Renovated 30-year-old abandoned house
Too Architects would like to take our readers to see the renovation process of a 30-year-old single-story house. The owner wanted to transform the house into a cooking studio for teaching cooking and have living space on the upper floor.
This house is in Kluaynamthai, a unique area with many small businesses. Due to the high land price per square wah, we often see a mix of living and small business spaces. It also meets the urban lifestyle where “living” and “working” are in the same place.
Due to the limited space of this small house and the need to add a large kitchen function to make it a cooking studio, it was a challenging task for our team. The completed design and construction of the building would not have been possible without the continuous collaboration between our team and the owner from start to finish because we believe in the concept that the “homeowner” is not a customer but a “colleague” with whom we will communicate and coordinate all the time.
The task given by the owner was to have a large kitchen space that is functional for cooking and baking, as well as teaching people who come to take the course. And the living space is not too big to just stay in. But with the original house's size of only 5 meters x 10 meters, the design team had to add a mezzanine to the house, dividing the kitchen area on the ground floor and the living area on the mezzanine. This separation also increases the "Privacy" of the area.
This house is a good example for those who have old houses or buildings and want to renovate for any purpose, whether for living or business. It is normal for old buildings to have many complicated factors and the original condition requires detailed repair. But just understanding the steps before starting the renovation, from studying the original building condition, and design to safe construction, will make the renovation not as difficult as you think.
Too Architects will take everyone to see the renovation process of this house in detail in every step, from beginning to end, a total of 13 steps, including explaining useful information on design, construction, system work, and material selection that can be used with everyone's old buildings.
Examples of Kluaynamthai Micro House project
Studying the original condition of the building is the most important heart of every renovation. It is like buttoning the first button. If we button the first button wrong, all the next buttons will be wrong. Because old buildings have different deterioration conditions, which will affect the strength and safety of the structure, which is the most important thing in construction. All owners of old buildings who want to renovate must therefore study the original condition of the building carefully. And it would be better to consult a renovation expert directly.
The important checklist for studying the original building condition will have 4 items:
After studying the original structure thoroughly, designers will generally use this information in their designs. The most important thing is that the structural work, architectural work, or various system works can be added more. On the other hand, what the building owner must consider is that the structure is a limitation of the construction work. Renovation work is not creating something new, but changing the appearance of the old with limitations to be beautiful and meet the needs as much as possible.
Smartboard lightweight walls will be selected for use in areas other than bathrooms. They are selected at a thickness of 8 mm. for interior walls and 10 mm. for exterior walls, attached with prefabricated U-shaped and C-shaped frames. Smartboard lightweight walls are lightweight, strong, tough, and flexible, and have no termite problems.
Mostly, in the renovation of very old buildings, the electrical system, water supply, and sanitation are often rewired. However, it depends on whether the original condition of the system is still in good condition or not. The materials may be damaged. But in general, the installation of new building systems is not something that the homeowner has to worry about much.
The environment and context surrounding the building are very important for construction. Because as we know, each area has a different context, whether it is a wide or narrow entrance road, no space for building materials, or even a structure with shared walls, which we often find in the renovation of shophouses. Therefore, studying the condition of the work site well will result in planning the construction easier and faster.
When the owner and designer are aware of the original condition of the building, the design will be the next step. The designer must work within the limitations of the original structure. Which will change the appearance of the old with limitations to be beautiful and meet the needs of the building owner as much as possible.
Our design team received a brief from the homeowner who wanted to renovate this house into a Cooking Studio for teaching cooking. There is a large kitchen area that is usable for cooking and baking, and teaching people who come to take cooking courses. And the living space is not too big, just enough for the homeowner to comfortably live in.
Making a Shop Drawing is to take the original building condition data to write a construction drawing that the designer will use as a basis for designing in the next step. The Shop Drawing will show the different stages of the old building, the structure, various materials, and even the deteriorated parts that are problems of the old building. The designer can also suggest solutions to problems that occur in the old building through the Shop Drawing.
The design team of Too Architects has taken the Shop Drawing of this old house into consideration, choosing to keep the reinforced concrete column structure and use it as an important criterion for designing in the future. Which will use the original structure as a foundation and add a new structure that emphasizes the use of lightweight and strong materials.
The “Space” and “Function” of this house are divided into 2 main parts: 1. The “Public” area, which is the area for the Cooking Studio used for cooking teaching activities. There is a kitchen with space to accommodate various kitchen equipment. There is a bathroom for customers and a washing area at the back of the building. And 2. The “Private” area is a living area for the homeowner on the mezzanine, which will consist of a bedroom area, a private bathroom, storage space, and a small sitting area. Which will come up from the stairs on the ground floor, which separates the owner's area and the business area.
