram IQ Home have a wide selection of the larger coolers, worth comparing to the limited selection of Makro in Buriram. Often your purchase volume with a particular Ice Delivery Company will enable a "free loaner" cooler, worth checking with the various ice Delivery firms that service your facility.

Wayned posted the current prices we pay. The photo attached shows the installation labor fee, refundable deposit, tax, and actual meter purchase fee from the PEA for new or upgraded service. I am of the belief that any PEA office will have the same or very similar sign with prices on the wall inside the business office of the PEA in or near your community.

My Insurance Broker in Phuket sent several home owner insurance policies for me to consider last month. I elected to obtain the three year discount for a serious policy from Allianz CP called "Happy Home". 29 baht a day for 8 million baht coverage, 2 million baht liability, 200K "Electrical Injury", etc.. The quote was in English, the policy details were e-mailed in Thai and English. The actual Policy is in Thai and English. A greater discount is available for a 5 year premium payment. You can of course pay one year at a time. Easy to pay via the bank counter, ATM, paypoints, credit cards or bank transfer. Eric's staff understand and speak English and Thai. "Safety Insurance" was a good company for the past three years, but in 2013 they did not offer a multiple year premium discount. We are not paying 50% more, we are not paying a single baht more for the same basic 8 million baht coverage. I paid 30 baht a day for the previous three year policy with very similar coverage. I see flooding limits on the new policy, but after seven years in the same small Buriram Town, and knowing our home is raised up a bit from the street, flooding is not a personal concern. "Electrical Injury" is a concern since the PEA power has had some major surges and drops in voltage in our neighborhood. Eric Dohlon the Insurance Broker in Phuket has served us well and helped in English to compare many types of insurance policies and ways to obtain discounts.

You could bring your electrical plans to the local PEA office with a copy of your current electrical bill. They can see exactly where you are located, and what type of electrical service level would be possible currently at your location. They can recommend which meter and what size Square D breaker boxes you should consider. Pricing including all fees and taxes and deposits of new or upgraded electrical service is NOT a mystery. The price is on the wall of the PEA offices. However your specific location might not have PEA power lines in front or at the rear or the side of your parcel. Or the existing utility poles might not support the 3 phase service you were considering. You probably have some sort of security deposit already with the PEA, so the upgrade to a higher capacity meter will entail more money (minus your existing deposit) to be placed on deposit with the PEA.

Decent experienced electricians are in every province in Thailand. Just ask the Thai business men who own significant hotels, significant shopping centers which firms they used for the electrical work on the shopping center or their large personal homes. Same deal with plumbers, it is not Somchai who does electrical work when they build the Big C in the town near you. It is not some random guy who hooks up water supply or water filter tanks at the shopping centers. The general contractor hires real licensed electrical contractors who work on commercial buildings, government buildings and better homes. To have 3 phase installed by a private electrical contractor at your residence, the license numbers of the electrical contractor must be documented on the application and plans submitted to the PEA. But in my experience, the private licensed electrical contractor gave us a lower price and better documented work than the PEA would for the same installation. The moonlighting electricians who did the electrical installations at my home on the weekends also worked for the electrical contractor who did all the electrical work at the Big C center nearby. You can ask the plant manager of the local Government Hospital what firms they hire to maintain or improve electrical supply at the hospital or the water supply at the hospital. It is NOT hospital staff doing the heavy duty plumbing or electrical work at hospitals, even up country, it is the "go to" electricians or "go to" plumbers.

When the PEA refer to a 3 phase transformer, it is quite a bit more than just the cost of the actual transformer. The "bits and pieces" all itemized do add up.

That Korat Save One Night Market "pet shops" are not a pleasant sight for Farang pet owners. Have you asked at the pet shops in Buriram near the Train Station? The Vet located between the large Maxxis Tire Shop and Big C might have valid leads. He owns a poodle. The excellent Vet who works nights at his clinic across the street from the original Siri Electronics Shop (down from the main branch of Bangkok Bank) has several flyers for dogs on his clinic walls and he is very aware of poodles. He also owns a poodle. A Thai speaker will obtain better answers from those two vets than a person who is not a native Thai speaker. The front desk staff at the vet clinics might NOT be able to answer your questions, but the male vet in each respective clinic is worth speaking to about a new poodle. There are better reasons to drive to Korat than sad pet stalls.

