Salary for expert with lumber

[TheTraveler2025]

I wanted to build house with lumber. I wanted to get 3-4 people for about 1 month of work. This is in North Thiland. What is the price per day I need to pay?? How much the main guy/expert charges and how much the helpers? I will provide all the tools and machines need for the work with the lumber. Do they work per day salary or they work as a project per square metter?? 

Thanks

P.S. whats the working hours?? Is it from 8am-11am then 1pm-4pm

Edited May 18, 2020 by TheTraveler2025

[jvs]

First you make sure you get the right people,a lot have no work now so you may be lucky.

The helpers should be ok with 300 baht per day but that would also depend on their skill level.

The main guy?Again it depends,if you hire him directly and not use a builder you can negotiate.

My house is not build in wood but the expert builder i have i always pay him 1000 baht per day.

Before you all say that is way too much ,i can just hand him a plan and he takes care of it.

No need to check his work really,everything is aways straight and (on) the level.

A good worker is worth good money imo ,no double work or headache.

I know there are some excellent wood workers in Thailand.

You can always check what they have build before and take it from there.

They may want to use their own tools because they know how to use them.

Don't forget to treat the wood a few times,you will get termites.

[Kwasaki]

In Sukhothai we pay the guy we use 500 day and 350 for labour or he will price per sq.M depends on the type of build or when it comes to the end finishing work.

The only person we have used that could be called an expert is a carpenter.

Usually work hours 8 till 5 with breaks for day work,  piecework up to them. 

[TheTraveler2025]

4 minutes ago, jvs said:

First you make sure you get the right people,a lot have no work now so you may be lucky.

The helpers should be ok with 300 baht per day but that would also depend on their skill level.

The main guy?Again it depends,if you hire him directly and not use a builder you can negotiate.

My house is not build in wood but the expert builder i have i always pay him 1000 baht per day.

Before you all say that is way too much ,i can just hand him a plan and he takes care of it.

No need to check his work really,everything is aways straight and (on) the level.

A good worker is worth good money imo ,no double work or headache.

I know there are some excellent wood workers in Thailand.

You can always check what they have build before and take it from there.

They may want to use their own tools because they know how to use them.

Don't forget to treat the wood a few times,you will get termites.

Thanks thats excelent input. I agree with you, person should not budget on the main guy. Before I build a house of cement, i got the wrong people. The problems.... Thats also I want to pay per day. If the things go bad, I can give them 2-3 days extra salary and try to find another one. How do you treat the wood and how long does it take before is ready for construction, from the cutting day?? I got some books and things on the internet. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by TheTraveler2025

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

How do you treat the wood and how long does it take before is ready for construction, from the cutting day?? I got some books and things on the internet. 

 

If you have to ask this kind of question you probably don't want to build a wooden house I'm afraid.

 

What kind of timber are you thinking about?

How long will you expect your house to last?

 

EDIT There are specialist companies designing and building wooden homes. You need to talk to one of them I think.

 

[northsouthdevide]

Regarding your question what to treat wood with, 

Ive learned from the locals around here that the best wood is old wood (second hand), from a previously demolished house  

There are more than one reasons for this. 

1 reason is acquiring new hardwood these days is very difficult, and a lot of the time, it is confiscated by the police shortly after delivery because of illegal logging. 

Another reason is that if the wood has already been around for 20 years and never attracted termites, then it likely never will, whereas its a gamble with new wood, unless you're 100% sure what type of tree it's from. 

And lastly, new wood is still wet, and likely to shrink and bend or twist after you've applied it to your house. 

The treatment that I mostly see used around here for both old and new wood is called UNITANE or UNITAIN, not sure of the spelling, but it's the good stuff. 

[varun]

Don't setup a per-diem fee.

Somchai will take his own sweet time to milk you for the most days possible.

Instead setup a total budget, based on your estimate of how long the job will take.

 

 

[Crossy]

33 minutes ago, varun said:

Don't setup a per-diem fee.

Somchai will take his own sweet time to milk you for the most days possible.

Instead setup a total budget, based on your estimate of how long the job will take.

