₦airaland Forum

mufutau55:
Very nice. How is it compared to Tiles? Cost comparison too.. (I mean that is, if this is in Nigeria)

Hajji M.

In Nigeria, use about N4.5k psqm including installation. Floortex is one seller. 1.8sqm goes for about N7k. Then you add the skirting, door profile and installation

http://www.floortexltd.com/aboutus.htm

abdulwastecx:
'I laugh when I hear people say "Nigerian builder a fond of overloading a building" I don't think you really understand the generic of reinforced concrete structures. They don't over load building but build according to lay down rules/codes.

You just don't suddenly start thinking out of box after the building foundation and ground floor has been done. Prior to construction you carried out all your analysis and decide on what building materials to use, either wood, steel or reinforced concrete.

Wood deck is not popular outside South west (in the sixties) because of lack of standardization and adequate properties of the wood.

How do you design wood deck when you don't have wood structural properties like stresses, shear, deflection etc.

Steel deck is not popular because of cost

Reinforced concrete deck and suspended floor slab is the most popular among the three due of durability and lower cost

It is due to IGNORANCE and ARROGANCE. Most people look at buildings and they only see the 'beauty' and have zero understanding of what structural integrity is. Made worse by 'engineers' that will produce structural drawings without doing any calculations. That is where the problem is in Nigeria. In an environment where a welder is deemed to be an Engineer it is understandable.

If you are going to improvise, at least understand the engineering solutions behind your decision. Whether you want to use I beam, Wood or any material do you know the 'strength' of the material. Not just that the wood is hard!

In Engineering you are able to do anything with appropriate material selection and design. The determining factor will be safety and cost!

I always tell people, you cannot have it CHEAP, SAFE and FAST at the same time. Some compromises will be made.

Nigeria is a funny country. It is a place where the pharmacy attendant believes that he knows more than the doctor. Instead of seeking professional (not quacks) advice, people get deceived with 'shiny shiny' things and get deceived!

There are regulations and codes that governs what you do in most profession, the building/construction industry not exempted. We however have many quacks who do not know the codes nor why the codes were placed there! There are also people 'certified' as competent to do certain things! When it comes to STRUCTURES use certified and competent structural engineers! It is a shame the amount of quacks masquerading as professionals and misleading the gullible just because of their sales gimmicks.

In the sector that I am in, there are certifications for welders, for painters even for cooks! You don't have the certification, you are not fit to operate there!

mufutau55:
Made in China Fire Extinguisher? LOL!

Hajji M.

Not necessarily made in China. Fire Extinguishers are supposed to be serviced and tested at periodic intervals so that they will not fail on demand. A simple concept that many do not understand.

KolaShangOne:
From the look of things.. There aren't any documents signed and the job was agreed on based on gentleman's agreement. You won't be seeing any lawsuits sir..

Reality is that MOST documents/agreement in Nigeria are not worth the paper that they are written on!

How many agreements do you sign with your sand supplier?

Hope you also know that you don't need a WRITTEN agreements to demonstrate existence of an agreement?

Even when agreements exist, you try to avoid arbitration/litigation. It gives you bad press. A business can DIE just because of bad publicity. Changing of names (usernames etc) will not always help.

Even among thieves, there is HONOUR

What is the size of the land that it is on?

Which part of Idi Ishin?

I am talking about technical professional. Get a civil/Structural engineer. While experience is important, you need to be sure that it is good and relevant experience. You need to be sure that the person is able to offer something that will help your company not just doing routines.

It is a friendly counsel that you dont have to take.

It is obvious that things are not working well! Not sure there is any other 'builder' with as much negative publicity. Admitting that there is a 'problem' is the first step towards improvement!

brabus:
Oga Beulah09,

I've vowed not to discuss my private business here on Nairaland. But for the records, I never ran a team-of-me.

Inside my 22sqm office space, I have the following people worked for me.

1. Admin Manager - Over 15 years experience as a Branch Manager in First Bank and Ecobank Plc

2. Operations Manager - HND Estate Management

3. Site Supervisor I - MSc

4. Site Supervisor II - OND Business Admin with over 7 years of experience working on mega construction projects nationwide.

5. Architect - Bsc Architecture

6. Field Officer (Contract) - with years of experience on multiple residential estates in Lekki Lagos.

7. Other Contract Officers - Store Keeper, Van Driver, Truck Driver


_______

The business is still very young and we can not afford an in-house Structural/Civil/Mechanical Engineers yet so what we do is to engage them on contracts and also adviced our clients to engage a Consultant. We've had a number of our clients who have complied with this instruction.



A builder doesn't necessarily have to double as a skipper and a striker at the same time before he can be declared competent.

________
I'll find time to get the book you recommended.

brabus:
Oga Beulah09,

We are not fighting here. You've made your point that "Even the most qualified builder can fail" We are all prone to errors.

Barry is qualified but maybe oversight (which is impossible) caused him the great error. That doesn't mean he's not a great builder.

Whether a Nigerian or Americana, Qualified/Ceritified or a rookie, Urban man or a villager, we are all prone to error.

