03 : Building a house - Nong Kung Si - Questions

[Petey303]

Working on my house plan details and running into some questions. Differences between a build in the USA in a place with 4 seasons, and a build in Isaan. Any help greatly appreciated!

1). What do you think about a whole house fan? I want one, but I am not sure if this is a dumb idea. We use it to pull in cool air at night.

2). Electric Car voltage - I want two drops in the garage for electric car charging. Any idea what a standard circuit for that is in Thailand?

3). Outdoor shower - anyone do this? Seems like it would be really nice in Thailand.

4). Attic access - none of my drawings have attic access. Is there a reason it is not included in Thailand? I plan on insulating the attic and it would be nice to be able to get up there to maintain anything, get to wiring, whatever.

5). Steam room - anyone put in a steam room fixture in the bathroom? Seems nice in the USA, not sure about Thailand.

6). Termite control - what is needed in Thailand?

 

I really appreciate the feedback. I am currently reading, reading, reading... thanks for all the suggestions and the pointers on where to find info.

[Crossy]

I can shed light on a couple ????

 

2) Car charging point. The Thai electrical regulations haven't made it into the 21st century yet in this regard. I would install a 32A "Commando" socket, 3-phase if your house has a 3-phase supply, on it's own circuit from the distribution board. That should meet the requirements of pretty much any car.

 

4) Definitely, all our attic spaces are accessible even if they don't have "farang strength" floors. Good for inspection if any wildlife is setting up home, make sure the holes are farang sized.

 

6) You don't want termites setting up home under your house. Most termite control consists of pipes and distributors under the slab. Speak to a specialist provider. Discussed here https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/481794-housebuilding-thread/?do=findComment&comment=4631317

 

 

 

[northsouthdevide]

The outside shower is a cool idea. 

Privacy and access would be two issues that I would think most about when designing. 

I guess it would have to be off your bedroom or en-suite to stop you walking wet feet marks through your house. 

As for a charger in your garage, do you have a plug in car already? 

If you build your garage on the south side with no shade, you could install solar with a lithium lifepo power pack to charge your car every night. 

If you don't have the car yet, building the garage in close proximity to an unshaded south facing area would allow you to retro fit this system later. 

As for the steamroom, I already have one at home. 

Its called a South facing bathroom. 

If I sit in there for more than 10 mins in daytime, it has the same affect as a sauner ????. 

What ever house you build, there will always be something that you wish you did or didn't do after it's finished, but the fact that you're putting so much thought into the planning, will make that list smaller the more you think things through. 

I'm also in the planning stage, and my missus is sick of me already. 

She says we haven't even finished raising the ground yet, and your taking about plug sockets ????

[JoeMc]

Highly recommend.. and included in my build ..

2 kitchens and 2 fridges ..farang and thai 

2 large his and her wet and dry bathrooms with proper farang windows 

Get quality windows and doors not the cheap rubbish u see in DIY stores 

Maximum number of entry / exit points   (I have 5) .. e.g. great to be able exit your bedroom to the garden

Extended roof to maximise the decking area

With 5 garden hose points who needs a fixed shower ??

Lighting and electrics a challenge ..

On your plan  include tree to maximise shade and get them in ASAP ..

Etc...

[uncleP]

All of what you reqire are easy. U just ask for them. For your car charger just have a couple of sockets  in your garage.

[Petey303]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

I can shed light on a couple ????

 

2) Car charging point. The Thai electrical regulations haven't made it into the 21st century yet in this regard. I would install a 32A "Commando" socket, 3-phase if your house has a 3-phase supply, on it's own circuit from the distribution board. That should meet the requirements of pretty much any car.

 

4) Definitely, all our attic spaces are accessible even if they don't have "farang strength" floors. Good for inspection if any wildlife is setting up home, make sure the holes are farang sized.

 

6) You don't want termites setting up home under your house. Most termite control consists of pipes and distributors under the slab. Speak to a specialist provider. Discussed here https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/481794-housebuilding-thread/?do=findComment&comment=4631317

 

 

 

Thanks Crossy!

 

I added in the info on the car chargers and added the attic access. I looked at your post on termite control and I will ask the builder about that. Thanks.

 

New question - How about exhaust fans from the bathrooms and kitchen? Do those get blown into the attic? Or something different in Thailand?

 

 

[Crossy]

1 minute ago, Petey303 said:

How about exhaust fans from the bathrooms and kitchen? Do those get blown into the attic? Or something different in Thailand?

 

Our kitchen exhaust (from the cooker hood) goes through the wall to outside.

 

Our bathrooms don't have extractors, all have pretty big windows and louvres in the doors which gives a pretty good airflow anyway. If you do use fans they too should exhaust to outside (into the roof space is a really bad idea).

[Petey303]

2 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

The outside shower is a cool idea. 

Privacy and access would be two issues that I would think most about when designing. 

I guess it would have to be off your bedroom or en-suite to stop you walking wet feet marks through your house.

I was thinking outside off the first floor, but you bring up something better. We have a balcony off the master bedroom, maybe I can get one out there. I'll think about that.

 

2 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

As for a charger in your garage, do you have a plug in car already? 

