₦airaland Forum

lastpage:
Just wondering, Boss...

Even if the Ceiling and POP has been done, can he not hook it up and pass the Copper Cable over the roof, encased in a PVC pipe (insulation to prevent contact with Roof) and over the side of the Walls, down to the base of building and then ground?

IMO, l think it need not pass through the Centre of the Building itself.... since the whole idea of "Earthing" is to get a path-way for charges from thunder, to be discharged to the ground instead of unto the Building itself.

The above is an alternative but it needs to be done properly not to make it so obvious (aesthetics)



Lastpage!

Yes sir... That is the whole idea. Just like these sketches below for his single slop building

EgunMogaji:
Thanks Hajj.

Okay my Spyder880 and Abdul, I haven't had an electrician onsite yet and the roofer never brought it up on the single slope roof. Is it something that I can retrofit since I've now done the slope roof?

Thanks.

PS: I will be more cognizance of this on the main house which will have cross-hipped roof.

It can be done on the single roofed house easily provided the ceiling or pop has not been done.

Pass it across the wooden fascial (inside the eave projection ceiling, nailed it to the wall and pass it down as described above by sir lastpage.

lastpage:
Nice and impressive!

Permit me to "humbly" add that the Arrestor is not necessarily ALWAYS placed on the ROOF!

There are times when other "objects" or part of a building are higher than the Roof!
For example, some buildings have this Water tank area "embeded" within the roofing area (but open to the sky) that are higher than the roof itself.

What we need to bear in mind is that thunder will strike THE HIGHEST "CONDUCTING" POINT of any object.
We just need to look and determine that point

Below is a summary of required expenses... though inflation would have made nonsense of it....... just use it as a guide.

One Unit of Thunder Spike iapproximately @ #9,500
7 lengths of original Earth rod approximately @ #4.500/Length
8 units of Earth coupler approximately @ #600 each
Less than 20M of Copper Tape @approximately #1700
One unit of Earth clamp approximately @ #1,320
A few "Copper Tape-to-Wall" Clips @approximately #200 each
One Bag of Industrial salt (called Marconite) approximately @ #7,000
2Bags of Charcoal approximately @ #700/Bag to be spread into an "Earth Pit Basket" of about 3ft X 3ft and 4ft deep
of About 30M Earth cable approximately @ #7,800




Lastpage!

Caveat: I nor be Electrician Ooo .... just a DIY hobbyist/Enthusiast

Very good sir.... I am assuming that his roof topmost will be the highest point. But the correct thing is the highest point with a conductor.

spyder880:
Then the copper mat, (some call it the basket) which must be connected to the tape and is placed into the hole in the ground, the tape runs all the way to the top.

Yea I omitted that one.... Thanks

FreeWorld23:
baba, those that voted didn't came to nairaland for the "nonsense" concept too. Only sad and depressed people don't catch fun. Infact, i have big men from business section who are too busy chasing forex who honored my call and voted her.

Yoruba'z will say " ti a ba tori isu je epo a tori epo je isu". The "nonsense" won us some cash and no effort wasted.

On your "ignoreuser", email seun privately, he reads all email from nlders.

I don't vote because I see no reason to.... It is a personal thing and shouldn't be forced down on people's throat.

EgunMogaji:
Nice.

Who did it Sir? Was it electrician or roofer and at what stage of the build was it done?

Thanks.

It is the work of your electrician.
Most likely before installation of roofing sheet. It is placed at the highest point or elevation of the roof.

You will need the following materials
1. Lightning arrestor
2. Pure copper tape( you can know using magnetic test).
3. Industrial salt
4. Industrial charcoal
5. One earth rode (can't really remember the name)
6. Black and red wire of required diameter specify by the electrical engineer.... I think that should be all

femliany:
Do you need a soil text again in swampy area?no is the answer.Just get a sound structural engineer to design the number of iron rod and the type to use for you and to save cost,you can go for Raft..for granite and sharp sand,u can get in touch with me

Your comment is funny.. . How will the structural engineer design the raft or foundation without a detailed soil test?

Number of iron rod and type of aggregates to use are the result of structural analysis and design which can only be carried out after detail engineering properties of the soil have been established.

Waterlogged areas in most cases are area with expansive clay where water level rises from season to seasoned. during raining season water rises because water cannot penetration dealer and soil expand a d during dry season the soil contract because moisture is lost and water level fall.

