vboss:

Hello nairalanders, good morning.
Please something has been troubling my mind. I'm currently constructing a three bedroom bungalow with concrete fascia ( parapet). The seasoned engineer handling the project refused to include any pillars on the foundation, saying there is no need.

For the past 2 hours I have been going through different pages of several projects here on this section of nairaland and I cannot say I'm not scared my foundation is without any form of pillars. I don't know if it's because he used 9" blocks on all outside walls.

Please I don't want my house to collapse. Please kindly let me know if there is anything I can still do. Or if the pillars can at this point be included. I'm scared please.

I just filled the foundation with sand. That's the stage the project is at currently.

Bankyshinani:

same thing with mine...The engineer said I don't need a column at the foundation level since the building is on a dry land...we are at the roofing stage now

Bankyshinani:
Helo professionals, please i need solution to this problem....The paints on the walls of my house is getting whitish and also some other parts are getting peelled off....I guess it is water action.... please,what is the possible solution to this....
Note: it is a rented apartment

segzy14:



You need pillars at the sides since you’re doing parapet. 9inches block will not withstand the weight of the parapet and can lead to cracks in the future.

gbadexy:

Good morning sir, a picture would give better insight.

gbadexy:

Good morning sir, a picture would give better insight.

Bankyshinani:

so what should I do now?....and also what if I don't what to do parapet,will the building be fine?

Bankyshinani:
and also a painter told me he will d something like a screeding to the wall before painting it...he told me to get cement and white paint

saydfact:


something is wrong already - even without columns (THIS MIGHT COLLAPSE)
See link for reason >> https://www.nairaland.com/5002180/what-did-he-wrong-why

at this stage, your structure looks just like his....... (NOTE: not having columns is not the issue yet, thats another)

klark3:

I went through the thread link u posted
Does this not more than five courses of blocks counting starts from the foundation trench or ground level? I asked because recommended depth for a duplex is up to 900mm and that will definitely swallow more than 5 courses of block to DPC level and I don't see engineers doing ground beam on all duplex. Thanks.

Cc rotech77 segzy14 et al

saydfact:


something is wrong already - even without columns (THIS MIGHT COLLAPSE)
See link for reason >> https://www.nairaland.com/5002180/what-did-he-wrong-why

at this stage, your structure looks just like his....... (NOTE: not having columns is not the issue yet, thats another)

Bankyshinani:

same thing with mine...The engineer said I don't need a column at the foundation level since the building is on a dry land...we are at the roofing stage now

diordaves:


Try post pictures but if the cracks are occuring by the windows as you said, it may be your lintel work. Your lintel might be too short that is if you've done the lintel.

Post the pictures for a better diagnosis.

vboss:

Oh really, are you doing a parapet?? I'm scared already o

gbadexy:

Determining the source of water should be the priority. The whitish coloration suggests deposit of ground salt through evaporation of ground water on the surface.
When salt dissolves in water and moves together with the water to the surface, the water evaporates and leaves the salt behind.

Bankyshinani:

i guess the cause is the ground water because I could see the dampness of the part of wall slightly above the floor

Bankyshinani:

same thing with mine...The engineer said I don't need a column at the foundation level since the building is on a dry land...we are at the roofing stage now

vboss:

Hello nairalanders, good morning.
Please something has been troubling my mind. I'm currently constructing a three bedroom bungalow with concrete fascia ( parapet). The seasoned engineer handling the project refused to include any pillars on the foundation, saying there is no need.

For the past 2 hours I have been going through different pages of several projects here on this section of nairaland and I cannot say I'm not scared my foundation is without any form of pillars. I don't know if it's because he used 9" blocks on all outside walls.

Please I don't want my house to collapse. Please kindly let me know if there is anything I can still do. Or if the pillars can at this point be included. I'm scared please.

I just filled the foundation with sand. That's the stage the project is at currently.

rotecch77:



Why problems here and there theses days.
My observation is that all those people you called engr handling your project are not engr, it’s shows in them according to what you people said concerned there approaches. They are BRICKLAYERS.

klark3:

I went through the thread link u posted
Does this not more than five courses of blocks counting starts from the foundation trench or ground level? I asked because recommended depth for a duplex is up to 900mm and that will definitely swallow more than 5 courses of block to DPC level and I don't see engineers doing ground beam on all duplex. Thanks.

Cc rotech77 segzy14 et al

gbadexy:

Alright sir.

Bankyshinani:

what is the solution to this,sir?

gbadexy:

You may do concrete floor slightly sloping away from the building in the compound to minimize rain water saturation of the ground.
The pros in the house can give more useful suggestions on what can hopefully be done if waterproof barrier wasn't done at the foundation stage.
Is the area a sand filled place?

Bankyshinani:

i dont know if it is sand-filled..it is a rented apartment

rotecch77:


Duplex foundation method is diff from bungalow.
The recommended depth for duplex is 1m depth or more depends on the nature of the soil for columns (not block) and all the imposed load will depends on the columns not the blocks as that of bungalow.

The block that will go inside the ground at times for duplex is btw 2-3 block which is ( 450-675) that is for block , other block like 2-3 will remain outside (above the ground level).

The column will hold the foundation firmly, but I do introduce beam on any block above 5 courses in most of my work.

Look at this pics (I introduce beam here after 5 courses)

Bankyshinani:
Helo professionals, please i need solution to this problem....The paints on the walls of my house is getting whitish and also some other parts are getting peelled off....I guess it is water action.... please,what is the possible solution to this....
Note: it is a rented apartment

vboss:

Hello nairalanders, good morning.
Please something has been troubling my mind. I'm currently constructing a three bedroom bungalow with concrete fascia ( parapet). The seasoned engineer handling the project refused to include any pillars on the foundation, saying there is no need.

For the past 2 hours I have been going through different pages of several projects here on this section of nairaland and I cannot say I'm not scared my foundation is without any form of pillars. I don't know if it's because he used 9" blocks on all outside walls.

Please I don't want my house to collapse. Please kindly let me know if there is anything I can still do. Or if the pillars can at this point be included. I'm scared please.

I just filled the foundation with sand. That's the stage the project is at currently.

Hajivince:


I beg to differ with some of this explanation... Foundation depth is subject to nature of the soil... With this analogy, one can't build on a hill or Rocky mountains without blasting which isn't so... Again, imposed loads are live loads, so your dead load also matters... Gk most times is always greater than Qk... The minimum depth recommended in all foundation engineering textbooks that I know & while I did Geotechnics is 300mm with soil B.C greater than or equal to 150KN/m²