^^yeah!

So there is a school like this on NL and I have been missing out?
Anyway, I'm a new student and I would like to ask a question that has always bugged my mind about starting out a new buliding: Considering the poor quality of blocks i see around displayed for sale these days, is it better to buy blocks or mould by oneself when starting a new building?

I have noticed that the hollow blocks that are for sale now have much bigger holes thereby having very tiny block areas and the ratio of sand to cement is very much in favour of sand.

Should one mould or buy blocks?

^^
if you're not in a rush or plan to take up the project step at a time, I'll suggest you mould your own blocks. Without a doubt I believe self mould block are defenately stronger than the once we buy in the market since the seller is out to make more money per block. Seller can mould let's say 45 pcs of 6" per bag of cement while you can decide to mould 30-35 pcs (just example) per bag. Your laborer will also love you if he charges per bag cause instead of spending time trying to mould 45-50 blocks out of a bag he'll be moulding 30-35 out of a bag. But for sure, the lesser the block quantity the stronger they should be.

^^ @ Prince onx, thanks so much for your response.
I am looking forward to starting a duplex buliding later this year so I think I have really benefitted a lot from this thread. A friend of mine is currently buliding and decided to buy vibrated blocks for his duplex. I was on his site yesterday and found out that the so called vibrated blocks, which according to him should be stronger than normal manually moulded blocks, break easily.
Some builders I have spoken with seem to be of the opinion that there is no difference between site muolded and bought.

Well like you said, if one is not in a hurry, its better to mould by oneself. I will not be in any hurry when I start.

I'm still learning from the pros here. Keep it up guys.

OP: I shall be waiting for the the cost of the bulding up to roofing stage, if you won't mind. Ciao.

VIPICO:

^^ @ Prince onx, thanks so much for your response.
I am looking forward to starting a duplex buliding later this year so I think I have really benefitted a lot from this thread. A friend of mine is currently buliding and decided to buy vibrated blocks for his duplex. I was on his site yesterday and found out that the so called vibrated blocks, which according to him should be stronger than normal manually moulded blocks, break easily.
Some builders I have spoken with seem to be of the opinion that there is no difference between site muolded and bought.

Well like you said, if one is not in a hurry, its better to mould by oneself. I will not be in any hurry when I start.

I'm still learning from the pros here. Keep it up guys.

OP: I shall be waiting for the the cost of the bulding up to roofing stage, if you won't mind. Ciao.

We bought all the blocks we are using here 100%
The budget for this house is N9m (0.45 step tiles aluminium)

some updates
The first batch of electrical materials for this house has been bought as is being used now. We also bought more wood to continue the decking.

The pillars has been filled up with concrete. Very solid.

more pillars

@Spider880, Could you explain how it is that the outter part of the pillar that also serves as the mould is able to stick so firmly to the poured concrete part, after the binding wires are removed, without coming off. I have always wondered.
Thanks.

@Spider880, I have seen the blocks you are using for this project and I dare say they are really solid. I particularly noticed some areas where the workers use as walkways and they constantly step on the erected blocks of the building (the verandah area) and yet those blocks do not char off easily. You can hardly see that in Port Harcourt. The average Port Harcourt blocks (I stand to be challenged if anyone knows where I can get solid blocks in PH) would have completely worn off at those areas where the workers march on repeatedly. Merely hitting the blocks with your closed fist would disintegrate it all.
When I saw the aforementioned part of your building, I thought to myself, "Enugu block moulders sure make better blocks for sale than PH block moulders"

Also are the blocks you use vibrated or ordinarily moulded? Although even as a non-professional I am inclined to believe that the real secret here lies in the sand to cement ratio. Does vibration really matter?

spyder880:

more pillars

This highly ingenious method of casting pillars make a whole world of sense, Spider880.
Asians, Europeans, Americans and everyone else need to come down to Nigeria and learn this creative way of making pillars instead of trying to sell cardboard and plastic moulds to us.
Nigerians, sometimes we need to sit back and appreciate our own instead of swallowing whatever others throw at us hook, line and sinker.

spyder880:

We bought all the blocks we are using here 100%
The budget for this house is N9m (0.45 step tiles aluminium)

@Prof Spyder, Is this 9M budget for everything including interior decor(electrical fitting, plumbing and tilling)? and landscaping (interlocking stones and grass/plants)?

Demain_man:

@Prof Spyder, Is this 9M budget for everything including interior decor(electrical fitting, plumbing and tilling)? and landscaping (interlocking stones and grass/plants)?

From foundation till roofing and some interior finishings, plastering and some doors, no work in the outside is part of this budget

more updates

;

'\

\/

hjv

VIPICO:

@Spider880, Could you explain how it is that the outter part of the pillar that also serves as the mould is able to stick so firmly to the poured concrete part, after the binding wires are removed, without coming off. I have always wondered.
Thanks. 

@spydo880, one of your very loyal and humble students had earlier asked a question here o. Biko, throw some light.

VIPICO:

@Spider880, Could you explain how it is that the outter part of the pillar that also serves as the mould is able to stick so firmly to the poured concrete part, after the binding wires are removed, without coming off. I have always wondered.
Thanks.

Concrete has a high binding quality that is even stronger than gum, remember the outer part is made of cement solution, it can never seperate, do you know that we are nailing wood on the standing pillars today and it was not breaking, it is just solid.

and, we got some granite for the decking slab

spyder880:

Concrete has a high binding quality that is even stronger than gum, remember the outer part is made of cement solution, it can never seperate, do you know that we are nailing wood on the standing pillars today and it was not breaking, it is just solid.

Very very interesting and much of an eye opener for me. I never would have thought I would fall so much in love with the Property section.
Spydo, you have completely changed the colour of this section. It's no more just about innumerable agents trying to sell unverifiable property.
Ride on bro

more here,

here,

Even as we are still doing the decking of this house, the soak away pit has been dug and we are starting work on that one soon.

This toilet pit works are still ongoing together with the decking works. I will be in this site today.