The best solution is to following the following process.
1. Get a good Geotechnical film to do a detail soil test and tell them to suggest the type of foundation that will be structurally sound and economical, also tell them sign a written agreement that if their is a structural failure due to the type of foundation they proposed they will held accountable.

2. Take the results to a foundation engineer to design this most economical and structurally sound solutions from Geotechnical film.

3. Execute the construction given the consultancy to the structural film that did the structural design.... and you are good to go

EgunMogaji:
Another building with concrete block style. No mortar (not sure about how good this is)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBkv5jjjhJ0

@ AbdulWastecx I think they used the foam elevated thingie thing that you educated us on.

Something like this sir... I have been trying to download or play the video but network is very bad here...

EgunMogaji:
Okay let's get started.

QC1 - what is the current status? I believe it rained in Lagos recently.

AbdulWastecx - you were going to travel to Lagos I thought, could you make a detour and make a site visit to appraise the situation?

I will try to make a stop sir.... Getting a good solution will be great

lastpage:
Can you please quote ANYWHERE, that l claimed to be a Geotechnical Engineer?

I dont take kindly to "impersonation" please.




@Abdulwastecx:

I would also suggest that you specify the TYPE of TEST (CPT, SPT, e.t.c) the Professional (you are recommending) will undertake (in writing) and further ensure that it is what is being given out in the Report.

To recommend people nowadays, one has to be very specific and also follow-up .... so that a hard-earned "good reputation like yours, .....is not tainted!
I dont want someone to start asking you to refund "Soil test" Money....because you are the one who linked the Client to the Test Contractor!

Even if (when) you did it "in good faith"!

Sorry, l dont have someone to recommend!



Lastpage!

Thank you sir

Please house I am looking for a very good Geotechnical film that can carry out soil analysis for a client in Benin

3strikes:
One good advice Abdul...Stay away from this. Build your own brand and guide your reputation jealously. no paddy for jungle.

See when we were building my Ajah project, I could have given some people jobs to do but I was under the impression that Endiasami and Twinskenny were affiliated with Brabus or nexthome because of some of their comments. So I warned lots of people away from them. why? because that's what first came to mind....only to later find out these guys are innocent. This is called Perception.

Although I have chatted with the two gentlemen and I told them am sorry that I went by their comments here on Nairaland and I thought they were some of Brabus Next home foot soldiers.


NB: Endiasami and Twinskenny, Am very sorry Again. I owe you guys a business deal in the nearest future by the Grace of God. Amen!


BTW: it is always easier to advocate for second chance when you are not the victim. I won't call that hypocrisy tho, i just think its because they really don't know how WE the victim feel everyday about our investments.


3strikes!!!

Thanks boss

nubiadoll:
can this house be built like a 2 bedroom twin bungalow on 30ft by 120ft, how much much would it cost? i would like to see the design.
pls send to agapecrown_2001@yahoo.com

Yea it can work. OK, I will send that to you

lastpage:
I am "one" of those who believe in giving someone a second opportunity.

Infact, if not that my current build is so advanced (builder input no longer required), l would have used it to prove you guys wrong.

I am looking forward to when l will want to do another build from scratch, l will announce it here that l am using Brabus to build it.
Quote me on that, god willing.

Brabus has his issues, ...serious issues (and l have spoken repeatedly on them, even went as far as advising him "like l would do a "Blood Brother".

Three things accounted for the failure in his "PAST" Builds:

1.) His knowledge of foundations (back then) was very INADEQUATE!: He meant well but you cant give what you dont have. back then, his knowledge, compared to now was very limited!

2.) The Clients were mostly, if not all, "Diasporeans": Though this is not an excuse but his Clients have zero or very limited knowledge of Building.
They relied on Brabus' "expertise" when in actual fact, he too was just "learning as we go along" (like some other Builders here too, you can see from the way they ask or answer "technical questions".
(Abdulwastecx stands out from the crowd! he is a trained Engineer so, "No shaking".
This is where Brabus "bit more than he could chew".
He could have, at the very least, INSIST on a Soil test at all times.... and just follow the recommendations of a Structural Engineer who interprets the result


3.) Supervision was lax, if not non-existent: Again, l wont blame the Client but we are all learning! There is a reason why projects have "Consulting Supervisors" that are different from the Builder. These are Professional Engineers who are paid and mandated to ensure that "they monitor and approve" what the Builder is doing on ground. You should not allow your Builder to supervise himself. I wont.
Brabus was building without "oversight" supervision. If you cant supervise your builder, please employ a qualified person to do it for you.

