Expensive mistake - what to do with woven bamboo mat?

[simon43]

I have about 20 woven bamboo mats (3m x 2m), made from fairly heavy bamboo:

My plan was to use these mats to line under the wide eaves of my single-floor guesthouse building, (I had successfully used woven bamboo matting on a previous project, but those mats were a much finer weave and much lighter in weight).

These new mats are too heavy to secure undere the eaves. They sag and will no doubt drop onto customers as they relax on the terrace!

I will use 'penliup' insteads to line under the eaves.

So..... this rather expensive mistake (12,000 baht) means that I have 20 natural bamboo mats going spare.

Any suggestions what I could use these mats for?

My guesthoiuse is in a natural, wooded setting, with a garden and play area. I could maybe cut the mats in half and use them to make natural fencing? Perhaps even use them on the floor as mats?? Maybe cut them into small peices and use them as decoration on the building walls???

What would you do with 20 large bamboo mats???

Simonm

[benalibina]

Donate them to the impoverished.

[JLCrab]

Use them to construct a wall between your natural habitat and the rest of your family.

[simon43]

Use them to construct a wall between your natural habitat and the rest of your family.

The perfect solution!

[farang000999]

Sell them to the farang tourists at a 100% mark up.

[jkinbkk]

Maybe if they can roll easily you could varnish them, and use then as porch blinds

[cooked]

Use them as bamboo mats?

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Simon.

Can you please provide a google map reference for your new hotel. I want to ride up there to have a look.

Also what was the total cost for the project?

[simon43]

Here are some map references (Mods, hope this is OK because this post is more about construction and I have already sold some of these hotels, so am not really self-promoting... )

Phuket Airport Hotel - 8.101358,98.306412 (sold some years ago - main road too noisy now)

Phuket Airport 24/7 Hotel - 8.099871,98.311561 (Ex #2, recently expanded)

Phuket Airport Overnight Hotel - 8.108559,98.310617 (Ex #3 and me, current expansion)

Phuket Airport B & B - 8.099764,98.312291 (Me! Almost ready to open)

Phuket Airport VIP Guesthouse - 8.099977,98.31081 (Ex #2 and me, just starting the constructiion...)

Now how much for these projects? It got cheaper each time as I learnt about how to save cost/labour/materials. The first hotel was about 10 million baht to open with 10 guest rooms. Now it is less than 6 million for the same number of rooms, (land is leased long-term).

Simon

PS - And in case people think that I am rich(!), the ROI period is typically less than 2 years, which is why I seem to start new projects every few years, when I have got my money back from the previous project

Edited April 11, 2014 by simon43

[gerry123]

20 mats 12 grand?? defo saw you coming mate i have 2 rai wall to wall bamboo tress you can take the lot 2 grand

[arby]

I have used it many times in my furniture designs. I can't see where I can attach photos here to show you examples. I have used this material mounted on masonite,plywood or any other available substrate to make dining table tops, coffee table tops, desk tops, drawer fronts, side panels for closets, door fronts. The table and desk tops were then covered with glass. If you would like photos , p.m. and I'll send them to you. You could do the same for your situation: mount the woven bamboo to masonite (150 baht 122cm x 244cm sheet) and then nail or screw the panels up to your eaves (overhang).

[Showbags]

Buy a resin glue which is very strong and along with screws, it should hold up any bamboo sheets no problem.

Otherwise cut into place mats for the restaurant.

or on the floor etc....but not out in the weather as your 12k will be rotten and gone in a couple years.

[simon43]

20 mats 12 grand?? defo saw you coming...

My Thai ex, not me, bought them from the guy who weaves them. At 600 baht for a 3x2 metre mat that is hand-woven, the price seemed OK, (although it adds up when you buy many of them).

Arby, I like your artistic ideas. The workers are already fixing 'penliup' to the eaves (much easier).

[Spoonman]

Roll them up and when the relations come round and start eating your wildlife smack them over the head with them.

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Thais like privacy. I do not know how big your rooms are but perhaps you can put make a few bamboo pole frames and use the mats as movable privacy screens in the rooms. Should look lovely if done right.

On another note, you were debating here on TV about what business entity to use for your latest hotel. Can you please let me know what structure you finally settled upon...and why?

Cheers

FD&S

[arby]

What exactly is "penliup " ? I might be able to use it in my projects too.......

[metaben]

I think these are usually used for the walls of bamboo huts. Got yourself 5 3x3 bamboo huts right there, on the cheap. Might want to start drying some banana leaves for the roof.

Edited April 11, 2014 by metaben

[brianP]

They can be fastened to the concrete walls and would make a good sound studio.

[Vacuum]

Sun shades?

[Cylon]

I would have stapled and glued them to light plywood to fix under eaves

[Beetlejuice]

I could maybe cut the mats in half and use them to make natural fencing? Perhaps even use them on the floor as mats?? Maybe cut them into small pieces and use them as decoration on the building walls.

You have answered your own question. Otherwise donate the mats to a temple or to someone who would appreciate them.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Beetlejuice

[arby]

Okay , figured out how to attach photos. Use your mats to make furniture/cabinets for your next hotel/project as in the attached photos for example. Oh, and by the way 12,000 baht for 20 pieces of hand woven bamboo mats is a bargain. I buy them in Hang Dong at a shop that sells many kinds of woven mats. I've purchased quite of few over the years as I used to build fully furnished teak wood knock down homes . I bought a few of them about two years ago and they were up to 800 baht each at the same store . I have recently used them for my drawer fronts and closet side panels in the home I just built for myself in Phuket. Don't waste them as fencing or anything else exposed to the elements even though they do hold up for quite a while if mounted properly.

[ggt]

20 mats 12 grand?? defo saw you coming...

My Thai ex, not me, bought them from the guy who weaves them. At 600 baht for a 3x2 metre mat that is hand-woven, the price seemed OK, (although it adds up when you buy many of them).

Arby, I like your artistic ideas. The workers are already fixing 'penliup' to the eaves (much easier).

Did you get a receipt from the EX..?

[atyclb]

Use like Tatami mats? can make a bed with them? maybe too firm? very good for the back. i sleep on a tatami bed. never have back pain

[Spoonman]

As this is a traditional resort and consists of basic fan rooms why not put them on the concrete floor and have your customers sleep on them ?

Edited April 11, 2014 by Spoonman

[dotpoom]

Some great ideas here, thank you.

[simon43]

What exactly is "penliup " ? I might be able to use it in my projects too.......

I'd write it in Thai except my crummy computer has no Thai keyborad...

Penliup or Smartboard, standard board type of material, doesn't sag when wet,, can be painted etc.

I'll take some photos soon to show you what I ended up using the woven mats for...

[arby]

Thanks. Yeah I know what smartboard is . I have used it in many of my projects here. I just never heard of it called penliup. Not light. You might want to try using masonite next time if you want something that is light, strong and with a super smooth paintable surface. Quick and easy to put up with a nail gun.

[somchaismith]

Nice marketing Simon.

[DekDaeng]

I would have stapled and glued them to light plywood to fix under eaves

You would need to use copper or brass staples - anybody know whew to buy them?

Normal steel staples will rust & look like a POS very soon.