The kitchen area on the ground floor uses a high double-volume hall in the middle of a large island to create a comfortable atmosphere, not making the area feel too cramped, which is a result of closing the house walls all around to be solid with no openings. Because the owner wants privacy from the high area and the surrounding context of the house is surrounded by tall buildings, so he chose to use large openings on the ground floor instead to allow natural light into the kitchen area.
The design team chose to use I-beam steel structures and box steel for the additional structure as the main because they are lightweight, take less time to install, and most importantly, do not add too much weight to the original structure. On the ground floor, the designer chose to use a reinforced concrete beam system that will help wrap around the original concrete columns. And use a poured-in-place floor system and the mezzanine will be a prefabricated floor with a 5-7 cm thick Topping.
The design team chose to use a combination of two types of walls: lightweight brick walls and smartboard frame walls. The interior walls will focus on using white and light-colored wood floors to help increase the openness and airiness of the house area. And use white and black steel stairs to emphasize the intensity and create a difference in the interior space.
After the design process is complete, it will be the construction drawing process, will be used to calculate the BOQ (Bill of Quantities) for the next construction work. The construction drawing and BOQ will be related to the budget of the building owner that has been set from the beginning. The designer will take into account the construction budget as an important factor for the maximum benefit of the building owner.
Demolition of the original building is the first step of building renovation. The builder must use the construction drawing as a guideline for the demolition, whether to demolish which part, to keep which part, or to use which old materials from the original building for maximum benefit. If the demolition process is carried out in detail, it will not only make the construction easier, but it will also save the homeowner's budget.
Demolition is a delicate job. There are many factors to consider. But if the homeowner and the builder understand the various factors, the demolition work will go smoothly. The team would like to present the factors to consider as follows:
The materials obtained from the demolition may be used by the builder in some types of work, such as formwork for pouring concrete or support work. Recycling waste materials will have a positive effect on saving construction costs, which may be more or less, depending on each different work site.
In the construction of this house, our team used old box steel rafters as a model for the concrete pouring structure and used the broken bricks from the demolition to fill in and level the floor of the building. This helps the homeowner save on the cost of formwork and soil that will have to be used for filling.
After the demolition process is complete, the designer will come to check the image of the building site again to create a Shop Drawing in addition to the Construction Drawing that has already been made. It is an inspection of the distance and levels of the building, including the structural condition that may be affected by the demolition work, which may affect the construction work in the future.
Making a Shop Drawing again helps to make the design to be used for construction more detailed, helps reduce structural errors that may occur, and also helps to increase the safety of the construction work. However, when the designer knows the actual condition of the building, sometimes there may be additional construction limitations, causing the design to have to be changed as appropriate. Both the design team and the homeowner must agree to find the best solution within the scope of the original structure.
Structural construction work is the first step of the construction process, in which safety is the most important factor, both in terms of the safety of the construction team and the safety of the homeowner. On this occasion, Too Architects would like to explain the construction steps of this house in detail, to be of benefit to all owners of old buildings who wish to renovate their buildings beautifully, correctly, and safely.
Since the original condition of this house already had an original foundation, the construction team started work with the house's ground beam, which used a reinforced concrete structure wrapped around the original columns to increase strength and stability. The ground floor used a poured-in-place floor structure. By pouring from the newly casted ground beam and using recycled materials from the old rafters of the house to make a concrete mold.
The steel structure plays a very important role in renovating this house. Too Architects will explain the steps of constructing the steel structure of the house, from selecting the size of the steel and, thickness, to installing the structure that occurs during construction. Choosing the right type of material will help the construction work to be beautiful, safe, and strong, and also save the homeowner's budget.
The construction team chose to use I-beam steel beams with a size of 200 x 100 x 7 x 10 mm., 6 meters long, cut to the desired length from the factory, and welded to a 150 x 150 x 12 mm. steel plate that is fixed to the column head by pouring 750 ksc non-shrink grout for the strength of the structure that must bear the additional weight.
The steel columns of the house are connected to the I-beam steel beams because the entire set of steel columns of the house only supports the weight of the roof frame of the house. Therefore, we choose to use square steel box columns with a size of 150 x 150 x 3.2 mm., welded to the lower I-beam beam, and use a steel box abutment size of 50 x 100 x 2.3 mm. at the end of the column to place the rafters.
