₦airaland Forum

Qc1:
[/b]

Stop being silly. This is the second time you're going to ask me the same question. I politely kept quiet the first time thinking you will come to your senses. You specifically asked for ikorodu area and I chose to help because my house in Nigeria isn't far from that particular area. Since when it became a crime to help? Don't you ever insult me! This is the exact reason I mind my business here and read silently. You guys just think everyone in here are teenagers, there are people over 50s here too that are keen to learn. If your are in Canada then you should know how to use google map!

Keep your age to your pocket! You don't know my age either,so stop being childish with age debate!
You posted nothing and I didn't particularly solicit your assistance. I asked everyone here like everybody does.

I have had time to go through your posts and I have come to the conclusion that you are an hypocrite. I don;t need your service,take it elsewhere.

In any case,I got what I needed from ANBAKO, he gave a phone number (not some vague,childish help that meant nothing).

akinolaolujide:
I clearly understand you but our market here is quite different, please make no mistake let me repeat that i have never said it can not be done. please dont misunderstand me. i love good Job but most clients no dey put their mouth where their money dey. i have been priviledge to have a few designs oon banana island u need to see the quality of the finishes all done locally. from tiling to P.O.P to painting e.t.c All am saying is if you are willing to pay bross there is quality services everywhere here in naija.

Let me ask some questions here

1. Who is not willing to pay for what service?

2. Are you using your experience as an extrapolation tool for the construction industry in Nigeria? Do you have any data to buttress the fact that people are not willing to pay?

3. When you say "our market here",it makes it look like people who live outside Nigeria don't know what is on ground. You'd be amazed that many people know even much more than people at home. In any case, a forum like nairaland offers that bridge.

4. People who want to pay nothing for goodand services are everywhere, they are not limited to Nigeria alone. What is the correlation between paying nothing for something worthwhile and compromising standards? Shouldn't it be,if you're not willing to pay,
you won't get the service and standards can never be compromised?

5. I seem to be getting a feeling from you with what you wrote that because people are not willing to pay or that they want free service is reason to compromise standards.

6. That people are seeking for the best for nothing/cheaply is not a sin. What is a sin is compromising standards simply because the client wants to pay nothing!

Let me give you a personal experience.

I used to work for a service company on Osborne road Ikoyi Lagos years back. We were to engage the service of a carpenter for some bespoke furniture in the office as the office was newly acquired from the Japanese embassy at the time. Amongst those who bided for the contract was a Nigerian who looked so simple but sophisticated during presentation. He presented a 3D version of what the office was to look like after service delivery.During presentation, he kept on tweaking the prototype as we were condemning and commending his work. In the end,he got the contract,he delivered and we never ceased praising this guy.Nobody comes to the office without taking a second look at the furniture with a difference. He got many contracts from that job. I cannot forget the wicanda flooingr this guy delivered. This was a Nigerian in the midst of several other companies, many of them foreign companies.

EgunMogaji:
For point #4, the primary building construction workers are from South America, primarily Mexico.

I agree with you, especially in North America.

wanaj0:
Thanks for the insightful post. You however need to ask why the 'small' builders don't use such techniques. It is simplistic to think it is just because they are lazy like so many people opine to here.

The first thing is standardisation. For you to go for prefab, you must have standard materials/dimensions. Wood in Nigeria are NOT in standard sizes. So the first step is to have wood 'factory' that produce standard sizes of wood of the right quality. You may want to invest in that if you are a Nigerian.

Next thing is logistics of getting materials to sight in Nigeria. You need to check access roads to some site.

You also have the cost for rigging and lifting. Lifting operations is one of the most hazardous work! Check out people working at height in Nigeria and see whether such will be acceptable in most parts of the world.

I always use scaffolding as a good example. Why do we use bamboo as scaffolding instead of iron?

My opinion:

It's a matter of choice considering so many factors....

Nothing is wrong in using bamboo as scaffold. It's a matter of safety, cost efficiency and innovation.

