₦airaland Forum

3strikes:
Baba are you thinking what am thinking? another new wife?

New Wife ke?

if anyone has the type of wonderful and beautiful wife l have, the thought of another 'woman' does not even cross your mind!

After almost two and a half decades together and flenti-flenti pikins, she still looks beautiful and full of life!

Even moreso, she thinks after God, l am next!

My only prayer is just that God gives her long life so l can die before her ....... otherwise, life will be miserable!... because l dont feel like someone who is ready to die soon!

Anyway, if you like New wife......as long as you can work it out with your wife and you can take good care of them, the more...the merrier.
**hides head before some women* say: Gbe'nue soun! **

Only rich people like Hajj M can afford another wife.

Me, na just to "appreciate" beauty and brains... when l see it



Lastpage!

N3xt: Sir lastpage, I've received call from Qc1, we will work thing out.
I pray for wisdom and financial resources to tackle the issue once and for all.

#prayfortheclient

Dont know how l missed this part!

I've always and will continue to pray for both of you, to overcome this mountain of a challenge.

Him for Resources and Strength, .....YOU, for Wisdom and Inspiration to Conquer.

NOTHING is beyond our God in Heaven

Olorun a'funyin se.



Lastpage!

3strikes:
Baba Lastpage, Are you saying make I no pop champagne yet?

Not at all Sir!

Even me sef dey smile softly-softly for here!

I know it means "Baba-jebu" wants to smile at me ..........very soon!

Pls extend the Champagne to your Boy here.




Lastpage!

Edit: I just saw TWO beautiful daughters of Rashidi Yekini on Channels TV, a few minutes ago.
These ladies are super-intelligent and beautiful at the same time!
Ye-King was my "football idol", back then

olumide4christ:
@LASTPAGE.... I'm really learning from you, Brabus and others who have made good contributions on how to resolve the unfortunate situation of Mr. QC1's house. Just like you mentioned earlier, earlier on this thread, I've also asked Mr. Qc1 about the activities/level of involvement of his structural engineer in proposing solutions to the challenging site conditions, [b] but I haven't seen any response on that .
In an ideal situation, Brabus as the contractor shouldn't be the one proffering solutions to the structural challenges of any project... that's the PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY of the structural engineer who designed the structural drawings . If he was involved in the actual construction of the project, then Brabus not doing enough to save the building should not come into question at all; the engineer should be the one being queried and/or sued for professional negligence.
Anyway, this is the reason why we encourage clients to involve the necessary professional consultants on their projects in order to avoid 'STORIES THAT TOUCH".

Also, for the benefit of prospective building clients, I must say that going forward, the choice of land you buy is critical, as can be seen from Mr. Qc1's example. Any construction professional with some level of experience will, on paying a visit to any prospective land, be able to determine from soil characteristics, topography, state of adjacent plots, etc, if such land is cost-effective for construction OR will be problematic in the short or long-run. It was based on my experience with some other people/projects that made me start a thread some months ago on this issue - https://www.nairaland.com/2954604/beware-buying-these-lands-may#43219226 - on which Brabus and some other people made some good contributions.

I do wish Mr. Qc1 a permanent solution to the problem of his building, while we all learn from these experiences.[/b]

We are all learning from each other Sir!
You have introduced new dimensions to the discuss as well and l am sure l gained something from it.

I wanted to ask Brabus if he saw (or if there was one at all) the Structural design diagrams of this QC's project and if it specified a Raft or Pile Foundation?..... but l am sure l already know the answer.

The bottom lines are:
a) Swampy land is very expensive to build, if you want to enjoy it.
b.) Dont buy it if you are not ready to do a Soil test and the recommended solutions. You cant cut-corners!
c.) There is a reason they call some people who build solid houses on Swamp, "Olowo'raa" (Rich man of the Swamp! ) If you have the resources, there is no better place to build a house than in Riverine/Swampy area.

While it is desirable to engage these Consultants, we need to also beg them to reduce their "charges" as this is what drives most people to do DIY on their projects. At times, the cost of "Supervision' by a professional come pass the whole Budget for the whole house itself!

I remember that Engineer, very sound Engineer, who gave me a Bill of about #10M in total, to supervise/labour a 6Flats, 2 storey build (though we were doing a Pile foundation on it) but l felt it was just too much.
I asked him to break it into "cost modules" and only used his services for the Pile, which is the most important part and where l think my knowledge was very limited. I paid him handsomely for a very good job done but l supervised the rest of the build (may have ended up spending more sef) after that critical area was accomplished.... I also learned a lot from it.
Would l do it if his charges were much more affordable? NO.

