₦airaland Forum

brabus:
Why can't we compare them? I'm still talking about chained-lintels now. How is it different in both construction?

Most residential builds in my part of the country now have raft foundations.

To start with, a lintel is a horizontal member which is placed across an opening to support the portion of the structure above it. And it can be wood, steel, stone, brick or reinforced concrete.

So, whether high rise or medium scale development or a backyard project, any structural member placed over the doors and the windows is called lintel. Why is it always different in residential build? Why must it always be reinforced concrete?

The Usual Excuses! Blocks are not always strong. It bind the house together. It prevents crack. It prevents snakes from having access into the house through the block hollow space. (Don't mind me, I made that up)

What about the damage it does to our pocket? The imposed load on structure. How it makes redevelopment nearly impossible without tear down.

ahah seriously have you come to close contact wit what the call block or brick abroad? if you did you will know that this thing we call block in 9ja a typical exaple is making block with sandust or what they call it,the blocks here are always 4inch

LastProphet:
Ibos say it was a propaganda so that means thee relatives are not humanbeings, they cant be real, or are they hired by jonathan to make 'Nigeria ungovernable for PMB?'

you have to say teh name jonathan even if he is not ibo,head big no brain.

EgunMogaji:
We cannot compare high rise design to a typical 2 or 3 stories building.

My point, and with those tall buildings, they have up to 30 feet deep piles

brabus:
Here's a typical example:

Have you ever seen a chained-lintel in any high rise building? Have you ever seen it specified in most structural drawings? We tend to build as the "spirit leads." Why must partitions be block wall? Aren't there alternative building materials?

If a high-rise building can ignore this, why should it be compulsory for small residential building?

Nop there aint non however those slabs are 9 inch thick, with min of 18mm rebars inside, the glass panels are doubled in some places and are 1 inch thick.These structures are very rigid and knitted together.have a look at those slabs, that's what they use here now for high rise building with metal carcass structure.

brabus:
Hmm! I cannot agree any less. My post in 2013 below https://www.nairaland.com/1338637/chateau-ile-oluji-construction-journal#16519897

But some clients be like I need raft, German/England floor, 40ft roofing kingpost, chained-lintels, pillars at every angles etc

We tend to overbuild and overspend on projects.

On what you are saying I will agree to some extent, I think there should be a weight formula to determine where and how support ie pillars and column should be placed.I think there should be a way of builders to calculate stress and where to relieve these stress in terms of pillars.it should not be a guess work

Afrilogistics:
From my travels around Europe, I have noticed that foundations and columns of buildings are heavily fortified. After that, the upper floor decking and walls are usually built with as light a material as you can have. Mostly hardwood, cardboard, glass and very light concrete walls separated by long and wide glass windows. So why is it that in Nigeria upper floor decking is expected to be at least 6 inches thick with all that iron rods, cement and concrete?
My question to builders and experts here is this: Is it not possible as well safe to build a decking of 3 or 4 inch in Nigeria as well as use light materials for the upper floor?. I really think that Nigerian builders overload the foundation and columns in a house by placing very heavy construction materials on top. I remember very well that the upper floor deck of my secondary school AD block was made of nothing but wood. It was built by the British. Building stands till today.
In light of what I mentioned above, I would like to come in contact with a builder who can construct my on going project in Lagos on those terms. The building has been built to Lintel level with heavy foundation and extra columns. I do not want to overload it. I personally do not think it's safe to do that. I need suggestions and opinions here.

I think structurally U might have missed some point,apart from steel based structures, teh concrete structures are actually heavier .take for example a high rise complex with concrete structures and base.These have whole side walls built with concrete.I h ave one near me and everything is concrete I will take foto 2morrow

EgunMogaji:
For sure. And a member on here, ChinoSXL, ships out of Texas really cheap. Even has door to door hookups.

Anyone can just place an order on eBay, or anywhere and use Chinos USA address for delivery and he'll take care of the rest.

Im trying to get hold of chinosSXL to no avail

abdulwastecx:
To be frank, concrete mixers, compactors, levelling instrument, pulley system, filling machine, sprayer, excavators and other specialized equipment should be basic in running of a small building construction film.

We hardly built to specification due to lack of simple tools that can easily be sourced.

I will be looking at acquiring some of these tools in the near future

Good one now you have new friends from UK and America that should not be a problem we are more than happy to help where you think we can

semitunde:
I don't know why I join cool covos like this late.