The reason l am very confident that l will give him (Brabus) a job in the future, is that as "a Client", [b]l will be with him EVERYDAY of the build! That is how l do my own builds.... l monitor like hell, while "learning" at the same time
I have acquired "appreciable knowledge and experience" over time, such that even if l dont employ a seasoned Engineer as Supervisor, there is NOTHING Brabus will or can do, that l am not knowledgeable about.

I WILL TELL HIM WHAT TO DO, I WILL ENSURE HE DOES WHAT I WANT AND I WILL DO THE NECESSARY TESTS (SOIL, CONCRETE, e.t.c) to assist both of us to make a success of it.

it is a pity that the above three factors came into play, all at the same time, in Brbaus's build for his clients back then.

TODAY, in 2016, l dont think all those three factors can/should still align together... to produce the results we are referring to/discussing.
As for his "personal values"...... What you "already know" should not be able to hurt you... if you are intelligent and smart![/b]

Brabus na Ijebu, me na Ijebu, so let us see who get "sense" pass now.



So, when l say l will give my job to Brabus, l know exactly what l am saying and l am not saying it out of ignorance or sentiments.
Mind you, Brabus, like any other humanbeing, have their "strengths and weakness"
I know how to turn a "human weakness", into strength.

Thank you,



Lastpage!

BTW: I also believe anyone can reform, if they want to.
I also dont FLIP-FLOP on my relationship with anyone .... because it is ALWAYS based on PRINCIPLES, not personal sentiments.

I don't like to get involved in issues like this but Mr lastpage just summed up everything.

Building construction is a complex discipline, we keep learning everyday to improve ourself and do much better.

Some of Mr brabus' mistakes can happened to any builder here because we hardly carry out any soil test to ascertain soil engineering properties and when this soil is carried out, proper attention may not be paid to the laboratory test to determine all the parameters used for the analysis and design.

I worked for a consultancy film (briefly), they just copied and paste design without any analysis. Partly, this may be due to how low some clients are willing to pay(imagine some one paying 50 or 40k) for serious structural design of a duplex on a very poor soil.
In most cases after the soil test might have been done properly , the analysis and design may not be done properly... So you run into many problem.

I have turned down lots of job because either the design were poorly done and the owner is not willing to changed it or half way job with poorly don foundation. For example, I visited a site in warri to investigate a house that belongs to a "Nairalander '', I was shocked when I saw poorly the foundation and the first floor was,
the man wanted us to do the slab and upper floor but I turned it down. I then advice him to either convert the house to a Bungalow or demolish it because I know the house is a disaster waiting to happen.

Oga brabus has learnt one two lessons from those work as I have learned a lot from them. I have visited all those thread and look at things myself.... Learning is a continuous thing and we stop learning when we die

FreeWorld23:
I know you work together with podosci that's why I quoted u cos he hardly come online. So who should I contact, you or podosci?

He was busy some weeks ago with one of our remote village job but he is back now, you can contact any of us.
The one that will be easier for you sir....

FreeWorld23:
Oga, how affordable is the plan of the building below? I talked to someone about the design and they liked it. The size of the land is 120ft by 30ft

It is very affordable... It was designed by my friend podosci.

It was a two bedroom bungalow design but can be changed to three bedrooms.

It will sit in comfortably with enough space at the front or back for future development.

mavverick:
This man is on to great things in his life, I REALLY PRAY HE DOES !
I PRAY WORK WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND AND YOU SHALL NOT LACK ! AMEN


The amount of stuff we learn from you, I am sure if we were all asked to drop something, nobody would hesitate to put thier hands in thier pocket, as a measure of appreciation.
As for me, I dont know about others. I am really grateful, not only to him, spyder, skimanski, sege, haji, topsy, Madam gabby and the rest of the other pros in the house, remember pros not QUACKS.

