kamalabob2

The OP might consider going in person to the "pump shop" in his province that is the official warranty repair facility for brands such as Grundfos, Mitsubishi Super Pump, Hitachi Pump, ITC pump or Mitsan Pump. HomePro is a great store for curtains and kitchen appliances. The OP may consider what shop in his province has real staff with real knowledge to install and service water pumps. A shop that stocks or will promptly order spare parts. Such shops exist in most provinces in Thailand, not just Buriram. Yes those shops may have a few "product consultants" who might be biased towards a particular water pump brand in Thailand. Homepro | Global House | Thaiwatsadu | Do Home | Mega Home in Thailand all have PC staff for major brands of water pumps and water tanks, not just power tools. Today I saw six plumbers in two trucks head to Maha Sarakham for water pump installations at Tada Homes in Maha Sarakham. 

Did I miss the health insurance, house insurance, annual immigration fees?  

That large cardboard "check" may not be valid tender, but it might be the "policy payout amount". Good marketing move for that agent, and I have seen that "present the cardboard check" in at least one Thai Funeral. Insurance companies in Thailand pay bills twice a month. Often a larger death benefit than $255 US social security death benefit for a Thai spouse who did not ever get in the US Social security system. I am not advocating buying life insurance in Thailand, but I have seen widows set up comfortably and all too often a widow left with a large home to keep up, nice truck and then cut off from expat funding. 

If the insurance company has all the supporting docs, payout should be within 2 weeks.
All insurance companies pay bills twice a month.
I have been an executor of an expat who died in Thailand. I am sure that all the wife needs to submit is the following:

• Marriage license copy.
• Wife ID card copy.
• Husband ID card or passport copy.
• Husband death certificate copy.
• Life insurance policy copy.

HomePro is a fine retail store. They offer "home services", but not all services in all provinces. The fee for painting services quoted to me, was a tad more than I pay to have tile installed by a family member per square meter. There is a popular foreigner with a painting company based in Phuket. I've met more than one painting contractor in Buriram. I pay attention to what paint they buy and what brand airless paint sprayer they own. No matter what painter you hire, I urge the OP to go and see previous work by that painter in person. 

"It's only temporary" can be a dangerous and costly phrase. I have seen many folks use local logic on what size "temporary meter" and worse, "what side cable from the PEA supply to their temporary meter".  I won't comment on metal poles.  I have seen half a dozen water pump motors ruined by voltage drop where folks realized they needed water to build a house. They thought to drill a well. Buy a cheap pump, but not have proper protection for the pump. Especially submersible well pumps with no proper control box.  Not just the standard "included" control box. The building team uses a welder, a few tools, an electric concrete mixer and the draw is too great on the WRONG undersized "It's only temporary" cable.  The pump motor is shot. There was low voltage arriving at the construction site due to undersized cable from the PEA supply. Costly mistake in my book, when so easy to avoid. The PEA office has charts showing MINIMUM size copper cable and MINIMUM size showing aluminum cable for service form the PEA connection to the home meter. Then the consumer should calculate the size of the cable form the METER to the load center, even if only a temporary construction meter and temporary electric socket job site box. Undersized electric cable can be a costly mistake in my observation. 

The OP might go in person to see the feed in rate. I was quoted 1baht at the main office of the Buriram PEA about 6 months ago. It might have been raised since I was quoted that figure. Yes it was made clear on approved equipment and they gave me a list in person. 

It would not be a real clearance sale or closeout sale on tools in Thailand unless one or more female models was hired to demonstrate power tools. In Buriram today I bought wall tile for 99 baht a square meter, for yet another "village house project' on Highway 2226.  I did spot some closeout deals on Ebara and Grundfos deep well submersible 4" water pumps in Buriram. 

I prefer semi gloss or sheen paint for exterior walls. I have recently bought "mistake color mix" TOA Supershield semi gloss acrylic latex paint in Buriram to paint boundary fences at my wife's village home. I've been able to give her family 5 gallon buckets of TCI matt ceiling paint that cos tme 500 baht for 5 gallons.  I believe most every builders merchants store in Isaan has some mistake color mix paint they sell at a discount from time to time. 

