₦airaland Forum

passe:
Hi Abdul,I sent you an email ealier today. I will appreciate it if you can spare few minutes out of your tight schedule to respond to it. Regards

Ok sir, I will look over it. Thanks

n3xt:
Flood is inevitable but the cause of floods in Nigeria is lack of planning and not a failed system.

By now, the government in lagos state (for example) should have invested heavily in stormwater drainages in areas with high risk of flooding. And the towns should be planned with flood protection systems.

Government should look at partnering with developers to sandfill land mass in areas that are highly susceptible to flooding. This was planned for Lekki scheme II around 2012 but the plan didn't fly again because of vested interests and over 80% of the heavily invested project is undeveloped because of the cost of construction.

You have a good point sir... But you are still talking about the causes.

Let look at for an individual developer planning to build a house in this high prone area, what method of construction would you advice to save the building during time high flooding ?

I would suggest that all building in this area should come with a basement, where the ground floor serve as car garage and the first living space is raised at least 3m above the Natural ground level. During flooding period, nothing will happen with your properties inside the house.

The ground floor with only columns will support the first living space. These columns will be designed as unbraced column, with water resistance paint to protect them against constant contact with water.

Coolgent:
Sir is dpc most on rocky site like this?

It is nice you do it

n3xt:
Flood Protection | Could Levees Save The Day?


Waiting for the keynote address by the chosen mods.

Still up for discussions on how our designs can help prevent flood.

These solutions may not work for all cases. These measures depend on some level of assumptions based on past food record of the area. Information like rainfall intensity graph over a 100 years period, surface run off, soil characters to know how well they will absorbed water during heavy downpour.

You may design based on all these assumptions and very strange heavy downpour that has never been experienced for a century occur and sweep away all your defensive mechanism in place to counter the effect of flooding

n3xt:
Yes and maybe but so many people who have implemented this flood defense strategy were able to stay afloat in midst of flash floods.

Read up Somerset's Sam Notaro story here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2553998/Somersets-King-Canute-builds-OWN-flood-defences-leave-1million-home-marooned-acres-floodwater.html

That is the problem my friend, flooding is a phenomenon that may vary depending on the rainfall intensity, surface run off, nature of soil.

You may have solution for a certain level of intensity and when you experience heavy downpour more than the level you allowed for, your property may be flooded.

There is no certain engineering problem, we all try to design things based some probability and past experience.

Japan, China and other developed countries with better foul drainage, central drainage system also experience this kind of flooding from time to time

brabus:
I'm waiting for lastpage or Egunmogaji for the Lekki Flood Design Considerations

Be ready to do some serious mathematical calculations when the discussion starts.

This is a case of going against the norm in a city that presently going under water.

The issue is more complex than most people think.

Global warming, in adequate drain age system, sewage with lower capacity to carry the surface run off are some of the problem

mavverick:
I dont know much about the carcass foundation, maybe if you explain to me in lay mans terms.
Got to agree with the high pitch roof though, I think its a show off thing.

Lighting points: Got to agree 100% with this, I questioned this with my electrician so many times, I just feel the light points are too much. When its not a stadium being lit at night. I later got to understand that some of thier decisions are just the norm, and nobody questions it. What I did is buy the number of lighting points that I feel is right, and anything else can be blocked off with plastic. If a tenant wants light there, they can easily add it.

Excessive pop work: Do you mean window hood etc or ceiling pop. Personally, I do not like pop ceilings that are too busy, it becomes a distraction. I like simple and plain. A ceiling should not be drawing attention, instead I had spend the money on my walls and put a satin or silk paint.

External tiles: It cost money yes, but I find that the lower part of a house is the bit that gets stained the most. One solutoion I read about is grafitex, I just like the finish however I heard its not cheap. I could be wrong here.

I nearly missed this part sir. This is what I am trying to explain, when we build foundation for one storey building or some bungalows, we build it using isolated/combine and continuous footings together with strip to receive the foundation blocks. This strip now necessitate for foundation block which may be avoided totally. For most recent bungalows we have built, we end up spending about 400/500k for sub structural walls which can be eliminated completely if we vary the method a little bit.