Fighting on a faceless forum? No way.

There is a difference between errors, incompetence and gross negligence.

Failure to acquire the right competencies will DESTROY all the leverage you have with your other skills! It does not take time for someone to acquire a 'reputation' if it is not true!

This is what I always tell people I mentor. Mistakes can be tolerated at the early state of your career. After sometimes, you will pay dearly for it. At which point it is also difficult to acquire the required skills and competencies.

You have gone as far as your 'packaging' skills can help you. Set up your company as a Project Management company. In which case your role is that of a managing the project. Get competent professionals to work with you especially a structural engineer! Someone that will understand the implications of your actions (or in actions) especially when making design changes. It is funny how people make changes during construction without following the management of change procedure.

If you can, read the book WHAT WENT WRONG by TREVOR KLETZ. It is not about building but will expose you to management of projects/operations and things to look out for. It is more about process safety but the lessons can be applied across board.

brabus:
Oga Beulah, I guess Barry must be a "Computer Scientist turned builder" for the structure to have failed and collapse on him. His 30 years hands-on experience on construction couldn't save him.

I can only imagine if Barry is a Nigerian Builder!

I liked your post because You said the truth.

I thought you will learn BUT you chose not too

Barry was not a computer scientist and he paid dearly for it. In any civilised environment, your 'license' will be withdrawn and you will be sanctioned! Do you know the meaning of GROSS NEGLIGENCE and the consequences?

Are you QUALIFIED to supervise a building job? In your case you are not making innocent makes. You are doing jobs above your competency. Instead of seeking to acquire the requisite training or focusing on your area of strength, you are getting into terrain which is way beyond your knowledge areas without getting the required professionals to help you.

Instead of thinking about my suggestion of focusing on project management and getting the right professionals to work with you, you went on your usual defensive mode and trying to deflect issues.

Nigerians are funny people. You employ a computer scientist as your 'builder' and you are complaining of 'poor' work! Why did you not employ professionals?

Brabus, 'packaging' can only get you thus far! Get appropriate training in a field that you have passion for! Or stay as a 'project manager'. In which case you employ 'competent' people to work for you. The depth of your knowledge is evident but people get swayed by your presentation skills. You are already acquiring a reputation which is totally avoidable.

Maverick, changing the mode of Contract mid way is not advisable. You cannot go for a seemingly lumpsum contract to one that becomes reimbursible to one that now becomes supervision.

My suggestion is that for the carcass, go for a lumpsum Contract. You agree on design and the cost. You have milestones payment. As the client you are not bothered on how the builder organises his workforce. Your focus is on the product delivery in terms of standards and quality. Of course you are bothered about Safety. Develop your own estimate when arriving on the lumpsum to ensure that you get a good deal

What title do you have on the land?

mufutau55:
Why not think of Borehole instead of water supply?

Hajji M.

A well will do!!!

spyder880:
Gerrard classic sold for around N2,950 the last time I bought it. However calculating your roofing estimates without a physical measurement might be fraught with errors. It is best you get a roofer to come give you a quote. Thanks.

Any idea the price of the Shingles?

abouzaid:
please, i have a simple question that needs a simple answer, assuming you built a two bedroom rental property for 2.5 million, how many years would you consider reasonable to earn back your money through house rents from it? thanks

15 to 20 years. Anything better than that is EXCELLENT

ayodelem:
i love my school anytime.my set was 1979-1984,i remembered father Sweeney,Rev Daramola and have forgottten the name of our vp when i was about leaving(do the right thing at the right time in the right place)?

Also remembered friends like Adeola Teriba,Niyi Ogunbode,oscar,balogun and the rest

:omennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, fond memeories

That should be Mr Famoyin of blessed Memory.

Rev'd Father Sweeney died in 2003.

Rev'd GB Daramola still in Ibadan.

Met Mr Oroge at the airport once. I think he is now in Abuja

EgunMogaji:
On this project my responsibility is materials. My builder is responsible for labour and equipment.

I'm not concerned about not using mixers and stuff, what I was concerned about was child labour. The two "kids" that worked on my site will not return but they'll go home with pocket full of cash for their families.

Hmmmmm

It is not only in Nigeria that you have building collapse!

KILN -- Officials have identified the construction worker who was killed in an accident Tuesday morning at the old Jourdan River Steamer restaurant property on Mississippi 603.

Coroner Jim Faulk said Gary Berthelot, 54, was killed when a section of flooring collapsed about 7:30 a.m.

"Berthelot was standing underneath as the other workers were pouring the concrete," he said.

Hancock County Chief Deputy Don Bass said workers tried to rescue Berthelot but his injuries from the initial collapse were too severe.

"They tried to dig him out of the rubble as fast as they could," Bass said. "By the time they got him out, he was already deceased."

Officials said workers were pouring concrete on a raised deck that would overlook 5,300 square feet of a dining area.

Berthelot was the president of Berthelot Design/Construction Inc., which has been overseeing the rebuilding of the restaurant.

