brabus: Before You Build: Site Selection



Before we build, we must buy a land. A good land! The question is how do we identify a good land.

Selection of site for developmet can be determined by many factors of consideration which includes:

2. Check whether the land is not affected or likely to be affected in 50 years by any government scheme like road widening scheme or any other reservations. Its not funny.

Thank you, is there any process or simple way of checking the above? Very Educative post!

bigx:

Thank you, is there any process or simple way of checking the above? Very Educative post!

There are property lawyers to conduct a search on your property and advice on regularization or ratification if it falls under government acquisition.

Otherwise, you can walk into the local planning department and ask to see the Planning Register, in which all the applications and decisions (where they have been reached) are recorded. Obviously, there's a price to pay.

Here's a thread with better explanation. Kindly visit and speak to a property lawyer.

Owner-Managed Project

Via BBM Chat,

Friend: I'm planning to commence building my house acting as the Project Manager and a Contractor, contracting out the individual tasks one by one on a daily pay arrangement.

Friend: I know it will involve a lot of time, energy & effort but I think I should be able to save a lot of money.

What do you think?

Me: I'm not thinking

Friend: I would appreciate your input and advice on each phase as we progress.

Me: Any prior experience?

Friend: none... But I think it shouldn't be that hard. I've been following your posts for a long time.

Me: And you think you can save money by doing so?

Friend: I think I should because there are excesses that I'll prevent if I'm there.

Me: What about the losses? Do you think any builder will ever blog about that?

Friend: so, I should drop the idea...

Me: I think you should

If you don't have any experience with building, then count yourself as another Moses leading the Israelites to the promised land - your subcontractors, suppliers and masons will see you for what you are and take you to the cleaners.

It is very unrealistic to give building project management a shot the first time and expect to save any money. Just get involved in the project for the experience and nothing more.

But just like my friend who believes impossibility can be possible, I do believe that it's possible if you have the time and energy.

Just be ready for surprises!

RAINY SEASON OR DRY SEASON?

Houses can be built in any weather. The key to successful building in extreme weather conditions is getting the foundation installed and the house up out of the ground before the rainy season.

- Get an experienced team with experience to handle extreme conditions.
- When you mix concrete and fill structures in the rain and don't make efforts to cover it, it will definitely wash out and lose certain quality
or strength.
- Protect the soil so that rain doesn't wash it off.
- Work under a shed, cover or tarpaulin during rainy season.
- Get meteorological information for the period of construction.

Joke: More Men On the Job

The son of a builder is approaching his sixth birthday and his father asks him what he’d like as a birthday present. ‘What I really want is a baby brother.’says the boy. ‘Sorry, son,’ says the father. ‘Your birthday is five days away, I can’t get you a baby brother in that time.’ The son replies, ‘Can’t you do
what you do at work and put more men on the job?

Happy New Week!

Cost Cutting Tips

Summary: These cost cutting tips will alert you to which items should be quality upfront, and which you can upgrade later. Saving money on your home building costs means knowing where it is safe to economize.

Cost reduction is one of the top concerns that we have when wanting to build a house. Here are few tips to help you cut costs in your building project.

1. Building Plans and specifications - DO NOT
cut corners here! Get the best and most detailed plans.

Read more

Home Building: Navigating the rough waters

If you don’t know what you’re planning to build, how do you know that you will achieve the desired end result? Imagine a ship sailing out to sea without a destination. Where would it go?

In order to have a smooth sail in the rough waters, it is imperative that you start with the end in mind. This means having a complete picture of what the end result will look like.

The architectural plans is one part out of the so many part of a house. You need to have a complete picture of the finished product.

Here are few things to consider before you begin the project:

1. The internal design scheme (e.g. the colours of walls, architraves, ceilings, lightings and cornices)

2. The external design scheme (e.g. the colours of roofing and walls, types of materials used for these e.g. stone-coated, step tiles, asbestos etc)

3. What style of house are you building? It isn't enough to say I want a duplex or bungalow.

4. What will your facade look like? Oh, I love this! Facade - in fact I keep a cut-out pic of the facade that I love on my fridge.

5. The orientation of the living areas -to take advantage of natural sunlight, cross-ventilation.

6. The uses of the outdoor areas - Entertainment or recreational purposes? I'm kinda confused when clients ask what can we do here?

7. The sort of landscaping you like.

8. Many other things as it appeals to you.

The more detailed your picture, the greater your satisfaction will be with the end result.

Happy Building!

