NextHome: Hi Nairaland Spambot,

Please kindly release my ID. I can post with the ID on other threads except this one.

Thank you while awaiting earliest resolve.

Brabus.

Sorry to Spambot.Your clarification on slab area.

spyder880: Just finished pegging, digging of this foundation is very much in progress as we type.....

Welldone. More grease to your elbow.

Ytechconst: more

Welldone. Are u going to share project cost for learning as well? What the proj duration?

brabus: The concrete pour took around 5 hours (9:40am - 2:45pm), although it should have been completed in 4 hours 30 minutes. The main delay was caused by the iron bender who is notorious for these sorts of slides.

We poured 73 cubic meters, the slab was 6in thick over an approximate area of 348 square meters. Now we need to cure the slab with water. However, I've got a workaround to the 3 days spraying with water. Read next post...

Brabus, I have followed this thread silently. You stated the approximate area for the slab is 348 square mtrs. Looking at the pictures, is the house area up to that? Simply put, this house is as big as 2std units of 3BR flats. I am just wondering?

spyder880: After clearing this site, we have bought and currently building a work shelter in this site starting from today. More pictures soon.

Congratulations. Present o. Happy to resume to class early.

Joyconnect: Hi Mr omanzo02,
You have to be careful not to compare European regulations and standards to African's particularly Nigerian building planning and construction standards. The tools available for fire fighting, detection and prevention are rigorous over there compared to what is obtainable in Africa. So, if the European laws demand that you even use two crutches as a mean of escape should there be an outbreak of fire, be rest assured that you will safely be out of the premises within a reasonable time. This is unlike what we have in place in Africa where in an event of fire outbreak, some neighbors will be running helter skelter with nothing in hand but buckets of water while others will be praying but then there is no hope that the fire engine will be at the scene.

I asked the question out of curiosity of what I see around and what I believe should be reasonable. I was not expecting spyder to discuss details of his project. In the design I gave to my architect to develop, I didn't consider the idea of second exit. On second thought, I feel it will be better to have another exit.

tonyflez: call now this is the right time to buy...Bleep

Tonyflez, any offer from Ogombo this yr? Locations and price ranges. Thanks.

spyder880: My boys cleared the new site of grass this morning, just before you say its getting many, this house is just meters away from the above project. Quite within earshot of each other, as I am already stationed in this neighborhood, same workers, same arrangements and suppliers will make this new project very simple.

A new thread is set to go up early next week on this, meanwhile, picture of the cleared site.

Well done.

spyder880: Still working on the windows here, casting the second stage concrete. Work continues here by tomorrow.

Spyder, pls let me ask a simple question? For most duplex design seen around, it is only one staircase available within. In case of emergencies, say fire or theft @ ground floor, how can one escapes? Will it not be better to have another stair for emergency exit from the building? Share ur thought.

spyder880:

God bless you, thank you bros.

Present o. Anywhere spyder goes, students follow. Learning is never enough. We are now on triple dose (PH, Enugu & Owerri experiences) to heal real estate diseases. Thanks for sharing.

spyder880: To God be all the whole glory!

This is to announce that we are growing in branches, the ministry is surely expanding and we are expanding with it.

Owerri here we come again! I have just been commissioned to commence a 6 bedroom duplex in a town very close to Owerri. Terms and conditions have all been agreed to and we are going to start the building in the next few days. A new thread will be created for this new house very soon.

We look forward to a good working experience in Owerri. Thank you my people for all your support.

I saw this after sending out my msg. Definitely, reward for goodness is goodness. Goodness from God and man by every possible means. You & other guys who share building learnings in this forum may not know how you meaningfully contributing to other people.Congratulations.

spyder880:

My man, lets keep the costs aside as we do this, later on we shall come back to it.

