Hi and appreciate you stopping by!
How it works is the building company employs a licensed architect to make any necessary amendments to what I suggest were 'library-approved plans. The company acts as project manager and sub-contracts the building work but handles all the purchase of materials.
Our problem was that they promised us an employed on-site foreman, who arrived but then quit after 3 days and the builders just couldn't read a simple plan!
I signed off the plans as I made simple changes and was quite happy but the mistakes have all come in the building and due to me not being on site usually, just became more and more exacberated.
Everything was approved by the local council as the building code is very strict on Koh Samui. The architect himself, also quit the company about 3 months after the build started and came down to see us just after Christmas to help us out.
My plan is to straighten the whole back wall by 'double-skinning' and then build a wooden staircase and take down the internal wall, leaving an open staircase. Then build bookshelves to hide the offending pillar.
Then sort out the riser for the plumbing and move the consumer unit! All good fun...its not going to fall down, it just means I have a lot of changes to make to the non-structural stuff.
Okay, I understand. I'm glad you've finally passed that stressful rollercoaster ride (filled with valuable lessons) in constructing your new house and are now close to harvesting the sweet fruits of your labor. All the best to the remaining work of your project!