If the OP is traveling from Chiang Mai to Buriram (city or nearby) then consider First Class on www.nca.co.th If the Op is traveling between Bangkok and Buriram then consider Gold Class on www.nca.co.th No other bus line comes close in terms of safety and comfort. Thai Chi brings up some very valid points. Buriram is a large province. Re-Entry permit(s) is a REAL good tip.

The right bilingual dual citizen insurance broker on Phuket Island certainly can help you with quotes and claims of your home owners policy on Koh Samui. The independent insurance broker has YOU as the client, and is not beholden to the Insurance company. I am just about to pay for another policy term with "Safety Insurance Public Company Limited". The claims adjuster who came to my Isaan home for the one claim I made, did not speak or understand English. But my bilingual broker spoke with him on the phone, I did not get any run around, I had a list done on www.third-drawer.com of household items, and the 50K plus claim was paid in full via a bank transfer to a Thai Bank account. No run around, but "My Broker had my back" and he translated. The claims form was in English. The policy is in Thai AND in English. My Broker Eric Dohlon Insurance in Thailand put me on the right direction in terms of the "electrical injury" was something to not overlook when I compared four different price quotes from four different house insurance companies he e-mailed to me. I see what a run around I get from the ONE policy I bought direct through an insurance company in Thailand, my auto insurance policy, EVERY year at renewal time. Brutal experience compared to the EASY painless and informative experience of renewal through Eric Dohlon's firm on Phuket Island.

The insurance adjuster who Eric had come the very next day after a small electrical fire, questioned the value of one particular computer accessory item, and I had put the purchase date and purchase price on third-drawer.com so he immediately stopped any questions on age and value of household electrical items in the claim. I was paid the FULL retail cost of all items when in the claim I submitted new purchase receipts to replace the same type of item damaged in a power surge that caused a small fire. The 299 baht power surge protector failed, the 1490 baht power surge worked. I have not made any other claim, so I can not speak of wind damage or a burglary. Eric Dohlon has YEARS of experience in complicated claims on Phuket Island including the December 26, 2004 Tsunami tragedy.

12.5 aac blocks are cool to the touch on the inside when in direct sunlight. Color of paint might have a tad to do with it. Also on very cold nights my observation is not the cold coming through the 12.5 aac blocks as when I lived in a red brick walled rental. The noise reduction factor of 7.5 aac block INTERIOR walls is decent in my experience. Plenty of ways to waste money building a house in my experience, but the 12.5 exterior aac blocks and the 7.5 interior aac blocks was baht well spent. NO PROBLEM with cabinets being attached to the walls. All our bathrooms have tile to the ceiling and never a "seepage" of water from any exterior wall or any bathroom wall. Super Block, CPAC Block, Thai-Con, Smart Block, Q-Con and other brands are easy to compare price wise and not ALL aac blocks are made to the same standard in my observation. Some retail stores OUTSIDE the store, will have pallet loads in the rain exposed, and you can see how the un-rendered aac blocks can vary after a few months in the rain. You can arrange to have "direct shipment' from the regional plant that actually makes the aac blocks direct to your building site so less breakage. ALL the "broken" aac blocks can be used as they have to saw NUMEROUS aac blocks to a "shorter" size due to windows and doors. They also can be laid VERTICAL to create a nice "curve" on a wall. They do NOT have to only be installed horizontal. Really very little "waste" when building with AAC blocks. The price can vary greatly from store to store.

Five years later the same size electric meter is 750 baht. A small 15 mm 1/2 inch water meter is still near that price. Some costs, especially when oriented towards average Thai households, still seem to be modest in Thailand. Cooking gas is due to go up but a small amount next month, not really a stunning rise. If you have previous water or electric service in your name, in the same "office", they can apply your existing deposit to a new meter service location.

