Celepope: The major issue here is that I’m not even doing a PoP ceiling but a Gypsum ceiling so I don’t understand why the many bags of PoP cement and non mention of materials that’s used for Gypsum ceiling. Reason I’m looking for someone with experience here that can help me name some of the materials that should be in the quote (519 sqm) so that I can use it to confront them.
This quote loots like it is combining pop ceiling and gypsum board. YES, Eva soap and vegetable are used in PoP ceiling to make the releasing agent.
The fact that your supervisor does not want to give you direct contact is suspect. Also do not see a line item for framing and tracks for the gypsum boards. Gypsum boards are preferably screwed in not nailed.
Do some online research and enter market to know what you are getting and hire a professional[img][/img][img][/img]
FEGEITOK: Architect Fee Dispute: 35% on Appliances & Demands for Profit Sharing?
Old regular here, showing face once more. I need a sanity check on a situation with an architect I hired to help prepare a bid for a remodeling contract.
The Background:
I engaged this architect to produce a pitch for my client. I’ve already paid for two specific bills:
Visualization: A 3D model (billed per sqm) plus an "express delivery" surcharge.
Technical Documentation: I requested a full technical suite (As-Built, RCP, Elevations, Demolition Plans, Schedules, etc.) to make the proposal solid. I received a separate bill for this documentation, which I paid.
The Issue:
Now that the final BoQ is ready, I have two major concerns regarding the fees and the payment structure:
1. The 35% "Professional Fee" on Store-Bought Items:
He has applied a flat 35% Professional Fee to the entire project cost. This includes store-bought items like appliances, ready-made furniture, and electronics.
My Question:
Is this standard practice? I assumed the 35% fee was for managing construction/artisans. Should I really be paying a 35% "design fee" on a microwave or a TV that I can pick up from a shop myself?
2. The "Profit Sharing" Demand:
Since this is a bid for a contract, I proposed paying a portion of his fee now and the balance once the contract is awarded. He agreed but is now demanding a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). I have zero objection to the MoU.
However, instead of just securing his outstanding balance, he wants to know "the percentage of the total contract sum that will come to him."
My Question:
He seems to be asking for a cut of the profit or the gross contract sum rather than just his fixed fee and an interest fee for the delay between his delivery of the document and the award of the contract.
Is it normal for an architect to pivot from a service provider to a "partner", expecting a percentage of the deal just because I am deferring part of the payment?
I would appreciate advice from the pros in the house.
This is not normal AT ALL. If he wants a separate agreement to go into business with you he should say so!!!.
Asking for 35 percent on finished goods is just incredible.
It is not done anywhere. even concierge installers/designers do not collect such.
I would advise that you get the final construction documents which you said you have paid for before moving forward with any discussion.
So if the clients want to buy 5 million naira sitting room furniture and 5 million naira TV, he will collect 35% too??
Make sure you collect the required documents that you have paid for before doing any further discussion. and as Glorious said get another architect/engineer as an alternative Because such a person will likely withhold the final technical or construction documents if you do not comply with the ridiculous demand.
Ayohbk: Hello everyone, can someone please recommend a neater, respectable and cheaper alternative to P.O.P ceiling (the one that's constructed from scratch). I'm personally not a fan because of the duration of construction, the expense, and also the wastefulness of materials. I'm also not a fan of the designs and the clownish lights that make bedrooms look like clubhouse or beer parlor. I'm also not a fan of polystyrene for reasons like heat, fire, and lightness.
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend other alternatives especially for bedrooms and kitchen. For the living rooms, POP can be constructed for them.
Thanks
You can use fiber cement board or PVC (Plastic board -although it looks cheap)
Ayohbk: Hello, Good day everyone. I just got a message from my engineer that LAWMA placed a contravention notice on the site and that they are requesting for payment of 300,000 naira within 7 days. This doesn't really makes sense to me and sounds ridiculous. Please is this the normal practice and is this how it's done. Can someone please advise or give opinion on this.