So, help us beg the Abdulwastexc of this world o! make dem pity poor men like us.




Lastpage!

BTW: @All Can we please tone down the language, a bit please cause abuses wouldnt change the state of this foundation ..... and we wont learn much from abuses, as well. I know how we all feel about this but please, let us rise over it.
Thanks.

abdulwastecx:
Me no get strength like that o...
See this guys here lifting and demonstrating the lightness of polystyrene

The price depends on the design and size you want, the last one we bought was around N3,900/ m

Thanks Sir!



Lastpage!

abdulwastecx:
This fascia is so light that I can climb a stair with 9m perimeter length of the polystyrene fascia, it us the lightest fascia you can get and that was the major reason I like it's application.

The technique use was developed by us by carefully looking at subsequent job done by others and properties of the fascia.

There are different method of reducing building weight (dead load) going into details will be too tedious, in fact I am planning to open a thread in that regard when I get back to Abuja where the network is better and where I have more time.

Having a reinforced concrete head course where their is a roof connector (that is what I call it sha).
It also help to distribute roof load to the columns properly. Head beam or roof beam is a very important structural member expecially the perimeter one

Baba, you na strong man nauh.... because you fit lift 30Tons no mean say 30Tons light for people like us !

I get your gist sha.

I will definitely give it a try.
what is the average price/meter of the one you bought Sir?



Lastpage!

selade:
My people, Pls I need some guidance here. Trying to decide on type of Aluminium roofing between Longspan, Steptiles and Metcoppo. Appreciate your recommendations. Pros and cons etc. Thanks in advance

I am sure this question has been dealt with sometime in the past but cant lay my finger on the post.


For me, l like the extra beauty of the Alu-Steptiles.
I know Hajj M used Metcoppo, maybe for cost or/and strength?
Longspan appears too boring on roofs, for me.... but some people like just the simplicity, and it is cheaper!


And please, go and buy a Digital Caliper like my own, so you can measure the exact thickness of what they will sell to you.
Imagine 0.65mm becoming o.45mm when measured?


Let us pass this one to Hajj M.
He is the "official Library and Encyclopaedia" of "Links to past Events".

Just hold on, l trust my Hajj to come up with something good.



Lastpage!

n3xt:
You can get from a company in Oniru and there's another one in Ikoyi that does complete building solution.

More of them are in the trade now but I'm yet to patronize them.

For the Windows, Doors, Internal and Exterbal Decoratives like ericko2k2 posted, you'll get them in Jibowu.

SALUTE!

If you have phone contacts of any of this sellers now or later, pls pass it on.
It will save me time asking around 'blindly'.

Thank you Sir.



Lastpage!

n3xt:
Baba, did you say brutal? Let me remind you, this is Brabus.

I've seen far worse but it moved me not because I'm been propelled by the inner truth which gives me peace at all time.

Well, it is supposed to "move you" for good!

I mean brutal, as in "direct" without the usual frills or sugar-coating.

Your response above sound coyish like you are being told something "undeserved"?

I think you are naturally a brilliant but extremely defensive person? Am l correct to say that, in your own understanding of self?

Anyway, its neither here nor there so dont let us flog it.

Learning Kontinue joor.




Lastpage!

abdulwastecx:
Fascia are not load bearing member na. See this one we installed in anambra

You can see how method of installation, it doesn't carry roof load, the head does

Is that a Fascia/Parapet as well?

What l was referring to "as load" was "The weight of the Concrete used" in the Parapet itself, in relation to the overall weight of the house (since it is part of the house), in places where the soil is not very good and foundation is also not trusted to hold additional weight.

Yea, l can see from your pix that it does not carry the roof-load, which is good.
Is that how "all Builders" do it because l think l have seen one where the Roof rests on the flat part of the Parapet.


Again, what is the best way to reduce over-all building weight, in relation to reducing the weight (quantity of concrete used) to tie the final Blockwork of a building?
Is it advisable to used normal cement mixture (as against concrete mix) ontop of that last coach?
is it even necessary to add the cement mix ontop the last Coach at all, as l have seen some houses where they just put the Roof wood ontop the Blocks, without that "capping" concrete mix!

Thanks.




Lastpage!

abdulwastecx:
I am an advocate of polystyrene concrete fascia too o.
You can get it in abuja

No where in Lagos?

Do you have the Abuja link maybe l can persuade them to bring it down while l pay the extra transport.

Why do you use "polystyrene and concrete" together?
Is it that it is a made of a mixture of both or was that just a typo?



Lastpage!

