BoJangles Budget Bungalow in the Boonies

[mrbojangles]

As mentioned, went up to the boonies for a few days with a host of tasks to do so they can get on with it. The list included:-

Get Electric connected = complete

Make additions/alterations to some designs = changes complete and work now in progress

Get village water supply to the house = complete

Finalise layout of the concrete path around the house = complete

Buy/order framing for outside windows. = complete

Buy Floor Tiles = complete

Buy Bathroom and Kitchen tiles = failed

Getting the electric was a doddle with no hitches whatsoever.

The alterations and design changes were only minor i.e. finalsiing kitchen layout, extending the porch steps and adding another porch on the right.

Water is now at the house but not connected into any pipes going in the house as I still have to buy storage tanks, pump, filters etc.

Ordered the concrete/plaster/cement framing for the windows. Stayed there for about an hour watching them make some, all by hand in the old fashioned way. Love seeing stuff like that.

Buying the tiles was a let down. On an earlier visit to Patters we had seen everything we wanted in Boonthavorn but getting them to the village was the hassle and then we heard GlobalHouse were opening in Chaiyaphum, problem solved? Wrong. A total let down with choice and service, although I did find the ones I had chosen for the floor, so that's the bulk of them. Need to get the kitchen and bathroon tiles sorted now. The Mrs is losing patience and would pick anything to just finish it but I won't be moved and will not buy tiles that I think are just ok, I want ones I like, so she'll just have to wait till next month and I'll see if I can get them from Patters to Chaiyaphum.

Anyway, some piccies cos I know you lot don't like talking much

Decided to add a little wall at the entrance so it breaks up the front door and living room a little.

Outside Thai kitchen ready for tiling when I buy them.

Inside kitchen, also ready for tiling

Dining table will go on the left. They have started making that today.

[flying]

Would you suggest a filter before the storage tank or after but before the pump? Any advice greatly received as plumbing really ain't my speciality.

House is looking good Mr B

Also looks like your going to do some sidewalks.outside patio/parking areas

Any filter will go after the pump & usually never before.

While pumps have great push they have very little pull or lift

A decent filter before the pump will make it work too hard.

Of course you do not want to suck things into your pump but for that you would use a foot

valve on your inlet/suction pipe in your tank.

Something usually like this.

When you install this in your tank of course you do not want it touching bottom where any

sediment would gather.

Another precaution you can take is to strain/filter the incoming rainwater a bit if you like?

Usually at the gutter level if you live in a place where leaves in the gutter collectors are a problem.

Gutter Guards are Usually a grating or something that keeps leaves out but presents no resistance to water coming in

Edited July 7, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Would you suggest a filter before the storage tank or after but before the pump? Any advice greatly received as plumbing really ain't my speciality.

House is looking good Mr B

Also looks like your going to do some sidewalks.outside patio/parking areas

Any filter will go after the pump & usually never before.

While pumps have great push they have very little pull or lift

A decent filter before the pump will make it work too hard.

Of course you do not want to suck things into your pump but for that you would use a foot

valve on your inlet/suction pipe in your tank.

Something usually like this.

When you install this in your tank of course you do not want it touching bottom where any

sediment would gather.

Another precaution you can take is to strain/filter the incoming rainwater a bit if you like?

Usually at the gutter level if you live in a place where leaves in the gutter collectors are a problem.

Gutter Guards are Usually a grating or something that keeps leaves out but presents no resistance to water coming in

Thanks for that flying, it really helps

As for outside. On the right will be a 2m walkway with an additional extra bit for the rainwater tanks. On the back will be a 2m walkway and on the right will go garage with a storage shed built in at the back. i want to do something a bit more than just plain concrete at the front but don't know what yet. That can wait till the inside is finished and I don't have too much to think about.

[mrbojangles]

On another note. I went to buy a tile cutter the other day. In the UK I have always used these type:-

However, they only had these in stock, so I bought one. It's a wet type with a water feed. Anyone used these? And are they pretty good. Thinking about breakage and waste etc.

[flying]

On another note. I went to buy a tile cutter the other day. In the UK I have always used these type:-

However, they only had these in stock, so I bought one. It's a wet type with a water feed. Anyone used these? And are they pretty good. Thinking about breakage and waste etc.

Yes Mr B I have used both.

Where as many guys I know who only set tile use the scribe & snap type....

& usually have a small Makita grinder type tool with a diamond blade for small fancy cuts.

I do like the wet type myself. I tend to cut the whole room & test lay all the cut pieces

then do nothing but install & not have to stop & cut anything

I like the wet saw because of course no dust & unless you have a good quality scribe & snap type

then the scribe & snap type to me has more breakage

But the wet saws I use are fixed not hand held.