I look forward to a day where, like shoprite (or a typical high class supermarket in Nigeria),you can walk into a store and buy all manners of building materials in one shop like the IKEA of this world,homebase,BHS,BuildBase etc

money121:
Tell them awon baba ilu Oyibo forming here on Nairaland as if we care to know they worth...
Awon omo oju ori Ola ri

1.There's absolutely nothing wrong in staying "abroad" if you choose to and nothing is wrong in staying in the remotest part of Nigeria. They both offer advantages and disadvantages, it's a matter of choice. To each his own.

2. Flaunt what you got and be proud of it. If you think anyone is oppressing you with everything "abroad", you can intimidate the person with what you've got that they don't have "abroad". To each his own

3. Where you call home is where you find peace, either abroad or in the village. To each his own

4. Nigeria is blessed no doubt, so is "abroad". That you are abroad is not a yardstick for success neither is it being the village headmaster in Nigeria.

5. "Abroad" has a lot to learn from us and we have a great deal to learn from "abroad". Cross-fertlization of ideas shouldn't be seen as flaunting affluence offered by "abroad".

Moving forward, the discuss is about building construction and how we stand to benefit from the exchange of ideas that if offers not about wealth, not about intimidation and not about the dichotomy of abroad and Nigeria.

akinolaolujide:
Well spoken sir and i agree with you but bear in mind i had said same earlier that for willing clients all these are possible. This is not even a new innovation as we are made to believe.
As a professional i crave for perfection over the years i have seen the atitude of most clients towards professionals and artisans alike. I just dont subscribe to the direct criticism our artisans are doing the best with what they have make clients self the encourage and stop seeing dem as only beggers and thieves.
There are many challenges facing these guys except we want to say we dont see it. Most clients will pay lebanese and chinese way more than a nigerian fir the same Job. Cost has everything to do with construction sir in construction there thee key components in project management cost time and quality. Its an industry issue no individual from the guy that cuts lumber to the saw miller we dont even have public kilns to get out this timbre even if you can gather and get one how do you power them . Its a vast chain that will take time to close. The fact still remains sir cost is a main decided cos if cost is not a factor most of you woyld have contracted Julius berger instead of skimaski

1. My brother, there are CHALLENGES EVERYWHERE! the degree of the challenges varies but it's not to say they don't exist.

2. The attitude of clients will not change. A typical client want the best for low cost. It's the same everywhere.

3.Exploring a cheap way of doing business is not totally bad. Everybody (business owners/contractors and clients/customers) is looking for better deal for low cost. But paying a premium for a service with a difference cannot be disputed.

4. Even in those so advanced countries (I said so called because in reality, they also have their challenges), they engage the services of Lebanese and Chinese (If you doubt me, check the back of your iPhone and tell me where it was assembled). You see, the challenges are similar but with a great deal of variance.

5. Most of our problems/challenges in Nigeria are self-inflicted. Let's not get into the economics of disparity in service charge but in all, we are all looking at benefitting from the advantages offered by comparative advantage but standards must never be compromised and an "It-can't-be-done" approach should be in the trash-can (for LAWMA if you want).

akinolaolujide:
Are u a white man, comprehension seems to be the problem here i think you should re-register for TOEFL maybe that will really help you. What do you understand in construction if its so easy oga lemme give you manual and you can climb up the roof and nail them urself. Is there not a clear difference between between furniture and carpentry.
For the intelligent people in the house i have not said its not possible all i have said is that will anyone that wants such be willing to foot the bills shikena. Please we all know there are grades of construction and you get what you paid for.( that is if you are not dealing with quacks)
For the curious minded for you to achieve roofing such as this even roofing system where only bolts and nuts are used for the joints is never the issue in naija seriously, issue is what is the clients spending power.
For instance u need a comprehensive set of drawings detailing each aspect of the construction from foundation works to roofing all this accounts for a high level of accuracy in the construction process all this comes with money you need surveying tools on site for alignments and levels, to check corners and plumbness. e.t.c
To my dear friend with comprehension issue people like you will go to sawmill you will buy your wood and keep complaining about poor workmanship.




I still retain my question are the clients willing to foot the bills as it is, if yes i can assure you all is possible. afterall all this people have family to feed and they cant do what will end them in debt just becos they want to impress a client.

Allow me to come in here. We can argue this intelligently without ass-smacking (except in a friendly way).