3strikes:
Enough of bad news o. I got a good news for you all. https://www.nairaland.com/3126803/lagos-signs-mou-fourth-mainland

3Strikes, l hail!

***yawns***

I have been waiting for that Bridge for the last TEN YEARS!
Made some investments around Bayeku/Igbogbo axis some years back, with the hope that this bridge would be build but its taking forever to sign an MOU!

What l want to hear is a "time-line" for delivery of the Bridge.
You know Politicians now, they can sign MOU, like MOU itself!
If it were a "Military Govt" that signed MOU now, l will be very confident.

But wait o, who will finance this Bridge?
I did not see any Chinese in that signing ceremony?

Europeans generally wont do anything to better the life of Nigerians when it comes to infrastructure.

Go and check the number of MOU they have signed on Power Plant.
Fingers-crossed.
Over-all, its a good thing and a step forward.



Lastpage!

n3xt:
@ lastpage, thanks for the kind words. Points well noted.

I'm very conscious of the environment.

Can we continue learning?

Sorry if l was brutal with you, l just want you to do a reality check.

Learning? Yes o! We all learn from each other.... whether we agree or not.

"We die, the day we stop learning". - ?

Bring it on.

Where can one get this Polystrene Foam Parapet, if ever there was one? I think one can use in place of all these Concrete, to reduce the building's weight. Though, it has to be non-load-bearing..... just a decor for the edges.



Lastpage!

double post!

@Brabus:


This place is not a court of law where you need to "aggressively defend" yourself"!
Its a public forum where "opinions" are offered and exchanged. Opinions are important for customer relationship, though.

But whether you defend yourself aggressively, does not mean you are right .....and not doing so, does not mean you are wrong .
(Mind you, l am not using the term "aggressively", as in physical aggression...... but as in "very robust defence"

But the danger in doing so, is that as you try to "aggressively defend your position" (which may be right or wrong), you say "some things" which rub most people on the wrong side and makes you appear arrogant and aloof (which in itself, "l think" is a wrong deduction of your personality!)
It is even worse when you showcase or use your own Chateau to do so, ....when another customer's house which you built is experiencing serious difficulty. Please avoid this in future
I like you very much, that is why l am saying this to you.

You try to apologize, which is good but in the same breath, you appear like someone "showing-off" or rubbing-it-in-the-face of an aggrieved Client! That is a "bad combination".
That is why people keep questioning your beautiful suggestions and asking: Why did you not do this x,y,z, if you knew so much?
Like Erico2000 observed, the ideas are brilliant. But l think your "timing" is usually very wrong.

To be honest, if l were your Client and you keep showcasing (boasting) about how your Chateau "is this, and that" while the house you built for me is sinking ..... l dont want to say what will be crossing my mind at that point! Ai'gbo buburu lenu Oore
Translate: Elders should never say certain things (literally)

When you defend yourself, dont be pushed into using your own house........especially if you bear some of the responsibility.
If you must use it as an example, find a way to do so such that it shows sympathy and the Client can relate positively with it

I still insists that in 2012/2013 when you build this house, you dont have the experience you have now and you made mistakes you wont make now.
Your mistake is not suggesting AND insisting that the owner go back to his "Structural design Engineers" to recommend a PILE foundation ...or walk away before doing any foundation, if he refuses!
We are humans and we are all prone to mistakes.

Building on a Swamp is a "DEFINITE" SCIENCE....... but what YOU "and" QC1 did was not scientific. Period!
I have used "and" because you both contributed and share responsibility for what is on ground.

what has happened, has happened.......... Let us look forward into reducing the impact of the problem, in whatever way.... while we all learn not to repeat the same mistakes in future.

For me, I wont because l am always learning from the mistakes of others.




Lastpage!

kino47:
@QC1 @BRABUS please from the picture am seeing there are other buildings that look older that are close to QC1's house what have those ones done right that has totally gone wrong in your project.

Secondly Brabus can you tell us what you can do to stop this nightmare and also can you please go to the site and fix it for CHRIST SAKE

Its not really about what those "other houses" did right or wrong (None or just one of them did a Pile foundation, from what l have read here)....

Its about the TEXTURE OF SOIL WAY-DOWN UNDERNEATH those houses! (which only a Soil test can expose)
You might throw a dice and get lucky, it does not mean you will get lucky next time.

I have seen the texture of land change from solid red soil, to brackish swamp mud (as in this QC1 compound) within a space of less than 7ft!

At times, we dont know the history of this land, some of them might have been a swampy pond filled with Vegetable matter over some decades ago and now overgrown with top soil vegetation .... and we compare it with another house 30ft away which is standing on a good soil.