We dont see irrelevant google pictures or gloating about his own personal build and not about a building he completed for a client, just hard facts and practicality after due consideration of the situation. More grease to your elbow abdulwastecx

Amin o my oga... Thanks for the positive complement

@ lastpage, I will try to send you some of our work on modern method of building construction' find time to design something like a block of two bedroom flats on a two storey building; using polystyrene rib slab, polystyrene walls for internal partitions per flat (boundaries between flat will be conventional walls), poly hood, ceiling etc....

lastpage:
This was my thinking also, initially.
I think one way or the other (since such foundations are usually done on low capacity bearing soils), water will find its way into that void.

I was even thinking that one can put a "valved-Pipe" such that water inside the void can only come out but the pipe cant take-in water.

if the building is sound-enough to stand on its own without the void being filled-up, that is a massive 'cost-savings' (Laterite fillings et all).

But then, l would differ to "Construction" Engineers on this one. I have never done this Suspended Raft with Piles under, before.

Thanks for your response.



Lastpage!

You know that low bearing capacity and water level are two different things sir....
You may have a soil with low bearing capacity and low water table, such as Sandy soil while having soil with relatively good bearing capacity and high water table such expansive cohesive soil.

That is the beauty of soil mechanics, geotechnics and foundation engineering. Soil analysis and foundation is the most complex part of civil engineering because you need more than formulas, theory, or codes to pull them off.

lastpage:
Abdulwastexc, your responses are always top-notch. I am just imagining what/who you will be in a decades time! Maybe Nigeria's own version of Julius Berger?
I have saved your response and so dont want to re-quote it verbatim.


The "Polystrene" material you referred to above, is it a composite material or a single material one can get to buy in the open market?
What's the name, if l may ask?
Weight reduction, Cost reduction and new methods/innovation always excite me.


Thank you for your response.



Lastpage!

Thank you sir....
We will like to be dangote of construction industry... Building houses for all (upper, middle and lower class).... Lol.

I am grateful for your complement sir.
Polystyrene is really a game changer, if properly utilized it can safe lots of cost and reduce structural failure due to its light weight.

I was first introduced to the company (polyindustry) in abuja during my six months industrial training ( in 2011). I went to their factory and make enquiries for the prospect of using it for concrete fascia, suspended slab, non load bearing partition wall, wall Cornishing, suspended ceilings (like pop but with added advantage of resistance to dampness when faced with licking roof), window hoods etc, I was impressed when I left the factory, ever since I have been clamoring for its use.

Polystyrene materials is some how a composite polystyrene, cement surface coating and light reinforcement to stick the cement together with the poly.

I am not really aware of all their products are common at market places but one can always visit their factory or website or call their customer care to make enquiries about their products.

The last time I bought polystyrene fascia from them, I went directly to the factor, Give them my design, deposit the cash and come back after 5days to pick them up. They are very efficient in that respect.

The problem with polystyrene construction is acceptance... People are scared because of the lightness and it's look. Even among building experts the phobia for polystyrene is high.

When using polystyrene the following, question normally come up:
For polystyrene fascia:
1. Can this thing carry load?
My answer : fascia are not designed to carry roof load (gravity load). They are designed to break wind and provide aesthetics to the building.

2. Is this durable :
Durability is a function of exposure to adverse environmental conditions like water, wind and sunlight.
Water: polystyrene is impermeable materials, hence water don't affect it.
Sun light :surface coating protect the material from adverse sun intensity.
Wind: they are designed to break wind.

3. How well can it withstand fire :
Fire resistance is a big issue even for reinforced concrete due to the fact that steel looses strength considerably when exposed to fire... Reason for concrete cover to protect steel when their is a fire outbreak. Polystyrene also can resist fascia with the help of surface coate. ***more work still need to be done on that****.

4. Aesthetic:how beautiful does it look?
Very beautiful, it is produce with very high degree of accuracy because of the factory production. All design can be done, it gives architect freedom to play around.

5. It is cost effective :
No formwork (except for head beam), no excessive scaffolding (except as a platform)
No excessive concrete

I will check up their address and send it to you

Jessam:
A raft is also a slab as you stated or pasted here!!!!! The pic is posted was for illustration purposes of how the slab can weaken if subject to loads of water as a matter of fact, it demonstrates how the slab/raft can sink unevenly and even break. You are correct. As you rightly stated it is a must to test the type of soil on your building site as this determines the type of foundation to construct. The point of this thread was to highlight the importance of having guttering on buildings be they rental or owner occupied for those that want to ensure the integrity of the structure is not compromised and value of their investment not eroded because of a faulty structure that might be costly to repair.