The restaurant had been closed since 2012, when it received severe structural damage during Hurricane Isaac. The original building had subsequently been razed to make way for construction of a new restaurant, raised on piers to avoid the Jourdan River's frequent flooding.

SunHerald.com will update this story as more information becomes available.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/08/6403502_contractor-killed-in-construction.html?rh=1&sp-tk=13A422F34B05D406DCAB1388A8A24DD837332BB0AADC62981D8125D833871CFB33C50426C6A0C42B7BAF079E1A34FA143F4285C167AA2A6C322E4C8D734EB3D2CD6B92A2E796091DE289F8E1034EAE914717B54BA423E733C219DC4A4241077A0F012A9006001493B7828896665C2867D80C4E1B7A7B81B62BC2F45CD62939BFEDCF2674#storylink=cpy

KolaShangOne:
I had to read this thread word to word..

I think the parapet can be reconstructed if HSL hasn't done the nogging. It's a slow painstaking process tho.

Its not easy to pick Builders or Engineers off the internet. But I advise people to do business with companies not an individual. That way, U can formally sue for breach of contract.

Also, certain things need to be done but they cost money so we Nigerians find a way around it. Structural detailing of this house would av cost 100k or less but it wasn't done. If it was, those places absent columns would av been noticed. Also, we never do material testing in Nigeria especially for storey buildings..

If COREN were to do its job and they take concrete samples from buildings, most of these building would have been marked for demolition.

Lastly, people shld stop calling themselves what they're not. I've seen an accountant with Archicad knowledge calling himself an Architect. And we had problems with the project which I titled "3 units of 2 brledroom flats". For the records, until I get my masters IB Building construction, I'm just a project Engineer but lots of COREN certified Engrs work with me.

How do you construct a storey building without a structural drawing? If that is the case, the building should be pulled down!

oyewole123:
NLers

BEWARE OF THIS RUN-AWAY FRAUDSTER!!!!!
Mr Iguma Johnny, report to the police station to clear your name of fraud

This is becoming defamation of character. Someone is considered innocent until pronounced guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction (not even police).

Police can declare him wanted. Police can charge him to court. You are not in a position to call him a FRAUDSTER until the court pronounced him so. You need to RESPECT his RIGHT to FAIR hearing.

gabbytabby:
The professional bodies would usually have a list of their members.

I think all seun can do is decide if someone can continue to be a member of nairaland.

Despite what he says Brabus is not a builder all he does is coordinate the process ie project manage and for that you can use transferable skills from another sector and get better on the job.

In 9ja even some with the paper qualifications do not have sufficient experience or competency.

As a project manager you are duty bound to ensure that you have qualified professionals in your team.

I ask again, who confirms that the structural drawings are complied with? Who is interpreting the drawings for the iron bender? Who is interpreting the drawings for the electrician?

There is a difference between paper qualification and professional certification. There is a reason why COREN stamp need to be placed on a structural drawing.

brabus:
In a typical construction project, there are lot of people involved from the architect, the surveyor, the builder etc.

The builder does not handle all the work. Other professionals are involved. There are clients I've worked with here on nairaland who has to employ the service of consultants (electrical, mechanical and structural) who has to inspect and certify every stage of construction before the builder progresses to another stage.

There's Lagos state building control agency who issue certificate of fitness. There's Lagos state material testing laboratory who check the quality of all materials and concrete mixes.

It's not enough to assume we've employed a builder who's both the player and the umpire.

Edit:

If you are awarded a contract, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that everything is delivered as per SPECIFICATION. The client is not obliged to check every step that you take. If you are just a 'project manager' you should have other competent professionals working with you to ensure that the project is delivered as per specification. Problem will always arise when you dont have the requisite professionals. Do you have a structural engineer who confirm and ensure that your iron bender has done the right things for example?

Do you have Hansgrohe and Grohe taps, mixers and showers? If yes kindly let me have the prices. Send to beulahinvestment at yahoo dot com

Are you into crop or animal?

How far with this estate?

How many of this can fit into a corner piece plot of 45m x 44m

skimanski:
4 Bedroom Fully detached Twin duplex.
Size of Plot 657 Sq.m
Size of Each Building: 121 sq.m

GROUND FLOOR
Entrance Foyer
Guest w/c
Main Living Room
Dinning
Guest Bedroom
Kitchen
Store
1 Bedroom B.Q

FIRST FLOOR
Private Lounge
Master's Bedroom (With Walk in Closet)
Boy's Room
Girl's Room

Soleland:
A hectare goes for #760,000. The papers on it can't be given to you now until after making all the payment on it. However, receipts are available to show as an evidence of payment.

Where exactly in Ido local government? Akufo, Laleye or where?

Lovely thread. Count me in when you are ready to take off.

Which part of the estate? How much?

Hi, where exactly is Aleshinloye GRA?

You can contact Architect Bukky at Zeebm at yahoo dot com.

Do you deliver to Ibadan?

What is the size of the land that the Detached bungalow in Jericho is on? How many bedroom is the bungalow?

Is there a battery back up?