The good soil may even be some 5 - 10ft underground ....and the house you are comparing is luckily sitting firm on it or has sank to such firm soil level.

Like l said before, building in/on a Swamp requires a lot of experience, money and professionalism (Soil test, adequate engineering basis, standard material, e.t.c).
If you dont recognize and know what you are dealing with, you wont know and will make an error of Judgement.

If you do it right (cross all t's and ot all i's), you can even build a house on the Lagoon ......
Maximum, a Pile should not cost more than 8m ("average" for a building with the foot print of a say 2 x 3beds per floor) but most Clients (including me) will do everything to avoid "burying" such money underground, if we cant avoid it "successfully..... but its not always successful!

All this back-and-forth, accusations (Between Builder and Client) will not change anything.
Both Builder and Client made mistakes that resulted into what we have on ground now. That is a FACT.





Lastpage!

kino47:
NA ONLY THAT RED SHIRT BRABUS GET wearing it both at foundation and decking am sure he is wearing it today sef

Its a "Site Uniform"..... You dedicate some "strong wears" for tough site jobs.



Lastpage!

n3xt:
So bro's how come all other buildings in the area survived with strip on pad foundation.

They were all pushing the water away from them. The building beside pushed its water into the land using a pipe buried beneath ground. The building is always dry except during the rains.


The last pics posted has a building near it advertised for sale because it's completely useless to the owner as it has sank beyond flood level. It's a crazy swamp with roots!

I don't joke with water in the foundation or the roof!

________

So because it's Apple vs orange, the right preventative measures should be ignored.


Brabus

Noooo, that is not what l mean!

I was saying you cant say 'This building used Pile foundation, yet it sank", to justify that piled buildings too can sink.
I then responded that if that happens, it is beacuse the PILE FAILED.... not properly done.

I have seen some so-called PILE done on Nairaland and l am not very convenient with the process used.

Just one of them, if on very bad land, MAY Fail in future.

Ofcourse, taking the right preventive measures is a pre-requisite.



Lastpage!

babalose:
@podosci.....it's like a norm in Nigeria for most clients to make a few alterations to their plans when the construction is going on BUT it now depends on the builder to know if the foundation in place can accommodate such alterations. I have made alterations to my own build several times but I always seek the consent of the builder because in this case, he is the one that is meant to be the professional.
Hardly anyone can claim to be innocent of this regard.

That is the key Sir!

"Consent" of someone who we believe knows better and will take responsibility when yaawaa-gazz!
If he disagrees, we should let him over-rule us.

I do same too .... but l make sure l dont over-rule the professionals, except where l am sure 100%, and l bear the responsibility.



Lastpage!

abdulwastecx:
Mr lastpage not all cases it is economical to get to a solid bearing strata that can carry the building load. The beauty of engineering is there is a solution to most problem, pile can also be friction piles by skin friction between piles and contact surface with the soil where the bedrock is too deep and it will not be economical to meet the bedrock with good bearing capacity capable to support the structure.
In summary, we have two type of pile in this regard, namely:
End bearing piles and friction piles.

U and Podosci are Very Correct Sir!
I was just trying to be brief, for the purpose of this discussion.

Did you take a look at the "environment' of that build when the foundation was being dug (from pictures provided)?
Would you do an ordinary raft (not even an inverted T-raft) on that soil, if you were to "play-safe"?



Lastpage!


Oga Abdulwastexc, nor dey put "Mr." behind my username, l beg!
Just Lastpage will do, .......though l understand.

n3xt:
@ lastpage,


Here's another Brabus Project in a more challenging terrain.

Foundation type: Raft
Fixes applied: Water exclusion


The client bought fillings that I cannot just talk about. We went ahead to redo the raft foundation securing the perimeters not minding what the old neighbours had done on their fences. The client bought pumping machine and everything and anything that will help him secure his property. This came at extra cost but everything is done at the foundation stage. At a point he left to come back and continue after securing the property.

The building is owned by one of us here and I can tell you it is standing tall among equals.

No soil test! Maybe the client is lucky implementing the fixes recommended by a fluke and not ignoring them.

My brother Brabus,

You are comparing "Apples with Oranges" here!

You are only looking at the surface Water..... you are not considering the fact that just below that water surface, at a distance of less than 10ft below ground level, this particular land can be HARD ROCK!
It could also just be water-logged because it is a fenced land without any Drainage hence it is retaining water inside after the rains

Qc-1's land[b] is PURE SWAMP! Pure Mangrove Swamp![/b]

I thought you said you have lived on Water or close to water before? I am not talking about that type of Ikorodu Water (Ocean)
I am talking about Bariga, Orile, Mende in Maryland, Makoko, e.t.c type of Swamp.