The full sentence is '' the raft can also be an ordinary slab founded at a depth of not less than 1.5m in most cases''.

Jessam:
Ok sometimes we don't understand what the term raft foundation exactly means. The term raft is related to the term raft boat. google raft boat. A raft foundation just like a boat needs to be water tight , if not the boat will capsize because of the water that gets in causing it to be unstable or over weight, water is heavy (hence why blocks are not used because the cement/mortar used to bond the blocks together will fail over time and lead to water entering the boat/foundation) another important requirement is that a raft/boat also needs to be stable , imagine if you have 10 fat people in front of the boat and two skinny people at the back of the boat what happens? the boat tips if you are lucky to the front, but mostly likely will capsize. Now the importance of the gutter is this, The more soaked the soil is the less its weight carrying ability,so if the water from the roof hits the area exposed to this deluge of water, the part of the raft foundation close (underneath and by the side)to this water soaked soil is now perched on soil that has less weight carrying capabilities, so guess what happens ? the raft becomes unstable like the boat with the fat and skinny people on board mentioned earlier on. This area of the foundation starts sinking but not the whole slab, it then means that parts of the walls are being pulled meaning they will start cracking, serious fractures will occur in the wall system holding up the house, the house could then collapse/capsize like the boat.

Although I am an experienced builder I am also a farmer, so please spread the word about Jessam Cattle Ranch and Farms. We have great pigs, chickens, eggs, ducks, goats, cattle etc

Segcymoor is currently working in partnersghip on one of our (Dolphin Real Estate) residential building projects - https://www.nairaland.com/2753189/wing-duplex-flat-ajah-moore

Your sketch below is more like slab foundation and not raft foundation.

Raft foundation is a form of shallow foundation (but not founded on grade). It is in the same family with slated pad, combined footings, trapezoidal footings and cantilever footing. In the case of raft, the floor load intensity ( the load from all the pillars/columns divided by the total area of the building) will make the introduction of individual footings to overlap, hence it now become uneconomical to design individual pad footings, a raft foundation is used.

The raft can an ordinary slab founded at a depth of not less than 1.5m in most cases below the ground surface.
Before any bending and share calculations are carried out, the following simple structural calculations are carried out.

1. Estimation of floor load intensity.
2. A trial raft dimensions is chosen; B and L, where B= breath and L= length.
3. This raft is then check for bearing capacity and settlement.
To carried out these check, a soil profile of cpt soil test is sketch showing all the soil profile with the following information, for cohesive soil, we have cu, dry unit weight of soil and saturated until weight, depth of each strata, modulus of elasticity, consolidation parameter etc.

After the bearing capacity has been calculated, the result must not be less than floor load intensity x F. O. D (factor of safety, which is taken as 3 for cohesive soil).

For the settlement estimation, it is divided into two. Initially or immediate settlement and consolidation settlement. This value must also be less than 100mm for cohesive soil.

In summary, a well detail Geotechnical work with good laboratory result and a well structural design raft will not fail throughout it service life

lastpage:
@Brabus, @AbdulWastecx and @Spyderman

I am looking at the attached Suspended Slab and two things crossed my mind.

1.) Those voids below the Suspended Slab are surrounded by four sides of vertical concrete Walls. This means each "cubicle" is an enclosed space.
Since they are not sand-filled, it also means they would have water stored in them, below the suspended Slab.

I am wondering, will it be a bad idea to introduce a small PIPE in one of the sides of the vertical walls so as to act as a channel for such water to flow-away, in situations where the really become much?
It wont cost anything structurally but could help elongate the life of the structure or at least make underneath more "homely"!


2.) Those 1 x 12 Boards used to create the suspended slab will number no less than 300! At about a thousand each, that equates to about 300K!
I am not sure but l am assuming those Boards will be permanently buried under the Slab.
Since there is still a lot of need/use for those Boards as the building develops, l am wondering: Is there any way those Boards can be recovered (say for re-use).

I am always looking for ways to "innovate and be more efficient" in everything l do, so you can understand the way l see things.... maybe a lil'different.

whats your take?