That size electric meter is now 750 baht. A 15mm water meter might still be 350 baht. It's good to see steep inflation has not hit everything in Thailand.

Many of the smaller watch repair "stands" use lighter fluid to clean watch parts in Thailand. I was taken aback the first time I viewed this choice of cleaning fluid being used to repair a decent watch.

For the O.P. Both prices are correct, in a sense. The 2000 baht is for a smaller size meter, certainly appropriate for many sensible electrical users, with the DEPOSIT refund taken into account. The other 12,000 baht price quoted was the total initial price for a larger meter which might be suitable for a slightly larger house or someone who has more than two a/c units. I think the actual price list I posted above will shed some light on the prices you were quoted.

No "one size fits all" in regards to water service or electrical service anywhere in the World. If you go in person to the "Water Department" they can show you options. You need not have a 1/2 inch (15mm) pipe be your main water supply. The size of the meter is indicated on every water meter. You can pay a nominal sum extra to the "Government Water Supply" or "Village Water Supply", even buy your own water meter in several different sizes (along with proper water supply lines) if you wish a more robust water supply to your holding tanks. Any decent builders merchant can show you various size water meters you can legally purchase and have connected by the municipal water supply.

Electric service options and real prices are posted on the wall of every PROVINCIAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY office I have ever visited. The devil is in the details, in terms of what possible electrical service is running "past" your home, new or existing home. Front or BACK SIDE of your home. Just because your next door neighbor has electrical power coming from a PEA pole in FRONT of their house, does not necessarily mean you can't obtain electrical service from behind your home. Underground with proper size NYY cable in proper approved conduit, is often possible, just takes that one time extra cost, rather than overhead electrical service to your home. The photo attached is a nationwide price where the PEA is the electrical utility. You CAN have a private licensed electrical contractor provide your 3 phase transformer, and/or underground electrical service NYY cables and/or proper size approved utility poles, but you will need to pay the deposit, and certain fees to the PEA regardless of using the PEA for 100% of your electrical service or only a small part of your electrical connection service. The sign is in Thai, but easy to get translated.

Remember to save the physical paper with the REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT indicated. You CAN have the electrical service in a Farang name only if you wish. I have both the water and the electrical in my name only. That was NOT difficult, since I already had a yellow house book from a different residential location in the same province, but NOT the same city the house was located where I wanted the electrical and water service in my name. I had a "permit to build" in my name, so there was no "confusion" at either utility office. For many people putting utilities in the name of a Thai spouse is "easier", but rest assured it is as simple as having a savings account or pick up truck in YOUR name only.

For new house construction, both the water department and the PEA have a "temporary meter" program, which you will want to graduate from as soon as possible to "permanent meter" service to save significant money, especially on the PEA per kw rate. Every PEA office I have walked into had some staff who read, write, understand and speak English and are happy to give Farang decent customer service. They read the Phelps Dodge thick "manual" to determine many aspects of electrical service. Phelps Dodge has some operations in Thailand so it is not so "3rd world" when it CAN pertain to electrical connections. It just looks 3rd World that way up on many utility poles. Google searches in Buriram show some good info on water meter options and PEA meter size prices.

http://buriram-house-builder.blogspot.com/2013/08/buriram-water-meter-buriram-architects.html

Well I have only spent May 25, 1990 inside prison walls, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_San_Quentin back in a previous life as a talent agent for the 2nd bill band to a great Blues legend. It was not posh. Not enough shade in that "yard". But I am certain that copy machine repair was a career being taught at that institution as the "dressing room" was inside the trade school teaching center.

I do not know the HP of this petrol pump, but it is the actual "pump" that PS Services uses from Bangkok when they pump Fipronil into the "sprinkler system" under our home in rural Thailand. Next time they come I'll note what model engine or pump is included in the pesticide pump set up.