Then they draw & recycle their water from the included tub

Kind of like a wet table saw.....here is a pic.

Edited July 7, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Cheers again flying. my brother has the table type and swears by it but he bought it after I had finished my tiling in the UK, so never got to use it. Hopefully the hand held will do a good enough job.

[flying]

Cheers again flying. my brother has the table type and swears by it but he bought it after I had finished my tiling in the UK, so never got to use it. Hopefully the hand held will do a good enough job.

Good Luck Mr B & Yes I am sure the hand held will do fine.

Just set up some kind of work area/table to do all your cutting

& of course be careful

[mrbojangles]

Cheers again flying. my brother has the table type and swears by it but he bought it after I had finished my tiling in the UK, so never got to use it. Hopefully the hand held will do a good enough job.

Good Luck Mr B & Yes I am sure the hand held will do fine.

Just set up some kind of work area/table to do all your cutting

& of course be careful

Maybe I misled you flying, I'm not doing anything. I'm off back to Saudi tonight, the wifes brothers are doing it while I'm over there. I just really wanted to know about wastage/breakage etc cos we bought 72 boxes of 4 @ 600mm x 600mm and only about 4 or 5 boxes are for spares. I may do the kitchen worktops and sides though when I get back next month.

[saorsa]

I tiled a bathroom in my last house and just bought a special cutting disk to put on my normal angle grinder. That worked a treat, so your water fed more specialised one should be no problem.

[mrbojangles]

The wife has just sent me some more piccies over. The tiling has begun. Looks like they will be putting the full tiles down in all the rooms and then doing all the cutting at one go. Looking at the piccies I think they are doing a decent job.

Our bedroom

Various piccies looking in from the front down going towards the kitchen at the far end.

Daughters bedroom.

[mrbojangles]

Can anybody tell me what colour this Grout is. Can't really tell in the piccie. The Mrs doesn't know the English word for it, so sent me a piccie but it's all in Thai. It looks a bit pinkish to me, so I've told her not to let them Grout yet until I've confirmed what colour it is. This colour was recommended by the shop for this tile but I think I fancy a very light Grey grout myself.

[rgs2001uk]

Can anybody tell me what colour this Grout is. Can't really tell in the piccie. The Mrs doesn't know the English word for it, so sent me a piccie but it's all in Thai. It looks a bit pinkish to me, so I've told her not to let them Grout yet until I've confirmed what colour it is. This colour was recommended by the shop for this tile but I think I fancy a very light Grey grout myself.

Mr BJ, it doesnt say on the label what colour it is.

To the best of my Thai reading it says, paw ya naew.

I know the above is about as much use to you as it is to me.

PS, sorry I missed the previous pics you posted about the inbuilt drains.

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^ Mr BJ, if you want light grey, tell them you want,

see kwan buree, thats basically the colour of cigarette smoke.

If you want darker or lighter you will need to add on or gair, eg see kwan buree on, or, see kwan buree gair.

[flying]

Mr B

If you can take close up & clear picture of the bar code label on the lower right of the bag

It looks like it tells the color

On the label it reads Lot#00020112? I think but at the top of the label it

reads Color Grout- DL = xxxxxxxx in Thai letters it looks like to me?

Also do not assume pink because the powder looks pink

Grout is like that...meaning color of powder does not usually indicate color

of grout once water has been added.

Anyway if you can write in Thai characters or take a better pic

of that label perhaps we can suss it out?

That aside tiles look nice & your job is moving right along

Congrats!

Edited July 14, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Thanks rgs and Flying. Here is another pic that she sent, I think you can see the Thai letters after the DL#51 a little bit more clearly. But if this is no good I'll ask her to take some more.

[necronx99]

Thanks rgs and Flying. Here is another pic that she sent, I think you can see the Thai letters after the DL#51 a little bit more clearly. But if this is no good I'll ask her to take some more.

Nope, no joy. Need a photo of just that section of the pack, close up.

[flying]

Thanks rgs and Flying. Here is another pic that she sent, I think you can see the Thai letters after the DL#51 a little bit more clearly. But if this is no good I'll ask her to take some more.

Better yet ask her to type the Thai letters to you in a email...then copy & paste here

Edited July 14, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Thanks gents. She has sent it to me in a text so I have had to type it as I can't Bluetooth to my laptop, just hope I have copied it correctly. I was sure in the picture the first letter was lor-ling but she says hor-nok-hook.

Is this better, does it make sense?