I took photos today of pallet loads of new in the box | discontinued brands | demo models | customer returns of major home building materials | kitchen appliances | bathroom sanitary items | petrol generators | diesel Generators | deep well pumps | wall tile | floor tile all set up in Buriram at Ruangsangthai Home Builders Merchants. This is the first clearance sale held at this family owned tool supply | water pump dealer since 2014. The owner Mr. Pichai has staff who speak Thai | English | German | French and Spanish. The selection is huge as Mr. Pichai had recently closed a Ruangsangthai store that was in Thailand, at the border with Cambodia. He cleared out several Buriram City warehouses and staff found brand new (old stock)  made in the USA Troy Bilt chippers, Aquaflex sinks, Cotto bathtubs all new in the box. Teka appliances new in the box. Paint of dubious age and PVC that may be older than wine in your cellar. This genuine CLEARANCE SALE starts at 8:30am on Tuesday December 1st and will run at least ten days. It will end when all the home building materials are sold out. Free delivery is available on many of the items in most locations in Buriram. Cash or cash cards accepted. Bitcoin is not accepted at this Thailand retail store.  Many photos look tinted green as there is a metal roof and green sunshade hanging on the large covered parking area. If you are looking to build or remodel a home in Thailand on a modest budget or seeking a cheap bargain, this sale is worth your drive to Buriram. Ruangsangthai is listed on Google maps.   https://goo.gl/maps/s8z8Ctwa3GgRLwpp8   

The OP could walk into the PEA with his approved building plans, with his land papers, and they will be helpful on his REAL options. I have never seen them refuse proper underground cables in HDPE, and I sure thought PEA had nationwide standards. There are MINIMUM cable size recommendations on the PEA website.

Tesco retail was shoddy in Buriram Province prior to this sale. They could not even build a medium size store, let alone a full size Tesco in Buriram itself.  The "out of stock" situation had been an ongoing issue for months at the Tesco Lotus I shopped. With the change in ownership. I see better stocking procedures at my local Tesco Lotus store. Prices still compete with BigC.  

I understand bad water hoses, lack of stop valves in a restroom. But when I rented a 2000 baht a month two bedroom home in Buriram, I paid for renters insurance. I also had a poorly made water supply hose fail that had no stop valve to a bathroom sink. It caused a bit of a flood until I turned off the main water supply. The OP should have bought renters insurance. it is so inexpensive but would help him in weird situations. The owner of the property, normally, in Thailand would be responsible for damage to a floor below. Renters insurance gives you a representative when greedy landlords or neighbors try to exploit you. As a renter, I paid for all a/c unit cleanings. Not a huge sum, to lower my PEA bill. I fixed any water leaks to stop my water pump from being tricked.  

I have the same brand, and I do have them last all night if the 100 watt or 200 watt, with suitable panel placement. The other tip I have is to follow the directions in the box about charging for one or two days, but not using the first two nights. It has served me well at two homes. I have been disappointed in most small lights, however BEC brand solar smaller lights have proven well worth the money. 

I 100% agree with the two posts above. Wood is expensive, often very poor quality and prone to termites in Thailand. Straight wood at a reasonable price, now that is a "Fantasy" in my shopping experiences. 

I had many meetings, face to face, at the office of a Buriram Home Designer. That home designer worked with the licensed architect. That designer worked with the licensed engineer. That designer worked with the draftsman. I was shown autocad plans all the way through in person at the designers office. There are several home designers in most any large city in Thailand. No shortage of licensed architects. I had a full binder in 2007 of home ideas pulled from luxury home sites, and magazine advertisements from the USA for the home designer to incorporate into a house plan in Thailand. I understand the OP being frustrated at the current use of line app.  You want rela plans or drawings to see your own ideas. Line is not the same as what the OP requested. 

https://www.buriramhome.com/buriram-stairwell-and-hallways/

I see the name and license number on plans every day where I work. Some architects may have last in their class or they had little imagination. Flat roof will limit you to only certain roof products, and you really must be on your game on water downspouts and plan drainage all the way through. 

Links maybe easier for some people depending on internet connection.

Diamond Building Products home with Jatulon Platinum Grey roof tiles  (not the same as unfinished).  The roof tiles form any brand with the paint coating will last longer and are FAR less likely to have mold and algae.  

Real house in Buriram Province with Diamond Jatulon Roof tiles. Expat designed and Buriram Architect plans. 

https://youtu.be/X2j04g8vAW8

instructions for Thai home builders to install roof tiles in Thailand. 

https://youtu.be/czLhe6n96uU

SCG also has similar videos that prove helpful when building a home in Thailand. 

SCG and Diamond Building Products have youtube channels. Here is a helpful videos on fiber cement roof tile installation.

For the OP who asked about LABOR costs. Every Home Mart in Thailand can give you the brochure of the well trained subcontractor called 

"Top Hat"   https://www.scghomebuild.com/บริการหลังคาเบ็ดเสร็จ_Und_TOP_Und_HAT

Most every Thai Watsadu and many independent builders merchants stores who sell Diamond Building products can give you the information on "Diamond Roof Installation Services".  This sub contractor has teams in many parts of Thailand.  I have seen their work in Buriram at Lively Homes estate and at Q House and Goldenland estates. 