You can identify them by the type of Plants that grow in those places: Short palms (the useless ones that dont produce palm wine but thongs), that leaf that floats on water (cant remember the English name roght now but Yorubas call it "Oju-ooro, Osibata", Plants with stilt-roots that keep the body of the plant above water, brackish-salty water, e.t.c.

I can bet this is the situation on ground in that place.

That other man was just lucky he had good soil underneath the top soil!

Only a Soil test can tell you definitively, the type of foundation you can safely use.
Any other thing is guess work.... and this is the result.



Lastpage!

babalose:
@brabus...when you take on a build and you advice a client to do something and he refuse. You should always allow the client to sign a document clearly stating that you are excluded from the ramifications of his decision. This will save you from a lot of problems in future.

@qc1....if brabus really adviced you, why did you go further to continue the work without following his advice?

BRABUS, FOR THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T ENSURE THAT THE CLIENT SIGN'S SUCH AN AGREEMENT TO EXONERATE YOU, ALL BLAME POINTS TO YOU. LEGALLY, AS IN THIS CASE...YOU ARE THE BUILDER AND YOU ARE TO BLAME

Baba,

You are dwelling into the real of legalese..... and its not that "clean-cut".

In Law, liability can be "vicarious" where more than one Actor is involved.

Sir, let me pose a question: if Contractor says "sign" that you refused to follow my instruction ...
and Client says "I am not signing anything to you".
*What recourse does such Contractor have? can he force Client/owner to sign?
*if he cant, can he still be held liable on the basis that he does not hold an "indemnity" document?

This is where Lawyers on both sides begin to "chop and deceive" their clients.

It gets complicated even more, as we dig-down into the nitty-gritty.



Lastpage!

Qc1:
^^^

I'm just the owner of the house not a builder, so Bosun looked at the house in the neighborhood and came up with the foundation.
I don't evevn know that is called "Raft" before I hired him to build my dream home.

As you can see, all he has done is to make noise here on the internet. Because he has showed no remorse, that's why I may take a legal action. There's one "agbaya" here that everyone on this thread hate so much, and he will push Bosun into a ditch with his encouragement.

Bros,

I am really sorry for the experience you are having.
I am not given to hiding words behind my tongue and that is why l lay it open like no one has done on this thread.
I understand that peopel dont want to offend you .....or Brabus!

But we all cant keep quiet and act like we dont know what went wrong!

Both You and Brabus made a lot of "serious mistakes"! I wont rehash all those mistakes again.
I am sure you did not do a Soil test and you were not "advised to do it" by those who designed your building (Not the Builder!, l am referring to Architects and Structural Engineers), who should have suggested this to you as very important.

Brabus himself just went ahead and start building (l dont know what informed his choice of Raft foundation.... not even an inverted T-raft?)
But to make matter worse, you were also in a hurry to finish it and did not consider the "LOAD and Soil type" so much so you even loaded Parapet on it!

"We all fall down but when we do, we must look back (to know what tripped us) and then rise up and walk again".
You must be strong!
The fall of a man is not the end of his life.
Where this money came from, more than ten folds of it is still coming
(Thank God you are not knocking on old age like me and my good friend Egun! Okay, see as trouble siddon jeje, l dey go find am? )

God-willing, You will build something bigger than these, IJN.... but you need to take a deep breath and ....
just make fun of yourself! Its a therapy method.
When matter pass crying, we simply turn it to laughter!

Dont dissipate your energy into "Lawsuits" (contrary to what most people will advise you! ).
It is not about whether you will win or not, its about maximising your energy for productive purposes.
I am saying this because l really feel your pain but my thoughts are very clear, is not beclouded by anger!

Dont waste more money unnecessarily, on a very bad situation. be cautious about all these promise of 'miracle" to float the building.
Short of if somebody promise they would put 20,000 air-filled Drums under the building


[b]Worst case scenario:[/b] Move Upstairs for now. Forget Ground floor.
Keep working and save more money (why you need not be distracted by lawsuits!).
Buy land on Solid ground (Red Soil as l use to say).... and give yourself a two-to-five year period to build a better building.

The advantages of this approach is that you can have peace of mind, normal blood pressure and focus your "energy and mind" on making more dough.
You will look back on this situation in ten years time, when you are in a bigger Mansion,... and LAUGH, ....and remember one person said so.

