agoro2u:
pls is it compulsory to do german floor for a bungalow in a dry land? 2. what is the good mixture of cement, gravel & sand in making foundation? 3. what is the good mixture of cement & sand for block setting?

agoro2u:

it is like you dont want to answer my question

opalu:
Happy weekend my people.

download a chat app called IMO. it is better than whatsapp.

shosky1794:


Good morning bro, please I have a collapsed septic thank(soakaway) and I will to get a rough estimate of what will put it back up. Thanks. A lovely weekend to you too.

opalu:
Happy weekend my people.
download a chat app called IMO. it is better than whatsapp.

opalu:
@Slymonster
If you want to conceal your water and waste pipes you can do that in 2 ways: Running them through he blocks or passing them in a recessed duct covered with aluminium cover or any detachable cover for maintenance.
In the case of blocks, you can achieve that through use of appropriate size of blocks. For instance 4 inches pipe that conveys heavy sewage cannot be buried in a 4 inches block. To pass through 6 inches block even requires skills from the artisans. Because it enters comfortably into the 9 inches block.
When i came to Benin to check a project for my in law last year, I discovered that they don't usually like to use 9 inches for all the external walls as is done.
So in that case, you could incorporate a recessed part of the building to run your pipes and covered up.

When i have the chance I will sketch what I mean and attach to this comment. Or simply chat me up on WhatsApp 08070809889.

opalu:
I have been involved in the structural corrections of more than 1,250 buildings that were wrongly built in the past 10 years.
In all, I have discovered the major reasons why buildings fail structurally are
1. Lack of professionals on the project. The some sub reasons that owners give are that they don't have money to pay them since their charges are avoidable. And also that they themselves have ideas about buildings etc. When there are no professionals on the project, such project will not have the necessary CORRECT designs/drawings. Such projects won't have the right professionals Supervising the Construction Process.
2. Another major reason for Structural failure and foundation issues is the use of substandard materials. These include reinforcements, Sharp sands, Granites, Cement even Water etc. So many Rebars being used can easily cut or rust. Water that contains impurities is not safe for concrete a since those impurities attack the concrete. (Chemistry 101). A Man wanted quote one day and I gave him. But he went for one desperate Contractor who used filling sand to cast concrete! After 6 months, the suspended slab (decking) started vibrating like water bed. I was also called upon and i corrected it at a cost 3 times the cost to build a solid slab. In addition, using the same size of granite (coarse aggregate ) can weaken the concrete.
3. Another reason for failure in buildings is the use of wrong methodology in construction. For instance there is a method whereby wet concrete is vibrated in order to expel voids and holes inside. If you are using pole vibrator, it has to be poked into it left in there for brief interval and removed and poked somewhere else. Some quack roadside casters just use stick to shook here and there or hit here and there. Even if the vibrating machine is used wrongly, it will trap voids. Every construction work has best practice that if not followed, the result will be bad. Another example is that when a carpenter lays the 1x12 for first floor slab, every hole between the planks must be covered with well sliced cement bags nailed with tiny nails. This should be done before laying of reinforcement. Reason being that when casting is done, the wet concrete usually slip through those holes thereby weakening the lower part of the slab which is subjected to tensile stress. But due to the leakage of the concrete at that bottom, what plasterers usually do is to fill it with mortar before plastering suffix of slab. But don't forget that the reinforcement were exposed before. So structurally, the bottom reinforcement is nonexistent. So when there are tensile forces, the slab cannot withstand them and what do you get? CRACKS!!! Then your fine POP starts cracking, blocks starts detaching at first floor and even crack etc.

Let me stop and await your questions.

opalu:
I have been involved in the structural corrections of more than 1,250 buildings that were wrongly built in the past 10 years.
In all, I have discovered the major reasons why buildings fail structurally are
1. Lack of professionals on the project. The some sub reasons that owners give are that they don't have money to pay them since their charges are avoidable. And also that they themselves have ideas about buildings etc. When there are no professionals on the project, such project will not have the necessary CORRECT designs/drawings. Such projects won't have the right professionals Supervising the Construction Process.
2. Another major reason for Structural failure and foundation issues is the use of substandard materials. These include reinforcements, Sharp sands, Granites, Cement even Water etc. So many Rebars being used can easily cut or rust. Water that contains impurities is not safe for concrete a since those impurities attack the concrete. (Chemistry 101). A Man wanted quote one day and I gave him. But he went for one desperate Contractor who used filling sand to cast concrete! After 6 months, the suspended slab (decking) started vibrating like water bed. I was also called upon and i corrected it at a cost 3 times the cost to build a solid slab. In addition, using the same size of granite (coarse aggregate ) can weaken the concrete.
3. Another reason for failure in buildings is the use of wrong methodology in construction. For instance there is a method whereby wet concrete is vibrated in order to expel voids and holes inside. If you are using pole vibrator, it has to be poked into it left in there for brief interval and removed and poked somewhere else. Some quack roadside casters just use stick to shook here and there or hit here and there. Even if the vibrating machine is used wrongly, it will trap voids. Every construction work has best practice that if not followed, the result will be bad. Another example is that when a carpenter lays the 1x12 for first floor slab, every hole between the planks must be covered with well sliced cement bags nailed with tiny nails. This should be done before laying of reinforcement. Reason being that when casting is done, the wet concrete usually slip through those holes thereby weakening the lower part of the slab which is subjected to tensile stress. But due to the leakage of the concrete at that bottom, what plasterers usually do is to fill it with mortar before plastering suffix of slab. But don't forget that the reinforcement were exposed before. So structurally, the bottom reinforcement is nonexistent. So when there are tensile forces, the slab cannot withstand them and what do you get? CRACKS!!! Then your fine POP starts cracking, blocks starts detaching at first floor and even crack etc.

Let me stop and await your questions.

johnson232:
Are u talking about the slab or column? If it is the column don't use less than 16mm.

Nbg4real:
Pls engineers in the house should help me explain the following slab details, I'm particularly interested in the total no of iron rod required for 16mm, 10mm and 12mm.

opalu:
ENGAGE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO HANDLE YOUR FOUNDATION
Architects supervise buildings as well but their focus will be the external attractiveness and straightness of blocks etc.

Under civil engineering, we have the highway engineers, the water engineers, railway engineers and structural engineer.
For you information, a structural engineer focuses on the structural elements like the foundation, the columns, beams, slab and trusses. Whether it is for concrete or for steel.
It is painful though that so many clients focus on the external outlook only and end up giving a carpenter the work of a tailor and give a barber the work of a tailor.
Then later they start complaining that their cloths are sowed with nails and their head are cut/stitched with sewing machines.
Every professional in the building/construction industry is vital but give the right professional the work that they specialise in. And this is not something you tell everyone and his cousin to state their prices to supervise here because you will soon see N1 quote to supervise your foundation.
I am a coren-certified structural engineer

Loveaflame:
Please, experts in the house, if one wants to build a 2-storey building on a little water logged, flood prone area, how should one go about the foundation. Thanks in advance for your wise response.

sychadelly:
Hi guys, just stumbled of this thread and i reckon reasonable brains are talking...
Pls i was sent some money by a friend from Austria to get him a good cement and keep before his return in september. I called a dangote depot manager in abuja who wanna give me for N2600. Is that price fair? How can i know its expiry? and quality? Pls help guys...

ugo99:
With all the cases of fraud and misrepresentation on nairaland. can you show us your COREN registration or at least assure people you are truly who you say you are. Anybody can claim engineer and this is 2017 better shine your eyes.

Even if its number and one can confirm from COREN.