My engineer told me there is no need to include pillars/columns in my 5 bedroom bungalow since building is not bearing any load except roof. Is he correct ? He also said if I include the pillars then I must do horizontal beam which will increase construction costs substantially. Another engineer is of the opinion that I can do pillars but not horizontal beam just to strengthen the building. See pictures of type of pillars I mean below. Expert should please advise ?

Other examples

First of all, where is the location? The soil topography determines everything.

Some buildings must be chained at the foundation or lintel to avoid expansion cracks

Thanks for the response ascendo.
Location: Adron estate, west park and gardens, Ashipa-Oleyo, Ibadan.
I dont really know about the soil topography but there are many buildings there, including duplexes.

capsogiga:
Thanks for the response ascendo.
Location: Adron estate, west park and gardens, Ashipa-Oleyo, Ibadan.
I dont really know about the soil topography but there are many buildings there, including duplexes.

Then a practicing Engineer there has the best answer. It shouldn't be in assumption's, let the facts be clearly spelt out. But I most times prefer chaining the lintels onto the pillars at the four corners of buildings for stability

Technically, you do not need either the columns (pillars) or the beams since it is just a bungalow on an apparent good and dry soil (from the pictures). But as the column reinforcement is already in place, it is better to tie them together with a beam to derive the maximum benefits of additional strengthening to the building.

However the building is still safe without the beams, but the column alone would not really contribute any strengthening to the building, hence a waste as it were.

AquilaTraining:
Technically, you do not need either the columns (pillars) or the beams since it is just a bungalow on an apparent good and dry soil (from the pictures). But as the column reinforcement is already in place, it is better to tie them together with a beam to derive the maximum benefits of additional strengthening to the building.

However the building is still safe without the beams, but the column alone would not really contribute any strengthening to the building, hence a waste as it were.

Thanks. More contribution pls

A bungalow doesn't need a column if the land has a good bearing capacity. Beam is inevitable, if you decided not to do foundation or roof beam what about lintel beam? One of the main purpose of foundation and roof beam is to prevent the expansion of cracks, but on some cases (if the land is good, good construction practice and purse of the client), people don't use it

AquilaTraining:
Technically, you do not need either the columns (pillars) or the beams since it is just a bungalow on an apparent good and dry soil (from the pictures). But as the column reinforcement is already in place, it is better to tie them together with a beam to derive the maximum benefits of additional strengthening to the building.

However the building is still safe without the beams, but the column alone would not really contribute any strengthening to the building, hence a waste as it were.

MRFIXER001:
A bungalow doesn't need a column if the land has a good bearing capacity. Beam is inevitable, if you decided not to do foundation or roof beam what about lintel beam? One of the main purpose of foundation and roof beam is to prevent the expansion of cracks, but on some cases (if the land is good, good construction practice and purse of the client), people don't use it

Thanks. More contribution pls

More contribution pls

It depends on your pocket and the nature of the soil, if it's a dry and level land, and you're not planning to do concrete facia (aka parapet) on the building,

the best you can just do, is to chain all the external walls together, you can use 10mm rod to save cost, then just put horizontal beams at doors areas internally, pillars at the four corners of the building is not necessary, since it's just a bungalow.
With these your building will still stand strong.

capsogiga:
More contribution pls

Thank you very much. I intend to do concrete parapet. Will parapet require me to do pillars/column and beam ?

Mekenz:
It depends on your pocket and the nature of the soil, if it's a dry and level land, and you're not planning to do concrete facia (aka parapet) on the building,

the best you can just do, is to chain all the external walls together, you can use 10mm rod to save cost, then just put horizontal beams at doors areas internally, pillars at the four corners of the building is not necessary, since it's just a bungalow.
With these your building will still stand strong.

How do I chain all the external walls together?

capsogiga:

How do I chain all the external walls together?

it means running horizontal beams on the top of all the external walls of the building only.

ok

Mekenz:
it means running horizontal beams on the top of all the external walls of the building only.

Thank you very much.

Mekenz:
it means running horizontal beams on the top of all the external walls of the building only.

Is this horizontal beam same as lintel or head course ?

capsogiga:

Is this horizontal beam same as lintel or head course ?

yeah lintel, is good you understand my point, to save cost, just run lintel at the external walls only, then only on doors areas internally.

Mekenz:
yeah lintel, is good you understand my point, to save cost, just run lintel at the external walls only, then only on doors areas internally.

Thanks. My thoughts exactly. But engineer says lintel is different from horizontal beam ! He sent the picture below. In fact now I am confused. I can't afford to run horizontal beams on all ways, both internally and externally. To the engineer I have two options. 1. Columns + horizontal beams. 2. No columns, no horizontal beam since it is only a bungalow with parapet. Meanwhile, people are telling me I should not build a 5 bedroom house without pillars/ columns!

capsogiga:

Thanks. My thoughts exactly. But engineer says lintel is different from horizontal beam ! He sent the picture below. In fact now I am confused. I can't afford to run horizontal beams on all ways, both internally and externally. To the engineer I have two options. 1. Columns + horizontal beams. 2. No columns, no horizontal beam since it is only a bungalow with parapet. Meanwhile, people are telling me I should not build a 5 bedroom house without pillars/ columns!

well what he says is right, but as a builder myself, since it's just a bungalow with a concrete facia , what you just need to do is run lintels at the external walls only, and you can as well put pillars at the four corners of the building only, because of the parapet. No need for other reinforcements. Your building will still stand strong.

NB: I'm saying all these considering your budget, but if wish you can go and put beams and pillars all over your building, no problems.

Mekenz:
well what he says is right, but as a builder myself, since it's just a bungalow with a concrete facia , what you just need to do is run lintels at the external walls only, and you can as well put pillars at the four corners of the building only, because of the parapet. No need for other reinforcements. Your building will still stand strong.

NB: I'm saying all these considering your budget, but if wish you can go and put beams and pillars all over your building, no problems.

Thanks

More contribution pls

Good evening everyone,

Please i need an advice on my building project.
I acquired a land with an uncompleted building to dpc level.
It is a 2 bedroom flat and 3(room & parlor) self contain. But i intended converting the building plan to 5(room & parlor) self contain.
So the engineer suggested that he could change the plan after I complete the filling.
He said after the filling we will allow the sand to sit first then we will do the German floor.
Then we can continue with the new building plan 5(room & parlor) self contain.
Please i need a good advice on this.
If there would be any adverse effect in the future.
Thanks
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