lumumba
Hi, I would like your opinions about replacing all my doors and window, well only 4 for now, with aluminum ones. My front door frame and window is completely invaded with termites and also the back door/window. The frames are already bad and doors are infested with wood worms.....for sure not termites. What about replacing with wood again but of course must be some sort of wood that the little bustard don’t like and for this reason probably at the price of aluminum. There is a shop on Sunset road on the corner of Dewi Sri for aluminum doors/windows but before going there I would like to wait for some of your comments. Any other places where they sale aluminum doors/windows??
Thanks
Smoke
use teak for it
Teak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teak's natural oils make it useful in exposed locations, and make the timber termite and pest resistant. Teak is durable even when not treated with oil or varnish. Timber cut from old teak trees was once believed to be more durable and harder than plantation grown teak.
or possibly try
Depo Bangunan - Supermarket Bahan Bangunan for alum doors and frames
Markit
Teak is not so good anymore unless you can get the old stuff that's been dry a long time - modern teak is quick grow and not very well dried so will warp easily. I would recommend Bankiri or Merbau (best source is in Denpasar at Toko Jati just off the Gatso - contact Mariani on +62 361 740 8330 - Indo only - please tell her HI from Mr. Mark).
My windows and doors have been in for 4 years now and not a termite/wormhole to be found.
Smoke
@ Markit: good to know will add that to my requirements when i build my villas
lumumba
Thanks........will check all your suggestions
ferdie
The best wood in Indonesia is still Ulin and the second is Bengkirai or what a lot of people used to say as Iron wood
These 2 woods has a natural repellent against termites and they even gets stronger the longer they are in contact with water, just like the old wooden houses that was built beside the rivers in Borneo.
They were easily found back then in Borneo but now its rare, but there is Ulin and Bengkirai wood from Sulawesi these days, not the same variant but still has the relevant qualities, I found one guy from Sulawesi in Ubud that bringss them directly from Sulawesi and if you are interested I can give you directions on how to go there
There is another way to get high quality Ulin and Bengkirai, look up a company called Kaltimber, they only sells reclaimed woods so they also has less negative effect to the environment and has good ethical values --->
Home
Markit
You will only find Ulin now as roof shingles IMO. It's bloody expensive too.
Bankiri or Bengkirai and Merbau are the woods of choice for most authentic architects because they are still readily available in Indonesia, being Indonesian wood. Their main anti termite is their solidity and that's the problem with modern teak because of it's quck-grow the wood isn't thick enough to tire out those little jaws.
Merbau is a lovely red colored wood that will "bleed" color for a couple of months after it's put in place but then that stops and you have a wonderfully solid building material that no insect can harm - given that you also need to use termite repellent before they are varnished/painted.
Both are reasonably priced and much sounder than any aluminum you can get here - and traditional too.
Joe Writeson
Markit and Ferdie are correct regarding Ulin, the only downside is that it is difficult to 'work'. Most local artisans know this and treat the raw material accordingly often using traditional tools and methods.
But expat DIY 'experts' be warned, this wood does not suffer fools messing with it, particularly if it has been well 'aged' and 'seasoned' ... basic example, hammer+nail = skinned knuckles ....or worst case scenario ... a firmly struck nail ricocheting around the room seeking eyeballs to impale.
On a large Phinisi conversion project we ended up drilling the Ulin and using rawlplugs, the local carpenters thought that was hilarious.
We used a lot of aged Teak from a timber dealer in Bondowoso, East Java as well. It arrived with that silky, smooth, silvery finish already developing, it only took a few weeks of full UV exposure and regular dousing with seawater to attain the 'talc' underfoot feeling beloved of real sailors throughout the world.
lumumba
Thanks all of you.
I asked for a quote for aluminum....on Sunset Road...they said 4 days for a quote, today is the 6th day and no quote yet.
@ Markit: This week I will go to the shop in Denpasar to get a quote for wood.
@ Ferdie: I will let you know later about your offer, thanks
Thanks again and will let you know when a get all quotes.
Markit
I think Mariani is still in the market for a husband so if it doesn't work out with the wood...? Hell, even if it does work out!
lumumba
@ Markit: hahahahaha what a good idea i hope she is nice and willing..........
lumumba
No quote yet for aluminum hahaha
Are your wooden doors and windows closed properly, tight fit?? I am asking because every year around this time we have an invasion of animals flying at night and this year it is even worse than before because they are very small compare to the previous years. We can’t keep the lights on or they will come inside, sometimes even with just the TV on, so no TV. Last night was really bad we had to spry and leave the house. After one hour we went back to open windows and doors to change the air and clean all the dead body. I don’t know what the hell they are but have big wings and small body. This problem will last for about 2 weeks.
