DIY frustrations in Thailand

[Toosetinmyways]

One of my biggest frustrations of living in Thailand is watching house building and do it yourself videos from overseas and knowing that nothing like that will be available here.

Latest video was the speedfit plastic pipe system. Looks great but never seen it used here. Checked online and it is available here. Downside is for example a half inch 90 decree elbow is 160 baht. In UK same item is 80 baht.

[Kwasaki]

The plastic pipe you can get Thailand is easy enough, gluing the joints is not much of an inconvenience, not expensive.  

[eyecatcher]

Yes blue pipework is childsplay if done correct but when you have a high pressure pump at one end thats when blue can fail.

Hot water pipework is ideal for speedfit and thats also a doddle.

There is a German product almost identical to speedfit and sold in ThaiWatsa but although it involved minimal cutting fittings were expensive and I was dubious that they actually stocked all that i needed.

It was next best for me, ppe hot welded. Very awkward to do in situ in corners, regretted doing it really.

 

It will evolve here, just as QCon is finally finding its feet here, but its gonna be lead by Westerners demanding different methods.

[kamalabob2]

For the OP: Most every modern building product is available in Thailand. If you attend the annual architect Expo held in early May at Impact you can see over 800 booths of building materials. Pimaflex is but one brand of white water pipe readily available in Thailand. Maybe a brand really made in Germany costs more than a brand made in China. It is possible for a German plumber to install Pimaflex plumbing in your home in Thailand for a fee that is far less than in the UK.  Green PPR  welded is the pipe of choice of at least one home builder I know. Not just for hot water, but for all water under pressure in a home. If a person can plan at least two weeks in advance and pay in advance to prove they are serious, a motivated builders merchant can get most any product, as long as the supplier really has the product in their warehouse. No one store has every wall tile or floor tile on display. But if the tile is a current style at the warehouse then it should not be more than two seeks to arrive. I've ordered items that arrive the very next day such as special Weber brand adhesive. Next morning since the store ordered a few pallets of Weber. The OP can speak English or German with the importer of Pimaflex and at least one builders merchants store has staff who can speak German and English. 

[Toosetinmyways]

 I am looking for this decking product in Thailand. American product with no Thai dealer. Yes I could use conwood or similar but the main point is this is a self draining decking.

 

WHY DUXXBAK?

Eliminates the need for secondary underdeck or internal membrane drainage systems.

Superior color retention

Resistant to mold, mildew, decay, and scratching

Industry-leading ratings for mechanical strength and durability

Spans joists at 24” OC

Easy to install

Unique brushed finish

Multiple complementary railing options

Contains no wood flour unlike our wood composite competitors

Increases functional outdoor living space by up to 100%

Outdoor furniture can safely be stored under the deck

Limited lifetime warranty

[VocalNeal]

Most Euro/US products are made to save labour. As labour is cheap here then they become less relevant.

 

The problem with the so called frustration is the search for perfection in a country where perfection is not a valued attribute.  It is not necessarily lowering one's standards but simply realizing there are different standards. 

 

Blue pipe? There are different classes. Use whichever is approppriate. 

[CGW]

On 6/28/2019 at 8:41 PM, kamalabob2 said:

Most every modern building product is available in Thailand.

You paint a "rosy" picture, sure they are available, if you can find them & then justify the cost. Thai customs are not shy to tax anything and everything they are able to, then add VAT on top of the taxes making the majority of imported goods prohibitively expensive.

[KhaoYai]

On 6/27/2019 at 8:42 AM, eyecatcher said:

It was next best for me, ppe hot welded. Very awkward to do in situ in corners, regretted doing it really.

I think you mean PPR and yes, very awkward - easier on a new build but as a retro.......difficult.  I had burns all over my arms because I don't have the four arms required to use the PPR welder ????

[KhaoYai]

I looked into importing a pushfit system as a business.  I showed the system to several Thai builders who were very impressed until they saw the price - about 15 baht for a 15mm blue plastic solvent weld 100 baht for a push fit.

[Lacessit]

Why would anyone want to do it themselves here? Plenty of people willing to do it for you, cheaply.

Recently I had my Vios refurbished at the 150,000 km mark.

New spark plugs, air filter, oil filter. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, engine oil changed out. Front disc brake linings replaced, one rotted CV seal replaced. Tune up. Rear handbrake adjusted.

7500 baht, including labour. I could have done it myself, but at that price, why bother?

[eyecatcher]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Why would anyone want to do it themselves here? Plenty of people willing to do it for you, cheaply.

Recently I had my Vios refurbished at the 150,000 km mark.

New spark plugs, air filter, oil filter. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, engine oil changed out. Front disc brake linings replaced, one rotted CV seal replaced. Tune up. Rear handbrake adjusted.

7500 baht, including labour. I could have done it myself, but at that price, why bother?

I am happy for you! I gave my Honda dealership three days notice that we are bringing the car in for one replacement headlamp bulb.

Already had the "I can do" conversation witwife but no they know what they are doing.

 

First excuse was they dont have the LED bulb in stock (well drive around and get one)

But thry could replace both of them with standard halogen for 780bt each.

Had i not been on a handfull of calm down tablets they would have had a right gobfull from me.

Found 2 in a box halogen plasmas at Big c for 110bt and fitted myself (what an ultimate ball ache that was going under the wheelarch)

 

Apologies for going off topic....I didnt start it.