Just in-case, l have told myself to "Gbenue'soun" but l wont mind if you told me the same thing.

Good Morning.



Lastpage!

where is Madam Gabbytabby? She is one person whose words l take and swallow, hook, line and sinker! I love that madam-die!!

podosci:
A simple geothecnic test would have revealed the soil bearing capacity, settlement rate, soil profile and water level, The geothecnic Engineer would have specified a foundation type after considering economy and durability. The test wouldnt have cost upto N150,000 - N200,0000 and saved both the client and the builder the stress.
I recommend in the future, Builders and clients should put it in writing that a soil test was not performed and the builders/structural engineers are not responsible from any eventual settlement of the soil leading to eventual failure of the house. According to barry in his book (construction of buildings Volume 1) he states that engineers usually overdesign foundations to avoild being sued by the clients for settlement of their houses.
Foundation is a wide subject that encompasses both the soil that withstands the load of the strucutre and the Reinforced concrete /Plain concrete layed on the soil. There are different types of foundation and every foundation was created to cater for different soil conditions. Apart from the common strip, raft, pile and pad, there are other specialized foundations done for special purposes like i read about an adjustable foundation in australia where you can use hydraulic pumps to raise the level of your house once its has settled considerably.
RAFT Foundation is a spread foundation that involves escavating the soil down to a part of the soil profile a soil with suitable beraing capacity can be met. And its with that bearing capacity that the RAfT foundation is designed uppon. Most properly done Raft have a basement due to the dept of the excation.
Any raft built without a soil test means the raft was not designed. Not designing your raft foundation is like walking on glass without shoes. There are different types of raft (not 1 board, 2 board). Each type depends on the load of the srructure and the bearing capacity for design.
PIle foundation from your soil test if you discover the dept of your firm strata is far down into ground and excavating that debt to lay your raft foundation would be uneconomical or unsafe then you opt for a pile foundation.
A Pile foundation works on two priciples, first principle is fiction between the pile and the soil. Second is drilling your pile into the ground until you meet a firm strata.

Ecocomy and structural intergrity is considered before any foundation type is selected. All foundation are designed to carry an estimated amount of load based on a specific bearing capacity. Even the strip foundation is designed to determine the width and thickness of the strip.

You see wetin l talk before?


@Podosci (I hope you are not that Arsenal centre forward? )

what is your opinion on my post to Brabus, on the "choice of Foundation", in the post where he differed his response to experts like you?



Lastpage!

n3xt:
Sir lastpage, I'm not an engineer, not even learned in a related field, but I know exactly what I'm doing.

I know you're not one either so those theories you're posh laying above are just what you think.

Displacement first occur at the bedrock. It occurs at the liquified layers. I'm a geography student and had wanted all my life to be a geologist.
You'll never see any bridge built in running water whether it has 1000ft deep pile or not. Do you agree? And why? PRESSURE!

Baba, make I no too talk.



The building in the attached is si.ting on pile. What happened?

You must TALK o!
otherwise, how de we learn from each other?
The only way not to repeat past mistakes (of yourself or others) is to LEARM.

Me, l am not too old to learn, even from my youngest daughter! I tale time to kneel down and here kids talk, because l learn something from looking into their eyes when they talk.
try it one day.

First, remember, you are a Computer Sc. graduate........ not a Geography graduate!

Secondly, what you saw in that building was as a result of a FAILED PILE (broken set of Piles, on one side of the building, concurrently or consequentially ).
Its like sitting a house on Stilts. if one of the supporting stilts get broken (and with a weight as heavy as that of a house), expect that you will have a Leaning Tower of Pissa (Copyright @Brabus).


Now, before l get lost, explain what you mean by:

1.) Running Water

2.) Liquified Soil

3.) Displacement (in the context of this issue of Buildings, Piles and Bridges.)


But if the water under the 3rd mainland Bridge is moving (both on-top and under currents, which you can see if yo stand on top of that Bridge), l consider that as "running/moving water".

But maybe you mean something different and l may learn from your own explanation so dont let me jump the gun.



Lastpage!

n3xt:
The bolded part in red above sums up the problem. Even a pile foundation will be displaced in a liquified soil.
This explains why soil stabilization is very critical in foundation design.

It should be the builders decision to a large extent but I'm not willing to discuss that now because even when the builder took a drastic decision to stop work, the owner chooses to continue work.


Brabus.


_______
I'm responding to this for educational purpose and not a project defense. Neither is it to proof who is right or wrong but for learning purpose.

I understand what you are driving at.

Thats why l concluded that "we need prayers" for that house.