I was thinking that aluminum will have a really tight fit
Smoke
lumumba wroteNo quote yet for aluminum hahaha
Are your wooden doors and windows closed properly, tight fit?? I am asking because every year around this time we have an invasion of animals flying at night and this year it is even worse than before because they are very small compare to the previous years. We can’t keep the lights on or they will come inside, sometimes even with just the TV on, so no TV. Last night was really bad we had to spry and leave the house. After one hour we went back to open windows and doors to change the air and clean all the dead body. I don’t know what the hell they are but have big wings and small body. This problem will last for about 2 weeks.
I was thinking that aluminum will have a really tight fit
not sure if same thing but I had similar problem ( just on outside porch light and carport light) my local friends put a bowl of water under the light ( on roof of car and on floor of the porch)in less then 1 hour all bugs with the bug wings were gone.. mostly dead in the water bowls
Markit
My doors and windows are Merbau in house 1 and Bankiri in house 2 both are a great fit and leave nothing to wish for. Of course you must check each piece that is supplied and immediately reject what isn't up to your standard - first time I sent back half a truck of timber I didn't want and since she can't speak-a-the-english gave me no arguments at all. 10 days later all brand newly made and not a worm hole in sight.
Even the good guys try it on.
lumumba
As promised a report on termites:
Got a quote after about 45 days for aluminum: 5,350USD shop in Sunset road near Dewi Sri Road
Did not go to check the wood yet as we are waiting for pest control to drill holes around the house to kill the termites, 2 years warranty with regular visit every 3 months at no extra cost: 2,670,000
Back door 1.50 x2.15 (open only 75cm)
Small back window, do not open, 54 x 1,40
Front door 92 x 2,10
Window next too front door 75 x 1.95 (do not open)
I have to find my own worker because they will not removed the old stuff
The walls must be repair and finished and only when dry they will come and fit the new stuff
So, all have to be boarded up from removal to fitting.
The quote is incredible, and i had to wait 45 days for it, for such small installation I can do many other things for this amount of money.
For now we kill the little bastard after we’ll decide what to do.
Markit
I got a quote for killing all termites and it was silly money since the quote was only for my land and I'm surrounded (as is everyone else) with other people's land that hasn't been cleared and I'm told you can kill every fricken bug on your land but they will just fly over from the neighbor's when they feel like it so save your dosh and have a Expat bash instead.
Juggler
I suggest if you are using a wood that is prone to termite attack that you do a preconstruction treatment your self. Get online and find out which product has an active ingredent called Fipronil. In OZ it is termidor and Fipforce with Termidor being the first one developed, there are others also. The one in Bali is called Agenta or something like it ( i cant remember). Treat every hole into the ground by pouring in 5-10 lt of mixed chemical at a ratio of 600ml to 100 lt. Even do a blanket treatment with a watering can of the subfloor area.. This should get you a life of about 8-10 years. Then you can do a reapplication by trenching area each "stump" and retreating.
Pest control in VERY expensive in Bali.
wanderingant
May I revive this thread and ask for your advice? I am looking to build a joglo-style house on leased land. The Java-based company which will build it recommends mixed mountain wood as they call it. They said it's all SNI 2 quality, whatever that means (apparently teak is SNI 1). I am worried about termites. They reassured me they never had any issues with the joglos they have built and they said they always treat the wood first with borax and salt. Obviously I will also treat the land plot (with freemite, I don't want toxics in my land) especially around the foundation, and I am planning to also treat the wood every few months with pesticide. I got a quote from a pest control company, 1,3 million with a 3-year warranty. They will also inject pesticide in the wood when the house is made.
I visited some joglos this company have made in Bali and they looked fine, but they were only 2 years old. I'd like something that will last for at least 15 years with no major problems so I can sell it when the land lease ends.
So, I will do all the above but I am still worried about termites because they will use many different types of wood (including mahogany, jackfruit, white siris, johar etc.) and I guess not all those types of wood are resistant. Do you think it's a bad idea to go ahead? Is the risk of a termite infestation still high? I don't want my investment to be eaten by those tiny jaws. I can't afford teak: they quoted a price 3 times that of mixed wood.
By the way, the walls will be made of old reclaimed wood. But the house frame and the floor must be made of new wood the company said, for better stability. The price they ask for a 35 sq.m. house is 150 mil.
I would appreciate your advice and your experience, those of you who live or own wooden houses. Thanks a lot.
Markit
Juggler wrote
I do a lot of termite barriers and have never had a failure,
I don't do ANY termite barriers and have also never had a failure
wanderingant
Markit wrote
I don't do ANY termite barriers and have also never had a failure
You have only used those three wood types I suppose?