Both Top Hat and Diamond Roof Installation Services will give written quotes once they see "plans" of the home or building. I've seen bids from both and they are competitive. 

Concrete tile roof information.  There are differences in the brands sold in Thailand and in the series of concrete roof tiles. The SLOPE or pitch of a roof is crucial in roof tile satisfaction.  The brochures are clear on minimum pitch for particular series and even what size of the tiles. A good architect would take the customer's choice of roof tile into consideration before designing the roof pitch.   A huge mistake I see is how water from one level of a roof can fall and damage the lower roof section. Proper rain gutters and ENOUGH downpipes cna make a huge difference in how long a roof lasts in any country. Another ERROR is how untrained "roof installers" use cement under ridge tiles. That is wrong. They or the home owner are being cheap and skipping the proper "drytech" rolls and FASTENERS.  Any better home builders merchants will have a display of Profast Drytech product WITH the fasteners. 

https://www.profastasia.com/แผ่นปิดรอยต่อโปรฟาส์ท-ด/

Typical Thai builders cut that corner. Home owners who neglect to install rain gutters and/or enough downpipes have roof troubles that could have been prevented. I've seen Thai builders use wire and not the proper screws to install roof tiles!!!

http://tileroofing.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Facts_of_Tile_Final_Low_Res.pdf

Cement board is not the same as concrete tile roof. What actual product is the OP plan to use as a ROOF?

Good answer above. The OP can also look on the English language pages of all the major banks. They list what is required from potential borrowers. Age matters on loans in Thailand. There is in fact at least one major credit reporting agency in Thailand.  They do not care one single bit about assets outside of Thailand when applying for a car loan or credit cards in Thailand in my personal experience. Just like a bank in your native country would not care one bit about your assets outside of your country. Often a home SELLER will offer finance to qualified buyers with a suitable downpayment in Thailand. The OP can gain a valid credit rating by buying a car in Thailand in his name, with the contract just in his name, and bank payments automatic form his own bank account. No co signer necessary in my car buying experiences in Thailand. 

I have a bit of experience with Q Con wall blocks and Diamond AAC wall blocks in Thailand. I have met the MD of several AAC block companies and scores of salesmen and a few actual technical advisors. In Buriram, the #1 luxury estate home builder is Boonsiri. They have ten mid level to high level house estates in Buriram. They buy quality products since the homes they sell are higher priced than other house estates. They do NOT buy products for fun and giggles.  They bought and easily installed with local labor, Dr. Fixit Pidifin 2k.  This is a 2 part Flexible Cementitous Waterproofing Membrane. it is not for large swimming pools. It is used for showers at Boonsiri. Then Weber or Crocodile or Lanko tile adhesive is placed on this affordable Dr. Fixit product. The MD of Dr. Fixit Thailand was educated in Texas. He understands and speaks English. The Dr Fixit representative i work with understands and speaks German, Thai and English.  Miss Dao went to college in Germany.  It will cost the Op less than 85 baht per square meter for the Dr. Fixit Waterproof membrane for his shower. The set in the photo costs 659 baht in Buriram and can easily cover 8 to 10 square meters per set. My home in Satuk has AAC block walls and Kera wall tile in the showers. 

https://www.buriramhome.com/buriram-master-bedroom-suite/

I had a pool designed and built by JD Pool Bangkok Office. For the past several years it is properly maintained by Paul Bodkin of Ignite Pools. He and his team are experienced professionals. 

https://www.buriramhome.com/buriram-swimming-pool/

Had I met with Paul Bodkin in 2008, my swimming pool would be a more interesting design. I will caution any expat planning to build a pool in Isaan. The local home builders and self described swimming pool contractors often buy the cheapest pumps, cheapest lights, lightest steel, wrong KCI concrete, and horrible cheap pool tile. Then they try to skip buying proper tile adhesive and even try to skip using swimming pool tile grout. The plumbers of Ruangsangthai then go see nightmare installations which have failed. Cheap timers, worse valves, it goes on and on. I am not pitching any particular pool builder on Thai VIsa, but I URGE anyone to go and meet face to face in person at the home of at least two customers on any builders list of recommendations. I see so called pool builders from Pattaya come and not really have a clue in Buriram on what to order.  I work in a store which sells millions of baht each month in Pool equipment and pool chemicals. It is often no surprise who needs bottles of chemicals when pool water quality fails. There are several on line sites which do a good job of suggesting equipment and chemicals at fair prices. Getting the pipework correct and electrics safe seems to be too high of a bar for so many so called "builders'.  When people ask me in person who I recommend to build a swimming pool I have Ignite pool, and tow other Thai pool builders cards to give them. I URGE those expats to go in person to the building sites and to at least two homes of satisfied customers. People will not "shill" for a bad pool builder.