The major importance of foundation or sub structural walls in a one storey building or bungalow are as follows :
To distribute dpc or oversite concrete wall to the soil below.
To act as brace and horizontal tie to the beams below.
To serve as retaining walls to filling for high foundation walls (those built above natural ground level.

A system of only isolated pad footings, foundation column to the building ground level (Natura ground level - vegetables soil above), a ground beam to link all the pillars sitting on grade. This grade beam height can vary depending on floor loads, ground floor wall load and the need to raise the ground floor above the natural ground level to control flood. In some cases, additional 2 blocks is positioned on top of this beam to Rais the level above the ground before filling and dpc are done.
Here is a summary of this type of foundation
1. Removal of loose vegetables soil to get to formation level.
2. Setting out and marking of column base to get the pad isolated pad, combined footings as the case at be.
3. Digging of only the position isolated pad footings.
4. Arrangements and placements of pad footings reinforcement and foundation columns.
5. Casting of isolated footings.
6. Formwork to foundation column up to level achieved in step 1.
7. Casting of these columns.
8. Filling of these isolated footings after curing for 2 days.
9. Setting out of these grade beams
10. Formwork to grade beams
11. Formwork to grade beams
12. Casting of grade beams.
13 addition of one or two courses of blocks as the case may be
13. Filling of foundation foundation
14 dpc or oversite concrete.

brabus:
I know people don't need my chateau and dump truck story. More good to come.

Hajji Mufutau55, we need an "Idea and Inspiration" Thread where all we share and post there are ideas that people have vetted and Ok'd.


______
mi amigos, how's Ibeju during the last rain? Let's start a new day with Ibeju, Lekki.

I like the your chateau and dump truck story brother.. . Keep them coming, nice innovation by the way.

I think in construction we all have learning curve and we all strive to be better at what we do.

Larwin:
Seriously have learnt a lot. I am a geoscientist, in case you need a borehole drilling for your sites try and get in touch.
08037010771 /08060689660

Ok I will add you up

segzy14:
Word of mouth?
Never take word of mouth as a contract agreement.

Check out the memorandum of understanding
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SIX (6) BEDR00M ONE(1) STOREY AT OBEAGU VILLAGE, EZIOKWE AMURRINKANU WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE. FOR MR. **********,

A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
This memorandum of understanding (MOU) shall cover the full construction of a six bedroom one story building, although at the date of this memorandum, only the cost of workmanship and supervision of the carcass (foundation, ground floor, first floor slab, first floor and roofing) have been fully worked out.
Where both parties reach an agreement to start the project, a suitable date shall be arranged by the client and the contractor to mobilize to site.
Mr. ********** (sponsor) shall make available monies required for the execution of the project and his duties are spelt out in the section of responsibilities.
Harney projects (contractor) shall oversee the execution of the projects as long as money is made available for this purpose.
B. RESPONSIBILITIES
Sponsor:
Ensure that the contractor has access at all times to the construction site.
Ensure payments for supervision and labour are made promptly to the contractor.
Provide an abode for the contractor and his workers through the duration of the construction/renovation.
Provide source of electricity, temporary site office and a small store for equipment and machinery.
Ensure that materials are supplied to the site for prompt use of the contractor. In some instances as expressly decided by the sponsor, he may delegate purchase of materials directly to the contractor, in which case monies for this shall be made available to the contractor.
Contractor:
Ensure the deployment of reasonably experienced labour, and material for the construction of the property(ies) as agreed with the sponsor
Ensure his experience and technical depth as an engineer is brought to bear directly on the project or through a proxy as may be required from time.
Ensure that the site is kept clean at all times and any waste material not in use are promptly disposed at the cost of the sponsor.
C. PAYMENTS
The sponsor shall ensure payments to the contractor as follows
a. All labour charges shall be paid upfront before the commencement of any stage of work
b. 50% of agreed supervision fee shall be paid upfront before commencement of the project.
c. 50% of agreed supervision fee shall be paid at the conclusion of the project.
Signed:
__________________________ _________________________
Mr. ********* Harney projects
(sponsor) (for: contractor/engineer)

Witnessed by:
Name: _______________________ Name:_____________________
Address: Address:
_____________________________ ___________________________
_____________________________ ___________________________

_____________________________ ___________________________
Signature Signature

This was an extract of the 'memorandum of understanding' we send to him but according to him 'logistics would not allowed him to visit the site' he refuse to sign them and send them back to us

segzy14:
Word of mouth?
Never take word of mouth as a contract agreement.

