diordaves:


Very wrong advice for Niger Delta. Don't even think about it in Warri, Uvwie or even Okpe. If you adopt this approach, you will pay more than it will take to build your structure. This is the reason people pay 'cut-off'.

Do you know what it means that you MUST buy your materials from just one set of individuals and at any price you were dictated to? Most times you are also compulsorily supplied labour as well.

Very wrong advice. Pay the devy levy, pay the cut-off; Peaceful construction till completion.

HazzanTazzan:


A single 3 bedroom flat

babadots:
Hello all,

Do you know anyone who is great with Wrought Iron Balustrades and Handrails or any threads that specialise in this sort of work? Your assistance will be appreciated.

Thank you.

EgunMogaji:


No no no.

First, he needs a site inspection by a licensed structural engineer who will do some calculations.

Then a licensed architect needs to review the plans based on suggestions set forth therein by the structural engineer.

Then a licensed iron bender with a metallurgist degree from anywhere except that school that Dino attended should create the requisite iron works.

Then a licensed carpenter should select woof of the finest structural grain to make concrete forms.

Then a licensed builder needs to do the aforementioned work as prescribed by the architect

But the concrete mix should be inspected by a state laboratory to ensure strength before pouring.

Above all, all this must be supervised by a professional site inspector that is also licensed.

Anything other than this and the OP is just wasting his money and shouldn't be cheap and he won't get ripped off by quacks. You know we just hate when people share their stories on here when they get taken.

Nigerians and their shortcuts

akinolaolujide:
Finally

oyb:



the question would be have you fully weighed your risks?

most artisans and builders have learned by rote [ie by observing others] the same goes for the electricians , plumbers etc.
what this means is that as long as your build characteristics are similar to the last 15 jobs they did, you should be alright.
but the moment you have something different [ odd soil conditions, multiple storeys etc] you may find your project in trouble. because then you are moving completely outside your builder's comfort zone and he has no idea how to tackle the problem. you are then in trial and error land.

also, unless you have building experience/knowledge , you will not be able to track the issues. issues like shoddy carpentry for roofing should be captured at the start, not at the finish when it is too late.

you can make the argument that your small house does not need technical expertise, but you are the one who will live in it and cope with all the issues that come with poorly planned /supervised work.

just about every contractor is greedy and will cut corners if he is unsupervised or working with a client that is ignorant. even people who i recommend and respect have repeatedly disappointed me . you find that if you are not preset on site, and you don't have a very smart or aggressive representative, the contractors will start dong ogboju. [ oga approved this smart db over abb/legrand db; we do not need additional pipe for cctv, one pipe for all cables is enough;no need to compact in layers; ]

some people are very smart and can quickly pick up the basic principles without degrees etal. others are not. i have a guy with an it degree who we have engaged as an electrical contractor. the man does fair work, but it is clear to me that he is not the brains of his operation. is that a problem - yes it is.

there is no real answer, since it can be very well argued that nigeria being nigeria, not all professionals bring any value, and some are only there for their own cut [collect settlment from builder before approval]


the engagement of quacks is not just limited to residential builds, its everywhere. lagos state has recently ordered that all tubular communication masts be removed and replaced with angle iron masts [these are less susceptible to corrosion ]

the root of the issue - small scale telecoms providers and contractors , rather than engage professionals to design proper masts , engaged the 'experienced' artisans etal, who fabricated masts that 'can do the work' , but will not last anything beyond 2-3 years, and which may fall in a heavy storm [after sufficient corrosion]. now alot of companies are spending money on new masts.

same principle. a lot of your builders etal can give you a finsihed building, but is it a sustainable one, or will you find your self correcting defects over the lifetime of your occupation?

in the end , to each his own.

bixton:
. All thanks to God the work is completed. As a general guide when building in such places or in areas where such canny practices exists kindly get the the original owners who sold the land to your client to do the supply of your building materials(blocks, sand, granite), that way you will not likely dole out that amount of money to people who claim to be collecting devy.

superbouck:
pls ao much os tipper of gravel now

segzy14:


I dey laugh when he replied me with that.

EgunMogaji:


Not sure about gravel but I have always paid N70K for alleged (I don't have a scale) 20 tons of granite.

Mayor78:


Enough of this your they can't pay or do the right thing, follow the right channel, engage the right professionals stuff.