Thanks Mr HajjM for this...just what I'm.looking for.

I'm all for positively pushing for change as regards construction methods. But I have to down the enthusiasm here just a little bit.

Olashang said equipments are expensive. He's right. But that's not the real reason why you're not seeing many contractors using all the up to date tools and mechanisms.

Acquiring some of these tools/ machineries is not the problem. Many Nigerians have such money to even spend on a fanciful sports car, so what militates against the Nigerian contractor in getting them machines? Basically three or four issues.

I'll be using the example or the concrete mixer with pump you put the picture there. Contractors are also business people so here goes:

1. Fitting the machine into the construction process

2. Maintaining the machine.

3. What's the cost benefit?

4. Client requirements.

1. If you have a process that works with a scope schedule and quality requirements, why change the process? In other words, unless a process requires and demands the change, it won't be necessary especially for a business man. Any contractor that acquires a particular machine must have use for it.

To use a concrete mixer and pumps on some projects for instance, you'd have to do trial mixes per cement type, per grade of concrete and per height/floor of building. You'd have to do test pumps of those trial mixes while construction is going on. This is to not just to see how the pumps cope but to see how the concrete cope with the variables. If there are issues with the pumping, provision has to have been made for alternatives, and you must know how to flush you concrete pipe within 15mins or you lose it.

2. I won't get a concrete mixer and concrete pump when I'll have to do the following:
A. Get a quality control lab for test mixes.
B. Get a maintenance department
C. Need to source for spare parts.
D. Train employees on the new process and on using the machines.
E. Stand the risk.of losing the trained staff to poaching .

The overhead cost for these won't be borne by the client here. And if Mr egunmogaji decides to pay, it doesn't mean the next client will, and so the equipment may be left unused while the company is drained of running cost maintaining the staff for that.

3 and 4 quite explains themselves.

In short a client that requires serious tool/ machine upgrade will have to face an overhead cost ascribed to government projects. How many clients will want to pay for that?

I'm struggling to understand you a bit.But I shall try my best.there are basic tools of the trade and there are pro tool.things like cement mixers are basics cos they have three parts engine .drum and gear.the engine is same as ur generator.the gears has your usual cogs. So its meant to be same maintanance cost as the humble generator in this case same as I pass my neighbour. If I was a Co tractor I will buy one of these N150k will land one frm the UK. To rent it in a day is N10. U can mix concrete and cement for rendering aka plastering.mix mortem for laying of brick.I will like to emphasise here that using this 15 times in diff days pays of the over head cost..
Now let's go to soil compactor. Cost brand new £300.might cost £159 to ship.this is at brand new.so landng price say N180k. Rental in a day approx N8. 20 times of usage pays it off.Go to the concrete poker it's even cheaper £110.All these machine has btw 3.5 hp and 5.5 hp ho da Engines so they use same parts as yoy petrol generator.So just imagine if U can remove all these cost frm the bills of your clients would t they be happy?plus your work will be professional.

EgunMogaji:
I've purchased tickets for trips for 2016 due to this trust situation, I will absolutely lock up the site on my way out and no sending money home for work. The shame is that the money for the flight would have gone a long way towards the house.

U can do what I did.get the basics on ground before you go there ie blocks. Bore hole etc.there are fee bits that are constant.yoy can pay area boys and all deve plus aproval money.so wen U land.one day excavation next day blinding

PassingShot:
It is an act of idiocy for anyone to expect that the rot of sixteen years can be solved in three months. Relax!

Ofcos yes it can.chey PMB get magic wand and body language

PassingShot:
China, USA and other major powers are experiencing this same issue.

This is partly what GEJ bestowed on us. It will get better by the passage of time.

Howlong. Wen one state declares bankruptcy then U will know howfah

ExInferis:
Hey everyone, quick, look! A semi literate igboe.

Wow!

You must be in lagos. There are no schools in the East, except schools for learning how to be a thug, a pirate, a vandal, a bandit.

Im sure you've a degree in criminology.

I thought University of Nigeria was in the East??

mediachirps:
My typos.. I was expecting that from a typical bigot. ..but I'm not going to sound untrained as you.

Liar

mufutau55:
Is there one like this equipment for hollow blocks? Please search and post.
If you can post the link to obtain them, that will be dandy too. Thanks.

Hajji M.

Noted boss will do so.

mediachirps:
Our prayers are working. ...let more frustration befall the people of SS so that they can realize themselves.