Noted boss...

segzy14:
At least you guys have learnt something, the day u stop learning is the day someone die. It was part of my learning process too.

Let there be proper contract agreement and mobilization fee before embarking on any project.
You guys will surely bounce back.
One love.

Another big lesson learned... though we send him an agreement letter but he insisted that he doesn't do that, that he prefer word of mouth, we never expected things to work out this way. Part of the learning curve my oga. We will keep learning to be better

Onuokwu:
Okay I understand. This problem has been brewing for a while but you guys have acted in a very professional way by walking away from the job after delivering the milestones up to the stage you could without inhibiting interference.

Endeavour to collect the balance of your money for the work done though. An agreement is an agreement and you should not use your professional fees to subsidize the so called "Supervisor".

But I am just curious, if he refused to take both of your calls (Podosci and Abdulwastecx), you could have spoke to him face to face whenever he comes to site.

He has never been to the site since we started the job. I don't even know him, I have never set my eyes on him. I doubt if he knows the direction to the village

mufutau55:
Just like I knew this will happen. When there are too many Supervisors (Ogas) nothing good can come out of it.
The Client will realized later he has lost a Builder like you and Podosci. Use it as lesson learnt and move on to better thing.

Hajji M.

The job was made too complicated by mr Tony (the project manage and owners main padi)
These are the major reasons why we terminated the contract for professional and financial reasons.
1. Very poor remuneration
2. very poor communication
3. The Supervisor not following contractual agreement
4. Gross disrespect to contractor
5. Too many external factors beyond our control.

1. Very poor remuneration: The project manager refused to pay the agreed supervision fee as contained in the bill of quantities. To date he has only paid N200,000 for a 7 weeks job that either me or podosci have to be on site at all time, in a very remote village without electricity or pipe born water. We spend over N120,000 on fuel for the duration of time and countless amount of money on water and other basic amenities. Out of these money, we spend over N100,000 to mobilized workers from Abuja. We run into serious financial losses working in a very remote village. A very big lesson learn.

2. Mr Tony (supervisor) hardly pick my calls, as a matter of fact he refuses to pick my calls two weeks into the project when I threaten to pull out after he cut some certain amount out of the first floor decking workmanship. (a great mistake we didn't pull out at this stage of work). He latter stop picking podosci call. Podosci was around throughout the job. How can you work with people that wouldn't talk to you? The main owner of the job never call me or my partner ( except when we threaten to pull out the first time, when he called podosci to beg him) throughout the job, he was of the opinion that is friend and supervisor was always right and helping him to avoid been cheated.

3. The supervisor was too dis-respective in is conduct with us and never give us any room to dialogue on any issues of construction despite having very limited knowledge about structures or building construction

mufutau55:
Nah the same thing I wan ask o. Where is @Abdulwastecx and @Podosci?

Hajji M.

we have to terminate the contract at the completion of the first floor stage when the middle man make it too difficult for us to continue the job.
I heard that some other people have been mobilized to site to continue the job. Best of luck to them. Detail breakdown of reasons why we have to stop is coming soon

Juokorow:
Sometimes, a partial disclosure stirs panic and, hence, is worse than silence. On my need to know, given potential collaboration, please confirm that Abdulwastecx and Spyder880 are clear of this dark cloud over "engineers and builders". Thanks.

Oga be rest assured, I am not the guy

lastpage:
Chairman,

Have you not noticed that what was 'standard' in those days, is what is trending now, fifty years later?
For example, look at the Pillars and window artworks... our Family House build in the 50's, in Yaba area, has those same window-sill designs and roman-type pillars!

Its just like fashion, ....it goes round in "circles and cycles".

What we do now is that we have found ways to improve on what they did, using modern methods/technology.
For example, their Pillars and designs in those days were pure and solid concrete mix.... nowadays, we have found ways to just do a "wrap-around" of the same design, with a hollow or void centre!

