Pool Builders In Issan

[khunandy]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

[TBWG]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

Hi Khun Andy

I know b****r all about building pools but my next door neighbour is having one installed about the same size you mentioned.

He has had 36 piles of about 2 meter length driven into the ground, so far that is all that has been done but he assures me this is necessary due to the excessive ground movement during wet/dry seasons.

I think the moral is better to be over the top than have one which cracks!!!

TBWG

[Lusifer]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

Check JD pool in KK

177/12 moo 17 Mittrab Rd.

Muang. Khon Khaen 40000

043-271000

081-9758802

Fax 043-324565-6

www.jdpools.com

they are defenetly cheapest but u get 5yr guarantee and life time support

Hi Khun Andy

I know b****r all about building pools but my next door neighbour is having one installed about the same size you mentioned.

He has had 36 piles of about 2 meter length driven into the ground, so far that is all that has been done but he assures me this is necessary due to the excessive ground movement during wet/dry seasons.

I think the moral is better to be over the top than have one which cracks!!!

TBWG

[macb]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

Have a word with Rayban he has a nice pool, I know he wont mind me mentioning it, he is a good mate

[khunandy]

Hi Khun Andy

I know b****r all about building pools but my next door neighbour is having one installed about the same size you mentioned.

He has had 36 piles of about 2 meter length driven into the ground, so far that is all that has been done but he assures me this is necessary due to the excessive ground movement during wet/dry seasons.

I think the moral is better to be over the top than have one which cracks!!!

TBWG

Thanks for the info TBWG, It does make sense I guess to err on the side of caution, it will be interesting to get some more quotes and see if they are all of the same opinion. One guy has mentioned that if you have a vinyl liner type pool the foundations dont have to be used as the vinyl will "forgive" slight movement.

Khun Andy

[khunandy]

Hi all,

Check JD pool in KK

177/12 moo 17 Mittrab Rd.

Muang. Khon Khaen 40000

043-271000

081-9758802

Fax 043-324565-6

www.jdpools.com

they are defenetly cheapest but u get 5yr guarantee and life time support

Thanks Lucifer,

I checked out the website and will look them up in Khon Kaen

Khun Andy

[khunandy]

[

Have a word with Rayban he has a nice pool, I know he wont mind me mentioning it, he is a good mate

Thanks macb I will look him up and drop him a pm

Khun Andy

[Issangeorge]

Khunandy, my friend David at Thai House Resort built a nice pool 7*5 for 200,000 baht. He hired a crew and told them what to do. He bought his filter from a pool place in Khon kaen and the guy there told him how to build the pool and what to do. Contact David and ask him for advice and he will give you the name of the pool builder in Khon Kaen. Issangeorge

Edited March 7, 2007 by Totster
Removed link

[khunandy]

Khunandy, my friend David at Thai House Resort http://www.thaihouseresort.com/index.html built a nice pool 7*5 for 200,000 baht. He hired a crew and told them what to do. He bought his filter from a pool place in Khon kaen and the guy there told him how to build the pool and what to do. Contact David and ask him for advice and he will give you the name of the pool builder in Khon Kaen. Issangeorge

Issangeorge,

Hey thanks for that, I did stumble across Daves website the other day and book marked it for future reference. I will certainly drop him a line and stop over for a shandy or two next month.

Thanks

Khun Andy

[RayBan]

Hi khunandy,

I have e-mailed you with some info and a pic etc, anything more required..well do not hesitate to mail me...........RayBan

[khunandy]

Hi khunandy,

I have e-mailed you with some info and a pic etc, anything more required..well do not hesitate to mail me...........RayBan

Thanks to all who responded:

Issan forum responce = 9

Pool forum responce = 0

No-one as helpful as an Issanite.

Cheers

Khun Andy

[frikkiedeboer]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

hi, i have been building fishponds and swimming pools in south africa for many years now. if you fly into johannesburg and look out of the window you will see that just about every home has a pool. do check that you will have access to chlorine to keep your pool clean and kill bacteria, then build it yourself- it is easy!!! but hard work.

