₦airaland Forum

Buying a trouble free house is one of the most stressful things in life. If you don’t get it right, it will be a pain in the heart and selling it might be more difficult. Think about not just what you want today but what you might want in the future.

This article is about what you must put into consideration before buying a house.
1. Financial capacity: the more financially buoyant you are the more and better choices you have. This determines your choice of location, the type of building, whether you go for a onetime payment, mortgage or spread it.

2. Type of Building: family size, class in the society and interest determines the type of building you will go for. Do you go for a bungalow or storey building? Do you like sharing compound and go for attached, semi detached or terraced building. Do you go for a flat in a block of flats, a duplex or a fully detached building? You need to answer these questions to decide on type of building.


3. Estate or Community setting: Do you like estate setting the omo-onile type where you provide all your amenities like transformer, drainage, road, water, security. Or the standard gated estate where most if not all the amenities are provided by the estate management.
Do you prefer house in community setting where government or individuals provide the basic amenities? Are you considering government owned estates like LSDPC.

4. Serviced or Unserviced Estate: In serviced estate facilities like drainage, water, electricity, security, road, waste management, generators and more are provided by the estate management. The owners of the building are made to pay specified amount mostly annually. You need to be careful with this because the charges become exorbitant with time in some estates and leads to clashes between home owners and estate managers. Unserviced estate you provide theses amenities yourself or by joint effort with other building owners.

5. Security: We always advice this should be one of your topmost consideration. We have seen situations where home owners move out of their own house to rent apartment due to security treat.


6. Professional Inspection: Even if you feel you trust the seller and your own inspection skill, hire a professional who check the structural integrity of the building, cracks, settlements signs, dampness, state of the plumbing work, electrical wiring work, roof and ceiling inspection, state of window, door, signs of fire in the past, finished level to prevent flooding of house and compound, surface and sub-surface drainage system, staircase inspection, has the house been renovated in the past, does it need renovation presently and availability of escape route to mention a few.

7. Vicinity study: Your building must perfectly fit into the environment, it cannot exist in isolation. Proximity to other buildings in case of fire can it easily spread from other buildings to yours. The type of neighbours, are they the once you can live with, is there any form of pollution e.g. noise from religious houses, fuel station water pollution from underground tank spillage or even risk of fire, any factory around with noise from plants, generator and fumes from its activities. How is the area in the rainy season, are trees close to the building, traffic situation. Look around the area in the night time, rush hour, weekends and morning. Good school around for the children, hospital, bank and possibly police station in the vicinity. Is it the best property for you in the vicinity?


8. Water quality: most house buyers always miss this out, but it is very important to check quality of water. This will save you a lot of money on expensive water treatment and you maintain a healthier condition.

9. Maintenance of the building: Some people buy homes they cannot maintain. The building might be too big, too large compound or finishes might be too expensive to maintain e.g. a house with wooden floor finish.


10. Adequacy of space and Ventilation: Check the size of all departments of the house e.g. bedrooms, kitchen, store, toilet, bath and living room make sure they are ok for you and well ventilated. Inadequate ventilation causes a lot of discomfort and high cost of powering air conditioner and even fan. External spaces for car park and possibly mini get together can also be considered.

11. Documentation: Check the building document and do a due diligence. Does the land have a C of O or Consent, is the building approved, are you buying from the right source.


12. Do not inspect once: Do not rush, don’t be a prompt buyer, do all necessary checks. It is advisable to buy during the peak of the rainy season.
There is no perfect building but the precaution you take help in achieving a high level of satisfaction in your house purchase. If you are planning to buy feel free to contact us for an in depth analysis of the property, you will be glad you did.

Jimoh Babatunde 08085303502

No property owner, occupant or neighbor to a cracked building will ever feel safe wether it’s a treat to the building or not. Cracks may affect appearance only, however a crack maybe the first sign of a serious defect which may affect the serviceability or stability of the building. The appearance of cracks will also affect the value of the building, its insurability, the saleability and can be the subject of litigation Occurrence of various crack patterns in the building during construction, after completion when it is subjected to super imposed load or during the service life, is a common phenomenon

Cracking is an inevitable response to the inability of a structure to accommodate the movement or load to which it is subjected. A building component develops cracks whenever stresses in the component exceed its strength. New buildings can be designed and constructed to eliminate many of the causes of cracking and design tolerance for those factors that remain either by introducing joints, or by choosing movement-tolerant materials.