In doing so, we have reduced cost and weight. E be like say we sharp pass them, abi?




Lastpage!

You are absolutely right sir.. . My last visit to my home town 'ikare akoko in ondo state was remarkable, I saw plenty one storey building built since 1930 still standing. These houses were built with clay and decked with well seasoned wood.

Juokorow:
The attached brief video illustrates how hollow blocks are laid neatly and efficiently (mortar-wise), using a common trowel. It boils down to training and appropriate compensation for highly skilled block layers. This reminds me of the reasons why Togolese are deemed exceptionally good on plastering, tile-work, etc. Sometimes, it ain't the quality of the hammer, but the skill of the carpenter that creates shabby results.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGjA66RSm0

If you look closely at theaame mortar use in laying these blocks you will noticed that they are factory made and have more plasticity than our own sharp sand use as mortar here.

They blocks are of lighter weight and smaller height. In advance countries, materials specifications are ready available compare to here

n3xt:
I've posted the summary of the report online sometimes ago but I'll do it again. Just the summary. The real reason why I don't want this public is some people may just end up duplicating this report to deceive unsuspecting clients.

But as a colleague, I can share full report with you via email. But you go give me at least a day o. Too many files to dig out.

I am grateful boss.. thanks

n3xt:
Honestly, I'm shy to discuss this. I'll rather like to defer to pros but if you insist because I know you'll want to know the secret, I'll fire on.

Meanwhile, here are the positives with using steel for roofing. Abeg, don't just call welders o. There are professional Steel Construction companies that are specialist in this type of Constrcution.


STEEL VS TIMBER

Re-usable (just remove the bolts and remove) versus one-time construct.

Cheap versus Expensive (long term)

Straight versus warped, bended

Non-rotten versus carpenter ant/termite

Light weight versus heavy weight (I'll still proof it)

Incombustible versus combustible

I may disagree with some of these points

The most comon roof truss Materials are angle bar, rectangular hollow section, universal beam etc.
The minimum angle bar that can be used for roof truss is 50x50x5mm, this cost about N2,5000 per 5.5m that is around N450/m of angle bar compare to hard wood like apuntu or mahogany that cost about N450 for a 3 to 3.3m with a section of 100mm 50mm, that is N136 per meter

Some roof wood don't rust when treated, wood like apuntu, mahogany never rust or affected by termites.

Wood can be designed to have connectors like steel, if this is done the wood can be re used.

Wooden truss is considerably lighter than steel because wood have lower density when we'll seasoned than steel.

Wood truss can be more flexible for complex roof pattern.

Wood truss is easier and faster to construct compare to roof truss, hence it cost more initially to construct steel trust.

Some certain roofing sheet type can't easily by fixed on steel roof, roofing sheet like step tiles.

The z purlin commonly use in steel roof is much more expensive than the 75x 50mm commonly use in wooden roof

n3xt:
Contact Details of my Geotechnic/Soil Investigation Specialist


Kirks Martins Nig. Ltd. | They carried out the Ogombo Geotechnic Soil Survey we did in 2011 and some of other structural design jobs for NextHome.

A visit to their Facebook page won't be a bad idea. https://m.facebook.com/Kirksmartins.ng/

Contact them for Soil Tests (CPT, SPT) Pile Foundations etc

Nice job... Can we some of their soil report sheet? I am looking for a very good and affordable Geotechnical investigation film that can do soil test and perform good laboratory test.. . I like that idea of the pile cap in the picture below

EgunMogaji:
Thanks for this detailed drawing.

Is the 1m a required minimum? Even for a bungalow?

Thanks.

No sir, the 1m is not the standard but because the foundation column already extended out of the DPC by one meter. The common standard for a house of 3m head room is not less than 650mm, anything from 650mm upward.

diordaves:
My top three wasteful build/design concept in rental properties in Nigeria:

3. Wall lamps

2. "Parapet"

1. Mortar use during block setting

Parapet and mortar use have been debated a lot here so can I ask why in Nigeria do we install all round wall lamps? It's not uncommon to see in Nigeria an average living room with 8 lamp points: three wall lamp points in the parlour and one lamp point at the middle of the ceiling, three lamp points in the dinning area and one lamp point in the middle. In the rooms; five lamp points each. Just one lamp point at the middle is enough. One can use reading lamp or bed lamp if so desired. All round wall lamps don't add any rental income whatsoever.

