Building Standards In Phuket

[petercallen]

I have been watching two building projects (houses) in Rawai

One is built to quite a reasonable standard for the owner

The other is being built to a very poor standard, a minimum amount of cement between the cement blocks

with no cement between the sides of the blocks and the walls are not straight

One of the swimming pool shells ( they are not finished ) is leaking water from the rain

There are quite a few other faults in the buildings as well.

If anyone intends to get a house built by a spec builder a suggest you check the building regularly.

[falkan]

build fast sell quick , another shophouse?

[Shot]

They have building standards here?

[petercallen]

build fast sell quick , another shophouse?

No just a normal house which people call Villas here

[katabeachbum]

In 2007 my neighbor and I started to build same day. Same builder. We both fell out with the builder at same time. Quality was good, but slow and ploblems every day. Builder completed structure up to 2nd floor concrete swimming pool floor in both houses.

I continued with emplyoees, IOW I became my own builder. Super quality of course

My neighbor struggled to find a builder to complete at a price they could live with. They finally hooked up with one. As I was there I watched the terrible quality provided. Visible end result: Leaking poolwalls on second floor, leaking flat/slab roof and all balconies, piping problems, electrical problems endless list

These are the visible problems. Sad to say I know the structure is of similar quality.

I am not saying quality depends on price. Seen plenty of 15million baht build with terrible quality, often hidden behind nice surfaces

Quality depends on agreed spec (concrete, rebars, designs and materials), and to make sure this happens, one must be at sight several times a day.

One case, was building a small guest bungalow in Chalong. Wateripes where being done, to be covered with concrete next morning. I knew we didnt have enough pvc13,5 bends to complete. Came to inspect 5 pm and all covered in concrete. Demanded concrete removed, and what did I find? Waterpipes where yellow pvc (very thin), would brake in days or months. Under the bathroomfloor.

[Shot]

Sadly, it's not just here. Standards may be in place but are not always followed, including the US, OZ, UK and the country your from, no one is safe. Most subcontractors will cut corners every chance they get. The only sure way of maintaining a high standard is to be on site every day as KBB pointed out. And, when subcontractors aren't cutting corners, they are probably performing devious acts with their spare time on your property. I have walked at least a few thousand job sites. You wouldn't believe some of the things I have seen. There is a good chance that your bedroom wall contains: Urine, beer cans, poop, vomit, sperm, used condoms (sperm again), used tampons, cigarette butts, chewing tobacco spit. And, the occasional dead body. If you think your exempt…..your wrong……..Sorry　

Edited August 12, 2011 by Shot

[petercallen]

Where i come from all work is carried out by trades people with apprentices or labourers to assist them

each specialists in there own field

If you are not happy with the work you go to the local government and they send out a qualified builder to

inspect the job and make sure its up to government building standards.

Here the same underpaid workers do everything except the electrical work at the site i have been watching

The work is sub standard and i can see big problems with the houses in the future

[Valentine]

Where i come from all work is carried out by trades people with apprentices or labourers to assist them

each specialists in there own field

If you are not happy with the work you go to the local government and they send out a qualified builder to

inspect the job and make sure its up to government building standards.

Here the same underpaid workers do everything except the electrical work at the site i have been watching

The work is sub standard and i can see big problems with the houses in the future

Are they the homes on the corner next to you as for a long time progress seemed really slow. Maybe run out of money or not paying workers which is very common. I am currently waiting for some workers to join our crew but they wont budge until they get their promised overdue payment from current employer.

[petercallen]

Where i come from all work is carried out by trades people with apprentices or labourers to assist them

each specialists in there own field

If you are not happy with the work you go to the local government and they send out a qualified builder to

inspect the job and make sure its up to government building standards.

Here the same underpaid workers do everything except the electrical work at the site i have been watching

The work is sub standard and i can see big problems with the houses in the future

Are they the homes on the corner next to you as for a long time progress seemed really slow. Maybe run out of money or not paying workers which is very common. I am currently waiting for some workers to join our crew but they wont budge until they get their promised overdue payment from current employer.

You are right , they have changed the work force three times, they stop work because they have not been paid

then after this has happened a couple of times once they are paid up to date they leave