Existing buildings are what they are, and when considering performance an assessment must be made as to the likely cause of movement and the degree of the movement-tolerance inherent in any given structure. The cracks may be predominantly associated with an external cause (as in the case of subsidence) or with the material itself .

Types of Cracks in Buildings
Cracks in buildings could be broadly classified as structural and nonstructural cracks.

1. Structural Cracks: These occur due to incorrect design, faulty construction or overloading
( this is common where property owners carry out modification to buildings or even load building with additional floors without consulting with professionals) and these may endanger the safety of a building. e.g. Extensive cracking of an RCC beam.

2. Non structural Cracks: These are mostly due to internally induced stresses in buildings materials and might not at first endanger safety of a building but may look unsightly, or may create an impression of faulty work or may give a feeling of instability. In some situations due to penetration of moisture through them non structural cracks may spoil the internal finishes thus adding to the cost of maintenance, or corrode the reinforcement, thereby adversely affecting the stability of the Structure in long run. e.g. Vertical crack in a long compound wall due to shrinkage or thermal movement


PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF CRACKS

For prevention or minimise the occurrence of cracks, it is necessary to understand the basic causes and mechanism of cracking, and certain properties of building materials which may lead to dimensional changes of the structural components. The principle causes of cracks are as follows:

1. Lack of or Poor soil investigation (Geotechnic):
The soil is the most important material with the highest varying property in a building construction, same type of soil can change from solid to almost liquid because of change in moisture content. The soil is the natural foundation on which we construct our buildings, any mistake made about soil investigation or geothechnic (read this for more) in relation to our building might lead to a waste of resources or even suicidal. Shear cracks in buildings occurs when there is large differential settlement of foundation due to one of the following cause.

(a) Unequal bearing pressure under different parts of the structure: soil under a building can be of different types and vary in properties and so have varying bearing capacity (ability to carry load) that might not be taken care of in the foundation design and at the time of construction.

(b) Settlement: All buildings settles under its own weight, but settlement has to be even and tolerable, uneven settlement is the number one cause of cracks in buildings especially when the right type of foundation is not used for the building.

(c) Low factor of safety in the design of foundations: Factor of safety is additional precaution taken to take care of oversight in design. If this is not adequate it leads to crack and foundation failure.
.
(e) Foundation resting in active zone on expensive soil.

2. Structural design
Lack of or Poor structural design and specifications is another cause of the cracks in buildings. It’s important that the designer considers all the environmental aspects that include soil (Geotechnical) investigations that will enable the designer to come up with a proper design of the foundation.
Normally, buildings are designed for particular uses, this determines the loading assumption of the design engineer for example a building designed as residence will have different structural specifications from the one designed to operate as a worship center, many make mistake of converting buildings to other uses without consulting with professionals.

3. Poor workmanship
The number one culprit of poor workmanship is the property owner, even the educated ones who refuses to engage professionals because of less than ten percent professional fee, they are ready to waste 100% on poor workmanship. Not building to design and specification, Poor mixing of building materials, like cement sand and aggregate will cause cracks in the structural component of a building walls, beams, slabs, column and foundation etc. Normally poor workmanship is as a result of lack of or not hiring professionals, ignorance, carelessness, negligence, lack of proper supervision and many others or a combination of all these.

4. Temperature variations /Moisture change
It’s important to know that most materials tend to expand when subjected to high temperature and contract in cooler temperatures these processes therefore end up causing cracks. Building materials have different rate of expansion and contraction (thermal expansivity) this might cause crack line between different materials if variation in their themal expansion of the materials is wide. Building materials (e.g. Concrete, mortar, burnt clay brick, timber, plywood etc.,) are porous in their structure in the form of inter-molecular space, and they expand on absorbing moisture from atmosphere and shrinks on drying. These movements cause cracks.

5. Growth of vegetation:
Roots of a tree generally spread horizontally on all sides to the extent of height of the tree above the ground at maturity. When trees are located in the vicinity of a wall, they can cause cracks in the building due to expansive action of roots growing under the foundation. Sometimes plants can begin to grow in fissures of walls, because of seeds contained in bird droppings, or carried by wind or other means. If these plants are not removed well in time, these may in course of time develop and cause severe cracking of wall.