My understanding of the situation from what I Read online is that we should find a PSP service for disposal and have an agreed feequent time for the disposal.
But my engineer is not agreeing with my understanding. I told him LAWMA is not a revenue collection agency.
Please someone help shed light on this. Thanks. Please find attached the pasted notice even though it's not really visible.
This is an ILLEGAL notice.
I can tell you with 100% certainty.
You are being taken advantage of by your engineers and supervisors.
Someone in your employ is letting people know that the owner is abroad and so they are just billing you needlessly. Waste collection is done by PSPs licensed by LAWMA, and they bill each house based on occupancy
LAWMA does not collect construction waste Period!!! I was even begging my PSP operator to take 4 bags of plaster screed scraping last month. they refused
As long as your construction materials are not outside your premises. they have no business with you and you have your building permit. Worst case scenario is that the local government can come and ask for stacking permit, if you unload sand, gravel or bricks outside your house, but LAWMA has nothing to do with nothing
edmasta01: Please does anyone know what is the best flooring to use in bathroom/toilet to avoid slipping when the floor is wet?
I observe that most houses in Nigeria use the regular smooth tiles and i am worried that this type of tile is an accident waiting to happen when the floor is wet especially if you have an aged that will be living in the property.
Any advise on this please?
If you are in Lagos, go to Orile (or your local tile market) and look and ask for Anti-Slip or 'Rough" tiles. The more uneven the surface the better for slip prevention.
Ayohbk: Hi, Thanks for the reply. I am not in Nigeria. I'm in Germany .I have tax declaration of the country I live. Can I use that? Yes, all the documents are in my Name.
Can you please suggest how much I should negotiate for? Thanks
Please NEVER indicate to Lagos State Govt.. That you are in the diaspora. You are just looking for trouble. They will look at you as if you are an ATM machine.
Ayohbk: Thanks for your feedback. The engineer gave a list of all the certifications and payment we have to do before we start the renovation. We are the ones going to Labca for approval, which is the last item on the engineers list. Also the certifications stated in your document we've done that too based on the recommendation of the engineer. But it's the engineer that did all the runnings, we just gave him the money. He then forwarded the certificates and documents. But I'm not sure how genuine the testings are, maybe they just collect money and give certificate. The engineer is a certified engineer, according to him and the title in the documents.
Without casting aspersions on the integrity of the engineer.
Either you get a second opinion or you consult an experienced engineer who has NO financial stake in the renovation. Someone who would also supervise if you decide to go forward since you have little building experience.
Building settling is not a minor thing and renovation/breaking of walls and addition of wall will add stress to the structure.
Please I'm in a mentally stressful situation Right now and I hope people on this thread can help resolve it.
Late last Year, My mom help me get a property in Lagos, it's an old one storey building and we planned to renovate it. We did the survey, also integrity test, structural test and stuff like that, only money to pay Labca is remaining as those ones are asking for huge money. After all the testing they said the building can be renovated and pillars are needed for support. Please note that I was not in Nigeria during all these process.
So I visited Nigeria last month and visited the place, I noticed that the building opposite it and the one beside it were marked for demolition by government. I talked to the engineer about it , he insisted that the building we bought is ok and it's not effected, that we can renovate and make it structurally strong. He stated that we wouldn't have gotten approval if that's not true. Please note that I'm not very experienced in construction work.
Before leaving Nigeria, I took my Dad to the building and at first sight he got angry with the purchase insisting that it's a sinking site. We noticed that the boys quarters of the building is sinking already(though we already planned to demolish it anyway). We also noticed that there are some cracks on the wall of the building. We discussed this with the engineer, and he insisted that everything Will be fixed and there will be no issue.
