Here are some great tips to help you when considering designing a home in Thailand. Thailand Architects hopes this helps. If you have any questions, please contact us.

1. Take time to think about what rooms you actually need in a house. Sometimes there is a tendency to have too many bedrooms or extra rooms that in the future you rarely use and in fact just added additional cost Money you could have used elsewhere on the house, or saved.

2. When making your list of rooms, consider who will be living in the house full time. If you have guests, how many is it likely to be and how often. No point in having spare bedrooms that are never used.

3. Remember size costs money. Approximate averages of new builds in Europe is 110 sqm – 120 sqm and the USA is about 238 sqm. Good size for 3 bedroom house could 140 sqm – 278 sqm. Obviously depending on whether you want en suite bathrooms, and what size of bedrooms you require. So size can be deceiving if one has never built a house before. So if budget is important think carefully about size requirements. What do you actually really need, rather than what you may initially think ?

4. Of course if budget is not such a major point, then give the architect the information of what you need and they can work out size for you. You can always calculate an approximate projected cost of what overall size is.

4. There are plenty of very good locally produced products in Thailand. One does not need to use more expensive imports. Once again if budget is important then chose Products and material finishes produced in Thailand.

5. In considering window type, a good tip is to avoid wooden windows. Yes they look fabulous and natural. However natural products have their weaknesses. Wood will normally move in time due to weather changes. When temperatures rise and heat builds up within the frame, the unit can potentially warp and twist. In addition, it is sometimes very hard to get a good tight fit with window and frame. This can result in drafts, etc and insects coming in. But of course if you are happy to take that risk, you can of course have what you like. But from experience we advise to go for good quality aluminum or good quality PVC.

6. For the water pump always go for a good quality one. It works every day normally so quality is important.

7. Make sure you have plenty of external drainage to drain water that pours off the roof. Good size gutter pipes.

8. Check what electricity supply there is and if it is 3 phase. Inform the architect. As you may need to ask at the local office of  electricity supply, the cost to bring in 3 phase.

9. Check if there is city water, electricity and drainage close by your land. Do let the architect know. If not then this has to be addressed.

10. Remember when architects provide the fee proposal it does not normally include: interior design (not necessary unless you want it), kitchen design (normally done by the specialist kitchen company), project management, specialist security system design, home automation systems, Landscape/garden design, driveway.

11. If you want the garden wall and gate included, ask the architect to include the garden wall and gate in their designs.

12. Take the time necessary to develop the design with the architect. Do not rush it.