When soil under the foundation of a building happens to be shrinkable clay,
cracking in walls and floors of buildings can occur in following ways :
(a) Growing roots of trees absorb water from the soil, which may shrink and cause foundation settlement. The removal of water by shrubs and trees depends on the species, for example a Willow tree can take water from the ground 40 metres away.
(b) In areas where old trees had been cut to make way for building construction roots had de-hydrated the soil. On receiving moisture from some sources, such as rain etc., the soil swells up and causes an upward thrust on a portion of the building resulting in cracks in the building.

6. Lack of (or) poor maintenance
It’s always important to take good care of your building, by doing maintenance works after a lapse of certain periods. This will keep the building intact and also extend their life span.
Water is the number one enemy of a building, even if it is well built, broken drains or water running in the ground from soakaways, ground water or water in service trenches can remove granular soils from below foundation causing subsidence, this is known as washout.
Where minerals or fines are removed from below foundations voids are created causing the material below the foundation to drop and as a consequence of this subsidence occurs, this is known as leaching.

7. Movement due to chemical reaction
Many materials used in the construction of a building are susceptible to chemical reactions Certain chemical reactions in building materials result in appreciable increase in volume of materials, due to which internal stresses are setup which may results in outward thrust and formation of cracks. The material involve in reaction also become weak in strength.

Soluble sulphates which are sometimes present in soil ground water or clay bricks react with tri-calcium aluminate content of cement and hydraulic lime in the presence of moisture and form products which occupies much larger volume than the original constituents. This expensive reaction causes weakening of masonry, concrete and plaster and formation of cracks. For above reaction it is necessary that soluble sulphate, tri-calcium-aluminate and moisture, all the three are present.

The building components, which are, liable to sulphate attack are concrete and masonry in foundation and plinth, and masonry and plaster in super structure. The sulphate attack on these components will result in weakening of these components and in course of time may result in unequal settlement of foundation and cracks in super structure

Conclusion

Most buildings with crack problems are owned by educated owners and professionals, if we ask for the design some have some don’t, if we ask who supervised the construction they say it’s one artisan, if we talk about maintenance they have never even thought about that. We should all know no matter what the repair to cracks it is always better to get it right the first time and avoid cracks.

Jimoh (08085303502)

This article gives an insight to homeowners and intending owners on the need for a proper drainage system in a building. It discusses the sources of water that affects a building, the forms of water that needs to be drained, the effects of poor drainage on a building and inhabitants, importance of drainage. It explains forms of drainage and necessary precautions to be taken to avoid drainage problems.

http://www.constructionandproperties.com/index.php/blog/124-guide-to-proper-home-drainage-systems.html

feel free to call us 08085303502

Do you know that living in damp houses is living with Bacteria, Fungi right in your bedroom, which is one of the major causes of Asthma and Respiratory diseases:

A 2009 World Health Organisation report entitled "Children Living in Homes with Problems of Damp" stated that:

"Excess moisture leads – on almost all indoor materials – to growth of microbes such as moulds, fungi and bacteria, which subsequently emit spores, cells, fragments and volatile organic compounds into the indoor air. Moreover, dampness initiates chemical and/or biological degradation of materials, which also causes pollution of the indoor air. Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and immunological reactions. Dampness has therefore been suggested to be a strong and consistent indicator of risk for asthma and respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheeze." read more http://www.constructionandproperties.com/index.php/blog/123-living-in-damp-homes-health-risks-prevention-and-remedial-actions.html
LIVING IN DAMP HOMES HEALTH RISKS, PREVENTION AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS - Fame pyramids | Blog

The building construction industry is a wide industry that encompasses many professionals. Most of the building defects like cracks on walls, inadequate and non-functional facilities, flooding and dampness, poor drainage, poor safety design, poor staircases and even collapse to mention a few could be avoided. This article analysis the different professionals, their roles and responsibilities in avoiding defects and more in building construction.

Geotechnic Engineer

Geotechnical engineering is a discipline within civil engineering related to the performance of soil and rock mechanics, including their subsurface conditions, determination of the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties that will influence the project under consideration, Site investigations are needed to gain an understanding of the area in or on which the engineering will take place. Investigations can include the assessment of the risk to humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such as earthquake, landslide and sinkhole. After necessary evaluation, design of the earthworks is carried out, and subsequently supervision of the site, foundation, and construction is carried out.