The important components of the “Lean-To” roof frame, or what we know as a “gable roof” of this house, are steel box rafters with a size of 50 x 100 x 1.8 mm, spaced every 1 meter, and steel box purlins with a size of 25 x 25 x 1.2 mm, spaced every 1 meter according to the specifications of the PU foam metal sheet used as the roofing material, and the eaves are covered with 3 mm thick steel sheets around the roof.
This gable roof is very popular today because it can drain rainwater well. It does not require much material to construct the roof frame and is often used in conjunction with metal sheets because metal sheets are a roofing material that can be customized in length. It has a high length per sheet because the sheets are rolled from the factory. This makes it suitable for use with roof structures with low slopes.
In terms of the mezzanine floor structure, two types of floors were selected: “prefabricated floor panels” placed on I-beams, covered with 3 mm diameter wire mesh, 20 x 20 mm square, and poured with 240 ksc cement, 5 cm thick, and “poured-in-place floors” in the bathroom, which were formed by weaving 9 mm round steel bars and pouring 350 ksc cement mixed with a 10 cm thick waterproof agent. The selection of different floor structures depends on the different types of use.
After the structural work is complete, the wall work will be the next step of construction. For the renovation of this house, the construction team chose to use two types of walls: “lightweight brick walls” and “smartboard lightweight walls” because they are lightweight, strong, and do not add weight to the mound.
Lightweight brick walls are selected for areas adjacent to bathrooms because they can withstand moisture better than smartboard walls and must be tiled over. Lightweight bricks also have the advantages of weather resistance, good heat insulation, good sound absorption, and are lightweight.
Smartboard lightweight walls are selected for areas other than bathrooms, with a thickness of 8 mm for interior walls and 10 mm for exterior walls, attached with prefabricated U-shaped and C-shaped frames. Smartboard lightweight walls are lightweight, strong, tough, and flexible, have no termite problems, and are highly resistant to moisture both inside and outside.
Before starting the plastering of the house's walls, it is the step of starting to cut the walls to install electrical and plumbing pipes for the house. The pipes of both systems should not be in the same groove or cut because when the house is complete and has been used for a long time, it may cause problems with water leaks or damaged electrical pipes. When the pipes of both systems are close together, there can be electrical shock problems.
Some plumbing works can start before the architectural construction, such as the drainage system, water treatment system under the lower structure, or the installation of some pipes before pouring the concrete floor of the bathroom. It depends on the construction plan from the beginning. As for the electrical and water pipes, some of them are usually done after the wall is built because the wall must be plastered to keep the electrical and water pipes neat.
The basics of the electrical system work, the construction team will use the electrical plan as a criterion to calculate the electrical load, which will be calculated from the number of electrical appliances in the house, the number of lights, plugs, or things that use electricity. The homeowner must inform both the design team and the construction team of the initial electrical needs.
In the electrical system of this house, the construction team chose to use yellow PVC pipes as electrical conduits because they are cheap, helping to save the homeowner's budget. And since the pipes must be buried in the wall anyway, there is no need to use expensive metal pipes.
In the plumbing and sanitation system work, the route of the system must be considered from the clean water entering the house to the wastewater treatment through the septic tank. Or known as a "septic tank" to the public drainage. The types of water in the plumbing and sanitation system are divided into 4 types as follows:
After the plumbing and system work is complete This will be the process of plastering lightweight brick walls and smartboard lightweight walls, which both types of walls will use different types of plaster and plastering methods.
Plastering lightweight brick walls should be plastered with a thickness of 5-10 mm. It does not have to be plastered as thick as a brick wall because if it is a lightweight brick with standard quality, the bricks will have a smooth surface and size, can be built vertically and easily, and will not waste plaster.
Plastering smartboard lightweight walls will start with plastering the joints between the panels, which requires cement plastering to fill the joints of the cement boards and finishing with a thin coat or (Skim Coat) at a thickness of 0.30 -3.0 mm. This will make the wall smooth and ready to be painted with primer.
For the construction of the stairs of this house, the construction team chose to proceed after plastering the wall surface because it will prevent damage to the stairs that may occur during other construction steps. The staircase structure of the house is a steel structure that emphasizes black and white colors. Use 200 x 100 x 7 x 10 mm I-beam steel stair treads welded to 6 mm thick folded steel stair treads. For the handrails and guardrails, use round steel as vertical lattices with angle iron handrails.
