Hard to figure out. Will you subcontract all yourself or get a contractor? It's one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions that'd impossible to answer. You want to know what the guys mixing cement and digging holes make, or brick layers, roofers...?

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:07 pm

peacock777 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:20 pm

AndyKK wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:25 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:47 am Get your wood at a legal depot, or another person with the authority to sell wood, if you don't have a receipt (from depot or village chief) the police might (will?) extort you for using illegal wood.

When you buy the wood, bring someone who knows his stuff. Seller will claim it's a certain kind of wood (beeng [extremely rare these days], thnong [very rare now] etc etc) but it might be another (cheaper) kind. Also the age of the wood is important. Wood nowadays comes from younger trees, thus the wood being of lesser quality.

Wood is typically sold per M3. Typical prices here in the Northeast are 300-400 USD per M3 for decent wood (less for the wood used to poor concrete).

Measure the wood yourself and do your math, then compare with the number the seller comes with. Might be a difference....

I found that the word used for the unit of measurement regarding the sale of wood (timber) is called a "Kip". and it is near too a M3 Cubic metre, I will tell you a situation regarding the measurements and costs, I found some wood in a timber yard in Battambang. the timber measurement (for example) 5m x 100mm x 200mm per length was priced at $10. So I wanted 10 length's of this timber, now my maths is not always good but that was an easy calculation 10 length's would cost me $100.
The Boss of the yard did is calculation, and the invoice showed me a total of $227.
Okay, again I asked how much is one length, he told me $10, so how much for 5 length's, he told me $50, so far so good, and how much for 10 length's I asked him again, $227, I must be missing something I thought to myself. I said I would take 5 length's and return tomorrow for 5 more. "I no sell you was his reply" he would not talk to me anymore, and had security escort me off site, telling me not to come back. It was a university student I was talking to, and telling him the tail, his father was also in the timber trade, he told me "Yes he understood why". It turned out the 10 length's = 1 Kip . the unit of measurement. Be aware of something like this! In our own countries it is more then likely a larger pack of timber would be the reverse, and be cheaper per length, has buying a single length would be more expensive.

now I'm perfectly confused. Is wood selling business mafia-related always? You should have bought 9 instead.

'kib' is a measurement for volume. My guess is a lot was lost in translation during this transaction.

Longer and thicker pieces of wood have a higher price per volume than their shorter / thinner counterparts.

For instance a massive piece of wood measuring 1 meter x 1 meter x 20 cm is worth the price of 1 M3 of regular wooden planks, maybe even more.

The price per M3 depends mainly on the quality of the wood, the length and the thickness of the pieces.

peacock777 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:20 pm

AndyKK wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:25 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:47 am Get your wood at a legal depot, or another person with the authority to sell wood, if you don't have a receipt (from depot or village chief) the police might (will?) extort you for using illegal wood.

When you buy the wood, bring someone who knows his stuff. Seller will claim it's a certain kind of wood (beeng [extremely rare these days], thnong [very rare now] etc etc) but it might be another (cheaper) kind. Also the age of the wood is important. Wood nowadays comes from younger trees, thus the wood being of lesser quality.

Wood is typically sold per M3. Typical prices here in the Northeast are 300-400 USD per M3 for decent wood (less for the wood used to poor concrete).

Measure the wood yourself and do your math, then compare with the number the seller comes with. Might be a difference....

