Houses v Condos - Renting

[Gary 4,119]

I still remember the Jomtien Palm Beach hotel fire. I think about a hundred people died in that fire. Yes, it was steel and concrete construction.

[Gabor 296]

I still remember the Jomtien Palm Beach hotel fire. I think about a hundred people died in that fire. Yes, it was steel and concrete construction.

 

.... and locked emergency doors....

[Fireman Sam 336]

Concrete spalls in a fire which then exposes the steel frame, steel can start to fail around 670 degrees which is an easy attainable heat even in a normal domestic fire .

 

I wouldn't personally live in a condo in Thailand even if all their buildings were up to the standards they think are acceptable. The compartmentation of their buildings and travel distances they allow to reach built in protected stairwells are far below what we accept in the UK.

 

Just my two baths worth, with a little experience of the subject.

 

 

Regards

Edited April 27, 2014 by Fireman Sam

[Trvlr 50]

The great majority of deaths in house fires is the result of smoke inhalation, not burns, at least in the US and possibly other industrialized countries.

So melting steel is probably not much of an issue. Locked exit doors are. If anyone lives in a building in which fire exits are locked then they should raise hell or get the hell out of there.

Having said that, if people feel safe keeping a coil of rope on the 17th floor, then go for it. If nothing else it will be easier to hang yourselves to escape death from a fire.

[Fireman Sam 336]

The great majority of deaths in house fires is the result of smoke inhalation, not burns, at least in the US and possibly other industrialized countries.

So melting steel is probably not much of an issue. Locked exit doors are. If anyone lives in a building in which fire exits are locked then they should raise hell or get the hell out of there.

Having said that, if people feel safe keeping a coil of rope on the 17th floor, then go for it. If nothing else it will be easier to hang yourselves to escape death from a fire.

Agree with you 100% about the smoke inhalation and fire exits, my point was just because the structure is made of concrete and steel does not make it safe. It has to be properly compartmented to restrict the travel of smoke and fire. Although I'm not an expert on Thai building standards I have seen enough in condos and even five star hotels to raise my eyebrows. I always try and stay in low resorts when visiting any Thai city, maybe I'm paranoid because of my occupation.

 

Any way getting back on topic I would always go for a house myself.

 

 

Regards

[Trvlr 50]

Although I will continue to stay in condos if they are more convenient, this thread did make me aware of the exit doors issue.

I was not aware of the Palm Beach fire and that locked doors led to all those deaths. Pretty horrific.

So far I have not made a point of explicitly observing exit doors before renting - it just so happens that all of them have been well furnished with stairs (unlocked). Now I will make it a point to check for them and probably not rent if the exits are not right.

[Parkwahn 61]

I would not live in a house, I know 5 people who have been robbed....

[Gary 4,119]

The problem with a house is that if they want to get in bad enough, they will find a way. Their latest trick is to remove enough roofing tiles and go through the roof and ceiling.

[jacko 8,815]

I would not live in a house, I know 5 people who have been robbed....

I know 5 who haven't!

But you are right, I do know a few houses that have been broken into.

I have had people over my wall............

[Trvlr 50]

Will having a dog or two be a deterrent?

[Gary 4,119]

A dog is a good thing to have but you have to put the dog on a chain at night far away from where the assholes can throw poisoned food to the dog. The thieves have no scruples about silencing a dog.

[js007 795]

A dog is a good thing to have but you have to put the dog on a chain at night far away from where the assholes can throw poisoned food to the dog. The thieves have no scruples about silencing a dog.

 

My brother has had a couple of Golden Retrievers. Sweet dogs, but they sounded mean as hell and did a good job of alerting everyone to strange people in the area. The dogs stayed inside at night, but they could hear things a mile away, seemingly.

[Obsession 571]

I have had people over my wall............

 

What happened next?

[jacko 8,815]

 

What happened next?

I just saw footprints... I think my security light came on and they buggered off.

[Obsession 571]

Like it Your property has a pool, sprinklers, walls, security lights etc. I remember, because as a landlord, I am pig sick of maintaining properties!

Your house sounds great.

[jacko 8,815]

Like it Your property has a pool, sprinklers, walls, security lights etc. I remember, because as a landlord, I am pig sick of maintaining properties!

Your house sounds great.

When I first moved in I did a lot myself, spent a week getting sunburned and dizzy painting my wrought iron front fencing and used to do my own gardening.

The novelty soon wears off... every job is a struggle in the heat... and waving bugs off is tiring..