Finishing work will be the last step of architectural finishing before installing equipment because this type of construction requires high-precision craftsmanship. It should not be done after the structural construction is complete.
Bathroom tile work includes both floors and walls. Bathroom floor tiles must have a suitable slope so that water can drain into the drain. The walls must be vertical and not crooked and must be grouted along the grooves of every tile, whether on the floor or wall, with quality grout.
Ceiling work will start after the wall surface work is complete. The ceiling frame will use a grid of sealants with a gap of 40 cm. and use 9 mm thick gypsum board as the ceiling material. In the bathroom, a different type of gypsum will be used from the interior area, which will be a moisture-resistant gypsum board. The part of the exterior ceiling of the house that is constantly exposed to the sun and rain
The construction team chose to use a 6 mm thick Smartboard because it is more durable and stronger than a gypsum board.
The process of painting the ceiling starts with a thin coat (Skim Coat) with a thickness of 0.30-3.0 mm and a primer. Then apply the real paint for about 2-3 rounds so that the color will stick and last for a long time.
Paintwork requires meticulousness and consistent painting by the painter. The selection of the type of paint used is different for each type of surface and area to be painted.
The beginning of the painting starts with applying the primer. This house uses 2 types of primers: old cement primer for the Smartboard wall and new cement primer for the lightweight brick wall. Applying the primer is only done once. Once the primer is dry, the actual paint for the wall is applied.
The actual paint is divided into 2 types: exterior paint and interior paint. The actual paint is applied 2-3 rounds for light colors, but if it is a very bright and dark color, it may take up to 4-5 rounds to make the color stick and look beautiful.
The floor tiles of this house are glued wood-pattern vinyl tiles, giving a touch similar to wood and giving a warm feeling. They are soft and flexible, making it easy to repair tiles that may be damaged in the future. They are laid quickly and the edges of the materials are covered with wood-patterned baseboards.
After the finishing work is complete, there will be a major cleaning 2-3 times because, during every step of the construction work, there is a lot of dust and trash. After the cleaning is complete, the various equipment in the house will be installed.
The equipment for the electrical system installed in this step includes lighting equipment, switch and plug covers, air conditioners, and range hoods. After the installation is complete, the construction team will thoroughly inspect the condition of the electrical system at every point for the safety of the homeowner when using and living in the house.
Equipment in this type of work, whether it is a toilet, sink, bidet, shower head, or faucet, will be installed after the tiles are completely laid. During the installation process, the joints must be carefully checked to avoid problems of leakage of the equipment after long periods of use.
The installation of glass panels, windows, and aluminum sliding doors, can be done before or after painting. It depends on the construction plan set by the construction team. For this house, the construction team chose to do it as the last step to reduce the risk of damaging the installed aluminum panels.
When choosing aluminum panels, the design team must provide the homeowner with various information, such as the color and thickness of the glass and aluminum frame, the type of door opening, and the use of various installation details. It must also be in line with the homeowner's budget.
For the interior doors of this house, there are both single-door and sliding doors. The focus is on using UPVC doors because they are lightweight, strong, termite-resistant, and economical.
The only built-in work in this house is the island in the kitchen, which is made of box steel covered with wood veneer and topped with large marble slabs used for making desserts. There is also a shelf for the Buddha shelf in front of the bedroom that emphasizes the use of light-colored wood veneer. Built-in work can be designed and constructed according to the owner's needs. Sometimes, free-standing furniture in the market may not be the desired size. Using built-in furniture is another option for limited space or specific needs.
After all construction steps are complete The construction team will clean up 2-3 more times and have the homeowner inspect the condition of the construction work before handing over the work, whether it is structural work, architectural work, electrical work, plumbing and sanitary systems, and built-in work for the benefit of the homeowner. In this step, the construction team must be responsible for fixing all possible problems, damages, or breakages before handing over the work.
This is considered the completion of the renovation process of a single-story house that is over 30 years old by Too Architects. We hope that the information in each step of this article will be of some use to all readers. We sincerely hope that everyone will be able to use the information and details obtained from this article with their old building that is waiting to be transformed. Renovation is not as difficult as you think if done correctly and in the right steps. However, please be aware that renovating an old building is not about building something new, but about changing the appearance of an old building with limitations to be as beautiful and as functional as possible within the boundaries of the building itself.
If you need advice on the renovation and design of an old building, you can click here. Or send details to E-mail: admin@too-architects.com or call 098-272-1620, 095-242-9597. Too Architects is happy to provide advice without any charges.