1. Nothing is impossible and whatever is of value doesn't come cheaply (I know you'd agree with that).

2 The argument is not about the cost as you seem to be over flogging that. The argument is a better and improved way of doing things differently (No one says it doesn't cost nothing). If the standard is to be followed and we as a country wants to play in the league of advanced nation,we should be prepared to pay the price (and I bet you people will pay, Nigerians have been known to be like that. If you doubt me, ask people who are still building during recession if the money was manna from heaven literarily).

3. Improvement and advancement come with a cost especially in the short-run but in the long run, efficiency of processes will reduce cost and the economy is going to be the better for it.

4. For professionals who know their onions, they carve a niche and trust me, there will be patronage. If you doubt me, remove the toga of impossibility, improve on your trade/profession by imbibing the "white man's" approach and you'd thank me later. Never ever say "Are you ready to pay for it?" (I see that rhetoric in many of your posts and it's nauseating, change that perception!). You know why people are talking Skimanski? Why people are talking Aventures? Why people are talking ArchitectB? Segcymoore, Abdulwastecx, podosci, segzy14 and the likes? They do common things uncommonly. They can do better but they have carved a niche! They will continue to have patronage (God Bless them).

5. Tell me one innovative way (white man's approach) you choose to carry out your trade/profession (by displaying some of your work here) and I'd tell you that you'd have succeeded in carving out a niche. Your work will speak volume and your market share will amaze you.

6. Never ever let money be a guide for what you do. Money is only a PART but not the WHOLE. Be creative and innovative first, name your price and your market share will swell.

7. If you must succeed, the cost is secondary. No one says you should charge a cut-throat price to show off your work. People have done it before and you can do better. Trust me, customers/clients are not unintelligent not to know they need to pay more for a more creative and innovative way of doing things.

8. From the foregoing, people will pay for standardised, creative and innovative way of doing things the state of the economy notwithstanding. They may haggle, but because yours is different,they'd pay something extra. Other professionals will be forced to adopt your style because they want a part of your market share and in the end,the economy is better. Be daringly creative and innovative. It is not cheap,we know that already!

Do not limit yourself by impossibilities that you create in your mind,they are ephemeral - Marilo.

Qc1:
I've told you the location. Get yourself there to talk to them yourself. I won't leave Canada to do that for you. Thanks.

Oga,you seem to be in a bad mood today...Who told you I am not in Canada (or anywhere else apart from Nigeria) as you are? You see why it's not good to jump the gun? I have asked for a favour,all I got back was some attitude! Come down of your high horse,you ain't feeding anyone here.

If I ask you a favour,you can choose to refuse but to be cunningly insultive is the last thing I expect from you. Thanks.

ANBAKO:
If you are around GBAGA, ijede, gberigbe you can call Iya Ibadan on 0803 405 8562.

You will thank me later!!!!

Thanks bro...I am not in the country at the moment but will ask my contact to get in touch with the person.

Qc1:
There is a manufacturer at Aga/sholebo in ikorodu

Can you please give me the contact details of the manufacturer or his address? (phone number will be most preferable though

md90:
HELLO FRIENDS
pls i want know pls.

Y12 rod as they usually say. is it the same with 12mm?

Y12 = 12mm

mufutau55:
Very good ones, if he can afford that. Not many people can afford that price o.
I really hope he had posted those doors when I was shopping for my doors. Too late now.

Hajji M.

Hajji I know what you mean,I just wanted to make him see varieties available. Those doors don't come cheap.

Hollasmall:
Hajj M.
I hail you sir have been following you on anything that has to do with building and it has really help me in my project right now am about to plaster but have been thinking of which door to use eaither imported doors or local door please advice sir. Wil like to talk to you on whatsapp if you don't mind sir

Dont gor too far,here it is https://www.nairaland.com/3691502/doors-cabinets-wardrobe-other-wood

abdulwastecx:
We are looking at around 4500 blocks for the ground floor.

All 225mm?

abdulwastecx:
Continuation columns for the ground floor.
Main reinforcement for columns are 4Y16
Length of main column reinforcement = 4m
Spacing of rings = 175mm
Diameter of rings =Y10

So far so fascinating!