obviously you will have to build in the dry season. from my experience the soil conditions in isaan are unstable and i suggest a steel-reinforced concrete shell with a fibreglass liner. while the thais do seem to know about steel reinforcing,they tend to use too much steel and too little concrete-perhaps because they mix their concrete with too much water and compromise its strength. do not use the local idiots,but order a 30mpa waterproof mix from one of the readymix companies. if you calculate the cost it will surprise you to know that the savings on labour and frustration will result in the job getting done faster, and at almost the same price,with the added benefit of peace-of mind at knowing that the concrete was the correct strength. it is very important to lay an 8" thick ringbeam of not less than 40cm wide around the perimiter.dig the hole to the required shape and use the "leksen" reinforcing steel they use in their silly house foundations,creating a lattice of 6" squares. use something thicker for the ringbeam. incorporate a weir and a pool light into the design an do not forget to lay your filter pipes at the same time. i assume this is all available in thailand-contact me if not. have a team of go-fers ready when the concrete arrives,with wheelbarrows. let them pour the concrete bit by bit and get the guys to use farang-type spades to throw the concrete at the sidewalls. the yellow thai shovel stuff is not striong enough for this and nor are most thai males so use women!bottom goes last- you will find that this mostly happens by itself due to concrete falling down or slumping ..do not work it at this stage as it will slump down. get it to about 4"thick and cast the ringbeam at about the same time.roughly shape it out. next day get the thais to plaster the sidewalls smooth- this is one thing they do do correctlly.

at this stage you could go for an epoxy paint to finish it off,but i would highly recomend a fibreglass liner. very easy to do yourself but messy as hel_l. source a 300gram mat cloth. calculate roughly how much you will need. order resin at about 1:1 matting weight to resin, with appropriate hardener. use a lambswool roller to first apply resin to the cement.glue down the matting to this,then roll in the resin until the stuff is fully soaked through the matting. cheapest resins and matting come from korea so start there when you look for it. cover the total area,overlapping sheets of matting by approx4".YOU MUST WORK FAST AND DO NOT MIX TOO MUCH RESIN AT A TIME COZ IT WILL SET WHILE YOU ARE ROLLING IT IN! oh,order a lot of acetone to get the shit out of your hair,eyes,nose,etc.

let this lot set overnight and then sand it roughly, before rolling in a flowcote to smoothe it all out. i suggest using a coloured resin and a clear flowcoat as you can then incorporate a printed mosaic pattern around the rim. white pools will turn blue once filled and ph is correct. black pools show less algae and remain a couple of degrees warmer . let me know if i can help u source sandfilters or design you a diy one or any drawings (will be rough). one thing you will find indespensable is an automatic pool cleaner,which works off the pump suction. you can paint your pool if you do not want the hassle of fibreglassing,but you may have difficulty sourcing the right paint. could also experiment with that white stuff they make the marble-lookalike floor stuff but i havent tried it out. your pool should not cost you much if you follow this route- your local hardware will be able to get you the readymix concrete. dont get a crap job done by a local "expert" - your only guarantee is a diy job. just look around before you trust a local "expert" how many pools are there really in thailand? the spraycrete thing went out of fashion in south africa years ago due to cracking problems,as did marblite and various other methods. please post this on the relevant forum as i will be pleased to help anybody in this regard free of charge. have seen some of the quotes some guys got for work that would definitely be substandard and they mostly come in at about ten times what they should be!! get it right and start a pool company-you will make a fortune

Edited March 16, 2007 by frikkiedeboer

[khunandy]

Hi all,

I have also posted this on the Pool forum but as we know there is nobody as helpful as an Issanite.

Its getting to a stage where I am thinking about a pool and have surfed and searched to try and locate a builder near Khon kaen city (although I am 100 km west) but havent had any luck.

There must be someone out there who has had a pool built recently in the area who can offer some advice or leads.

I may have to go down the owner/builder track but havent had any experience and the DIY sites seem to only explain the American way of construction with the spray crete.

Any info gratefully recieved or even some working plans, drawings, DIY experience, perhaps some home drawn guide by an owner builder or someone with time on their hands to put together a step by step guide for us guys in remote locations.

I know there would be a demand for working drawings in English using Thai construction methods as there appears to be a lot of potential DIY type of people enquiring about pool construction.

I am just thinking about a basic 8m x 4m rectangular job.

Also, my wife did get a quote from a guy recently who wanted to drive 30 odd piles in the ground first, is this standard practice? The ground has been built up but after excavation the bottom of the pool would be on original surface. It seems excessive to someone who knows nothing about it. Me!

