When it comes to getting things built, if you bare the intense heat and have plenty of time to do the work yourself, then do the work yourself! You do not need a work permit to work within the confines of your property, to erect buildings, walls etc, so there is nothing to stop you from building unless you are not physically capable of doing so.
If you need to use the services of a Thai, and the chances are, it is going to be a family member (or close family friend) recommended by the wife or girlfriend, that will get the work. On my house building webpage, I have not been too complimentary about the standard of workmanship, and perhaps some of you reading this may think it a little unfair. So to emphasise what I have said before, and no doubt will say again - do not turn your back on them, while they are working. The simple reason is that you may well not get what you wanted, or indeed asked for, they will simply do as they wish.
In the UK, we pride ourselves in taking great care of our gardens, and wants things to look 'right', be it a flower bed, a pond or retaining wall. As a paying customer, when we contract any work, we expect to get what we ask for to maintain the high standard of our garden.
Now on to the recent tale........
We have a fairly long driveway that, in part, slopes in order to get rid of the water quickly, and we wanted a low wall placed either side of the driveway, so the soil in the adjacent land is prevented from coming on to the concrete strip and in to the drainage system at the end of the driveway.
My wife said one of her brothers would do it, and with a great sense of caution, I agreed but to help things along I drew a plan of what I wanted. Bearing in my the slope, as an Englishman, I would build an adjacent wall that steps down, keeping the top of the blocks horizontal, as I think it is more pleasing to the eye, so drew a sketch that made this blindingly obvious. The image below shows what I asked for, followed by what her brother started to build. Note that I took 10 minutes out to talk to the wife about something, just as he was about to start on the sloped section.
If you need to use the services of a Thai, and the chances are, it is going to be a family member (or close family friend) recommended by the wife or girlfriend, that will get the work. On my house building webpage, I have not been too complimentary about the standard of workmanship, and perhaps some of you reading this may think it a little unfair. So to emphasise what I have said before, and no doubt will say again - do not turn your back on them, while they are working. The simple reason is that you may well not get what you wanted, or indeed asked for, they will simply do as they wish.
In the UK, we pride ourselves in taking great care of our gardens, and wants things to look 'right', be it a flower bed, a pond or retaining wall. As a paying customer, when we contract any work, we expect to get what we ask for to maintain the high standard of our garden.
Now on to the recent tale........
We have a fairly long driveway that, in part, slopes in order to get rid of the water quickly, and we wanted a low wall placed either side of the driveway, so the soil in the adjacent land is prevented from coming on to the concrete strip and in to the drainage system at the end of the driveway.
My wife said one of her brothers would do it, and with a great sense of caution, I agreed but to help things along I drew a plan of what I wanted. Bearing in my the slope, as an Englishman, I would build an adjacent wall that steps down, keeping the top of the blocks horizontal, as I think it is more pleasing to the eye, so drew a sketch that made this blindingly obvious. The image below shows what I asked for, followed by what her brother started to build. Note that I took 10 minutes out to talk to the wife about something, just as he was about to start on the sloped section.
In my 10 minute absence, 5 blocks were laid on the slope, the way he wanted to build it! Never mind what the paying customer wanted, just do what he wanted, and what was the 'easy' way to build it. I really do hate to say this, but this is all too typical when not using a professional service, or people who do not build things to supplement their income.
If you have anything built, by a Thai, even from a reputable company, never turn your back! Not even for 5 minutes, unless you are certain they will follow your instructions to the letter (which in many cases, they probably will not).
Another thing to be mindful of is that sometimes they do not clear up behind them very well, or making things looking tidy. Silly little things such as excess cement at the base of the blocks, which need to be 'trimmed' to look right. As a paying customer, get what you want, and do not let them do as they please, as has been the case for so many years gone by.
Most family members, who have build a house, have probably only ever built a house for another Thai, and not always up to a high standard, especially when it comes to making 'things' tidy or neat. Thai's don't seem to care if there is a small gap (say 3 or 4 cm) between a wall and the floor tiles, for example. It is these 'little' details that really let them down, as they are not used to building to the higher standards of us ferang - you have been warned!
If you have anything built, by a Thai, even from a reputable company, never turn your back! Not even for 5 minutes, unless you are certain they will follow your instructions to the letter (which in many cases, they probably will not).
Another thing to be mindful of is that sometimes they do not clear up behind them very well, or making things looking tidy. Silly little things such as excess cement at the base of the blocks, which need to be 'trimmed' to look right. As a paying customer, get what you want, and do not let them do as they please, as has been the case for so many years gone by.
Most family members, who have build a house, have probably only ever built a house for another Thai, and not always up to a high standard, especially when it comes to making 'things' tidy or neat. Thai's don't seem to care if there is a small gap (say 3 or 4 cm) between a wall and the floor tiles, for example. It is these 'little' details that really let them down, as they are not used to building to the higher standards of us ferang - you have been warned!