[Chazar]

On 6/27/2019 at 2:42 PM, eyecatcher said:

Yes blue pipework is childsplay if done correct but when you have a high pressure pump at one end thats when blue can fail.

various grades i use 13.5 thats the bar rating i  guess? and also there is a MUCH better glue than that water like  piss they see everywhere, its made by scg I  think and costs a  lot  more than the watery stuff. In long  runs 100metres  Ive used hdpe as no  joints = less chance  of leaks

[Chazar]

On 6/28/2019 at 8:41 PM, kamalabob2 said:

For the OP: Most every modern building product is available in Thailand. If you attend the annual architect Expo held in early May at Impact you can see over 800 booths of building materials. Pimaflex is but one brand of white water pipe readily available in Thailand. Maybe a brand really made in Germany costs more than a brand made in China. It is possible for a German plumber to install Pimaflex plumbing in your home in Thailand for a fee that is far less than in the UK.  Green PPR  welded is the pipe of choice of at least one home builder I know. Not just for hot water, but for all water under pressure in a home. If a person can plan at least two weeks in advance and pay in advance to prove they are serious, a motivated builders merchant can get most any product, as long as the supplier really has the product in their warehouse. No one store has every wall tile or floor tile on display. But if the tile is a current style at the warehouse then it should not be more than two seeks to arrive. I've ordered items that arrive the very next day such as special Weber brand adhesive. Next morning since the store ordered a few pallets of Weber. The OP can speak English or German with the importer of Pimaflex and at least one builders merchants store has staff who can speak German and English. 

I used pimaflex 7 years ago available at Thai watsadu in rolls with the fittings also available.

Edited July 3, 2019 by Chazar

[Chazar]

3 minutes ago, Chazar said:

Recently I had my Vios refurbished

i  wouldnt  call  that  refurbished  thats just  normal  servicing 

[CharlieH]

Negative generalisation remark removed.

[eyecatcher]

1 hour ago, Chazar said:

various grades i use 13.5 thats the bar rating i  guess? and also there is a MUCH better glue than that water like  piss they see everywhere, its made by scg I  think and costs a  lot  more than the watery stuff. In long  runs 100metres  Ive used hdpe as no  joints = less chance  of leaks

AFAIK the pipe sizing is the guage and nothing to do with pressure.

 

5,8.5,13.5 are available but the grade 5 will only last a year outside in the sun before it turns to brittle glass. Notice how quick they from blue to white.

 

All joint fittings are graded 13.5 so the integrity of most pipework is down to the pipe grade and the attention given to joint gluing.

 

I have picked up those green, red/white tins of glue for years just randomly and never noticed any difference between them. They all do the job well.

But its when the pump is running, thats the real proof of the pudding.

[sometimewoodworker]

4 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

AFAIK the pipe sizing is the guage and nothing to do with pressure.

 

5,8.5,13.5 are available but the grade 5 will only last a year outside in the sun before it turns to brittle glass. Notice how quick they from blue to white.

 

All joint fittings are graded 13.5 so the integrity of most pipework is down to the pipe grade and the attention given to joint gluing.

Sorry the ratings are pressure ratings the wall thickness is directly related to the pressure rating, the bends an other fittings  are not all graded at 13.5, I have some thinner ones in my stock

 

Quote

1. Working pressures of PVC pipes class PVC 5, PVC 8.5 and PVC 13.5 are 5, 8.5 and 13.5 kgf/cm² at 27ºC respectively.

Also you have missed the grade 0 or 0 kgf/cm2 available from 65mm 2 ½ " and up, though it is grey not blue.

 

dont forget that you have to derate the pressure as the temperature rises, so at 40degrees they will be around 3, 5.5, and 9 kgf/cm2

Edited July 3, 2019 by sometimewoodworker

[David B in Thailand]

Thai Pipe PVC Cleaner is widely available at better Builders Merchants Stores in Thailand.  To prevent PVC water pipe problems for under 270 baht was a worthwhile investment whenever I have had homes built in Thailand. I believe SCG Chang PVC Pipe cleaner is also at every HomeMart. Using the right tool can make any D.I.Y. job go better in my experience.  

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, David B in Thailand said:

Thai Pipe PVC Cleaner is widely available at better Builders Merchants Stores in Thailand.

No it is not. It may be sold in your own shop, but it is as common as hens teeth in any of the shops I go to. Global House, DoHome, Thai Wasted, HomePro and ToolPro.

[eyecatcher]

5 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Sorry the ratings are pressure ratings the wall thickness is directly related to the pressure rating, the bends an other fittings  are not all graded at 13.5, I have some thinner ones in my stock

 

Also you have missed the grade 0 or 0 kgf/cm2 available from 65mm 2 ½ " and up, though it is grey not blue.

 

dont forget that you have to derate the pressure as the temperature rises, so at 40degrees they will be around 3, 5.5, and 9 kgf/cm2

Your included pressure quote doesn't appear to attach.

but can you explain that sentence and how exactly a grade 5 differs from a 13.5 in terms of pressure.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

11 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

Your included pressure quote doesn't appear to attach.

but can you explain that sentence and how exactly a grade 5 differs from a 13.5 in terms of pressure.

 

That depends on the ambient temperature. At 27 degrees 13.5 pipe is 8.5 kgf/cm2 stronger than 5 pipe.

 

as the temperature rises the strength of the pipe reduces, over 60 degrees the strength is virtually 0. At 40 degrees C  the 13.5 pipe has its strength reduced from 13.5 kgf/cm2 to approximately 9 kgf/cm2 

 

conversely at 20 degrees a 13.5 pipe will have a pressure rating higher than 13.5 kgf/cm2, though I don't know how much higher.

 

the charts available are for UK or US pipe and those have a different, lower, base temperature  

Edited July 4, 2019 by sometimewoodworker