Too Architects would like to take our readers to see the renovation process of a 30-year-old single-story house. The owner wanted to transform the house into a cooking studio for teaching cooking and have living space on the upper floor.
This house is in Kluaynamthai, a unique area with many small businesses. Due to the high land price per square wah, we often see a mix of living and small business spaces. It also meets the urban lifestyle where “living” and “working” are in the same place.
Due to the limited space of this small house and the need to add a large kitchen function to make it a cooking studio, it was a challenging task for our team. The completed design and construction of the building would not have been possible without the continuous collaboration between our team and the owner from start to finish because we believe in the concept that the “homeowner” is not a customer but a “colleague” with whom we will communicate and coordinate all the time.
The task given by the owner was to have a large kitchen space that is functional for cooking and baking, as well as teaching people who come to take the course. And the living space is not too big to just stay in. But with the original house's size of only 5 meters x 10 meters, the design team had to add a mezzanine to the house, dividing the kitchen area on the ground floor and the living area on the mezzanine. This separation also increases the "Privacy" of the area.
This house is a good example for those who have old houses or buildings and want to renovate for any purpose, whether for living or business. It is normal for old buildings to have many complicated factors and the original condition requires detailed repair. But just understanding the steps before starting the renovation, from studying the original building condition, and design to safe construction, will make the renovation not as difficult as you think.
Too Architects will take everyone to see the renovation process of this house in detail in every step, from beginning to end, a total of 13 steps, including explaining useful information on design, construction, system work, and material selection that can be used with everyone's old buildings.
Examples of Kluaynamthai Micro House project
Studying the original condition of the building is the most important heart of every renovation. It is like buttoning the first button. If we button the first button wrong, all the next buttons will be wrong. Because old buildings have different deterioration conditions, which will affect the strength and safety of the structure, which is the most important thing in construction. All owners of old buildings who want to renovate must therefore study the original condition of the building carefully. And it would be better to consult a renovation expert directly.
The important checklist for studying the original building condition will have 4 items:
After studying the original structure thoroughly, designers will generally use this information in their designs. The most important thing is that the structural work, architectural work, or various system works can be added more. On the other hand, what the building owner must consider is that the structure is a limitation of the construction work. Renovation work is not creating something new, but changing the appearance of the old with limitations to be beautiful and meet the needs as much as possible.
Smartboard lightweight walls will be selected for use in areas other than bathrooms. They are selected at a thickness of 8 mm. for interior walls and 10 mm. for exterior walls, attached with prefabricated U-shaped and C-shaped frames. Smartboard lightweight walls are lightweight, strong, tough, and flexible, and have no termite problems.
Mostly, in the renovation of very old buildings, the electrical system, water supply, and sanitation are often rewired. However, it depends on whether the original condition of the system is still in good condition or not. The materials may be damaged. But in general, the installation of new building systems is not something that the homeowner has to worry about much.
The environment and context surrounding the building are very important for construction. Because as we know, each area has a different context, whether it is a wide or narrow entrance road, no space for building materials, or even a structure with shared walls, which we often find in the renovation of shophouses. Therefore, studying the condition of the work site well will result in planning the construction easier and faster.
When the owner and designer are aware of the original condition of the building, the design will be the next step. The designer must work within the limitations of the original structure. Which will change the appearance of the old with limitations to be beautiful and meet the needs of the building owner as much as possible.
Our design team received a brief from the homeowner who wanted to renovate this house into a Cooking Studio for teaching cooking. There is a large kitchen area that is usable for cooking and baking, and teaching people who come to take cooking courses. And the living space is not too big, just enough for the homeowner to comfortably live in.
Making a Shop Drawing is to take the original building condition data to write a construction drawing that the designer will use as a basis for designing in the next step. The Shop Drawing will show the different stages of the old building, the structure, various materials, and even the deteriorated parts that are problems of the old building. The designer can also suggest solutions to problems that occur in the old building through the Shop Drawing.
The design team of Too Architects has taken the Shop Drawing of this old house into consideration, choosing to keep the reinforced concrete column structure and use it as an important criterion for designing in the future. Which will use the original structure as a foundation and add a new structure that emphasizes the use of lightweight and strong materials.
The “Space” and “Function” of this house are divided into 2 main parts: 1. The “Public” area, which is the area for the Cooking Studio used for cooking teaching activities. There is a kitchen with space to accommodate various kitchen equipment. There is a bathroom for customers and a washing area at the back of the building. And 2. The “Private” area is a living area for the homeowner on the mezzanine, which will consist of a bedroom area, a private bathroom, storage space, and a small sitting area. Which will come up from the stairs on the ground floor, which separates the owner's area and the business area.