This practice is very wasteful as one can save easily about 70% in pipping and wiring cost if just one lamp/bulb point is adopted in the middle of the room as is the standard practice here in the UK. See pic below, no wall lamps but still well presented living area.

What's your top three wasteful practice anyone?

My tip three wasteful practice in carracas construction are
1. Foundation block work and extensive filling when other simpler type of foundation could be employed expecially in a frame building using an isolated pad footings.

2. Too much columns, in cases where a simple structural design could have leads to smaller number of pillars. Thick slab and beam construction in cases where more cost effective slab techniques could be used.

3. Very high pitched roof that can take twice the money and effort required to construct a simpler one.

I will also add in-situ concrete fascia.

For finishings.
1. Too much lighting points.
2. Excessive pop work
3. External wall tiles

erico2k2:
So frm this pic beam 1 should lap with beam 2 at position B
O dear

At position B after the link has been removed. Something like this

erico2k2:
Yes the vertical beam,it is projected out of DPC almost 1m, so my question is in continuation, how far does the extension lap with the already projects o ne as seen photo? hope Im clear on this

The whole 1m should enter the continuation pillars... It should go in completely

erico2k2:
In other news, I have a pressing issue that I would want the pros in the house to help me with
I got the excess ribar of the vertical Beams, now its time for extension,Im trying to understand where the new ribar should meet and lap with the old one on ground, all the way to the German floor ? or can it lap in the middle or 20mm on top to extend vertically?
@ EgunMogaji see,i don dey loyal anyhow

segcymoor
abdulwastecx
skimanski
help a brother

You mean column ( vertical beam), the foundation column should project out of the dpc not less than 650mm. The upper column bar should be extended to the surface of the damp proof course.

lastpage:
Thanks Abdulwastecx.

I just like the way you really apply theoretical principles, in the physical constructs that you do on the field.
This is what distinguishes a 'trained professional' (in the real sense of the word)... from a DIY/Hobbyist who took to Construction.

More grease to your elbow. When l grow up, maybe l would be able to engage you in the not too distant future.



Lastpage!

Oga no make me laugh, you wey be our father here

lastpage:
Oga Abdulwasteexc,

I noticed you used burnt bricks in the slab for which calculation you showed in that pix.
I guess this is also a good way to reduced slab weight!

BTW, are those "imposed loads" VALUE, "standard values" (for Hotels, Residential, e.t.c.......... or do they depend on the size of the building, which may vary form building-to-building?

You are really thorough.



Lastpage!

The imposed load/life load is base on the occupancy of the building. These values are standard and you can get them from BS codes (BS6399)

DerrickM:
Quite ironic,yet you've time to respond,dude*lmao*lwkmd*lol*Good one,quite contradictory. Mr. Engineer,my response to your obnoxious question on beam analysis...Don't have nothing to prove to you. Quite frankly how do I know you've even passed in it in school when you couldn't get its core components correctly...#ShowOff

you don't much mate, i can see how ignorant you are about structures. Two courses in reinforced concrete design doesn't make you a structural engineer. for your information i am not an engineer yet ( i haven't meet up with the minimum years of working experience to be one) but i can lectured you badly on reinforced concrete.

I repeat, structural engineering is pure mathematics, if you don't know the maths don't rubbish those that have master the art

gbadexy:
I have no doubt you look at it from a professional structural engineer's point of view.
I'm just enjoying the view from a layman's perspective

Naso o my oga make we enjoy our money abeg

babalose:
@abdulwastecx.....Some people like their house to be noticeable from very far away. The roof is part of a house obviously.

very good reason... i am cool with it sha if they can afford it

gbadexy:
Beautiful house. It looklooks like something off a foreign movie scene with the stone works.
Quite far from I expected going by the jokes and comments here.
Good luck to your build sir.

that roof looks way too high for a bungalow