Lastpage!

To your first question...
The condition of the enclosed space below depend on the natural water table, and surface run off during period of heavy rain. If the soil is relatively dry with a very low water table (>1.5m), the void below will be dry, otherwise, it may experience dampness and surface water.

Nothing to worry about if the damp proof course/german floor is water/air tight, so that it wouldn't become a breading ground for mosquito.

The grade beam a position at some depth below the ground to stop surface run off into the space below.

2. For your questions number 2.
The cost of the formwork for the suspended ground floor may be more than 300k as you have rightly highlited since you fail to put into account the cost of the following items, 2' x 4'*runners, nail, supporting bamboo, and workmanship. Putting all these cost into consideration may drive the cost to be twice the earlier estimate of 300k''. Having say this, I still believe it is a wise decision and a cost effective method compare to the cost of filling the supposed raft* ( structurally it is not a raft) . It may cost more than 1.5m to fill and compact the foundation up to that level, and it will take too much time to achieve that. There is also danger of poor compaction.

Another advantage is the possibility for a properly done iron detailed work when the floor is suspended. For this suspended floor, the iron bending work are properly done compared to those on filled foundation.

3. I am also looking deeply into better use of modern building materials. I have done a number of design using polystyrene materials for the following, in other to reduce load and cost.

1. Use in slab foundation or rib raft construction to reduce weight, save some concrete volume and reinforcement (ultimately cost) and to have a cleaner and faster construction. ** this method will be very good on soil with very low bearing capacity and high water table (since all polystyrene are damp resistance).

2. Use as a rib slab or waffle slab to reduce the self weight of slab by replacing some volume of concrete. It has three major advantages of light weight, cost effective and faster/cleaner construction - light weight because it will replace concrete volume, cost effective in the form less concrete/steel/formwork and fast construction because it can easily be installed.

3.Use in internal portion walls to reduce load on high rise building and cost. It is cost effective since such wall will not required further surface finishing like plastering and screeding. It also allow your structural framework or layout to be flexible because you wouldn't have to worry about heavy portion load since it is light weight.

4.Use for ceiling finishing, better than pop on cost and aesthetics. It can be use in place of pop, it cost less, faster to install, neater in construction and much lighter. It also have an added advantage of ability to withstand leaking roof because water can't pass it it or spoil it. When you install, you go to bed.



With all these advantage in mind, sound Mathematical calculations have to be made to make sure all the structural component are designed properly in other to enjoy all the aforementioned advantages

bobkezel:
Hmmm, this seems like good news from the surface, but it is no good news. Dubai itself is yet to be a smart city, dubai's target of being a complete smart city is by 2020. And more than 95% of this will be made possible by expats. Dubai has no indegenous technological company to achieve a smart city. Why then would a blind lagos sign mou with a one eyed dubai. This will sure make the cost very high, and they won't get the best. Nigerians na real mumu.

Because they have the money to finance such a massive structure.... United Arab Emirates is a very small country with very small indigenous population, but they have the capital to import any type of technology, expertise, and know how from the west and east.

These partnership means Dubai group will finance and plan the project, it doesn't translate into them using their indigenous technology or man power to build you smart city.

The world is a big global village where capital is the only thing that matters, with lot of money you can build yourself a world class city in matters of years

nduchucks:
Our focus on this problem should be herdsmen vs farmers. When those of you who raise pigs start having problems which turn into violence, we can discuss how to solve them. Lets stay focused if we can. Thanks

Fulani way of life should not have any negative impact effect on other Nigerians. The reasons why we are debating this issue is what is wrong with Nigeria, how can you carry weapons freely in a country with gun control law, Block highways to rob innocent people, sack a whole village, rape women and still come back here demanding land for Grazing.

I also hate your tone of entitlement, how many igbo traders in kano has been giving a special route or market free of charge where they can do their businesses?

Cattle business contribute close to zero to our national income, why give it all these priority to a group that just migrated to Nigeria less than 200 years ago

nduchucks:
I do not disagree that Ranching is not a good thing. In fact it should be encouraged and supported. What many posters do not understand is that, ranching is already thriving in Nigeria, although its in its infancy - where do you think the cows transported via trailers and rail, come from? . Successful Ranches must be maintained by well-trained professionals.

We are talking about Nomads here. It helps to keep things in perspective.