The kitchen area on the ground floor uses a high double-volume hall in the middle of a large island to create a comfortable atmosphere, not making the area feel too cramped, which is a result of closing the house walls all around to be solid with no openings. Because the owner wants privacy from the high area and the surrounding context of the house is surrounded by tall buildings, so he chose to use large openings on the ground floor instead to allow natural light into the kitchen area.
The design team chose to use I-beam steel structures and box steel for the additional structure as the main because they are lightweight, take less time to install, and most importantly, do not add too much weight to the original structure. On the ground floor, the designer chose to use a reinforced concrete beam system that will help wrap around the original concrete columns. And use a poured-in-place floor system and the mezzanine will be a prefabricated floor with a 5-7 cm thick Topping.
The design team chose to use a combination of two types of walls: lightweight brick walls and smartboard frame walls. The interior walls will focus on using white and light-colored wood floors to help increase the openness and airiness of the house area. And use white and black steel stairs to emphasize the intensity and create a difference in the interior space.
After the design process is complete, it will be the construction drawing process, will be used to calculate the BOQ (Bill of Quantities) for the next construction work. The construction drawing and BOQ will be related to the budget of the building owner that has been set from the beginning. The designer will take into account the construction budget as an important factor for the maximum benefit of the building owner.
Demolition of the original building is the first step of building renovation. The builder must use the construction drawing as a guideline for the demolition, whether to demolish which part, to keep which part, or to use which old materials from the original building for maximum benefit. If the demolition process is carried out in detail, it will not only make the construction easier, but it will also save the homeowner's budget.
Demolition is a delicate job. There are many factors to consider. But if the homeowner and the builder understand the various factors, the demolition work will go smoothly. The team would like to present the factors to consider as follows:
The materials obtained from the demolition may be used by the builder in some types of work, such as formwork for pouring concrete or support work. Recycling waste materials will have a positive effect on saving construction costs, which may be more or less, depending on each different work site.
In the construction of this house, our team used old box steel rafters as a model for the concrete pouring structure and used the broken bricks from the demolition to fill in and level the floor of the building. This helps the homeowner save on the cost of formwork and soil that will have to be used for filling.
After the demolition process is complete, the designer will come to check the image of the building site again to create a Shop Drawing in addition to the Construction Drawing that has already been made. It is an inspection of the distance and levels of the building, including the structural condition that may be affected by the demolition work, which may affect the construction work in the future.
Making a Shop Drawing again helps to make the design to be used for construction more detailed, helps reduce structural errors that may occur, and also helps to increase the safety of the construction work. However, when the designer knows the actual condition of the building, sometimes there may be additional construction limitations, causing the design to have to be changed as appropriate. Both the design team and the homeowner must agree to find the best solution within the scope of the original structure.
Structural construction work is the first step of the construction process, in which safety is the most important factor, both in terms of the safety of the construction team and the safety of the homeowner. On this occasion, Too Architects would like to explain the construction steps of this house in detail, to be of benefit to all owners of old buildings who wish to renovate their buildings beautifully, correctly, and safely.
Since the original condition of this house already had an original foundation, the construction team started work with the house's ground beam, which used a reinforced concrete structure wrapped around the original columns to increase strength and stability. The ground floor used a poured-in-place floor structure. By pouring from the newly casted ground beam and using recycled materials from the old rafters of the house to make a concrete mold.
The steel structure plays a very important role in renovating this house. Too Architects will explain the steps of constructing the steel structure of the house, from selecting the size of the steel and, thickness, to installing the structure that occurs during construction. Choosing the right type of material will help the construction work to be beautiful, safe, and strong, and also save the homeowner's budget.
The construction team chose to use I-beam steel beams with a size of 200 x 100 x 7 x 10 mm., 6 meters long, cut to the desired length from the factory, and welded to a 150 x 150 x 12 mm. steel plate that is fixed to the column head by pouring 750 ksc non-shrink grout for the strength of the structure that must bear the additional weight.
The steel columns of the house are connected to the I-beam steel beams because the entire set of steel columns of the house only supports the weight of the roof frame of the house. Therefore, we choose to use square steel box columns with a size of 150 x 150 x 3.2 mm., welded to the lower I-beam beam, and use a steel box abutment size of 50 x 100 x 2.3 mm. at the end of the column to place the rafters.