I left Nigeria after the stated assurance. The plan was to actually start with the renovation last month, but the payment of omo onile money and also negotiations with Labca is what's delaying start of work. Since I left Nigeria, my dad has been calling me repeatedly that we should not start work that the site is a sinking area. He said the engineer only wants to continue with the work because of money he'll get paid. And my Dad also said the integrity test and structural tests don't mean anything.
He insists I sell the building even if at a loss. Because he believes the building has to be demolished completely and new stronger foundation done, and this will cost a lot of money. My mum and the engineer think otherwise. This is causing issues in the family already. I already made money available for the renovation. Please note it's a one storey building and we intend to keep it that way, just to modernize it and turn it into flats.
At this point I am stressed out and confused and don't know who to believe and what to Do. How can I be sure there'll be no issue in the future if we continue with construction?
Did you go to LASBCA for renovation permit or they came to you? what are the LASBCA officials looking for? if it is just renovation "fees", they are looking to fleece you. if they are looking for structural certification and documents it is better.
From your description of the neigboring houses, it seems the area has a building settling problem, and the officials are planning to use your project to "eat". they are notorious for targeting such areas for extortion . Also, you need to get a complete qualified engineers report on the status of the building i.e on that covers the concrete and reinforcement condition, settling and what the renovations would do to the building). Not a fly-by-night assessment.(regardless of the Ultrapulse velocity testing done)
Your dad may have a point that this is a trouble in the making. you have not started work , yet you already have issues with LASBCA and structural/settlement problems, as the contractor is looking for his profit. I agree with diordaves. yes. there is a solution to all engineering problems. the question is at what cost.
I also noticed that the renovation would involve the demolishing of internal wall that would add stress to an already weakened structure. Also The engineer’s assurance that everything would be fixed is vague. adding columns to a sinking building is not a solution. the solution is underpinning and that is very expensive
Please find attached the minimum requirements if you do not want further disturbance from Lagos state planning officials.
From my experience in dealing with these kind of projects. the Lagos state officials would wait for you to start. it is when you have started and sunk money into the project, at the point of no turning back that they start giving you problems. I can assure you that even when you settle or satisfy LASBCA, they will still go ahead and report your project to LASPPA and LSMTL officials who will come to your site, seal it and start asking for all kinds of things.
If your work is not VERY paper tight, documented and indemnified and certified by a COREN registered engineer who knows how to deal with them, you are at their mercy. The fact that you are not in town is another thing. Just my two cents.
dangoteinlaw: This is one problem am having with the solar discussion, i am yet to get any reviews and feedback from those actually using it, rather what we read is “my friend” “my neighbor” “the one i installed last month for a client”. I have a neighbor across my fence with over 12 panels and the security lights are so dimmed that a candle is even brighter. I am yet to see a company that runs on solar, i was driving by a filling station the other day with over 12panels on their roof yet the generator sound was as loud so what were the panels installed for?
Maybe in the nearest future solar will become better but now its a waste of funds.
If am to spend 7m on something i expect my Ac, water pump, Tv, washing machine and mico wave to be working because that is what i use my generator for. Don’t tell me to install a solar and you now go around to give me a list of what i should not use while on solar. Just a small mini rechargeable fan you asking me to turn of my light bulbs after spending 7m abeg make it make sense.
This thread has been on the topic of polystyrene being flammable or not for so long.
Most polystyrene manufactured today has a flame retardant, SO IT DOES NOT CATCH ON FIRE . However, it melts on exposure to fire or direct electric current. Screeding, painting helps reduce the direct exposure (demonstration video below)
We need to get the facts correct on what the definition of flammable and polystyrene means. There the 2 major types of polystyrene used in construction Extruded polystyrene (EPS) and Expanded polystyrene (XPS) .
Every material has advantages based on cost, weight, ease of installation, location of use etc. Whether POP board, Gypsum panel board, Fiber cement board or polystyrene board.
Properties › Re: General Topic Thread-To Discuss Anything And Everything in Building Construction by acmebuilding: 8:36pm On Mar 20