 

Not yet, we have them in America and plan to get one at some point in Thailand.

 

2 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

build your garage on the south side

It is on the north side ???? I also heard that solar is not good in Thailand due to the hail storms.

 

2 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

As for the steamroom, I already have one at home. 

Its called a South facing bathroom.

????????????

 

2 hours ago, northsouthdevide said:

I'm also in the planning stage, and my missus is sick of me already. 

 

My wife has been great, we are going through everything together. She has to explain the updates to the builder, so there is more pressure on her. I think we are equally pedantic which helps ????

 

Thanks for the help northsouthdevide

 

 

 

[Crossy]

1 minute ago, Petey303 said:

I also heard that solar is not good in Thailand due to the hail storms.

 

We've been here since 2004, never seen hail. Quality panels should be hail resistant anyway.

[Crossy]

Oh, for when your man asks (he will).

 

This is a 32A single-phase Commando plug.

 

 

and this is the 3-phase version. You need the 5 pin type (3x phase, N and E)

 

 

 

[Daffy D]

We have a 10in through wall fan to outside in the shower room as well as a regular wall fan.

 

In the hot season the cement block walls act like a storage heater and sometimes need both fans just not to come out of the shower and sweat up almost immediately.

 

 

[Daffy D]

A point regarding "Whole House" fans.

 

Sounds like a good idea, unfortunately if the ambient outside temperature is in the +35/40C. no amount of blowing air is going to make the house any cooler.

 

However they do help at night when the outside air is cooler, unless the humidity is high in which case you will still feel "sticky"

 

 

[JoeMc]

Single story or double ....strongly suggest single ..due to high ceilings stairs can be steep ..get older ..problem 

[Petey303]

14 hours ago, JoeMc said:

Single story or double ....strongly suggest single ..due to high ceilings stairs can be steep ..get older ..problem 

Hi JoeMc, It is a double story. I added a bedroom downstairs for when I get old.

[dinga]

16 hours ago, Daffy D said:

A point regarding "Whole House" fans.

 

Sounds like a good idea, unfortunately if the ambient outside temperature is in the +35/40C. no amount of blowing air is going to make the house any cooler.

 

However they do help at night when the outside air is cooler, unless the humidity is high in which case you will still feel "sticky"

 

 

Agreed - but what about a reversible fan?  (have often thought about a whole of house fan to provide airflow during daytime - much like wall/standing fans)

[Moonfire]

If you can't take it with you then don't build or buy.

 

Whatever you sink into this project is gone, have no right to own land so you are out of luck. Even if you lease does not mean you can stay in the country.

 

Spend your time and coin just so you can come back to this forum 5 years from now to ask what opinions you have to try to save your investment.... which are none!

[misterphil]

5 hours ago, Petey303 said:

Hi JoeMc, It is a double story. I added a bedroom downstairs for when I get old.

I would never ever live in a 2 storey house here again. They are far too hot upstairs. 

[Bredbury Blue]

Based on problems at my house over the years:

 

1. You need access to roof spaces, particularly any low roofs, so you can put in rat-traps (baited cages for a humane way to catch them)...as they WILL come.

 

2. We've had termite problems twice, once requiring replacing ceilings they'd attacked. Since then we pay for a termite prevention company to take care.

 

3. We have lovely marble bathrooms, problem is we have visible rising damp marks as the builder clearly didn't include any damp-proof membrane.

 

4. We've had problems with water pipe leaks. Cheap to fix but a <deleted> to find the leak.

 

5. Being in isaan consider seriously water storage.

 

6. Outdoor shower is a great idea. Don't have one but have used at several hotels and it's nice to give your plums some fresh air.

[ThaiFelix]

We are approx 40 kms from you and get hail about once a year although not big enough to affect solar panels.  Some areas up here do get some big hail (as big as lemons) from time to time such as in Nakhon Phanom and Udon Thani but we have been here 6 years and yet to see the big damaging stuff.

[Crossy]

An couple of off-topic posts have been removed.

 

This is NOT a rent/buy/build thread. If you want that discussion please start your own.

[Crossy]

2 hours ago, misterphil said:

I would never ever live in a 2 storey house here again. They are far too hot upstairs. 

 

It depends upon your design.

 

We based our home on traditional Thai layouts and the upstairs rooms, whilst warm, are habitable even with no A/C. Airflow and shade are the keys.

 

[AAArdvark]

By whole house fan do you mean a roof exhaust fan?   If so, be very careful if you also have air conditioning.  If the fan is improperly placed or there are leaks, the fan will draw the cool indoor air and replace it with the hot outdoor air.

[donmuang37]

On 5/9/2020 at 12:00 PM, Crossy said:

 

Our kitchen exhaust (from the cooker hood) goes through the wall to outside.

 

Our bathrooms don't have extractors, all have pretty big windows and louvres in the doors which gives a pretty good airflow anyway. If you do use fans they too should exhaust to outside (into the roof space is a really bad idea).