Mumu it's SE.it's Asaba v Onitsha.Ur hate blinds the blinded.

LadyFiona:
Forestalling the construction of second Niger bridge will be the boldest move of an iron hearted dictator who doesn't give a rat a~se about what anybody thinks. You only equate people like this to Hitler , Stalin and chairman Mao.

Remember they said the bridge was a scam n do not exist

babadem2much:
This to me is a welcome development, cuz residents of that community are yet to be settled, the have to accertain the durability n cost. but ppl will complain bcuz they are in a hurry, but if it is completed in 6 months time n colapse with lives we will still complain

Guy I weep 4 yoy if you r frm Anambra. Where U dead wen APC campaigned that the 2nd Niger bridge was a SCAM? and it does not exist?so after all that it's settlement that bothers U D most?

spyder880:
N1870.00 without delivery.

Is that in lagos?

Fulaboy:
Anywhere niggae

head big no brain

abouzaid:
it's actually becoming more common now. if you build for the poor and the lower middle class, you would experience where people buy and split lands in desirable but costly locations here in the north.

hmm noted, so its best we build rising structures then

EgunMogaji:
50X50 should take a few of these, yes?

, so the only way is UP

EgunMogaji:
Yes eventually it will be faster but there will be a learning curve until they get used to not just slopping mortar all over the place like a messy toddler eating mac and cheese

ahah true, the one I got angry at was at my Dad's house during the plastering underneath the decking, the mortar keep falling off as the kept stamping it, it was trial and error method , I think the sprayer would have been better

abouzaid:
don't make me laugh. in such a design, sacrifices must be made while trying not to deteriorate the living experience. when land is extremely small like this, i aim for a minimum setback of 14.5 feet in front to achieve adequate parking and atleast 6.5 feet else where for adequate circulation and ventilation. if you check online, you would discover that many counties require a minimum setback of as little as 3 feet so what i do is still within reason. designing for a small plot is not easy but as 50x50 plots become more common due to rising land costs, we must adapt.

damn, 50x50 wow, I thought 50x100 was small

EgunMogaji:
Oga Spyder, imagine who many bags of concrete and sharp sand you'll save your customers from less mortar usage and how neat the job will look?

Yes it will take more time, in the short term, but as time goes on they'll go faster and turn out good masonry work.

No Egbon, its actually faster, cos with two actions drop and scoop you will achieve a smooth ,level and accurate mortar ready for a brick to lay, the o nly faster method is wen laying of red bricks with holes cos you swob the mortar from the trowel with the brick

spyder880:
Is this in Nigeria already? I will like to lay my hands on one as soon as yesterday. How about the one that can work on hollow blocks?

Do you know that this is very simple to make? I will take my welder to task this weekend, let me make some sketches this night.

No its not in Nigeria yet its actually made in the Uk by someone an ex builder who just woke up one morning and made it,Im glad it inspired you like you clearly said, its quite simple yet its impact on the work field is amazing.its cost of 3 sets is £25

segcymoor:
Hmmn. Unemployment!

now lets move o n, who has seen the tool for placing cement on bricks?

EgunMogaji:
Spot on Bro.

There's no task that I would need to do now that I would need to buy a tool for because I have collected them over years and are in my arsenal.

We lack foresight at home and we always look for short term gains.

yep thats right,my car will only go to the mechanic wen it needs specialist tools .

IzonOwei:
make nobody benefit from am..this na wetin our boys for ginger ensure say all those danjuma their wells them no see money get...I dey vex here...them just give them amnesty them go sleep...meanwhile the main koko na northerners dey get am..

mayB like this dem go wake up cos D way the matta be now, atall atall na winsh

Fulaboy:
And does that change the fact we still own those oil blocks When north elders die we will inherit their wealth and proceed from where they stopped and is like you didn't even read the post Mr, the op said we owned them not stole them , Go anywhere in this world UK, US, Malaysia, Cyprus, Germany, India, Sweden,China, Philippines, and even this common Ghana believe me, you'll never see a Northerner suffering and if you're doubting this go and research

how about Northern ireland and scotlandpoland?

WailingWailer00:
Continue facing massive environmental degradation at your own peril, enjoy poisoned water and damaged vegetation

Do you really think the northerners care about you guys

No we know no one but us the SS does so SS problems can only be solved by the SS people all other region plz keep out, frm last time i checked we never asked for help from North east or west,nah Unu dey poke nose for our matta i wonder why oh yeh OIL.