ฮิพิขอ่อน

[flying]

Thanks gents. She has sent it to me in a text so I have had to type it as I can't Bluetooth to my laptop, just hope I have copied it correctly. I was sure in the picture the first letter was lor-ling but she says hor-nok-hook.

Is this better, does it make sense?

ฮิพิขอ่อน

Sorry Mr B but the 1st two or three? letters must be wrong........As they say nothing

The last three อ่อน say light (shade of color ) so it is some kind of light color

PS looking back at your pic of the bag the first letter or letters sure look tall?

Maybe ไ ??

Edited July 15, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Thanks for trying Flying. She sent another piccie today but I still couldn't make it out. Bugger it, it can wait till I get there in about 3 weeks.

[mrbojangles]

The Mrs says the tiling in the front rooms and bedrooms is now finished, just grouting to do and they are starting on the kitchen today. Hopefully some piccies later on.

In the meantime, here's a couple of my kitchen/dining table that they have been making. I'm getting to have a real fondness for concrete and what you can do with it. If just having a central support isn't enough I'll add some more at the end to make it a "T" shape. As usual the concrete looks a bit wet for my liking but it should be fine.

[mrbojangles]

The framing has arrived for the windows etc. All the windows and the front door will be framed with these. When painted I think they have a nice look.

[mrbojangles]

The Mrs isn't the best at taking piccies and e-mailing them to me but at least I got a few. Difficult from piccies but it looks like they've done a good job and now just needs grouting. Skirting boards and architrave round the doors next.

The kitchen tiling nearly finished. I think it looks quite nice but is a bit clinical looking at the moment and in need of some (a little) colour.

Looking from the kitchen into the main living area.

This is the colour of grout we have gone for. Light Grey and took the Pinkish one back to Global House.

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^,

House looking good there Mr BJ.

Compliment the mrs on her photos, at least we can read the colour this time, taw tamachart.

[flying]

Looking good Mr B !

The concrete counters look pretty cool as does the dining table.

You know in the US they are starting to do concrete counters & they turn out quite nice

Done with hardeners they can be buffed to a high gloss.

The living area looks much bigger than the original plan suggested ( as always )

Ah glad you sorted the grout!

Congrats

[mrbojangles]

^^^^,

House looking good there Mr BJ.

Compliment the mrs on her photos, at least we can read the colour this time, taw tamachart.

Cheers rgs. I think the light grey will look ok. Can't wait to get back in a couple of weeks and see it all close up. Bathroom tiles next.

[mrbojangles]

Looking good Mr B !The concrete counters look pretty cool as does the dining table.You know in the US they are starting to do concrete counters & they turn out quite niceDone with hardeners they can be buffed to a high gloss.The living area looks much bigger than the original plan suggested ( as always )Ah glad you sorted the grout!Congrats

Thanks flying.

As for the concrete, I was originally looking at polished concrete for the floors, as you know, you can also put acid etc on and it colours the concrete and looks great. The difficulty was finding someone in the area with the correct machines and knowledge.

Maybe another time for floors but as for furniture, my imagination is well and truly opened up. The kitchen counters and the dining table will be tiled, I've seen some pretty good styles for tiles already, so I'll get them from Pattaya and take them up with me. I will hopefully also finish the "floating" bed when I get back as well.

[flying]

Thanks flying.

As for the concrete, I was originally looking at polished concrete for the floors, as you know, you can also put acid etc on and it colours the concrete and looks great. The difficulty was finding someone in the area with the correct machines and knowledge.

Maybe another time for floors but as for furniture, my imagination is well and truly opened up. The kitchen counters and the dining table will be tiled, I've seen some pretty good styles for tiles already, so I'll get them from Pattaya and take them up with me. I will hopefully also finish the "floating" bed when I get back as well.

Yes folks are getting very creative with concrete

Like you say etched/colored etc.

They also do stamped now....Create shapes with a stamp while not quite dry.

I also some one guy use a tight line to snap lines into the setting concrete + powder dye

It did end up looking a lot like reddish brick floors

Chok Dee

Edited July 23, 2012 by flying

[mrbojangles]

Some more piccies have come through. I fly back tomorrow, so a few days R&R and then upto Chaiyaphum buying more tiles and making decisions on the next jobs.

We decided to add a sort of small balcony at the front right.

However, we thought it was a bit small and have therefore made it a little bigger. It should hold some seats or something now.

Some concreting has been started on the sides and back

[mrbojangles]

I can't remember exactly where I was upto with the progression, so I'll just post some random ones that have come through of the internal floor tiling. Almost ready for skirtings and architrave now.

My new dining table in the kitchen

Looking into the house from the kitchen

This is where the sofa and tv will go

some of the kitchen area