Very much respect Crossy who has a wealth of ideas and experience. But my experience on exhaust fans is slightly different. We installed 2 exhaust fans in 2nd floor bathrooms. They vent into the ceiling which has 100 cm of blown in insulation. We have lived here for 17 years and the fans are still working. No problems in the attic either.  I had them installed to pull air conditioned air in from the bedroom to cool down the bathroom and they do that. Nevertheless, Crossy is probably right that it is best to vent them outside, if practical. Note that our house is located on the northern edge of Bangkok, not Isaan. Good luck!

[Huckenfell]

On 5/9/2020 at 10:27 AM, JoeMc said:

Highly recommend.. and included in my build ..

2 kitchens and 2 fridges ..farang and thai 

2 large his and her wet and dry bathrooms with proper farang windows 

Get quality windows and doors not the cheap rubbish u see in DIY stores 

Maximum number of entry / exit points   (I have 5) .. e.g. great to be able exit your bedroom to the garden

Extended roof to maximise the decking area

With 5 garden hose points who needs a fixed shower ??

Lighting and electrics a challenge ..

On your plan  include tree to maximise shade and get them in ASAP ..

Etc...

What will you use to build the external

walls with ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Huckenfell]

On 5/9/2020 at 2:50 PM, Daffy D said:

A point regarding "Whole House" fans.

 

Sounds like a good idea, unfortunately if the ambient outside temperature is in the +35/40C. no amount of blowing air is going to make the house any cooler.

 

However they do help at night when the outside air is cooler, unless the humidity is high in which case you will still feel "sticky"

 

 

Forget about cement blocks, they heat up during the day. The answer is the insulated Q-Con  blocks, the heat does not get through them and they are larger and so much faster to build with.

[Huckenfell]

On 5/9/2020 at 12:14 PM, Daffy D said:

We have a 10in through wall fan to outside in the shower room as well as a regular wall fan.

 

In the hot season the cement block walls act like a storage heater and sometimes need both fans just not to come out of the shower and sweat up almost immediately.

 

 

Cut cooling costs, use Q-Con insulated blocks.

[Huckenfell]

3 hours ago, misterphil said:

I would never ever live in a 2 storey house here again. They are far too hot upstairs. 

I expect that you used concrete blocks for outer walls. What do you expect as they heat up with the sun during the day.

[Stevemercer]

9 hours ago, dinga said:

Agreed - but what about a reversible fan?  (have often thought about a whole of house fan to provide airflow during daytime - much like wall/standing fans)

 

The design of the house, if possible, could incorporate screened windows/doors to achieve the same flow through effect. During March - August it is often 30 degrees plus at night and I don't think circulating outside air will help. The best (and cheapest) idea is to plant fast growing tall shade trees along the western aspect to keep that side of the house in shade as the sun sets after about 4:00 pm. 

 

Make sure you plan your drainage well for the intense rainfall. You want gutters and wide eaves to keep the the worst of the rain off the walls/windows. Direct the runoff away from the house through contouring and landscaping.

 

Do not use black tiles in wet areas, stick to porcelin for toilets and waching basins. Don't waste a lot of money on fancy tap systems. The water is mineralised and it is easier to replace a tap than to try and fix a complicated mechanism. Keep it simple. It is hard work cleaning the stains off the black tiles, but they won't show on white tiles/porcelin. Keep away from fancy fittings that could rust. Glass also shows water stains badly.

 

I would prefer a single-story design myself given the easier access to everything. Maybe your site is constrained in size. It will still be a tall structure assuming 3 metre ceilings and another 3 metres of roof cavity. All my mates with double-story houses regret it after 10 years or so. The upstairs plumbing inevitably leaks, roof leaks are difficult to access and it is always a couple of degrees hotter.

 

If you look at a typical Thai house the upper story often becomes uninhabitable after 10 years or so. Of course, a good design and build can avoid all of this. Just be aware that most Thai people think a big fancy house gives them status. 

 

Build for what you want and not just because you can build a fancy house for a fraction of the price you would pay in America. Many farang go overboard and end up with a massively over-capatalised house in the middle of nowhere. That's fine if that is what you want, but maybe it is really is excessive for your needs. Also remember the risk that excess bedrooms may get filled up with relatives and freeloaders.. 

 

 

[transam]

My place is two stories, downstairs stays cool with just ceiling fans, upstairs gets hot but A/C soon takes off the temp in bedrooms to let a ceiling fan take over. Save A/C cash.

 

Staircase, put a lot of thought into that so you have a pitch that is easy to climb.

 

Toilets/showers, I had 6" Atari wall fans fitted high up into the walls, if the builder knows, he will leave the correct size openings whilst laying bricks. These fans work great to get rid of any condensation etc, I also had glass bricks laid either side of the fan openings for extra light.. ...

Do not do the Thai shower/toilet plan, where water goes all over the place, plan so you do not get soggy feet getting up in the night for a pee. I had a brick cubical built in, then tiled, and a curtain rail, the entrance has a low level step in, also from brick then tiled, nice dry bathroom...???? 

[misterphil]

35 minutes ago, Huckenfell said:

I expect that you used concrete blocks for outer walls. What do you expect as they heat up with the sun during the day.

Don't expect anything. I'm referring to the houses we rented in the past. These were brick and had wooden flooring upstairs that soaked up all the heat during the day and never cooled down at night.