Labour-Only: How It Works When You Buy the Materials

Some clients prefer to buy materials themselves. Maybe they have a trusted supplier, have steel left over from another job, or simply want to control what goes into their home. We're happy to work that way. Labour-only can save money, but it also moves responsibility onto you, and it's not always the cheaper route once everything is counted. This page explains how it works.

For how pricing works more generally, see how we price steel work in Krabi. The same terms apply either way: jobs start from 10,000 THB, the survey is free, and the quote is written and itemised.

How labour-only works

1. Survey first. Rong visits, measures and talks through the design with you.
2. Material list. You get a list of what's needed: steel sections, roofing, fixings and so on.
3. Written quote for labour. It says what our price includes and what it doesn't.
4. You buy and deliver. Materials arrive on site before the agreed start.
5. 30% deposit, then we build.

What labour prices depend on

Taking materials out of the quote doesn't make the job the same price everywhere. Labour still depends on:

• the size and type of job
• height, and whether scaffolding is needed
• footings and any work on the ground
• how the new structure joins the existing house
• removing old work
• access to the site and power for the welder
• distance, with a travel fee for remote or boat-access areas such as Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi

Consumables and tools: agree this up front

The items that cause the most arguments on labour-only jobs aren't the big ones. They're the small things:

• welding rods, cutting and grinding discs
• rust primer, top coat and thinner
• tools, welders and scaffolding

Who supplies these is agreed after the survey and written into the quote. You'll also need a power point near the work that can handle a welder.

Who is responsible for what

With labour-only:

• You choose and buy the materials.
• Material quality and faulty goods are between you and the shop.
• If materials run short, you buy more.
• Delays while waiting for materials are on you.
• We're responsible for workmanship.

With a full contract:

• We choose and buy the materials, and handle quality and shortfalls as per the quote.
• Delays waiting for materials are on us.
• We're responsible for workmanship.

Either way: loss or damage to materials stored at your property is agreed and written into the quote, and the warranty is 1 year under the site conditions stated there.

For a deeper comparison, read our article on labour-only versus full contract in Thailand.

When labour-only saves money

• You already have suitable materials, such as steel left from another project that's the right size for the job.
• You have a supplier you trust and can arrange delivery yourself.
• You're on site and have time to order, check deliveries and chase missing items.
• The job is straightforward, with a clear material list and few surprises.

When it doesn't

• You're not in Krabi, or you're busy. Every trip to the shop and every late delivery is your time, and a stalled job is frustrating for everyone.
• You buy before the survey. Wrong sizes and quantities cost more than any saving.
• The steel is too light. Leftover steel isn't always enough for the span you want.
• The job is complex, with footings, removal work or a tricky connection to the house, where the material list can change once work starts.
• You'd rather have one party responsible for both materials and workmanship.

If you're a foreign owner managing a job from abroad, a full contract is usually simpler. Our guide to hiring a builder in Krabi as a foreigner covers this.

Warning signs with any labour-only builder

• They ask you to buy materials before seeing the site.
• They don't check whether your steel is suitable.
• There's no written quote, just a verbal agreement, and extras appear halfway through.
• It isn't clear what's included and what isn't.

Preparing for the job

Before you order: wait for the material list from the survey.

When you order: stick to the specified sizes and quantities, and ask the shop about delivery to your site, especially if the road is narrow.

When it arrives: count everything against the list, check for damage, and store it somewhere dry and secure. Send photos to Rong on LINE if anything looks wrong.

Terms (same for both ways of working)

• Jobs from 10,000 THB, no price list
• Free site survey and written itemised quote
• 30% deposit before work starts
• Cash bill, no VAT or tax invoice
• 1-year warranty under the site conditions in the quote
• All of Krabi province

Labour-only suits most of our work, including carports, awnings and roofing. Send photos of the site, plus photos of any materials you already have, on LINE at https://line.me/ti/p/KpeSCfxTm4 or call 080-953-4573. The steps are explained on how the free site survey works.