I found that the word used for the unit of measurement regarding the sale of wood (timber) is called a "Kip". and it is near too a M3 Cubic metre, I will tell you a situation regarding the measurements and costs, I found some wood in a timber yard in Battambang. the timber measurement (for example) 5m x 100mm x 200mm per length was priced at $10. So I wanted 10 length's of this timber, now my maths is not always good but that was an easy calculation 10 length's would cost me $100.
The Boss of the yard did is calculation, and the invoice showed me a total of $227.
Okay, again I asked how much is one length, he told me $10, so how much for 5 length's, he told me $50, so far so good, and how much for 10 length's I asked him again, $227, I must be missing something I thought to myself. I said I would take 5 length's and return tomorrow for 5 more. "I no sell you was his reply" he would not talk to me anymore, and had security escort me off site, telling me not to come back. It was a university student I was talking to, and telling him the tail, his father was also in the timber trade, he told me "Yes he understood why". It turned out the 10 length's = 1 Kip . the unit of measurement. Be aware of something like this! In our own countries it is more then likely a larger pack of timber would be the reverse, and be cheaper per length, has buying a single length would be more expensive.

now I'm perfectly confused. Is wood selling business mafia-related always? You should have bought 9 instead.

Quote - You should have bought 9 instead.
Well that was the idea to buy 9, or the first five, and then later the second five, but when I said that I would return for the 10th tomorrow, that's when he refused to do business with me, and then I was briskly escorted of the timber yard property by security. I honestly thought it was a back to front way of trading. But he seemed to think I was cheating him.
Kammekor
kib' is a measurement for volume. My guess is a lot was lost in translation during this transaction.
There was no problem with translation, due to having a Khmer with me whom also speaks perfect English.
Also, a kip is a US customary unit of force. It equals 1000 pounds-force, used primarily by American architects and engineers to measure engineering loads. Although uncommon, it is occasionally also considered a unit of mass, equal to 1000 pounds, i.e., one half of a short ton.
But neither of the above have anything to do with the sale of building timber that will possibly (more so when building a house) be sold to you by the Cambodian cubic measurement of the Kip.
Kammekor maybe its not used in the northeast, I actually wondered if it was linked with Thai, or that of Laos being the same name has their monetary system. I had quoted before it is a measurement slightly smaller than a cubic metre. I seem to remember that the number, 6 to 7 kip of timber would build a small 5x7 metre traditional Khmer country stilted house.
Talking to the village chief first is a very good idea, he will find you anyway when you start building.
I would go to him first, introducing yourself and your intentions, it would be that of a respectful move, you may find he may recommend to you where you could get what you may need. Possibly labour too.

I will put a little of my past experiences

I looked for labour in the area, but it was the wrong time with the rice harvest, or people working away in the forests, after the harvest, it was no good too, now the young men had money from working the harvest and spent it by drinking all day, not wanting to do anymore work. I found it also difficult, to get any country people to work for a Barrang, if you did, they may want a high amount of pay. I did go through this situation with a few people, and mostly the same results, so I would try for help only if I was really stuck for something, knowing I would carry out the work mostly by myself. But that is what I had intended anyhow, possibly with the move to this country, I needed a purpose to justify too myself, also I like to be busy.
I had a local farmer with his tractor clear the land first, he was passing by on the road, he drove in and cleared the vegetation, the following morning he came and ploughed the ground, he charged me $20 for the work.


*


I talked with one young man, of putting in the fence posts, he actually quoted me the going price 2500riel per post, (he was honest). With the land now cleared, I took on the young man, being that he was very strong to do the work. He started okay, worked early morning and went home for lunch and a few hours off in the heat of the day, returning when it was a little cooler. He did well and he would also help me if I needed something lifting, or of something being awkward to move, such as a large timber alone, same I would help him with the posts, at times.
Then he wanted to be paid a day rate of 20,000riel. I agreed, he had been managing the quoter of 8 posts per day. It doesn’t sound many, but the posts were 300mm x 3metre and wanted to go in the ground at a depth of 1metre and tampered once in place. So now on 20,000 per day, he only came in the mornings, not returning in the later afternoon. This had gone on about 3 days, him only now doing half the work agreed on. He knew I was disappointed, and he was taking the piss, so I had a drive into town about 1.5 to 2 hours away on dirt roads depending on conditions. I bought a new petrol post drill, and presented that to him the following morning, I said keep to your word of how many per day (8) and you can keep the tool when the work was complete, knowing it would help him with more work later. I did not want to lose him because, it was difficult to get anyone to help, and considering that there was also 200 posts to put into place, later we wired the posts together in the end, him staying on now to see the job finished, he was a decent guy, and once settled was a good worker. I was after sand and cement to use with the rock and stone we would clear from the land, doing two jobs the first making it easier to plant vegetables, I had cleared one area over a few evenings and planted potato. The other job for the stone was to hold the posts firm, by impacting them in the hole around the post. I was unable to get sand, due to the waters rising in the river, it was now too deep for the workers collecting the sand by hand, also the currents were strong.