Based on findings the GE might recommend Ground Improvement which is a technique that improves the engineering properties of the soil mass such as the bearing capacity of the soil and capability of the soil in bearing more loads. Usually, the properties that are modified are shear strength, stiffness and permeability. Ground improvement has developed into a sophisticated tool to support foundations for a wide variety of structures.

A geotechnical engineer then determines and designs the type of foundations, earthworks, and/or pavement subgrades required for the intended man-made structures to be built. Foundations are designed and constructed for structures of various sizes for the proposed structure. Read more…http:///1am0bu7

Land Surveyor

A land surveyor is the government authorized specialist who is licensed to determine boundaries, they determine the relative positions of places on or beneath the surface of the earth by measuring distances, directions and elevations. They are the first professionals to carry out physical work on the construction site.
Building construction is one of the fields of surveying, the preconstruction responsibilities involves determines the location (latitude and longitude), property boundary (shape), the area of the landed property (size), they establish the beacon on site to define boundaries. All these are represented in a plan called Cadastral survey which is duly stamped by registered surveyor and registered at Surveyor General’s office. Only the surveys made by licensed and registered Land Surveyors are legal and acceptable in courts.

In the construction phase surveying commences with correct placement of footings, foundations, piers and other items of building construction are essential for a sound structure. The second essential role is establishing a level for the proposed construction and establishing a benchmark that would be used as reference point throughout the construction phase. This is mostly neglected in Nigeria and the cause of flooding in most buildings. http:///1b1dlPQ

Architect

Architects are licensed professionals trained in the art and science of building design, develop the concepts for structures and turn those concepts into images and plans. Before constructing a building, an architect needs to draw a plan of the building. It is very wrong to commence construction without a standard building plan, as the project would lacks focus and direction.
Architects create the overall aesthetic and look of buildings and other structures, but the design of a building involves far more than its appearance. Buildings also must be functional, safe, and economical and must suit the needs of the people who use them. How many people are going to use the building at the same time? What types of activities will these people do in the building? Architects have to design building so that people can escape from the building in an emergency. The plans also specify the building materials and the interior furnishings. Architects consider all these factors when they design buildings and other structures.

The architects provide various designs, then prepares drawings and a report presenting ideas to the client based on his needs. Computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has replaced traditional paper and pencil as the most common method for creating design and construction drawings.
After discussing and agreeing on the initial proposal, architects develop final construction plans that show the building's appearance and details for its construction. The plan is then passed to the Structural Engineer for his own design.

The role of an architect does not end in the design stage during construction (it’s not the responsibility of an architect to undertake the actual construction activities) continual revision of plans on the basis of client needs, budget and other constraints not envisaged during design stage is often necessary. As construction proceeds, he visit building sites to make sure that contractors follow the design, adhere to the schedule, use the specified materials, and meet work quality standards. The job is not complete until all construction is finished­­­­­­.

Structural Engineer

Structural engineering is a branch of Civil engineering which carries out strength calculations, loads, forces and their interactions and effects on proposed construction and prepare drawings of structures to ensure they are strong enough to avoid collapse when loaded. Structures can include buildings, bridges, retaining walls, in-ground structures, footings, frameworks and space frames, including those for motor vehicles, space vehicles, ships, aero planes and cranes.

Structural Engineering is concerned with the research, planning, design, construction, inspection, monitoring, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of permanent and temporary structures, as well as structural systems and their components. It also considers the technical, economic, environmental, aesthetic and social aspects of structures.

After the architectural design is completed, SE are the next professionals to work on the design. He designs the structural members (slabs, beams, columns and foundations), he designs foundations working with the Geotechnic Engineer. He determines the sizes (thickness span and depth) of structural members and the quality, size, type and quantity of reinforcements. SE decides on the quality and type of materials used for structural members and the required concrete strength. He also designs the roof trusses to sustain all expected loads and forces. He produces the structural drawings which is required for building construction approval.

SE designs are based on codes which varies with countries and regions of the world, in Nigeria BS 8110 is still in use for reinforced concrete design. Though with different codes SE worldwide still work on basic principles: under the worst load the structure will be subjected to in its expected lifespan it must be safe. During the normal use the structure must perform all intended purpose.

