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Project Profile
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Old Articles
| Tuesday, January 19 | | · | Husqvarna comes to Krabi |
| Tuesday, November 17 | | · | Building on solid foundations |
| Monday, June 22 | | · | On the move |
| Tuesday, May 26 | | · | Land Measurement Charts |
| Thursday, March 19 | | · | Protect your home from termites |
| Wednesday, February 18 | | · | Investment Incentives |
| Wednesday, February 04 | | · | Completed project by Ton Co., Ltd. |
| Thursday, January 08 | | · | Maintain your new home |
| Tuesday, October 07 | | · | A kitchen or bathroom refit can make the difference |
| Monday, May 12 | | · | Designs for life |
| Monday, February 26 | | · | Finding a competent and reliable contractor |
| Friday, January 19 | | · | Issues before building your dream house in the land of smiles |
| Thursday, January 18 | | · | Interview with Jom Chainapong, |
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Building on solid foundations
Posted on Tuesday, November 17 @ 21:11:48 EST by goong |
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Sittporn Chouypasit (Sit) is Ton Company’s in-house structural engineer, providing expertise in the design of concrete, wood and steel structures. After graduating in Civil Engineering from Technology Mahanakorn University in Bangkok in 2002, he returned to Krabi to do sub-contracting work. He has been full-time with Ton Company for more than 4 years.
Why does Ton Company have an in-house engineer? What is your role?
“My job as a structural engineer is to create the basic frame for any building, the beams and columns – so you could argue it’s a pretty fundamental role. It’s a mix of technical know-how, safety considerations and knowledge of available materials. Many pure design firms simply outsource a completed plan to an engineer for the structural analysis. But by working with the architects and clients during the planning itself, I can help the team achieve the design goals in a way that is both cost efficient and makes the building as comfortable as possible.”
Can you give us an example of how that works in practice?
“Certainly. We often see columns stuck in the middle of a room, which can really damage the aesthetic, as well as compromise the functionality. These can usually be avoided if the engineer is present at the planning stage to determine the overall span required. It can also happen that the architect will not know about the standard lengths of steel available. By reducing a room size by a few centimetres on the design, we can make considerable savings in construction cost by avoiding wastage.”
Construction costs in general seem to be lower than a year ago. Is this true?
“Yes, the price of steel has dropped more than 40% over the last 12 months. As this is probably the largest single cost in building a house – representing up to 30% of the materials budget – it means that we have seen a 10 – 15 % reduction in the cost of building a house since 2008. Another contributing factor is the lower gas price, which has reduced construction firms’ overheads for transport and operating machinery.”
As an engineer, what type of foundation would you recommend for this tropical climate?
“Slab foundations are by far the most popular type in use here in Krabi. They are cheap and sturdy, if proper soil compacting is done before construction. However, I think that slab-on-beam foundations [where the house is raised to allow a crawlspace under it] actually offer more advantages, such as air circulation, which provides a natural cooling system for the home, as well as reducing the damp that is a common problem during the monsoon months. Not to mention you get built in flood protection during heavy storms! Slab-on-beam also gives permanent access to electrical wiring and the plumbing system, which allows for repair and extension and also more effective termite protection.”
Can you describe a typical working day?
“Well, it varies so much. Some days I am working in the office on blueprints and calculations. Others I am on the building site, checking the progress of a project with our two foremen. Ton Company also offers an after-sales service to all our customers, which we believe is one of our strengths, as many non-local companies will simply pack up and leave once construction is completed. So part of my job is also to keep good relations with the clients and to help sort out any issues that may arise after they move in, or make any changes they need.”
- Ton Company was established by Pierre-Yves Loriers (Ton) and has more than 10 years of experience in Krabi. We offer a one stop solution, from design to construction, at highly competitive rates (up to half those quoted in Bangkok). All architecture, engineering and drafting of our projects is done in house in our office in Ao Nang. Prior to starting construction, we also secure all the necessary permits required for building.
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Ton Company brings Husqvarna, Flymo and Gardena to Krabi
Ton Company Ltd is delighted to announce its new partnership with the Swedish firm Husqvarna, becoming their official supplier for the Krabi region. Husqvarna is the global leader in outdoor power products for forestry, park maintenance and lawn and garden care. Their range is designed for consumers as well as professional users and includes lawn mowers, garden tractors, trimmers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and chainsaws as well as products for irrigation and gardening equipment such as pruning shears, rakers and shovels. UK and US readers may know their equipment better under the brand names Flymo and Gardena.
“We are very excited to be associated with the Husqvarna brand family,” says Pierre-Yves Loriers (Ton), the managing director. “Its ideals and strategy fit perfectly with our own philosophy of cost-efficiency, environmental awareness and high levels of customer care.”
Ton Company will be a “Servicing Dealer” for Husqvarna, which means they will also provide a full after-sales service of maintenance and repair, with a specially trained technician on site. “We plan to locate the showroom and workshop in Ao Nang, and hope to be operational within the first half of 2010,” says Loriers.
Loriers believes there is a high demand for garden equipment in the Krabi area. “We have been approached by many people looking for lawn care products in particular. We hope this one-stop solution will fill a need in the market.”
The product range offers something for everyone: from the homeowner with a small garden, through landscaping for hotel and resort grounds to land clearing for large-scale projects. Apart from high performance and operational reliability, Husqvarna products are characterised by innovative technology, advanced ergonomic solutions and environmentally friendly engines.
Buying tips for lawn mowers:
- A power lawn mower is recommended for areas larger than 300 sqm. The larger the lawn, the greater the cutting width.
- Remember that every 1,000 sqm of lawn you mow means a walk of two to three kilometres. This means that self-propelled mowers or riders become interesting options.
- The cutting system you choose is determined by the type of lawn and how often you mow it. Rear and side ejection can handle taller, wilder grass, coarser grass types and seldom-cut lawns.
-The BioClip method is ideal if you demand first-rate results and if you mow often. The finely-chopped grass cuttings are recycled to nourish and fertilise the lawn and make it more drought resistant.
- Lawn mowers with collection save time and clean-up, and can also be used for leaves, twigs, weeds etc. Collection is also a good idea if you want to avoid allergic reactions to grass, and decrease the spreading of weed seeds.
For further information on the availability and prices for the Husqvarna range of products in Krabi, please contact Ton Company Ltd.
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