The important components of the “Lean-To” roof frame, or what we know as a “gable roof” of this house, are steel box rafters with a size of 50 x 100 x 1.8 mm, spaced every 1 meter, and steel box purlins with a size of 25 x 25 x 1.2 mm, spaced every 1 meter according to the specifications of the PU foam metal sheet used as the roofing material, and the eaves are covered with 3 mm thick steel sheets around the roof.
This gable roof is very popular today because it can drain rainwater well. It does not require much material to construct the roof frame and is often used in conjunction with metal sheets because metal sheets are a roofing material that can be customized in length. It has a high length per sheet because the sheets are rolled from the factory. This makes it suitable for use with roof structures with low slopes.
In terms of the mezzanine floor structure, two types of floors were selected: “prefabricated floor panels” placed on I-beams, covered with 3 mm diameter wire mesh, 20 x 20 mm square, and poured with 240 ksc cement, 5 cm thick, and “poured-in-place floors” in the bathroom, which were formed by weaving 9 mm round steel bars and pouring 350 ksc cement mixed with a 10 cm thick waterproof agent. The selection of different floor structures depends on the different types of use.
After the structural work is complete, the wall work will be the next step of construction. For the renovation of this house, the construction team chose to use two types of walls: “lightweight brick walls” and “smartboard lightweight walls” because they are lightweight, strong, and do not add weight to the mound.
Lightweight brick walls are selected for areas adjacent to bathrooms because they can withstand moisture better than smartboard walls and must be tiled over. Lightweight bricks also have the advantages of weather resistance, good heat insulation, good sound absorption, and are lightweight.
Smartboard lightweight walls are selected for areas other than bathrooms, with a thickness of 8 mm for interior walls and 10 mm for exterior walls, attached with prefabricated U-shaped and C-shaped frames. Smartboard lightweight walls are lightweight, strong, tough, and flexible, have no termite problems, and are highly resistant to moisture both inside and outside.
Before starting the plastering of the house's walls, it is the step of starting to cut the walls to install electrical and plumbing pipes for the house. The pipes of both systems should not be in the same groove or cut because when the house is complete and has been used for a long time, it may cause problems with water leaks or damaged electrical pipes. When the pipes of both systems are close together, there can be electrical shock problems.
Some plumbing works can start before the architectural construction, such as the drainage system, water treatment system under the lower structure, or the installation of some pipes before pouring the concrete floor of the bathroom. It depends on the construction plan from the beginning. As for the electrical and water pipes, some of them are usually done after the wall is built because the wall must be plastered to keep the electrical and water pipes neat.
The basics of the electrical system work, the construction team will use the electrical plan as a criterion to calculate the electrical load, which will be calculated from the number of electrical appliances in the house, the number of lights, plugs, or things that use electricity. The homeowner must inform both the design team and the construction team of the initial electrical needs.
In the electrical system of this house, the construction team chose to use yellow PVC pipes as electrical conduits because they are cheap, helping to save the homeowner's budget. And since the pipes must be buried in the wall anyway, there is no need to use expensive metal pipes.
In the plumbing and sanitation system work, the route of the system must be considered from the clean water entering the house to the wastewater treatment through the septic tank. Or known as a "septic tank" to the public drainage. The types of water in the plumbing and sanitation system are divided into 4 types as follows:
After the plumbing and system work is complete This will be the process of plastering lightweight brick walls and smartboard lightweight walls, which both types of walls will use different types of plaster and plastering methods.
Plastering lightweight brick walls should be plastered with a thickness of 5-10 mm. It does not have to be plastered as thick as a brick wall because if it is a lightweight brick with standard quality, the bricks will have a smooth surface and size, can be built vertically and easily, and will not waste plaster.
Plastering smartboard lightweight walls will start with plastering the joints between the panels, which requires cement plastering to fill the joints of the cement boards and finishing with a thin coat or (Skim Coat) at a thickness of 0.30 -3.0 mm. This will make the wall smooth and ready to be painted with primer.
For the construction of the stairs of this house, the construction team chose to proceed after plastering the wall surface because it will prevent damage to the stairs that may occur during other construction steps. The staircase structure of the house is a steel structure that emphasizes black and white colors. Use 200 x 100 x 7 x 10 mm I-beam steel stair treads welded to 6 mm thick folded steel stair treads. For the handrails and guardrails, use round steel as vertical lattices with angle iron handrails.