*


Lining out for the row of posts. Snakes, there was plenty of them around, this in the photo being that of a tree snake. But there were Cobra and Viper too. Just have to be careful and look where you walk.

I had visited three timber yards in the area. The yard of more distance away from me was supplying another build up river, I took a look at that house, the two Thai builders/joiners that had been sort out and employed by the owner of the ongoing new property, I was invited inside to have a look at their work. These two I would say are that of cabinet makers, very skilled in what they do, the use of joints and ornate carving work on the window shutters and banister rails, standing out as quality work, it wasn’t hard to see here, who was that only, of a humble shed builder.


*


The delivery of this timber was closest to me, that of down the road with their sawmill on the riverbank they also bought some timbers by boat when the land was too difficult to navigate. The shorter lengths, were 3 metre and equivalent to 2”x 2” it would cost me 10,000riel for 3 lengths. The larger, 5 metre and possibly 6” x 3” $4.

Timber delivery service. But now it was rainy season and it was getting difficult to get on the land, just in case delivery was too be restricted due to the conditions I ordered a second load while we had the chance, the ground was difficult now, in a few days it may prove impossible and with the lack of materials, I would not be able to carry on with the build. The second load had to be left longer down on the land. I would take the rest of the day carrying it up to the build area.


*


I also had to think about my access on to the land, at the moment I had put timbers across the entrance to hopefully stop the locals using my entrance when there is an access road for them to use, has they know, but the problem is my neighbour is opposing them to have use of the access in front of his house, problem then they use my entrance again that is that of a private entrance, by removing the timbers park on my land to go to the local shop, daughter of the neighbour, leaving the right of way clear for his own personal use. The daughter tells me he is going to the village chief to have the access road changed to my entrance, the problem is that it is not just Motos, but four-wheel drives and tractors. I ended up filling the ditch in the end with fence posts I had around, so no one got stuck. People saw and even watched what I was doing, they would use the entrance, but would not help me in anyway moving and placing the heavy posts.
He also helped set the large supporting posts for the house. I paid $20 for the nine of them and three being set in the river bed. I was never sure of the border line it shows on the maps, I think if we had placed the posts forward one more metre, we would have built the house in Laos. I would say there are actually more Lothians living the area then Khmer, hardly ever did the restaurants have rice, but that only of noodles.


*


I even taught myself a few new skills with tools and materials I would not have used before. Because of the weather It was about time to put a roof on what we had, even if it was to be a temporary measure.

I did not have any agenda or any time to have the job completed, nor did I draw up any plans of the build, it just developed day by day has I went along. But if I ever had the opportunity again, I would defiantly make precise plans with exact measurements, to some kind of scale of what I would like to see.


*


The build kept me busy, and it was so enjoyable by keeping the mind and body occupied, and also in motion.

The open end of the room would give me a feeling of relaxation, or even some easy state of tranquil meditation, where the mind could be cleared too look from the open-ended room that served, like that of a picture frame, capitulating a scene of living art. The Majestic Mekong River with its embracing flow around the islands, beyond, and mainland Laos. Views from there were amazing, it was also so very peaceful.