Spyder et al, I need ur input on the estimate I just received for decking 4BR duplex & 4flats 3BR. To deck approx 27m X 11.5m (4 flats) & 11.5m X 9.5m (duplex), I was given N5.1M for materials & labour (excluding electrical & plumbing). Based on learning from various threads and this current one, I know the estimate is on high side. Can I get rough estimate from anyone? In alternative, can I know how to determine total (quantity & sizes)rods needed for these deckings and prefarable concrete mix (1:2:3,1:2:4 or 1:3:6).

omonuan:

Hey Spyder maybe you don't need to buy gravel. This may be a blessing in disguise to your client. On a serious note, why won't the owners of land at that location not mine the gravel? It seems like the house is sitting on a gold mine, I mean gravel mine.

True talk but I doubt the quantity can last a while. You can't compare this to other area where mountain is blasted to get gravels.

gottliebglobal:
Like these

Nice wares. The concern is how durable are they? Kindly share the link to ur thread after opening it. Discussion can continue from there.

Eid Mubarak to everyone. I pray Allah accept all our ibadat and sacrifices (amin)

spyder880: side

Welldone. The speed with quality is unimaginable. Lets go.

I have to welcome myself on board. No be only warri no dey carry last.

chinosxl:

@ lawali,

Are you building in P/H or Lagos?

Ibadan.

mufutau55:

Goes both ways.. advantages and disadvantages.. It's big problem especially if you are not personally there to monitor it, as in case with most of us in diaspora. You cannot totally trust anyone to do the right thing, even your own immediate family members.. I will surely keep this mind when I am ready for my decking.. If I smell something fishy, I wouldn't mind just going for the full monty (price), using my own new woods. Thanks for the education guys.

Hajji Mufutau

Hajji Mufutau, Trying to reach u. Can u forward (to ayobolawal@yahoo.com)the contact no for those that do rent planks & other materials for decking. Thanks.

prince_onx:
I have heard of people doing it like this! Half and half but I don't think it's advisable. I strongly believe that the best is to knock it out one time and move on to the next level.

I don't think it safe to do decking in pieces too.I believe crack can form and progressed to cause building collapse. It's better to save up and complete one-off. piece by piece casting is better managed on foundation.

mufutau55:

Thanks Brother. Got it and replied.. Will keep in touch. I owe you one anytime.

Hajji Mufutau

Bro, I am also interested in the contact as am also at the decking stage.I will mail u on that. But on second thought, I have read that decking from repeated use of same materials (especially wood) does notmlook to good. The base of the deck looks undulating due to deformed wood surface. I dont know how far this is true? Can someone help to clarify? It may be good to save money but the quality must not be compromised.

spyder880: I am leaving PH this morning to return to Enugu for a break/waiting for the deck to cure for some days.

I am also using this opportunity to thank everybody who has made our stay in PH to be memorable, our Oga, the boys and the neighbors. We shall come back shortly to continue this house. Thank you everybody.

Welldone for achievement so far. More cement to ur conrete. Waiting to move to higher level together. Wish u save journey and happy stay with family.

Already in the class. Waiting for class teachers.

spyder880: I love building houses, and the attendant challenges that will inevitably come with it. I love making things happen, and working with skilled men to use materials in creating beautiful designs that will make a superb home. I have just been contracted by a Nairalander to build his house in Port Harcourt. The details are as follows;

Project: A 5 bedroom executive duplex
Client : A Nairalander
Duration: 60 days
Project cost: N8.8m (Foundation-roofing, materials and labour)
Contractor: Ckenneths Homes Nig.

This project will start this week as we arrange to travel down to the city and start work. This house comes with all the latest designs in modern building, granite, decent room arrangement with bigger bedrooms, internal plumbing and electricals, special parapet cornice, stone coated roofing tiles, everything.......