What is your projection of the number of sancrete blocks for the groundfloor?

Obeseke:
It is a week today that I had sent you a text to your glo line; I have not got a response from you. This is aside the email dispatched via this forum to which you did not respond. Am I missing something? Thought you are in business!!!

That guy hardly respond and when he does, he comes with loads of excuses justifying his action. I think he responds to some set of people and ignores the others.His yardstick for this remains shrouded.

podosci:
The first picture is gravel. This is the one used for Building construction.
The second picture is commnonly called local stone, which is also a coarse aggregate. I am not familiar with the chemical properties to comment further on the stone.

A little bit of confusion....I have always known the first picture to be granite and the second one gravel.....Thanks all the same

podosci:
There is generally misconception about "GRAVEL and GRANITE"
Gravel.
"Gravel /ˈɡrævəl/ is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments"- wikipedia .Gravel is what is used for construction and is as different sizes ranging from granule to boulder size.
Granite.
"Granite (pronunciation: /ˈɡrænᵻt/) is a common type of felsic intrusive igneous rock that is granular and phaneritic in texture. Granites can be predominantly white, pink, or gray in color, depending on their mineralogy". This used for the production of tiles, countertops and other interior and exterior display of elegance

Using the attached,which one is gravel and which is granite...

abdulwastecx:
On the day of casting : arrival of materials.
We have two trip of 30 tonnage gravel, three trips of 20 tonnage sand, 500bags of Portland dangote cement and 1 trips of stone dust.

1. I would expect a project of this magnitude would require granite instead of gravel.Can you explain why you chose gravel instead?

2.I want to believe Portland Dangote cement is a mistake or is there an hybrid of portland and dangote cement in the market?

earthrealm:
so am wondering if anyone knows or has seen this type of counter top in nigeria, i know its wood wrapped with a water resistant material
i prefer this to tiles, anyday

You can try this guy out,he might have what you are looking for : http://www.frakem.com/categories/Sanitary-Wares/Wash-Basin-%26-Cabinets/

abdulwastecx:
From some of my last experience, precast seems to be a bit expensive these days. We are going to do in-situ cast parapet /concrete fascia because the fascia is a going to flat with about 600mm projection as it is in the 3 D

What is the total are of the land in square metre and what is the total built up area?

abdulwastecx:
Site visitation: We visited the site December, 2016 to have a first hand information about the nature of the site before work can commence

This is a big project..Congratulations! Show us what you got on this one...

InvertedHammer:
/
If you read my post one more time, you will catch the joke angle.
Moving on...all of you should share the blame for waiting this long
before speaking up. You could have saved a lot of people from misery.
\

I do catch the joke,i just pointed out the seriousness embellished in the joke.

We are all learning,we shall get there!

InvertedHammer:
/
Congratulations!

You guys have turned the thread into "The lamentations of prospective home owners in Nigeria: The cat and mouse game between artisans and homeowners".

It is sad albeit hilarious.
\

Look at the thread again.It is Discuss ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in building construction. If you term that LAMENTATION, you probably don't understand the import of what is being done here. Disagreement, dishonesty, honesty, integrity, ingenuity, creativity, castigation, reprimand, condemnation and commendation are all part and parcel of what is being celebrated here to make people make informed decision.

How do you separate professionals from quacks in the building industry if not through what is termed "Lamentation" ? Haven't you see where people celebrate creativity by people like Spyder,Segcymoor,Aventure,Skimanski,Podosci,Abdulwatecx to mention but a few? In the same light,people have condemned some other peopl here for misdemeanour. I see nothing wrong here except there are hypocrites amongst us.

kopell:
I missed out, so busy in office with the snow storm that hit our system. Anyway hajji a beg know open many things you knew about some of these so called contractors in all aspects of this building section, from builder to electrician to plumbers, roofers, tilers , borehole drillers ETC. FORO SIKUN BI AGBA KI E FOWO LERAN NI OH Like you always do.