(We get these tiny fruit flies this time of year you don't see in town... they love ears and nostrils!).

These days I am getting lazy and the place could do with sprucing up.

So now I pay more, and believe me it adds up each month.... and I have some big jobs well overdue but dread taking on, even if not doing them myself. Having local workmen inside your home is sometimes infuriating, they are often lazy and disrespectful of your home or time.... sometimes they bring kids and I am nervous of them drowning in my pool! Funnily enough I like doing a bit of plumbing now and again... sticking together that blue plastic pipe is easy.

I will still take on the odd repair or upgrade job, the easy ones. But painting the walls.... no thanks.

Edited May 1, 2014 by jacko

[Obsession 571]

When I first moved in I did a lot myself, spent a week getting sunburned and dizzy painting my wrought iron front fencing and used to do my own gardening.

The novelty soon wears off... every job is a struggle in the heat... and waving bugs off is tiring..

(We get these tiny fruit flies this time of year you don't see in town... they love ears and nostrils!).

These days I am getting lazy and the place could do with sprucing up.

So now I pay more, and believe me it adds up each month.... and I have some big jobs well overdue but dread taking on, even if not doing them myself. Having local workmen inside your home is infuriating, they are often lazy and disrespectful of your home or time.... sometimes they bring kids so I am nervous of them drowning in my pool! Funnily enough I like doing a bit of plumbing now and again... sticking together that blue plastic pipe is easy.

I will still take on the odd repair or upgrade job, the easy ones. But painting the walls.... no thanks.

 

I bet the costs do add up. I think some people underestimate the upkeep of large houses.

 

Why do you get away with no bars on the windows?

[jacko 8,815]

 

I bet the costs do add up. I think some people underestimate the upkeep of large houses.

 

Why do you get away with no bars on the windows?

Firstly the area I am in is not so bad... it would be different in many areas of the darkside, and in town.

The house is alarmed.

I have had all my house doors and windows replaced with UVPC double glazed units, and I am told the local thieves don't really know how to get around them.

(The standard brown extruded or pressed aluminium frames are not very secure, particularly the sliding windows and doors).

I do have some bars, on the maid's quarters (read my wifeys den and where I keep stuff!) it is also where I haven't replaced the windows, but a screwdriver would get them off as happened to a neighbour who was daft enough to go out without setting his alarm. It is also in full view of the house opposite. Many homes are accessed through the roof, just pushing tiles back, but mine has sprayed insulation foam there to stop that..

Touch wood!

Edited May 1, 2014 by jacko

[short 215]

A dog is a good thing to have but you have to put the dog on a chain at night far away from where the assholes can throw poisoned food to the dog. The thieves have no scruples about silencing a dog.

Putting a dog on a chain is how you create a vicious dog if that is what you want. A dog psychologist explained to me that every time a dog slams into the end of the chain the dog associates that pain with the stranger they were running to greet.

 

If you want a dog that will protect your property, don't let it loose in a fence. Instead, let it run on a long dog chain.

[MM 6,562]

A dog is a good thing to have but you have to put the dog on a chain at night far away from where the assholes can throw poisoned food to the dog. The thieves have no scruples about silencing a dog.

Putting a dog on a chain is how you create a vicious dog if that is what you want. A dog psychologist explained to me that every time a dog slams into the end of the chain the dog associates that pain with the stranger they were running to greet.

 

If you want a dog that will protect your property, don't let it loose in a fence. Instead, let it run on a long dog chain.

Dog psychologist?

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

 

[Gary 4,119]

My brother in law is the village barber and he also has a small shop that sells beer, cigarettes, soft drinks and some food items. His dog was poisoned. It is a difficult thing to prevent a dog from eating poisoned bait. Keeping the dog inside at night is probably the best way but no way my wife will allow animals in the house at any time. I had a large dog house where I put him at night. He hated staying in his dog house. He didn't seem to mind being on the long chain at night.

[Parkwahn 61]

Putting a dog on a chain is how you create a vicious dog if that is what you want. A dog psychologist explained to me that every time a dog slams into the end of the chain the dog associates that pain with the stranger they were running to greet.If you want a dog that will protect your property, don't let it loose in a fence. Instead, let it run on a long dog chain.

In South Africa when pups they put them in a pillow case when small and get a local to beat them,,,I was dragged round a neighbourhood by an English bull terrier a friend had he was on a big chain and was snapping and snarling at the locals ....

 

He had 3 dogs and never had a problem....