This is the hight of stupidity.... When people talk has if they are born with some special preveledge I get angry.

Fulani don't have any special right to move cow around in other to destroy people's family, kill and rap women.

Grazing route is a stupid idea to start with and that is why I think we need to restructured Nigeria seriously. we have a country seriously messed up by British, they give more political power to a section of country in other to have political influence.

I am a South westerner (yoruba) born and brought up in the north and I am seriously angry with this stupid bill to begin with. Country like Holland have more cattle, diary products than Nigeria with a population of less than 20m, they have domesticated ranches and they do their business without affecting other people. Here we have fulanis don't want to continue their 17th century traditions of pilling, robbing and rapping innocent women all in the way of cattle rearing.

We will keep fighting for serious federalism where we can control our resources and land so that intruders like you will not have the hordacity to demand for land as if it belongs to your father

Druman:
@Harney project team; all hope is not lost if actually you feel cheated. You can file a case if you discover that any section of the contract was breached. If, not just let go. There are clause for contract termination. If you guys are the one who breached the contract; the client too has right to sue you guys if way you claim are not fact. Because no one has heard from the client. Just my two pence.

We have let it slide.... That is behind us now. We are grateful to almighty Allah for good health and more blessing. We just you want guys to know why we left the site and we don't want to create any scene because of our Integrity

n3xt:
Well done. Abdulwastecx and Podosci, so many lessons to learn from this.

I've been there and I can tell you. It doesn't work 99% of time due to ethnic rivalry, language barrier and logistics issue (it's so difficult to manage issues from area that you're completely new to).

As per contracts, here's my advice to you. Forget the paperwork, if possible forget the builders quote (it doesn't work most times except you get lucky).

Let the owner get a QS estimate for his build. Prepare the scope of work and payment schedule with dates. Have a lawyer sign the contract on your behalf. Also ensure you include the deliverables and responsibilities of both parties into the contract document.

I've found out that most issues can be prevented if business are done this way.


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Don't be surprised that the man who took over has been with you for months observing and harping on why you should be replaced?

#SpeakingFromExperience

Thank you boss.

It was a Smoot ride for us, we settled well in the locality, people there were friendly and they missed our absence. Ethnicity was never the issue for us because my cast were ethnically diverse. My iron bender is an ibo guy from imo state, electrician a guy that has been with me since port Harcourt is an ibo guy from ebonyi state, my carpenters were hausas and yorubas, Amy brick layers were hausas and yorubas, most of my labor were igbos and hausas. I have a very diverse group of committed young men working for me.

We started the project with one Mr prince (a civil engineering graduate not too sure), he was in charge of logistics, procurements of materials and general running around. He was very helpful and humble and he is guy that was interested in the good of the project, he was a young guy in out age bracket and we enjoy working with him. He put in lot of effort, sometimes I do pity him from the stress inflated on him from Mr in lagos.

He was always around and made things easier for us. We settled down quickly with him.
Later run Mr Chidi (the main owners relative) join the party, he was also good and we get along very well. All these men were good people and have nothing to do with what happen here.

Mr understanding of the whole issue was that Mr Tony wanted people he can control any how, he saw young enthusiasts people like us and he taught that yes!! '' These guys are small and they can be treated any how job wish''

I may be a small dude but I am not that naive to understand basic things, a man in his late twenties and early thirties in a country with life expectancy rate of 45years is not that small. I am not any way insinuating that we have seen it all but I know I am old enough to make decisions for my self, I am a responsible father and a husband, podosci is also a father.

I don't believe any of those two guys were responsible for what happened since Mr Tony told them not to visit the site again after we left and he refuse to pay them the money he was owing them.

As a matter of fact, Harney team leader (either or podosci or abdulwastecx or both) were always on ground throughout the whole duration of the project, we supervised the whole project based on the structural design and where errors were made with the design we called on the parties involved before any correction were made. We have all the conversation recorded.

back2sender:
Your comments are despicable, The owner has been called out here by a famous and upright nlanders to come and explain his own side and even before this when the Builders gave an insight on what was going on fellow nlanders responded. You that was defrauded and you were not bold enuf to call a spade a spade! You come here calling people girly, naa you girly pass because at your advanced age you are not straight forward and cannot speak boldly or maybe naa you even defraud the builder!!! And to think you are based in the diaspora where things like this are not hidden shows you yourself get K-LEG in characters. Iranu abasha

Please sir don't take it personal, I see nothing wrong from what my fastshipping wrote, it is his personal decision not to reveal the identity of the man that messed up his job and we should be okay with that decision.