Protecting Your Land Investment

1. If you already have a land, endeavour to register it at the Land Registry
2. If you're purchasing a new land, go to the Land Registry and perform a title search first
3. Make sure you are working with a
reputable attorney who knows Nigeria land
acquisition laws
4. After purchase, fence your land or build a small room on it
to warn off squatters
5. Build on it. Fence and small room are not enough.

Construction Woes: Who is to blame?

Everybody!!!

The Developers: whose primary duty is to engage certified professionals as consultants but failed to do so largely due to an unhealthy profit motivation.

Consultants: the so-called professionals/consultants whose duty is to advise their client on the various aspects of the project and to ensure that due process is followed during the entire project cycle but have failed to honestly advise clients on the pitfalls of shortcuts.

Government: through regulatory bodies charged with the duty of enforcing by-laws and ensuring that any development meets regulatory building standards. Weak technical capacity in local authorities; problems in the development approval process; corruption are all to blame for the problems we experience.

Contractor: who are expected to have the capacity and competence to undertake the specific tasks for the specified scope of works.

Clients: Yes, YOU! For aiding and abetting through wrong selection. You can't claim ignorance!

Recent study conducted have revealed that unqualified people carry out more than 70 percent of the development-related activities in Nigeria.

Site Signboards: how important is it?

A site signboard is a requirement for all development projects. It gives detail information of all that is taking place in a construction site. It indicates details of Developer’s Name and address, Local Authority Approval Number, Details of the
Architect, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and
other professionals, A pictorial impression of the proposed development, proposed date of completion, the client.

Why do we ignore to erect one?

Clients: trying to conceal their identity since the project is financed from proceed of Money Laundering.

Developers: trying to hide their identity over a dubious project especially when the project lacks necessary approvals and is been implemented by quacks.

Government: obvious reasons.

Let's think about these things and help the nation move forward. We have the capacity to transform this country from the sad state of affairs.

Let's begin to do it right!

Regret File or Folder: Don't keep one

All of us have a file in our life called the “Regret File" and no one is immune from having regrets. The question remains, what can we do to minimize our regrets and maximize our good decisions.

At one point life, we’ll probably make some mistakes in our life (I have) but making a mistake on a N2,500 item isn’t quite the same as making a mistake on something as huge as a home building budget.

Don’t delve into new construction without good documentation and representation.

Many people have called me in recent times to assist in overseeing their building project, review builders quote or provide guess-timates but there are others who are stucked in this Had-I-Known situation and wanted to know if I could help them. Unfortunately, the answer was no … it was too late!

Like it or not, such people have already become the builder’s client with no exclusive representation! They can only negotiate a fair pricing with the builder and cannot fire him as no professional would like to assume responsibility for a bad project.

Don’t let “I Wish I Would Have” enter into your home building vocabulary! Be a smart home owner. Be Wise!

BUILDER'S/CONTRACTORS ONLY*

Losing Bids - How do you feel?


At some point in our business life, we'll run into situation where our well-packaged bids failed to win that much desired project. How does it make you feel? Bad, dejected, moody or more committed (like me) to have the last laugh?

I don’t have regrets about the jobs that I bid for but don’t win. In fact, I keep a dossier for those failed bids and categorize them as follow:

1. The client simply liked another contractor more.

Possible reasons: Maybe the portfolio of the winning bid matched the customer’s needs more than mine. Maybe a friend’s recommendation was an important influence in the final decision. Maybe the customer just didn’t like me, personally; despite my wife’s certainty that I’m a good man, not everyone sees it that way. Maybe the budget and the project doesn’t match. Maybe I failed to WOW the client.

Action: I respect the clients decision, and I stay friendly with these clients, because things change, and who knows if the budget becomes bigger, I might be top on the list of contenders.

2. The client comes with a smaller budget.

Possible reasons: The owner is naive and takes a bid from a lowest bidder. Other contractors focus more on price than on quality, or make other compromises.

Action: I stay friendly with these owners, too, because if things goes well, I want to learn how they did it with so-little budget. No man is an Island.

3. The client is greedy and awards the job to a lowest bidding contractor.

Possible reasons: The owners knew the bid is unrealistic but wants to threaten the greedy contractor into delivering the project below market-price. The contractor plans to rip off the owner by providing below-standard job.

Action: When I see these jobs, I stay by the ringside and watch because such jobs always end in shoddy work, shouting matches, threats and lawsuits.

I don't feel regrets about not getting these jobs.

I’m happy that I'm kept busy with my outstanding, interesting, and fun customers.

