Projects like the Lumpini Towers on Sukhumvit Road, close to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital was completed within 12 months from start of construction. This is a project consisting of two towers of 32 floors each, with over 700 units. This example show how quick and, if well managed, construction of condominiums can be.

The reason many of Bangkok’s developers will use the pre fabrication system is due to the location and the ease of access to their construction sites. The advantage of having all of the walls and floors of a project made off site is the ease to get the materials to form those parts of the building together in a spacious area. To form an entire wall, lift that wall onto a truck and then fit it into place with a crane save the developer not just time, but man power, money and the logistical nightmare of getting all the materials to the walls location and to form all of those elements together.

Pre-Cast is like Lego. The basic elements of any precast project are to make sure you have the correct part of the “lego” in place and ready to be fitted when it is required. This is where the logistics and planning of such a large project come into effect and also save the developer time and money. When segments of the project come onto site on the rear of the delivery trucks, it should be that those parts are lifted directly from that truck and into place. This also benefits on confined space projects with storage areas being required and man power.

Precast paneling can be form in pretty much any size or shape. The main aspect of the sizes that are cast are whether the trucks that transport them to site are capable and the street around the site can accommodate those trucks. Also to take into consideration is the cranes and lifting equipment to place all the segments into place.

There are around 68 kilograms to one square foot of reinforced standard density concrete. So when you are forming, let’s say a standard sized wall panel for a ring beams structure here in Thailand, you would be looking at around 8.7 tons in weight for a 20cm thick wall. Now you can understand the weight ratios involved.

Obviously one of the main aspects of developing any project is the cost of construction. Si, is precast cheaper to use than the more common in-situ system? I believe there are many aspects that would determine this. Many we have touched base on, being access, location, ease of storage, man power and the timing to get the project completed in the in-situ form.

I believe that with the way Pattaya is moving forward, with infrastructure becoming more and more over run. Traffic is becoming a consist weekend nightmare. The amount of local development shows that resourcing materials and having such delivered on time is becoming more challenging. To be able to have such a major part of any project formed off site and bought to the project will need to be considered by most of the local modern day developers.

I was recently speaking to one of Pattaya’s best renowned housing developers about this form of construction. He is constructing single storey luxury villas. He has seen how this benefits his projects ability to speed up the construction process, but one of the best particles he recognized was the fact that precast can be formed pre insulated.

So are we going to see a shift in the construction systems used and implements here in Pattaya? Over the years the developers have had to change their designs and marketing strategies to meet client demand. With the speed essence now becoming a factor in this market, with many projects being marketed, but with few actually starting, others seeming to take years to complete, maybe this is the way forward. Let’s hope the developer can see this.

Maintaining your guttering and extending its lifespan

Over the last few weeks we have had a very high level of heavy rain. Downpours of this strength can cause large weight load bearings on guttering, and in turn this tends to lead to leaks and damage to the guttering. This month we are going to high light some point on how best to maintain your guttering and double or triple it lifespan.

Taking the time to maintain and repair downspouts and gutters can double or even triple the life of your roof drainage system. This can save you a lot of money on repair costs.

Inspect your downspouts and gutters about twice a year. Carefully examine them in the spring just before the spring rains. Inspect them again in the fall when leaves, limbs and other debris might cause problems. Improper drainage due to poor roof pitch is one of the biggest causes of roof drainage problems. Improper drainage causes water to accumulate in certain spots in the gutters, ultimately building up debris and accelerating rust.

Clogged gutters and downspouts can also be a big problem. Thoroughly clean all debris from the gutters and downspouts at least twice a year. If there are a number of trees near your home, clean the gutters with a whisk broom even more often than twice a year. Rust can be a big problem. Keep the gutters properly cleaned and the pitch set correctly to slow down the rusting process.

Taking the time to maintain and repair downspouts and gutters can double or even triple the life of your roof drainage system. This can save you a lot of money on repair costs. Inspect your downspouts and gutters about twice a year. Carefully examine them in the dry season just before the rains.

Improper drainage due to poor roof pitch is one of the biggest causes of roof drainage problems. Improper drainage causes water to accumulate in certain spots in the gutters, ultimately building up debris and accelerating rust.

Clogged gutters and downspouts can also be a big problem. Thoroughly clean all debris from the gutters and downspouts at least twice a year. If there are a number of trees near your home, clean the gutters with a whisk broom even more often than twice a year.

High or low spots detected in the gutter run can often be corrected by bending the hanger than supports the gutter. A slight bend up or down can often remove the low or high spot. There are two basic types of gutter hangers. One is the strap hanger. This type of hanger supports the gutter with a wraparound strap underneath the gutter. A long strap is then affixed to the top and nailed to the sheathing under the edge of the roof. The roofing material covers the strap, making it totally inconspicuous.

The bracket hanger is nailed or screwed to the fascia underneath the eave of the roof. Either of these types of hangers can be added as needed to remove high and low spots in a run of gutter. Add braces that match those already in use.

Clogging usually occurs in a drainage system at the elbow where the downspout connects to the gutter. Since this elbow is relatively easy to remove, it is a good idea to remove it and inspect for clogging. If the clogging is not in the elbow, check farther down the downspout.

You can usually check the downspout from the bottom. However, if the downspout is inserted in an underground tiling system, you may need to use a plumber’s or electrician’s snake to clean the downspout. This type of metal snake can be used to penetrate the downspout for a great distance, removing any obstacles causing clogging and backup problems.

If your roof drainage system is exposed to falling leaves and debris, you should install leaf strainers in all downspout outlets. These strainers insert into the downspout outlet. They permit the free passage of water but stop any leaves or other objects that can cause problems in downspout drainage. Leaf strainers are easy to install and are relatively inexpensive.

You can solve most drainage problems by installing leaf guards over your entire gutter system. There are various types of leaf guards available.

Leaf guards of metal, plastic, etc., are usually mounted in the same way. Lift the lower run of shingles and insert the leaf guard underneath. Some leaf guards clamp over the edge of the gutter. The leaf guards hold the leaves and other falling debris on top of the guard while allowing water to flow freely through the drainage system. The leaves then dry on top of the guard and are quickly blown away.

Any type of gutter will ultimately need some mending or repairing. However, aluminum and plastic gutters and downspouts last much longer than those made of galvanized steel. When leaks occur, you may want to totally replace entire sections of the gutter rather than trying to mend them. However, small leaks and rust spots can easily be patched or mended.

Even the best gutter system cannot function properly unless all downspouts are in working order. Take the time to examine your downspout system at the same time you are mending and repairing your gutters. If the downspouts drain into an underground tile system, make a careful check at the point where the downspout enters the underground tiling. Make sure it is cemented firmly into place and there is no backup or overflow.

You can use a plumber’s or electrician’s snake to clean any possible obstructions in the downspout system. Most downspouts empty onto a splash block. Be sure these splash blocks are large enough and high enough to carry the water away from the foundation of the house.