During construction he inspects materials and supervise the construction of structural members, he gives approvals, conduct test on materials and structural integrity test on the structure as a whole and declares the structure safe or not. During building collapse Structural Engineers are called in to carry out research and determine the causes, effect and solution against reoccurrence.

Quantity Surveyor

A Quantity Surveyor is a construction industry professional who specialises in estimating the value of construction works. . This may include new buildings, renovations or maintenance work, from early design costs to final figures. QS works on a wide variety of projects covering all aspects of construction such as civil, mining and infrastructure projects to determine the cost of such facilities.

The term quantity surveyor is derived from the role taken in quantifying the various resources that it takes to construct a given project, such as labour, supervision, plant and materials. He estimates the project budget, analysis the effect of design changes on the budget and the most noticeable role preparation of Bill of Quantities that assist in the tender process, produce tender document and manage the tender process, clarify and evaluate tenders, variations control, contract administration and assessment of claims, negotiate and settlement of accounts, Valuing completed work and arranging for payments, expert witness report in case of dispute.

The Builder

In Nigeria today Builders are the most monopolised professionals in the construction industry with the way things are structured other have taken up most of their responsibilities. They are unique in that they are the only professionals that works on buildings only, other professionals works on building and non-building structures. A Builder (or Professional Builder) is an academically trained specialist and statutorily registered professional responsible for Building Production Management, Construction and Maintenance of Buildings for the use and protection of mankind and his assets.

The Builder study the production information that is the drawings, schedules and specifications they analyse the buildability and maintainability of buildings. He writes on the construction method and program, assess the workmanship skill of artisan and suggest solution to technical problems

Building Service Engineers

Imagine living in a building without electricity, no functional toilet or bath, no heating or cooling system or a sky scrapper without lift definitely such is not habitable. Building services engineers provides all these, bring buildings to life by designing the mechanical and electrical systems that allow people to function within an enclosed structure.

Building services engineering is an aspect handled by Mechanical and Electrical Engineers they are referred to as (M&E), in the local Nigerian parlance it called plumbing and electrical, in some countries it’s called (MEP) engineering adding plumbing or public health. This involves the production and maintenance of a stable internal environment that has the correct temperature, air quality and lighting levels. It requires the provision of all the necessary backup support systems such as power, hot and cold water and lifts. The installation of life protection systems such as fire alarms, and sprinkler systems is an important responsibility as well. These functions must be linked to sophisticated building management systems to ensure effective control and to minimise energy consumption.

Building services engineers work closely with other construction professionals such as architects, structural engineers and quantity surveyors. They influence the architecture of a building and play a significant role on the sustainability and energy demand of your building. They design layouts and requirements for building services for residential or commercial developments which is one of the requirements for building approval. Design and development of electrical systems required based on envisaged power consumption for safety and energy sustaining operation of buildings, construction and operation of Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

Artisans

These are the real workmen on site. They are mostly technicians that have acquired various skills either on the job or in various skill acquisition institutes. They have improved skill on- the -job. They work with the various professionals carrying out their duties based on instructions though imputing their skills.

There are various artisans in the building construction industry for example masons, carpenters, electricians, iron fixers, tillers, and plumbers to mention a few.

There are other workers that are non-artisans. They are referred to as unskilled labours but they are actually skilled. The nature of their job requires little skill and they are usually non-persistence on the job. Their range of jobs include site clearance, minor excavation and other petty site jobs.

The Consultants

The building consultancy teams bring together project managers, building surveyors, quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, interior designers and other construction professionals, but his loyalties is with the building owner. To bridge the knowledge gap, the owner should hire a construction consultant. The consultant should be engaged early in the project, so the owner can utilize the consultant's services in selecting construction professionals and contractors and in reviewing plans and budgets.

The construction consultant's role is to represent the owner and to lend practical expertise to the job. The construction consultant is simply the client representative that wants the owner to achieve what the owner has contracted for from the contractors. He is the value-for-money bargainer! Working on behalf of the owner, the consultant can identify and address potential construction problems in the design stages and, as an independent party, may be in the best position to suggest cost saving or time saving alternatives and to evaluate suggestions made by the other parties.

Mostly owners are non-construction professionals, thereby find it difficult to take antagonistic positions with members of the construction team, whether the issue is design, construction method, cost of change orders or scheduling. Instead, the construction consultant can deal with the contractors and professionals on the owner's behalf.