Finishing work will be the last step of architectural finishing before installing equipment because this type of construction requires high-precision craftsmanship. It should not be done after the structural construction is complete.
Bathroom tile work includes both floors and walls. Bathroom floor tiles must have a suitable slope so that water can drain into the drain. The walls must be vertical and not crooked and must be grouted along the grooves of every tile, whether on the floor or wall, with quality grout.
Ceiling work will start after the wall surface work is complete. The ceiling frame will use a grid of sealants with a gap of 40 cm. and use 9 mm thick gypsum board as the ceiling material. In the bathroom, a different type of gypsum will be used from the interior area, which will be a moisture-resistant gypsum board. The part of the exterior ceiling of the house that is constantly exposed to the sun and rain
The construction team chose to use a 6 mm thick Smartboard because it is more durable and stronger than a gypsum board.
The process of painting the ceiling starts with a thin coat (Skim Coat) with a thickness of 0.30-3.0 mm and a primer. Then apply the real paint for about 2-3 rounds so that the color will stick and last for a long time.
Paintwork requires meticulousness and consistent painting by the painter. The selection of the type of paint used is different for each type of surface and area to be painted.
The beginning of the painting starts with applying the primer. This house uses 2 types of primers: old cement primer for the Smartboard wall and new cement primer for the lightweight brick wall. Applying the primer is only done once. Once the primer is dry, the actual paint for the wall is applied.
The actual paint is divided into 2 types: exterior paint and interior paint. The actual paint is applied 2-3 rounds for light colors, but if it is a very bright and dark color, it may take up to 4-5 rounds to make the color stick and look beautiful.
The floor tiles of this house are glued wood-pattern vinyl tiles, giving a touch similar to wood and giving a warm feeling. They are soft and flexible, making it easy to repair tiles that may be damaged in the future. They are laid quickly and the edges of the materials are covered with wood-patterned baseboards.
After the finishing work is complete, there will be a major cleaning 2-3 times because, during every step of the construction work, there is a lot of dust and trash. After the cleaning is complete, the various equipment in the house will be installed.
The equipment for the electrical system installed in this step includes lighting equipment, switch and plug covers, air conditioners, and range hoods. After the installation is complete, the construction team will thoroughly inspect the condition of the electrical system at every point for the safety of the homeowner when using and living in the house.
Equipment in this type of work, whether it is a toilet, sink, bidet, shower head, or faucet, will be installed after the tiles are completely laid. During the installation process, the joints must be carefully checked to avoid problems of leakage of the equipment after long periods of use.
The installation of glass panels, windows, and aluminum sliding doors, can be done before or after painting. It depends on the construction plan set by the construction team. For this house, the construction team chose to do it as the last step to reduce the risk of damaging the installed aluminum panels.
When choosing aluminum panels, the design team must provide the homeowner with various information, such as the color and thickness of the glass and aluminum frame, the type of door opening, and the use of various installation details. It must also be in line with the homeowner's budget.
For the interior doors of this house, there are both single-door and sliding doors. The focus is on using UPVC doors because they are lightweight, strong, termite-resistant, and economical.
The only built-in work in this house is the island in the kitchen, which is made of box steel covered with wood veneer and topped with large marble slabs used for making desserts. There is also a shelf for the Buddha shelf in front of the bedroom that emphasizes the use of light-colored wood veneer. Built-in work can be designed and constructed according to the owner's needs. Sometimes, free-standing furniture in the market may not be the desired size. Using built-in furniture is another option for limited space or specific needs.
After all construction steps are complete The construction team will clean up 2-3 more times and have the homeowner inspect the condition of the construction work before handing over the work, whether it is structural work, architectural work, electrical work, plumbing and sanitary systems, and built-in work for the benefit of the homeowner. In this step, the construction team must be responsible for fixing all possible problems, damages, or breakages before handing over the work.
This is considered the completion of the renovation process of a single-story house that is over 30 years old by Too Architects. We hope that the information in each step of this article will be of some use to all readers. We sincerely hope that everyone will be able to use the information and details obtained from this article with their old building that is waiting to be transformed. Renovation is not as difficult as you think if done correctly and in the right steps. However, please be aware that renovating an old building is not about building something new, but about changing the appearance of an old building with limitations to be as beautiful and as functional as possible within the boundaries of the building itself.
If you need advice on the renovation and design of an old building, you can click here. Or send details to E-mail: admin@too-architects.com or call 098-272-1620, 095-242-9597. Too Architects is happy to provide advice without any charges.
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