It still falls under the umbrella of what we have all been saying... DO your soil test before embarking on your project, it would definitely save you alot of money in the long run
But again due to lack of professionalism in Nigeria coupled with poor Government regulation, it's difficult to get accurate geotechnical test done. Most companies just dig soil sample without differentiating the disturbed and undisturbed and go onto the lab to formulate data...... God would save us all in the country

nkemdi89:

The cause of it is as a result of the soil texture mostly, houses built on loosed soils tends to experience that a lot, I mean sandy soils and houses closed to swampy and marshy areas, also it's important to carry out German floors on the foundations and erect casted pillars at every corners of the wall to support the buildings. To repair the cracks, cracking it further by creating more spaces and insert iron rods forming x shapes then add more plasters To avoid it all get a specialist to carry a test on the soil before anything.

@bold, can u be more explicit...

zobel:
The reason is that clay absorbs water and as such swells when wet and shrinks when dry. This swelling and shrinkage is what causes the cracks you see on the buildings there. I'm sure the roads there are bad and it is the same swells and shrinks that breaks up the road. The solution to this would be to escavate the clay and fill it with a soil that does not possess the clay properties e.g sandstones or sands. This can be done by first carrying out a seismic or resistivity survey to the depth of the clay soil before excavation takes place. Thanks.

And I'm a geophysicist!

Sir what is the cost range of doing the soil test?

ADAMUdaCOWBOY:

OP I noticed the same thing in my cousin's house and other neighboring buildings. These cracks occurred only at the lower parts of the windows where tension should be less. He asked me why and I couldn't give an immediate reply. Many people here said it's due to soil and foundation issues, if that's so then why are the cracks only under the windows? When lintels are being constructed, wooden struts are often used to support the lintels which in turn transfer the weight of the lintel to the wall below. That may be the reason behind the faint cracks and as a solution, I think supporting lintels by bracing on the side of the window openings is a better way out.

thanks, this is another valid point.

podosci:
It still falls under the umbrella of what we have all been saying... DO your soil test before embarking on your project, it would definitely save you alot of money in the long run
But again due to lack of professionalism in Nigeria coupled with poor Government regulation, it's difficult to get accurate geotechnical test done. Most companies just dig soil sample without differentiating the disturbed and undisturbed and go onto the lab to formulate data...... God would save us all in the country

what if the entire topsoil is scraped by a grader 2 meters deep?

Qualer:


hateful smart! what brought you here

lol

MathsChic:

lol

mmhhh.. this your *ahem* that is always featuring in pictures.. God dey o!!

johnson232:

@bold, can u be more explicit...

That's you cut iron rod according to the size of the additional cracks and put one over the one making an X shape and add cement in between the layers to hold it firm.

nkemdi89:


That's you cut iron rod according to the size of the additional cracks and put one over the one making an X shape and add cement in between the layers to hold it firm.

Thanks for the explanation...
Still not too clear to me though...

But how come u know about this, Are u an architect or engr?

Soil settlement can cause it
absent of columns can cause it
Absent of DPC
Roofing weight
Mixture of moter.
Quality of Block

likely cause

So many people do not consider using concrete in construction of Bungalow.
setting 6 or 8 blocks to the window level without a concrete support can render the building useless

Consider first small raft of one board, DPC, Chain lintel or roof beam.

Iron rod to many is expensive.
Concrete work is expensive

Soil is Soil once you carry out excavation, water is applied it will always settle with time

johnson232:

Thanks for the explanation...
Still not too clear to me though...

But how come u know about this, Are u an architect or engr?

I am not, that was why I couldn't use the exact terminology belonging to the register of that field, but I have been into buildings for years.