__________
Be Positive - Low Bids won't get you 'Medals' but a Quality Job will do!

'What's Your Budget?' Question

Most home owners that I've worked with in recent time simply gloss over this question when I ask them: “What’s your budget for this project?”

They want to keep that number secret, believing that the contractor will simply quote the job at the maximum budget.

Though, it’s an understandable concern, and very true that the quote of the contractor often comes in quite close to the home owner’s secret number but does it really. matter?.

Why you shouldn't be afraid to tell the contractor your budget?

1. If you reveal your number, the contractors will cut their numbers to their minimum, in
order to compete for your bid.

2. Most home owners have some financial skills and have done some research about the cost of work or cost of building a similar house, so getting a build cost for a project is always handy. When contractors notice this, they always tailor their quote to your budget by picking particular finishes and designs, which you can always to suit your taste.

3. It would be hard for any contractor to manage clients expectations when there no budget. Many clients have Champagne taste on a La Casera budget

Giving your contractor a budget: The Approach

1. Give your contractor 70 - 80% of your
maximum budget.

2. Ask the contractor for a detailed schedule of values so that you can see where the money is going.

3. Specify features and finishes that should be quality upfront.

It makes sense to start the discussion with your contractor in honesty, you’ll have a good chance of continuing the relationship the same way.

In anything you do, be smart and don't leave any stone unturned. Ask, probe, make enquiries, and be firm.

___

Builders/Contractors: Always Look Your Best

If a client choose to spend a few hundred thousand on a new build project, would they trust you to do the job? Like it or not, 99% of winning bids always depend on what kind of first impression you gave. And how you look is a major part of the first impression.

So at all times, you should be dressed as if everyone you see is a potential client. Write as if every reader is a potential client. Execute jobs/projects as if every passerby is a potential client. Because they are.

That doesn’t mean you need to wear a suit and tie or agbada to construction sites. It doesn't mean you carry your iPad, BMW X6 or all your laurels. It does mean you need to be clean and presentable.

Remember, there's no second chance to recreate first impression. Be your best and always stay positive.

Lessons Learned:

[size=14]“Clients don’t want transparency; they want peace of mind. They don’t really want to see behind the curtain, they just want to be certain that we know what we are doing.”[/size]

Learn how to sell your work, learn how to present yourself, learn how to demonstrate that you will do the job they want done, in a timely manner, at a fair price. Give them peace of mind.

The Gospel of Low-Cost

Nowadays, almost everyone claims to be an expert in house construction and people are ready to accept opinion of any one as “ expert” opinion even if he's a specialist in one the so-many aspects of building!

I've read on the internet many articles where 'experts' are sharing tips and design methods on how to build a low-cost houses. When I read all these 'too-good-to-be-true' articles, I keep wondering what the true definition of low-cost is.

Could low-cost mean cost saving on material or reduced labour/overhead? I've seen so many articles recommending saving on materials cost at the expense of increasing labour. 'Low cost indeed".

What's is low cost construction?

Low cost construction is the use of appropriate design and carefully selected materials and labour (with professional guidance) with the aim of bringing down cost of construction and cutting down excesses which is a major cost of increase.

It isn't the use of 1 bag of cement to produce 50 bricks. Neither is it, the use of 8mm instead of 16mm.

Be Guided!

Contractual Agreements: Beware!

Before you close that deal, have you checked the contract terms because without a well-written, clear contract, you’re heading for trouble.

A good contract should have three major parts.

1. Information section: should list the client’s info and your info. It also include a brief description of the job.

2. The Body: should list all the details of the job. This means a general description of each assembly of work including dimensions, makes, models, colors, material and installation method and any other pertinent information that removes any gray areas about the work to be done.

It is a very important but often overlooked part of the agreement.

3. Work Order/Plan: should list all responsibilities as required by both parties. It talks about what you will or won’t do. How change work orders will be handled, the owner’s responsibilities and what they are expected to do and things they are not to do.

Always ensure that problems or complaints are handled in person, not by email or phone calls. Some clients get real brave behind a keyboard and arguments can turn into fights very quickly.

Materials Estimation: Calculating the required number of blocks for a project

Often times, many people have asked this question "How many standard blocks are needed for a project?"
Below is a very fast, simple and accurate way to find the answer.

Smart minds would find this method easier.

Most Commonly Used Block Sizes in Nigeria.