I am very much with you on learning and exchange of ideas.

For educational purposes, let me point out that the bolded above, in your statement is not supported by Engineering principles, IMO.

Let me explain:

- The idea behind a Pile foundation is to insert Piles into the ground, to the point where the load-bearing capacity of the soil is STRONG ENOUGH, to withstand the CALCULATED/ANTICIPATED Live and Dead loads, of the building. (As established by a Soil Test result)
This is the work of the structural Engineer, using the Architectural drawings and Soil Test results, as guide.
It is on these group of PILES that the building's foundation, sits on.

if the above is TRUE, then it is safe to say that the Pile foundation is actually not "on a liquefied soil" since it is sitting on solid ground, (well below the poor surface soil) and is therefore expected to suffer non ......or very minimal settlement, but certainly not a 'differential' type/nature.

If by "Soil Stabilization", you mean "soil loading and compaction", this is only useful where the soil itself is strong enough to an appreciable degree, at a low depth (typically < or = 12ft) ...... as against a Swamp where whatever soil is loaded on the "Muddy Swamp", will sink under its own weight (denser than Swamp mud) ..

... unless the Swamp mud can be completely excavated from the site.
This ofcourse, will likely be uneconomical (especially for a private house) due to the depth of the unstable Swamp mud, below ground which would need to be removed and replaced.
In certain cases that l was privy to, we are looking at upwards of 70ft before a stable ground is encountered.
Now, imagine the cost, if we are to excavate the 'foot print' of a building to that depth.... and replace it with stable soil, after which we need to compact such again!

BTW: Where is @Abdulwastexc, when you need him?


Am learning a lot from this.





Lastpage!

I just saw the below in Brabus's diary of the same QC1 house.

https://www.nairaland.com/1338637/chateau-ile-oluji-construction-journal/44#20528892

Which makes me to conclude that Brabus could have done this really?

Question is: Why was this not done? .... even if a Pile cannot be done, it can be done on a very wide inverted-T Raft.
Hopefully, if the "load/Weight" of the house was then properly managed, it might just sink a little before the various laws of "Fluids and Upthrust" come into play

Would that be a decision of the Builder .... or the Client?







Lastpage!

AZUH:
@ egungaji Don't worry lastpage is coming for you . Let me get your picture first . Alaka of sambisa forest . @ lastpage what village are you from be honest " I don't understand your existence at all """" sometimes you get mad easily n sometime happy . The economy is also affecting you ? I think it's only agarawu my niccur

You been drink too much last night o, Azuh!!

First, l dont 'go' for people!
Despite our differences, which fortunately is based on principles, l do respect EgunMogaji (Yes, that is how yo should spell it ..with a capital "E" and a capital "M" and stop being a runt! ) as a person.
The Sky is big enough for us, to coexist without rubbing feathers. You know Men dont hold grudges for that long.


As for you "understanding my existence" , it depends whether you have put me into a certain "box" based on your own perception of me but which unfortunately, who l am exactly! I dont even get annoyed that much though l am sensitive to snide comments .....and sound enough to identify one, no matter how coyly designed.

Only a liar will say the economy is not affecting him or her ..... but it snow a question of whether it is "positive-effect' or "negative-effect".
Even if just for the sake of folks that l know or have sympathy for, seeing them lament over the rate of inflation, lack of "business", cost of fuel and no electricity, ....."affects me" badly because l have feelings for the sufferings of others.



Lastpage!

AZUH:
@egunmojagi i was busy today , thanks for asking . i was busy with the president i want further devaluation of naira .

Aaahhzzuuuka ........for President!
Phee-Deee-Fheeeeeee.... Fhaawer!




Lastpage!

@Brabus,

Honestly, you fall hand small for this project of QC1!.... because you are the "professional here.
I know knowledge is not as much as we have today, back then ....but l cant make such excuse

Do you know why l said so?

I have not followed the thread of this project, so l never knew the history of the build until you posted those links in your last posts.

So, l went to check whether it was really true that you made all this "observations and recommendations" from the onset.
You know some people can lie, ehn?

Well, it is true you made those observations, so you are not lying ....... but


But you know what?
I did not see ANYWHERE in that thread, where you ADVICED QC1 that he needed to:

1.) Do a Soil test to confirm the type of foundation required

2.) You both just assumed that a 4-board raft should be adequate.


But where l fault you more is that looking at the pictures you posted, more so when you said you started work in that site in the middle of a DRY SEASON.... it should have occurred to you that NOTHING SHORT OF A PILE, WITH A FLOATING RAFT, WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THAT PLACE.