I suggested the OP might look into a price from one or more of the professional electric fence companies. Any professional electric fence, will have a back up battery and will have a energizer which is connected in a safe manner to a normal household circuit. There is also grounding to any professional installation, several places along the fence installation. But the "zap" an intruder would experience would not kill them. The siren, strobe lighting, mobile phone sms, autodialer to another phone, or link to the police station certainly can play a role in how effective the electric fence would be in your situation. I have observed it has served as a deterrent to fully hooded random guys on motorbikes with no license plates who have driven too slow by our front gates, during "festival" or "carnival days". Electric fences are perfectly legal in Thailand.

Plenty of OTHER houses, from 2000 baht a month rental units with EVERY window and both doors having metal bars, all the way to resort like showplace homes with a full time night guard have been robbed in and near our community. Gold, cash, safes, lap tops, mobile phones, jewelry all stolen from Farang in and near our community, with and without metal bars, steel security doors, or a night guard. Some houses more than once in the 7 years I have lived in the same community.

http://www.wasp-security.com/for_homes.php The deterrent of a professional electric fence in my opinion makes the potential thief move on to an softer target. Stainless Steel of the right grade and thickness is certainly not cheap. But you never have to paint it again. The powder coated fence posts done by Wasp Security have held up far better than the two coats of Dulux Weathershield I had painted originally on the concrete fences. Wasp Security attached stainless steel posts to my existing stainless steel posts for the area I had spent significant money on stainless steel fencing. Now if I can get the relatives to remember to lock the Medeco gate lock when departing. Six years no false alarm issues with the electric fence, but we sweep the six wires for spider webs once a week and trim back trees near the fence line. If anyone threw a jacket onto the fence and touched any two wires the fence becomes active, they get shocked, and the alarm activates. Having a professional electric fence did not change the premium on our home owners insurance policy. But when an electric surge zapped the controller of the electric fence control box, (and a host of electric items in our home not connected to top grade surge protectors) the "Safety Insurance Public Company Limited" paid in full for a new controller and the labor to install that control box. I've gotten great service from Mike the owner of Wasp Security in Bangkok for our house in Isaan.

In my case the cost of the electric fence was significantly less than metal security doors, let alone window bars. The cost was significantly less than stainless steel fence topping on higher concrete walls. I would not buy a "people gate" if I was to build another house. Sliding the larger rolling gate to the side, is how the family enters and exits our yard. You can not see the electric fence wires at night, but the reflective signs in Thai and English send a message to deter thieves.

I moved to Buriram after being inside a rental house which had bars on the windows and entry doors, and TWICE in one night thieves attempted to break in, and the police were sleeping at the Kamala Beach (Phuket Island) Police station and did not answer the phone. Isaan seems real safe after that experience. I have observed small two bedroom attached rental houses robbed all the way to nice estates robbed on our area. We have not had any break in attempts what so ever. We have never let any traveling salesmen or traveling saleswomen past our front gate, but I've heard the "rug sellers" can be part of a gang of thieves.

Most every chain hardware Store and the better independent "pump shops" sell in line water filters. Prices really can vary for not just the filter housing, but any cartridges. A VERY common item in Thailand.

DSFBRIT You may not want to argue with your wife, but YOU might want to go in person and get the application forms and actual fee quote for the license to own a chain saw in your province. It is NOT free according to Mr. Saiyont Srihabua. He is Director of Buriram Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office.

Buriram Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office has moved from the old office to the new city hall since 25th of June. Telephone number 044 666553 -54

If you go in person to the actual office (not shopping center booth) of 3BB and bring a copy of your blue book or yellow book with your real address in Thai, or copy of the land papers, they can look on the service map at that office and give you an honest answer if you can get that fantastic speed at your physical location. I recall phoning the telephone number on my 3BB monthly invoice and being assured a certain level of service would be available in my community, but when I went in person with proper address documents to the real office where the technicians are based and a service map on the wall showing actual service areas, it was a no go for the speed I wished. But the 12mb they could provide and I paid for is what they do deliver with a real level of dependability. 35mb now that is blazing fast for this part of Thailand and I hope you can obtain that service. They may offer a 5% discount if you pay in advance for one year.