It is quite unfortunate that things pan out this way between us and the owner representative but we try all we could to get in touch with the owner to clarify issue but the writing on wal shows that he knows everything about what really happened.

We made this mistake because we have been fortunate to work with people that are very good, open minded and always ready to listen to us when we have problem on site. Our anambra job is a good example of what can be done with listening and understanding owner, we started the job last year August and we about to complete the building, I pay that the almighty provide him with fun to complete the job in face of rising cost.

The owner of the anambra project came here and he commented on this issues, he is a good reference point on how a client should behave and organize project, we have learned a lot from his organization skills and we are still learning.

It was painful to be treated the way Mr Tony treated us, the day we left the site one of his representative on site (a good guy that is my friend now), he called the guy to instruct him not to let us leave the site that we have to balance him money because of what he term our disagreement not to complete the job. Unknowingly for him, Mr prince put the phone on loudspeaker and we heard all the things he said and he wasn't even ashamed of himself at that age (I heard that he is an elderly man in his sixties). After he dropped the call, in front of every one podosci called him 5 times and he refused to pick the call. Everyone was there and I have indulge Mr prince (one of the two supervisor appointed by Mr Tony) to open up a nairaland account so that he can also contribute on this topic because up till now he alleged that they haven't settled his outstanding payment up to about N300,000.

The whole issue was really a big surprise to is, we have never worked for people without the integrity of the structure in mind. At every milestone we have to talk, act as if we are the owner, demand for good materials and insisting they do the right things.

Juokorow:
Abdul,l
Very sorry to hear about this shabby treatment! Though I followed this project from day one, I only came here to ask you to update our contact info, after trying to call you or reach you via WApp. Please update our WApp contact info so that I can message or call you.

Truly sorry for the mess you suffered on this project! You are still my person!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you sir. Here is my whatapps contact number :08169492682

allCopacetic:
You took the words right out of my mouth,
This is the most practical and easily actualizable defence.... "ELEVATION" If you can't control the flow of water in your direction control your elevation/position relative to water level when the floods hit.
Note the use of the word "defence" .
you cannot prevent coastal flooding it's inevitable , the earth is bruised and bleeding....especially at an individual level, and in a country like this. But you can buy/provide yourself some defence.

Those with a more robust budget can build a ramp That goes from the side to rear of the house as pictured below, to serve as a safe spot for the cars during the flood and use the ground garage when the threat abates. You can even connect the ramp like an elevated porch or balcony to your first floor and simply park your car and stroll into your back balcony from the ramp.

A well written piece of valuable Information with nice sketches to back them up. This is the most economical and practical solution to the problem.

mavverick:
I think this overemphasizing on floods is just being used by one particular person to divert attention away from himself (reminds me of the lekki gardens stuff as well, and how he was the chief investigator /spokesman), build sensible drainage and maintain it well and floods will be drastically reduced. Both internally in ones house and also in the community i.e roads, not building on flood plains or drainage channels etc.

Even in developed Western Europe, they have floods that wipes away a whole community, usually caused by heavy rainfall and properties close to waterways or in flood plains.

Abdulwastec, pls explain what you mean by basement, basement to me is like an underground space, usually below the road level.
What it sounds as though you are referring to is to build a house on like what I call loads of Pillars or whatever technical term you guys call it, mainly used in commercial builds whereby the ground floor is like the parking space. Please confirm.

My pictures below is trying to explain what I mean. I quite like the idea of building on pillars, but will the entire groundfloor be only pillars or can it have some living space like servant quarters there etc / gym / swimming pool etc. How can the space be better used, and reduce the risk of flooding, just building a house with pillars on the entire groundfloor is somewhat boring IMO and would be an architectural eyesore especially in a residential build (imagine like 50 pillars)

You are right sir. I may have been wrong using the term basement because it means building below grade.

Raising the building higher and supporting with pillars will work. This space below can then be use for the gym, security house and swimming pool. The idea is to have functionality that will not be too affected in the event of flood.

You are right on point sir