9 inches block - 9in (Width) x 9in (Height) x 18 (Length)

6 inches block - 6in (Width) x 6in (Height) x 18 (Length)

4 inches block - 4in (Width) x 9in (Height) x 18 (Length)

To calculate the number of construction blocks in a specific length

Multiply the length by 0.7

Example: To calculate the total number of 6in block required for a wall measuring 120 ft.

Multiply 120 x 0.7 = 84 blocks (including the mortar joints)

To calculate the number of rows of
construction blocks in a specific height

Multiply the height by 1.33

Example: To calculate the total rows of block in a 8 ft. wall.

Multiply 8 x 1.33 = 11 rows

Practice: Calculate the number of blocks required in a 12ft x 12ft room with one door and 2 windows (4ft x 4ft). Use 8ft as the height of the room

4ft x 4ft Window = 13 blocks
4ft x 5ft Window = 17 blocks
3ft door = 18 blocks
4ft door = 24 blocks
2ft x 2ft Toilet Window = 4 blocks

NOTE: Add 5% to 10% blocks to all quantities for breakage and errors. These measurements are for a general guideline only.

Let's see your answers.

Tools of the trade

It staggers me beyond belief when tradesmen turn up to do a job and they have no tools. No tools - Yes!
I don’t blame the guys themselves, it is their supervisors, the site manager or project owner. I had a computer engineer turn up to check my flickering monitor and all he had was a screwdriver and a bag of pirated software.

I think anyone planning to build a house in Nigeria needs to plan and therefore budget that you have to provide some of the tools needed. It sounds ridiculous! You may not need to buy all of it but if it is included in the budget, there will be no nasty surprise.

Now, here's the irony of the whole situation, the bricklayer without a tool may be the best worker on the project.

The lack of tools is explained by the fact that these guys may go for long periods with no work. They run out of money and sell or pawn whatever they can.

Here are few tools you can keep for your projects:

Bricklayers

1. Shovels/Spades
2. Wheelbarrows
3. Buckets
4. Diggers
5. Chalk line
6. Trowels
7. Concrete Hammer, Hammer Drill
8. Measuring tape
9. Saw
10. Pencils and jotters
11. Ladders/Scaffolds

Carpenters

1. Cut-off saw, Jig saw, Circular saw
2. Sander
3. Ladder
4. Levels
5. Wire Cutter
6. Utility knives
7. Planer
8. Measuring tapes
9. Plumb bob
10. Pencils and jotters
11. Angle

Concrete Workers

1. Cement Mixer
2. Concrete vibrator
3. Shovels
4. Buckets
5. Wheelbarrows
6. Screeder
7. Levels

Welder/Iron Bender

1. Rebar cutter
2. Pinches
3. Hand saw
4. Blades

That’s all I can think of right now.

Happy Independence Nigeria

~ Your JAMB score is 73 and you want to study Medicine to become a Doctor? That's not even enough marks to make you a NATIVE DOCTOR... Get a life! ~

~ You do not have a land and you want to purchase tiles for your dream house. That's f00lishness of highest order... Get a life! ~

~ Your house plan is for a bungalow and you want to add extra floor without due consultation? That's suicidal... Get a life! ~

~ Your build budget is N2m and you want to buy land in Festac, Lagos. That's not even enough to settle the council boys, omo onile and agents... Better look elsewhere in Mowe, Ikorodu, Siun, Agbowa, Ibeju-Lekki, Agbara, etc... Get a life! ~

~ You're 30 years old. You work in VI and you went to build your house in Agbara. That means you want to remain as a tenant till retirement age... Location is key. Nearness (to the market, church, school, work, airport, parks etc) is very important. ~

~ You just finished paying for your land and you're already bragging. Land purchase is just 5% of home ownership. In fact, shell construction (ie. Roofing stage is just 40%). Take am softly ~

Hidden Layers

One of the pleasures of working with imaginative and creative clients is adapting as a project proceeds.

In any project, there are always hidden layers, which appears during a project and often provide opportunities to do things differently or better to the original spirit of the home.

Check for hidden layers in your construction projects.

Wow@brabus'' who and what are you,builder,contractor,architect or u just really brainy and informed R u for real? Am soooo impressed.

jean bruvere

BoboYekini: jean bruvere

haha,very funny mr bobo yekini a.k.a thread derailer! Move over will you

bisiswag: Wow@brabus'' who and what are you,builder,contractor,architect or u just really brainy and informed R u for real? Am soooo impressed.

Thanks. I'm an up-and-comer in the world of building construction and I created this thread just for you. I see it as a primer to get to where I need to be strategically whilst building my online empire by adding value to my community.