*The Pile is to ensure that the weight of the building rests on a firm sub-soil such that it will not sink .......noticeably.
*The Floating raft (which will be on-top of the Pile-heads, will ensure that run-off water can pass underneath (like a bridge) without affecting the walls of the building..... even if they divert third mainland bridge water to the side of your building.

But then, l know you are not an Architect or a Structural Engineer and you did not design the building.
One Structural Engineer must have specified the type of foundation given to the builder, to implement.... so, l can heap all the blame on you

I am not a builder, just a lay-man ....... but l have "observed' a few builds of my own .....(plus that of others).... and one of them was in such a nasty environment as this one! So, l think l can make a little comment like this, using my own experiences.

I feel really sad about this house....l really feel sad!

Infact, this house needs PRAYERS.
[b]*That vegetation you are seeing, is indicative of a SWAMP topography! Not just a "soft-soil" but a Swamp!
I hope we all know what l mean by SWAMP? Anyone who has lived in the low-land part Niger Delta, should educate us about SWAMP, please!

I have seen it swallow many Storey buildings.

*In cases l have seen, First, the ground floor will be converted to filling when it gets to the point where one can no longer fill it again (Filling don pass window level! )
*Secondly, after a while, the Upper floors becomes a Bungalow which eventually will still go (depending on where the hard Soil that has the bearing capacity is encountered.[/b]

Dont think l am an alarmist o, God spear our life, l hope we can all come back to read this post of mine, in about ten years time.
Bookmark it.

In the late 60's, a "family member" of ours had a land like this and l can remember back then, how they continued to spend money, upon money on the house on it .... and like what Yorubas call "Agbaa'noo" , it just kept swallowing it because the foundation of the house was wrong and they was not advised properly, that the ONLY solution is to demolish it, do a proper foundation and rebuild.

One "Money-miss-road" even came later and instead of him to learn from our own mistake and heed the advise my we gave him, he quickly built a Storey building within about 3-months .....but l tell you, that building went "completely underground" in less than eight years!
Till today, there is no building on that his land (owner don die and his children decided such "Agbaa'noo is not for them), its a church that just put some ramshackle on it.

Somebody should have told QC-1, that he needs a PILE, for that foundation!
I dont know for sure if somebody did and he dismissed it .....but my guess is that he was not told
I am not even talking about the surface run-off flood or pipe channelled onto his land nor the underground water you mentioned.

PROGNOSIS:

1.) A complete Rebuild, with proper foundation (Pile with Floating raft) - costly but most reliable and cost effective in the long run.

2.) Patches here and there to keep it afloat - will help to manage cash-flow for now, keep a roof over owner's head but a waste of money in the long run because "money used to maintain it within the next five years" will be enough to start another build to at least a Decked, Bungalow level.

If anyone tells you that building has stopped sinking, say l, Lastpage! said l would have a bet that "if they can measure its height above ground now (accurately), 10% of that value, at a minimum, will be below ground by this time next year"!

I am speaking based on the foundation pictures l saw (Nobody is God! ...and with God, nothing is impossible; that is why l said above, that "We need Prayers".

My Prayer is that God will provide more Money for QC1, to surmount this challenge.
If l were him, l will start thinking ahead and not let anyone fool me that they can do one miracle on this building
Brabus cant, l cant, No one can..... without pulling it down.
Anything done is just a "patch-patch" ......which will waste more money on a futile effort.




Lastpage!

Caveat: I am sorry if you find my post "uncomfortable", especially the Client nd Brabus l am used to calling "A Spade, A Spade".
Most people wont say what l have said "openly" but l am sure inside most of us, we know this truth.
Its just not in my nature and those close to me know this
Am sorry.

abdulwastecx:
That is a very import and fatherly advice from Mr lastpage, one o dB the reason why this forum is great. .. we learn a lot from out mistake to be better people. I love this message and I wish we could all borrow on or two things from this. This post is not only directed at Mr brabus but all the builders here on property section.

Thank you for your maturity sir

Thank you for your kind words Sir,

We all strive to be a better person.



Lastpage!

AntiWailer:
It is not low self esteem.

With that other rubbish passport you would be treated like criminal any where you enter.

With Canadian Passport you will enter plenty countries without embarrassment from their Visa Office.

Don't be fooled all the politicians you fight for have multiple passports. Even your Senate President , Oyo STate Governor etc.

This is very TRUE and you'll be shocked almost all your Senators have dual citizenship for themselves and children!

Its an irony that the people dieing and fighting on behalf of politicians dont realize this!




Lastpage!