 

Agree!!

 

Fixed price contract every time, you can do stage payments for each completed step but don't do anything on a day rate.

 

[lopburi3]

3 hours ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

I wanted to build house with lumber

You are aware there are several good reason most people do not build with lumber unless teak or cheap?  Good luck finding qualified workers and protecting your home from termites and floods.

[TheTraveler2025]

46 minutes ago, varun said:

Don't setup a per-diem fee.

Somchai will take his own sweet time to milk you for the most days possible.

Instead setup a total budget, based on your estimate of how long the job will take.

 

 

Yes that is true. But there is flip side on project type payment. They are going to work over time. Usually they don’t accept any correction, or changes on the fly. And if something turn bad, they are going to collect the money anyways.

[TheTraveler2025]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

If you have to ask this kind of question you probably don't want to build a wooden house I'm afraid.

 

What kind of timber are you thinking about?

How long will you expect your house to last?

 

EDIT There are specialist companies designing and building wooden homes. You need to talk to one of them I think.

 

I want to live in the house not work on it. Thats why i'm asking all this questions. 

Actually I was thinking 2 options oak or teak. I have import options available. I'm not to concern about the authorities.

I want to last 40-50 year. I mean there is wood houses in USA last 100+ year no problem.

 

[TheTraveler2025]

16 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

You are aware there are several good reason most people do not build with lumber unless teak or cheap?  Good luck finding qualified workers and protecting your home from termites and floods.

The wood house is much healthier then cement house. I might build attach units from Cement (like dirty kitchen storage place etc. from cement.)

[Crossy]

5 minutes ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

I mean there is wood houses in USA last 100+ year no problem.

 

The US is a very different environment.

 

Teak would be good (do you have the tools to deal with a tropical hardwood?) but it's tightly controlled and you really do not want to get caught with dicey teak (even with your connections). Oak? I don't know how the local wildlife would react, it might find it delicious.

 

There are a number of other local timbers that last well and resist the local wildlife with minimal treatment.

 

I'd still be going with one of the specialist contractors.

 

[lopburi3]

6 minutes ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

I want to last 40-50 year. I mean there is wood houses in USA last 100+ year no problem.

Not sure why you believe cement home is unhealthy but I grew up in a wooden New Hampshire home that was built in 1775 so yes they do last with maintenance (if they do not burn down).  But as mentioned this is not the USA and most wood homes here do not last more than a few decades at best and construction/knowledge is keyed to cement.  Lumber (good) is also not a cheap construction material here. 

[Crossy]

9 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Lumber (good) is also not a cheap construction material here. 

 

Yup, anything you would build using lumber back home would be cheaper and more durable using steel here. Weird I know but that's just how it works out.

 

Our pool deck is based upon a timber design but built in steel with Conwood decking. Cheap and long lasting.

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Yup, anything you would build using lumber back home would be cheaper and more durable using steel here. Weird I know but that's just how it works out.

 

Our pool deck is based upon a timber design but built in steel with Conwood decking. Cheap and long lasting.

I much prefer to work with steel, circular cutting blade and a welder rather than wood.

Easier to cut, easier to join.

[Isan Farang]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

If you have to ask this kind of question you probably don't want to build a wooden house I'm afraid.

 

What kind of timber are you thinking about?

How long will you expect your house to last?

 

EDIT There are specialist companies designing and building wooden homes. You need to talk to one of them I think.

 

I had some thoughts about a smallish wooden house in Chiang Rai, after checking out all the info I decided to give it a miss. The cost for the correct hardwood required is big bucks.

 

People mention looking for used wood from old buildings, yes it is available but the sellers know the market and even used proper hardwood costs are very high.

 

You need to do your homework and have good knowledge on what type of wood they are selling you, most new wood now used in Thailand is imported. You need good contacts to assist on finding the wood and providing the correct building crew.

[Crossy]

17 minutes ago, Isan Farang said:

People mention looking for used wood from old buildings,

 

Our picnic table was a rice barn, then a house, then a chicken house now a nice table and benches. I can't believe that it's been 3 years since I made that table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sometimewoodworker]

5 hours ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

I wanted to build house with lumber.