I seriously wish that many of the artisans and professionals in the construction industry will come out and disprove the fact that they are fraud and affirm that they stand above board. I have had business dealings with some people from/on NL. I know someone who's relatively unknown who supplies granite/sand. This guy did exactly what I told him even surpassed my expectation He delivered to my site at 2AM. He told me of his challenges and I had to part with some extra money voluntarily. I also know of somebody who sent somebody to my site without asking for "transport fare" (I wouldn't know if he forgot to ask for that) and till tomorrow (until anything untoward happen, which I don't foresee) I will continue to seek for his service. I know of somebody who "litter" the whole thread with advertisement, he has never ceased to disappoint. In fact,his second name is disappointment! (Note that in all cases, money never ever exchange hands until service/goods have been delivered).

Nairaland gives people opportunity to reach the world,it gives opportunity to seal million naira deals. It offers a veritable platform to breakthrough in their chosen profession. We should therefore not keep quiet when people find it as a means to rip people off. That is a great diservice to hard working people. Now coming to nairaland to compain about artisans as well as other professionals in the construction industry when things goes awry,it tells them they have to be fair in their dealings as well as help safeguard against marauders and serve as some form of psychological check on people who might want to play a fast one.

One fact is there are fraudsters on nairaland and there are superstars. Let us promote superstars when we see one and condemn fraudsters. The best form of due dilligence is the work of superstars that others speak of/recommend here and the condemnation received by fraudsters who come up with unending excuses.

That is not to rule out the fact that there could be communication breakdown between parties involved in a business deal. A discerning mind can tell what has transpired is nothing but breakdown in communication. That is totally different from fraud.

Please let us call a spade a spade,expose whoever or whatever is detrimental to people's investment/hard-earned money. In the same light, praise the good work of others when they deserve it. That is one great service we can do to each other as artisans/professionals and investors/clients. SPEAK OUT WHEN YOU CAN IF YOU CAN, IT GOES A LONG WAY.

This whole story didn't add up.I can excuse your grammar but you'd do well to look at what you've written and make amends where necessary so we don't pick holes in the story. You really don't have to mention the full name of your clients though. They want to remain anonymous and you should respect that.

HsLBroker:
@Marilo, I’m not dawdling or dilly dally, you know I have to read this comment one after the other to know exactly how @fastshipping and amanikondo put up there work, so I know how to respond back to them.

1. Nobody on earth can protect his or her business without protecting the clients or clientele.

2. I was just surprise on how the accusations was coming, and there several people here who I have work for which I don’t know their nairaland handler or username, I thought you are putting up and issue against me as well but now I understand, but one thing I want you to know is that I’m not a bad person and I will never be part of anything call bad or evil, I respect my clients and I will always.

3. I have never done any misdeed, I can explain myself and tackle this one after the other.

Mr. Tosin Olufemi which I believe is fastshipping expect my guessing is faking me, is a client of mine and we are going on very well not until yesterday night, he sent me money to roof his house at Ajah, we have never met before, so after I received the alert, I went to sites with the woods and my professional carpenters, when we got there the parapet was not yet completed at that time, I told him, if these carpenters stay on site without working they will be collecting their daily money and it going to really after me.

So, we deliberated on it and we started the work, while the parapet guys or pop guys are completing their work.

To cut the story short, we completed the roofing, which the picture we be attach here, I didn’t run away with his money.

So, after about 2 weeks after I submitted the stone coated quotation to him, he called me that the guys that did the roofing covering didn’t do it well, that he will want me to come and help him correct it with my boys, that he was really sorry for not to have giving the covering to me initially, that he was broke so one of his friend who was selling the stone coated materials gave it to him on loan and he didn’t hear from me that is why he gave it to someone else but now the did had been done now we should find a way to repair the mistake the former guys did, so we went to site to confirm the situation.

When we got there, we discover that the roof was very very very bad and it going to leak and it will not properly lay.

So I told him we going to buy need some stone coated materials plus the one he already have on site.

mufutau55:
Oga Marilo. I never recommended him to Amanikondo, I couldnt have done that after the bad job he did with FastShipping.
I and FastShipping decided together to engage him in his project which we regretted heavily.
I will never recommend HSLBROKER with my right mind.

Hajji M.

I apologise,I must have misinterpreted the post.Hope my apology is accepted?