TO THE CONTRACTORS

Here's a secret recipe:

I discovered we all need ONE customer. Yes! ONE satisfied customer to make it big in life.

If they need help moving, help them. If they
need a laugh, make them laugh. If they need advice on how to build their house without a contractor, tell them how to do it. Be as generous as you can be. You can never tell who's watching.

Watch in amazement as you begin to see opportunities appear out of thin air.


** As much as possible try to avoid bad references. It can ruin everything!

ROOF MAINTENANCE

A house is sum of its parts

An effective roof is critical to the overall protection, insulation, and security of a house. Neglect to this vital part of a house can result in significant damage and costly repairs or needed replacement.

ROOF MAINTENANCE: HOW?

Roof maintenance involves regular inspection, cleaning, and other tactics to keep your roof operational for as long as possible.

It isn't rocket science! You can either ask a roofing contractor or professional to perform the maintenance or DIY.

DIY ROOF INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

Tools required: Ladder, water hose, bleach, broom, cutlass, silicon sealant, flash band, water.

1. Check the roof members for loose, missing, or curled shingles, leaky sheets or tiles, and bent edges.
2. Check the flashings around the roof
3. Check the roof for accumulation of dirts and leaves to minimise deterioration of the roof.
4. Clean the gutters regularly and have
debris removed from them in order to prevent
water build up and blockages.
5.Trim the branches of trees that are in close proximity to your house as they clog up the roof in high winds.
6. Check if there are easy access to the roof by animals like lizard, cats, squirrels, rats etc. These animals can scratch or put holes on your roof while trying to gain access inside the
home.
7. Check the roof for algae and moss. Remove them with bleach and water from pressure hose.

BLOCKED BATHROOM PLUG?

Ever wondered why it is taking a while for your shower to drain away, or why your bath plug is always getting clogged. Don't be surprised, your hair is the number one culprit in blocked bathroom. Others include local sponge, sand, soap wraps etc.

Here are ways to unclog your blocked bath.

1.Lift/unscrew the bathroom plug and remove the offending articles blocking free flow of water. Do this repeatedly (perhaps once a fortnight, or once a week).

2. HAIR REMOVAL CREAM: Put a tube of hair removal cream down the plug hole and leave overnight. Then rinse with power shower directed at the plug for maximum cleaning effectiveness. The hair will have been dissolved and the water will wash it away.

3. HOT WATER AND SALT: Boil a kettle of water and then pour a small amount of salt down the plug. Allow to settle for about a minute and then wash down with hot water.

4. CHEMICALS – although there are many chemicals you can use to unclog blocked drain, but I'll like to warn against usage of these solutions as the chemicals within aren’t always suitable for your pipes.

5. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP: If you’ve tried the ideas above without result, it would be advisable to call in a professional plumber. They have the tools and know how to unblock everyday problems.

brabus: Materials Estimation: Calculating the required number of blocks for a project

Often times, many people have asked this question "How many standard blocks are needed for a project?"
Below is a very fast, simple and accurate way to find the answer.

Smart minds would find this method easier.



NOTE: Add 5% to 10% blocks to all quantities for breakage and errors. These measurements are for a general guideline only.

Let's see your answers.

Teacher sir, you didn't provide the height of the 12ftx12ft room sir, please what should we use

kreamstaff:

Teacher sir, you didn't provide the height of the 12ftx12ft room sir, please what should we use

Oops! It must be an oversight. You can use any height and post your result in this format below.

A 12 x 12ft room which is 8ft high, with 2 windows (4 x 4ft) and 2 doors (3ft) will require X amount of blocks.

CARPORTS EXPLAINED

Nowadays, homeowners do install a carport or build drive-in garages as additional feature in their house. This is to prevent their cars from being damaged by leaving their cars out in the weather.

A carport is a perfect option for homeowners with limited space or budget. As an added bonus, carports also provide an extra undercover area if you need more room when entertaining or for outdoor living!

Which Carport Should I Install?

Wooden or Steel?

Carports made with wooden framework are always cheaper than galvanized steel carports. They require ongoing maintenance such as painting in order to keep them in tip top condition.

Galvanized steel carports are maintenance free as they will not warp, rust, corrode or become damaged.

Attached or Freestanding?

You can either install your carport attached to your house or make it freestanding.
Attached carports are joined to the main structure in a way that it doesn’t interfere with existing guttering (for rainwater). It can also be engineered to meet any and all wind loads.

Freestanding carports however give you more freedom to chose where they can be placed, so you can put them in the most convenient place for you. You can even relocate them with ease.