*


I had a generator, electric tools such as a circular saw and planner, I also had a petrol water pump too draw the water from the river, I had built a small platform for it to sit in position, later I had plans to build a little jetty where the boats sat below the house, but first I had to wait to see where the river level would rise and fall in the seasons. Most important was the electric kettle for the daily coffee. Also, I had a few hand tools. I had to replace the circular saw, due to it was not up to the hardness of this kind of timber, being the type of hard wood and that of good quality, so it is safe to say the tools want to be on the same lines, and have a bit of quality too. What I was lacking was that of a good quality sander, mostly for the floor, the boards were large and fit in one length, sat on joists 300 x 100 it was of a rustic build to put it kindly, for this build was only just beyond that of a garden shed, but, it was that of the area that made all the difference.
I had a message from a friend on the forum that he would be passing this way from Laos on his travels, and could he take a look at the project, it would be the first time we met, but far from the last. When he arrived, we took a journey over the river back to Laos for him, it was easier for me to go their for supplies then driving to a Cambodian city, also without a visa but official agreement I was allowed to stay over one night in the Laos town where I would shop. If I would take my own boat and visit the islands, I could approach the authorities and get an agreed signed paper for 10,000reil giving me seven days.


*


We would take a larger boat from here to take the journey over to Laos, cutting between the island to the right and skirting close to the one on our left, before taking the open water at the shorter opportunity, even so, it seems to be a long crossing, and in the open the water is vast with some fare waves, you only become to appreciate the vast size and strength of the river when you cross like this.


*




We arrived safely on the Laos side, first a coffee shop is there to greet you just up the riverbank has you depart from the boat. Then the street lined on both sides with plenty of shops, up towards the large market. It was a hardware store that I was in need of, and there are plenty. With thanks to Richards language skills and bargaining, I had a new heavy-duty belt sander and plenty of sanding belts of all grades, to see the job done. Later that day I would say good bye and safe journey to my friend, it’s the first time I have seen a westerner in a long time in this area.

*

The long red roads.

*










At the front of the house there was another part V roof with a stainless gutter running at its middle low point, also the left-hand side was decked and roofed. The fixed table was treated to a very smooth finish with the new sander.

The end of another day, when the darkness began to fall and It was so cool on the riverbank, with the air blowing calmly in via the open front view, when the project was completed, never even needed a fan to cool the place.


You could say I was lucky at the time, due to buying the land from the village chief. 400m2 where the house would sit, for 1,500riel per m2, so a total of 600,000riel or @$144. With signed and thumb print sale papers too a Khmer, of whom I gave the gift, all in all it cost no more then $700 for the whole project.

And I will tell you that view was worth every penny.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:15 am I was thinking about giving some of the work to a few family members who could use the work. They seem to migrate around randomly, picking up bits of jobs for a week or so.

But for our build, under the guidance of someone who understands what they’re doing.

I'd avoid that. I've done a few builds and I'd just get a general contractor if I were you. If they migrate around they won't be reliable, no offense. That means they'll be doing a wall one day, then leave for two weeks without warning. It's already bad enough with "professional" teams, that you don't need to make ti worse. You'll need a lot of patience, but what exactly are you building and where? If it's just a wooden house then maybe it'll be alright, but you still need skilled carpenters and guys for the foundation/columns. You can pre-buy them if building on stilts or better yet, pour them yourself.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:05 am Hard to figure out. Will you subcontract all yourself or get a contractor? It's one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions that'd impossible to answer. You want to know what the guys mixing cement and digging holes make, or brick layers, roofers...?

I'd like to get a contractor and make an include-everything kind of deal, but I will try to settle with a much detailed quantity of work list.

That's a great photo. No fancy cloths, No makeup or hairdoo or tats, just one piece of gold necklace and a gentle smile. I'd vote for her in any Miss America parade.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:37 pm Out of curiosity, would anyone have the figures that general labourers/semi skilled workers earn, per week or month, on the building sites?
We’ve been putting some plans and ideas together, and I have a rough outline of what I’d like to build on a small plot of land.

400-500 a month for a skilled supervisor in the Northeast.

Sokrom is a red-marroon hard wood great for furniture too, but i don't have a pic.
No, i don't know how to write these in Khmer writing too.