You must be used to North American building practices. 

 

You will pay at least 5 times more than if you build with concrete and steel. You will pay at least 2 to 5 times the labour costs maybe more if you can find skilled workers.

 

Wood and other things from old houses are often more expensive than new wood and do not stay in the recycling yards for long.

 

There is someone who did refurbish and extend an existing wood house in the greater ChangMai area you can find the story on cool Thai house.

 

if you think that 3~4 people will build it in a month, unless it’s really really small, you are dreaming.

 

you’re not in Kansas any more

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by sometimewoodworker

[TheTraveler2025]

12 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

You must be used to North American building practices. 

 

You will pay at least 5 times more than if you build with concrete and steel. You will pay at least 2 to 5 times the labour costs maybe more if you can find skilled workers.

 

Wood and other things from old houses are often more expensive than new wood and do not stay in the recycling yards for long.

 

There is someone who did refurbish and extend an existing wood house in the greater ChangMai area you can find the story on cool Thai house.

 

if you think that 3~4 people will build it in a month, unless it’s really really small, you are dreaming.

 

you’re not in Kansas any more

 

Not sure where do you come up with the numbers. I did calculation doesnt look that expensive. Also with machines, the work with wood is fast. At least thats my thinking. I was thinking the house. Not the roof and not the window and the doors. That will be extra. Just the house is about a month, if they work nice. 

 

P.S.

I have build cement houses before. Can not be THAT different

Edited May 18, 2020 by TheTraveler2025

[sometimewoodworker]

18 minutes ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

 

I have build cement houses before. Can not be THAT different

In the US no. In Thailand it is. Unless you expect it to be eaten by powder post grubs and termites within a short time.

 

do you have the tools? If not then expect them to be around  150% to 200% of the USA prices if they are even available. You can’t rent tools you have to buy them, you can try selling them after but that’s not simple as there’s not much of a market.

Edited May 18, 2020 by sometimewoodworker

[Isan Farang]

50 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Our picnic table was a rice barn, then a house, then a chicken house now a nice table and benches. I can't believe that it's been 3 years since I made that table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I purchased a table and bench seat in Chiang Rai, the table is made from very old hardwood.

[vogie]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

Our picnic table was a rice barn, then a house, then a chicken house now a nice table and benches. I can't believe that it's been 3 years since I made that table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just need a blue plastic seat to finish mine off.????????????

 

 

[chickenslegs]

Timber homes can be bought here ...

http://www.thailannahome.com/price.html

 

Look a bit pricey, but nice.

[Susco]

13 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

You can’t rent tools you have to buy them, you can try selling them after but that’s not simple as there’s not much of a market.

Wonder why you make that statement, when 1 year ago you posted this.

 

Near where I live, on road 331 there is also a company that rents all kinds of building tools, and I have rented from them several times when I wasz building my house

 

 

[lopburi3]

43 minutes ago, TheTraveler2025 said:

P.S.

I have build cement houses before. Can not be THAT different

If in USA not built the same as here AFAIK.  Here walls are not used for any support and can be as thin or thick or removed as you wish - homes are supported by reinforced beams.  Almost all locations are subject to occasional flash flooding due heavy rains/runoff so having cement is a lot better than wood or gypsum.  Tile floors are also normal here for coolness and easy cleanup.   

[sometimewoodworker]

11 hours ago, Susco said:

Wonder why you make that statement, when 1 year ago you posted this.

 

Near where I live, on road 331 there is also a company that rents all kinds of building tools, and I have rented from them several times when I wasz building my house

Not me, I have no idea where road 331 is.

 

The only website SWMBO  found had no wood working tools they were only things like professional level road making tools and generators and we never contacted them as our builders had everything. I have no idea if they are still in business.

 

If you can find anyone who will rent woodwork tools or DIY tools please prove me wrong and post full details so others can also benefit.

 

The only place I know is in Udon and you have to take anything you want to modify to them. They will allow you to use some/all of the tools they have in their workshop. I don’t know what they have.

Edited May 18, 2020 by sometimewoodworker