Thanks in advance

Khun Andy

hi, i have been building fishponds and swimming pools in south africa for many years now. if you fly into johannesburg and look out of the window you will see that just about every home has a pool. do check that you will have access to chlorine to keep your pool clean and kill bacteria, then build it yourself- it is easy!!! but hard work.

obviously you will have to build in the dry season. from my experience the soil conditions in isaan are unstable and i suggest a steel-reinforced concrete shell with a fibreglass liner. while the thais do seem to know about steel reinforcing,they tend to use too much steel and too little concrete-perhaps because they mix their concrete with too much water and compromise its strength. do not use the local idiots,but order a 30mpa waterproof mix from one of the readymix companies. if you calculate the cost it will surprise you to know that the savings on labour and frustration will result in the job getting done faster, and at almost the same price,with the added benefit of peace-of mind at knowing that the concrete was the correct strength. it is very important to lay an 8" thick ringbeam of not less than 40cm wide around the perimiter.dig the hole to the required shape and use the "leksen" reinforcing steel they use in their silly house foundations,creating a lattice of 6" squares. use something thicker for the ringbeam. incorporate a weir and a pool light into the design an do not forget to lay your filter pipes at the same time. i assume this is all available in thailand-contact me if not. have a team of go-fers ready when the concrete arrives,with wheelbarrows. let them pour the concrete bit by bit and get the guys to use farang-type spades to throw the concrete at the sidewalls. the yellow thai shovel stuff is not striong enough for this and nor are most thai males so use women!bottom goes last- you will find that this mostly happens by itself due to concrete falling down or slumping ..do not work it at this stage as it will slump down. get it to about 4"thick and cast the ringbeam at about the same time.roughly shape it out. next day get the thais to plaster the sidewalls smooth- this is one thing they do do correctlly.

at this stage you could go for an epoxy paint to finish it off,but i would highly recomend a fibreglass liner. very easy to do yourself but messy as hel_l. source a 300gram mat cloth. calculate roughly how much you will need. order resin at about 1:1 matting weight to resin, with appropriate hardener. use a lambswool roller to first apply resin to the cement.glue down the matting to this,then roll in the resin until the stuff is fully soaked through the matting. cheapest resins and matting come from korea so start there when you look for it. cover the total area,overlapping sheets of matting by approx4".YOU MUST WORK FAST AND DO NOT MIX TOO MUCH RESIN AT A TIME COZ IT WILL SET WHILE YOU ARE ROLLING IT IN! oh,order a lot of acetone to get the shit out of your hair,eyes,nose,etc.

let this lot set overnight and then sand it roughly, before rolling in a flowcote to smoothe it all out. i suggest using a coloured resin and a clear flowcoat as you can then incorporate a printed mosaic pattern around the rim. white pools will turn blue once filled and ph is correct. black pools show less algae and remain a couple of degrees warmer . let me know if i can help u source sandfilters or design you a diy one or any drawings (will be rough). one thing you will find indespensable is an automatic pool cleaner,which works off the pump suction. you can paint your pool if you do not want the hassle of fibreglassing,but you may have difficulty sourcing the right paint. could also experiment with that white stuff they make the marble-lookalike floor stuff but i havent tried it out. your pool should not cost you much if you follow this route- your local hardware will be able to get you the readymix concrete. dont get a crap job done by a local "expert" - your only guarantee is a diy job. just look around before you trust a local "expert" how many pools are there really in thailand? the spraycrete thing went out of fashion in south africa years ago due to cracking problems,as did marblite and various other methods. please post this on the relevant forum as i will be pleased to help anybody in this regard free of charge. have seen some of the quotes some guys got for work that would definitely be substandard and they mostly come in at about ten times what they should be!! get it right and start a pool company-you will make a fortune

frikkiedeboer,

Thanks for all that mate, very informative and helpful.

You have confirmed a lot of my thoughts regarding, pre-mix against site mix concrete and a beefy perimeter foorting. The only real concern I have at the moment is the question of whether to consider the pile driving into the substrate underneath the shell. I can see the benifits becuase of the seasonal changes in the soil but I just cant, at this stage imagine why. I mean, would the pool sink? Or is it because any slight movement cause cracks.

The depth of my pool is uniform throughout therefore equal weight , would this lessen the risk of movement?

I thought that with the ring footing and also some cross bearer footings underneath the floor of the pool would be enough to consolidate the structure.

Two questions. I have seen plenty of photos of the floor steel rebar being the pre made mesh with some thick rebar added. Is the premade mesh a no-no?

Also, I have heard of the fibreglass finish in Queensland , Aussie but not here, are there any advantages in comparrison to tiles.

I am asking because I agree that the Thais are good at stucco finish and I also believe that they know their tiling, I would feel confident in their workmanship in these two jobs.

I have a C-Pac plant not too far away so I will make enquiries about the 30mpa waterproof mix. What does mpa stand for?

My design is very simple, maybe I could send you some rough sketches for your opinion.

Khun Andy

[Dario]

Have you ever thought about an APG = Above Ground Pool? I am an agent for INTEX. My name is Dario, you can reach me at [email protected] or at 081 495 7355.