HsLBroker:
@Marilo i want to also know, if i work for you sir, because i know those in diaspora, if then send money to me, i do there job without any delay and those in Nigeria as well

So what i'm saying is that if Mr. Tosin is the person you are taking about that we just help me to correct the stone coated covering so company did for him that was bad, i will be happy to address and you will all see what i'm talking about.

This your strategy is what i call "dilly dally".

1. You have asked a question about who your victims are (or those who alleged to be your victims) and I have listed them out...They are at liberty to take it further.

2.I have not stated anywhere that I was your victim (maybe I am lucky enough not to be one)

3. I have a strong conviction you know the people in question and the misdeed,you are just dillying dallying about it to proctect your business.

4. You have every reason to protect your business but we as potential clients also have every reasons to proctect our investments/hard-earned money.

5.I have only stepped in as I was at the peak of commissioning you to deliver some supplies to my site, so this "allegation" comes at the nick of time for me (and I guess for others too to be wary of the kind of transaction that we go into).

6.From the foregoing, you have a lot at stake not to play smart as there are discerning minds here who can smell a rat from miles away.

7. The above is not a conclusive conclusion as to your culpability until otherwise proven..

HsLBroker:
who are the victims, so i can address this issues one after the other, because there no where i want to go, if i made mistake i will make amendment, i'm not God, i can make mistake, i'm a simple and easy going, so if there is a problem it can be solve, but i need to know the site, and the location we are talking about

THE VICTIMS.

1. Fastshipping (I am sure you know him and the strory)

2.Amanikondo (If you claim not to know him and the story, he's at liberty to fire the first salvo).

I am sure you know Hajj Mufutau referred you to them,so that should give you an hint as to what transpired with whom and when.

You honestly don't need anyone's permission to "hear your own side of the story". Put it in mind that at least 3 people have corroborated the allegation (including the person who recommended you to the victims)

You are free to defend yourself.

HsLBroker:
i hope someone will hear from my side, and not just hear from one party and make judgement

amanikondo:
Yep. Don't fall for it. He is jack of all trade master of none.

To think that I almost asked him to do some supply on my site.....@Fastshipping,you used to be my friend from far,but now I am reconsidering that. You really don't have any reason not to warn us on NL. Just imagine the number of people that would have fallen victim to his nefarious and dubious activities.

Come to think of it "HSLBroker" sounds to me like some stockbroker

1.Yearly rent offers some form of security to the landlord.

2.You can liken a rent to a loan obtained from a financial institution. The "collateral security" the banks require in case of default is the same as the yearly rent required by landlords.

3.In the past,the norm was monthly/weekly rent in Nigeria. The economy drove that away as the rate of default was high owing largely to a bad economy. So landlords ask for a year's rent (In some cases,2 years) to serve as some form of security. Even in advanced economies, when your credit rating is bad,they can ask you to make a year rent or 6 months payment.

4. Our tax law actually encourages a yearly rent system (I might not want to go into details as it will take a lot of space). Look at the allowable expense in your tax composition and you'd find what is termed "Housing Allowance".

5. Yearly rent offers what you might call economies of scale. The cost of chasing the rent every month is reduced to the barest minimum.

6.It is a known fact that most tenants don't want to see their landlords as the sight of them either means trouble, privacy invasion or has some form of cost implication.So it takes the burden off them paying yearly. A year's rent payment give some form of peace of mind as it takes the "burden" of paying monthly off them. Although,this can be contested by many.

Bottom line: Yearly rent offers some form of security in case of default,gives the tenant peace of mind to chase other equally important investment decisions.

diordaves:
So why is yearly rent the best? You've made some valuable points, no doubt but why yearly rent? What are the problems​ that yearly rent is solving that made yearly rent the best?

From my take, problems of rentals are:
Default
Vandalism
Anti social behaviour

So from the above, does yearly rent better solve these as against monthly rent?

Do you buy the argument that Landlords/ladies went yearly due to greed? Shortermism syndrome; wanting to "pack" money to the back quick quick?

And there's another argument that yearly rent is a form of insurance for landlords/landladies. Before story start, I don collect one year first.