With MSc in Architecture you shouldn't be advertising yourself or advocating for jobs here on Nairaland. Go for real jobs and leave us 'can't pay cockroaches' to keep looking for awoof consultancy here.

Your likes drew the Taj Mahal, Empire State Building, and some of the magnificent state of the art buildings dotted the world over.

MSc Architects 'your type on high horses' I must add, if an insurmountable credentials as you're claiming here surely has no business trolling here for jobs.

Just go through your post to appreciate how subtle condescending you've been yet claims to be a high pedestal professional.

You want kobo kobo builders to employ the services of an Architect, QS, Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Project Manager, Builder, so that these professionals can now go ahead to employ the serservices of tradesmen and artisans for the same single 5 or 4 or 3 Bedroom project or else we as kobo kobo builders (Hajji M, abeg) shouldnt complain of shoddy job or fraud.

We can go and employ all these people for simple family homes so that when we graduate to start our industrial complexes and spiral plaza we will by then employ God, Gods and Angels to handle them.

Give us a break!

Spyder888 is neither an Architect nor an Engineer yet he produces, and reproduces elegant buildings after buildings and still dishes out valuable and beneficial suggestions, advise and general information on building to the overwhelming admiration of most of us.
Please!!!

gabbytabby:
That is more likely to be about 13 tonnes for that price.

InvertedHammer:


/
In my opinion, experience trumps certificate unless you are not talking about education in Nigeria. Theory is different from practical. Do you want to be mesmerized with technical mumbo jumbo? Then get the so-called professionals who charge hefty fees for their certifications but rely on technical expertise of artisans to get the job done. Yes! You know them. They show up at a site in a nice car, throw a few theories around and plant a "supervisor" (assuming they do, some don't) to monitor the artisans. If the so-called professionals would actually do their jobs, there won't be any qualms. Their huge misplaced phantom ego is the priority. The more successful they seem, the less visible they become. Dude if I am paying you, screw your ego.

If you are going to work for me, I will sit you down and ask tough questions. Anyone with a knack for researches can easily obtain most of the information online. It can be used as a reference point to call their BS. Some folks are smooth talkers with gift for garb. It doesn't help to know that the professional might have "sorted" themselves through school. Experience! Experience!! Experience!!!
\

mufutau55:
I can't beleive some "Forum Ghost" Un-Follow me from this thread for the past four days. I was wondering why I was not getting notified on new posts. Too much to read now, I will eventually catch-up.

Hajji M.

mufutau55:
I can't beleive some "Forum Ghost" Un-Follow me from this thread for the past four days. I was wondering why I was not getting notified on new posts. Too much to read now, I will eventually catch-up.

Hajji M.

EgunMogaji:

I thought maybe you were on vacation Sir.

diordaves:

Welcome back and happy catching up.

EgunMogaji:


Not sure about gravel but I have always paid N70K for alleged (I don't have a scale) 20 tons of granite.

KolaShangOne:


"Alleged"

earthrealm:
and @all

yeah its a twin duplex, i thought parapet is used to protect the roof/ceiling from thieves gaining entry tru into the roof through there. i told my architect that i want a flat roof... i hate those send down the rain roofs/roofs towering upto 20ft above the building itself, in western climes..such enormous space is turned into dwelling spaces/attic, but in naija with our climatic..that space is wasted...thus i see no need for it
so does a flat roof need a parapet?....

no, i hvnt moved to site yet

mufutau55:


Vacation keh! No Sir. But tomorrow Monday back for more series of injection in the eyeballs, so I may be missing for another two days depends on how it goes. Bu all is well. Thanks.

Hajji M.

EgunMogaji:

Isn't getting old fun?

Daboomb:



Thank you for posting the document about chargeable fees.

But l noticed that the Document was prepared in 2009...... will those fees still be applicable 2017?

Just wondering!

EgunMogaji:


I think you're wrong Madam. He's an Alfa, and he always uses lots of Walahi Talahi, with more dashes of "Oloun ti oun nsin go ni je ki oun cheat yin Chief"

It's hard to calculate how much money I might have lost due to this. The one that gets me the most is the water delivery.

EgunMogaji:


Not sure about gravel but I have always paid N70K for alleged (I don't have a scale) 20 tons of granite.