Spyder, taking you back to where it all started. I belief you are half way there. The boys landed PH on Jun 26 and today is Jul 28. I intended reminding u on Jul 26, to give a quick rundown on budget and delivery (duration)for this project. Considering the stage, I want to believe the project as planned can be delivered on duration but not on budget based on challenges & changes at the start.Over to u the main man

spyder880: This was where we stopped today, tomorrow we continue on different fronts, see you tomorrow. Gnight folks

Spyder welldone for good job and keeping on track. Ur masion has overtaken mine at this stage. When money talks, idea will keep quiet. But,I observed most of the windows are one coach from DPC (hope am right). Why are they built that way? I know in the past window starts from 4 coaches from DPC and gradually reduced to 3 for better ventillation. Is it that the window is now down to one coach? Apart from no privacy, is it really safe?

elvis07: Pls wat kind of fees is all this, pls can some1 clarify this fees pls and let us also know if dis is peculiar to PH only.

As far as I know, most of these fees are not required. Except this is happening recently in PH and I believe many of the fees listed should be for getting CofO. The most common fee i know everyone pays in PH is fencing permit and nothing more. Spyder is likely to furnish with most recent update on this as man on ground.

Spyder, I sent u a mail. Hope u have time to reply. Thanks

spyder880:

You can make any kind of adjustment atop the DPC taking the foundation plan and floor plan into consideration. Both has to work together. The adjustment may not be to enlarge or compress the sizes of rooms but to reset doors and windows from the earlier planned positions to new position. You can choose to make some doors wider than planned or smaller depending on recent tastes and realities. The height of windows could also be adjusted up or down at this stage.
You can decide to open a new door to a passage or close a connecting door to a particular room/section of the house. That is the type of adjustment I mean.

Well said pro. I was trying to force my builder to make certain places bigger by reducing other area. He stood is ground that he wont do that. To him by experience that contribute to wall cracks. I could understand better now. On the black cellophane, you just throw me another idea. For those of us building in raining season, it is a good one to avoid loses.

spyder880: bend down guys, using 3 different sizes of blocks here,

are u using 3 different types of block? What are the conditions or limitations of usage of particular block type at ground floor? I actually want my builder to use 6" blocks in inner area to achieve more space in the internals but he insisted using 9" because of the decking, he prefers bigger blocks to support the columns to carry the weight. Is this not overkill or over design? I just feel all the columns at ground floor should be able to carry the decking.

Od31:

I also picked a very vita point too. the same thing happened to me, when I visited my site, there are some extension/addition of walls beyond what is on the building plan even without consulting me he(my builder/engr went ahead to make extensions/addition. Spyder did the right thing, any extension or addition should be discussed with the owner of the project, because it may add to the overall cost of construction besides other things.

I am happy to say, this thread and Spyder idea of showing one coach of block to client actually moved (or should I say jet) me to my site early today. I could say it was a worthwhile journey. I was able to get explanations for some changes to plan and also highlight some corrections that would have been late if not done now. Putting learning into act. Grateful to spyder for sharing.

spyder880:

Very difficult to say, its all in the building plans and the specifications. Guessing will not help us at all.

Can I share details with you via ur mail? Believe u can be of help. If so, ur e-mail pls.

spyder880: The whole foundation of this house, site preparation (including buying the tanks of water, building the workers rest place/site store), from the first day we set foot on this site till this evening, materials, labour, logistics, etc, etc, cost a whopping sum of N3.4 million Naira. I will provide a breakdown as soon as I can.

NB. I also like to add, that there are still some materials which were supposed to be used up in this first stage which are still remaining at the site, we still have some granite, sand, blocks remaining.

Spyder, pls I need ur help and advise at this point. By calculation, using rule of thumb, can I multiply the cost of foundation excluding DPC(of 4 coaches ) 3 times to get an estimate for entire block work(12 coaches) to roof/decking level? Assuming I spent N1M for 4 coaches foundations (no raft, just block), my entire block works with columns & lintels shouldn't cost more than N3M. Also, if I spent N1M for my DPC, by rule of thumb, I believe my decking shouldn't be more than N1.5M. Pls advise as I need to engage my builder.