The Building Contractor

Looking at the volume of professionals and artisans involved in building construction working with a building owner who is a non-professional, it will be a HELL talking to each of them. There is a need for a firm to harness all this together and do all the jobs required. The contractor brings a team of all the required professionals together, oversees the construction and ensures that all necessary measures are taken to execute a project. A building contractor is an organisation that engages in the Planning, Developing and Coordinating activities in the building of structures.

The building contractor draws up a plan to carry out the construction project. This extends anywhere from hiring workers to developing a step-by-step timeline that the project will follow from start to finish. The BC is responsible for hiring, supervising, firing and payment of workers alongside obtaining materials for the project to precise specifications, mostly using the services of suppliers.

The BC must also do his/her research regarding relevant regulations and laws guiding the construction process, he has the responsibility of completing the project in a law abiding manner. He acquire all necessary licenses and permits from relevant entities so that the building project can begin. In Nigeria for example you need a building approval, you pay development levies to mention a few.

He/she works based on agreed contract sum with building owners so, he controls Budget issues, follow that budget as closely as possible though there might be slight variation at the end of the project. He/she ensures that the project is completed within the specified time frame as well as reviewing the progress and implementing any changes along the course of completion.

The BC deals with all emergencies and surprises which relate to the project that occurs on-site and sometimes off-site as well that affects the project. For instance the issue of land merchants popularly called omo-onile prominent in southern Nigeria as they disturb construction work and threatens safety of workmen. The contractor is of inestimable value when thinking about building a structure.

by Fame Pyramids Ltd 08085303502

This is to enlighten nairaland members on the importance of soil investigation in building construction

Contributions, observations and questions are entertained




The soil is the most important yet most neglected in a construction project. All structures, buildings, roads, bridges, dams and even life itself is based on the soil. The soil is the natural foundation that supports all structures and investment. Most clients see soil investigation as a waste of fund despite being the cheapest in the construction process, hardly is the cost of soil test up to one percent of the cost of construction. Some contractors too ignore the importance of proper soil investigation and analysis and base their design on assumed bearing capacity and rate of settlement. At Fame Pyramids Limited we take soil investigation as a crucial part of foundation design and we conduct soil test and analysis for our clients.

Soil investigation helps to determine varying physical and Engineering properties of soil, which can vary from place to place and from layer to layer even within the limits of the proposed structure. Soil characteristics can change considerably within a small area. Weather, climatic changes, and site management can in the future affect the bearing qualities of the soil, if the foundation is not designed properly to the bearing capacity of the soil, then they will fail and so will the building. This is as important as the entire project itself that may cause long term complications and may result to loss of life and property, endanger residents, tenants and damage other neighbouring properties. The extent of exploration depends on whether the area is built up or not and size of the structure.

The soil investigation help to determine the following: bearing capacity of the soil which determine the load sustenance capability of the soil, rate of settlement of the soil which affect the rate at which any structure placed on it settles, to select a type and depth of foundation, to select suitable construction technique , to predict and resolve probable foundation problems, to determine if the land can be subjected to subsidence and cause sinking of the building, to determine water table which affects humidity within the foundation and greatly affects the character of a soil which varies considerably with water content, mineral or chemical component of the soil that might affect the choice of construction materials. For example if the soil found to contain sulphur it can attack our foundation, therefore sulphur resisting cement must be used in the foundation in such soil.

Whether you're working in peat, gravel, clay, silt, sand, or loam soil, understanding the soil properties of your site help you make good construction decisions leading to success of the project. The structural engineers can efficiently and accurately design the structural elements required based on the results of the soil test analysis so that for long term viability and soundness of the project. The result also helps to determine whether there is need for soil stabilization and the foundation depth to attain the required bearing capacity.

All intending property owners or real estate investors should note that for a small sum you can protect, possibly the largest investment of your life. Without soil investigation buildings can collapse or rendered non functional for intended purpose. Why risk the expense for the cost of a soil test? Being aware of any problems will enable you to determine future costs and help you to make vital decisions about the suitability of the land for building.The design will match the site conditions, give you peace of mind yet will reduce the risk of over design thus saving you money. It is high time we made soil investigation report part of the requirement for building plan approval in Nigeria.

By Jimoh 08085303502