₦airaland Forum

kopell:
Can you please post the link of this SIMONKK store to no who the are.

Simonkk is a Chinese company producing lights here in Nigeria. They’re not stockist neither do they retail.

The company is in Ago Palace way.

Below are some of their lights produced here in Nigeria

Commonsense101:
Its personal. For me it's a matter of choice and design

Completed a private build with a contemporary design two years ago. Roof design is Monopitched and very minimalist.
I used Tower .55mm longspan Cost me less than 2.5m for woodwork and sheets. But I spent about the same amount on glass/windows . Because the design "required that" . . . . I had lots of 9 coach windows, and corner design. I wasn't going to use an expensive roofing sheet just to make a point when the long span sufficiently provided the desired aesthetics and functionality .

Regardless of what anyone think, you can't use stone-coated sheets on a contemporary build. Not even step tiles...

BankeSmalls:
Wring analogy again

That a rich man decided to hail a taxi and go to work, it's either he wants to throw off his enemies and pass in a vehicle they don't know, or he is afraid to scratch his car.

That a rich man decided to use Nigerite, it's either he is building a house for his people where he won't stay for long, or he's protecting his land from grabbers with a house.

For a poor person like me, it's different. If a poor person decides to use aluminium, it's because he knows he cannot afford better options. The poor don't pretend.

I didn’t know you’re speaking for the poor.

BankeSmalls:
Do you know that using goods that gives you happiness can make one to live longer?

I laugh when some people who are as poor as me tell me that it doesn't matter what they use to roof their house, or that the neighbours can go to blazes as he isn't trying to satisfy them.

The day you start building, you are dancing in an open square and many are watching you. If you cannot afford some finish, we understand and nod in sympathy, but for some to come here and tell me it's a matter of choice to see stone coated and still use aluminium, ask them why they didn't use grasses as roof like in the olden days, why did they even bother to use aluminium?

Yinmu!

Before stone-coated, there was Nigerite Super lightweight. Then, longspan roofing sheet. Later, Steptiles. Not too long metcopo, shingles, shakes, Gerald, polycarbonate, SIP, acrylic and so on...

Everything is only a matter of time!

_____

I did a project in Lekki, Lagos for a high profile Nigerian here and he decided to use Nigerite roofing sheet. He cares not about who’s looking! His land costs about 60m

______

In similar vein, I did a 8.5m roof in 2015. Guess What! It was a longspan roofing sheet. That amount will almost deliver a duplex (carcass) in some location.

Everything is a matter of choice!

BankeSmalls:
I don't understand what you are trying to do here, are you mocking those who cannot afford to do bulk buying or what? I think what you should be advising them is how to do your due checks and how to ensure they are not cheated.

You cannot be telling everyone to buy bulk because you did same. Some people are small players and so they must buy in bits.

Not at all!

When Simonkk wanted to supply me just 400k light fixtures, they came in their official bus.

Here we’ve seen someone who took 1.8m to buy cable from retailers and still end up paying transport.

The person who had 1.8m to spend is not a small player. It’s just that we are not fully exposed to the endless opportunities out there.


_______

When I first wanted to buy from these guys, they were like “We have minimum orders.”

I just told them “I have access to a very large market and I can recommend people to buy from you on a daily basis.”

I’ve had to walk in to many iron foundries to enquire about steel. If I can’t buy direct, I can get people to buy for me.

BankeSmalls:
Oh, you stopped patronising retailers? You are a big liar! What happens if you need small quantities of an item, you will go to command and request for 2 coils of wire or to Pfizer and request for a card of paracetamol?

I think I over-exaggerate that part but I hardly deal with small retailers these days. I walk in directly to companies and direct importers to make my purchases.

Cement - Lafarge
Sand - Berger, Ilaje or anywhere dump trucks can get it.
Light fixtures - Simonkk, Ago
Iron Rods - I do POD
Blocks - I produce them myself.
Granite - I get account for Quarry.
Plumbing tinz - I do Rifeng or POD with verified suppliers.
POP/Plasterboards - I do direct importers (Omega in Mushin)
Interlock Mould - a Chinese company in Eleyele Ibadan.

I do bulk buying and as a matter of fact, I still have some material I bought 6 years ago in my store.

kopell:
Hahahah, when you frequently here God name from anybody you're negotiating with, it doesn't matter what tribe my brother run oooo. Not all igbos are bad people, bad people are in all tribes it's individuals that matters.

If Chinese and Lebanese gbab you ehn... you’ll see Igbos as savior.

davodyguy:
This is painful, knowing my wife warned me not to deal with this guy.

A lesson for Kobo Kobo project owners.

Always count all you buy, from cement to tiles to cables to pipes to taps.

Count at the store, count again in the vehicle and when you get to site, recount.

Don't pay anyone until goods are supplied.

We must encourage retailers, that's what I thought. But some retailers are evil.

We're in Agric Market Orile, all through. While tried to make U turn to the other side, this guy did what he did and said no need to check.

On getting to site, we counted and found discrepancies. We called him and he lied that he loaded it before we came, which is why he said we should not bother recounting from the truck.

He said he's not going to the village for Christmas, but staying in Lagos.

We called him this morning not to take our words, that he should come to the site to count. The guy said he's in the village and not back till end of January, 2021

See life.

When God strike some people, we would not know they're paying for their evil deeds.

Too many wicked people in Nigeria.

₦130,000 plus gone on Christmas day

Smiles.

Imagine you’re a contractor/builder/project supervisor/engineer and this happened. What will you tell your project owner?

This is the reason I did the following:

- Bought a delivery van to move materials from the market to site.

- Bought dump truck to end the “count tire” sharp sand-cheat regime.

- Do POD (Payment on Delivery) on building materials like iron rods, plumbing materials, granite etc

- Favored marine boards over planks. It’s easier to count and identify a defective marine board than counting 300 planks.

- Get provisional estimates from electrician and ask him/her to supply, fix and install based on agreed sum while keeping a good amount as retention fee for 1 month after completion of work.

- Only visit the market to pick tiles and ask the supplier to deliver to my site. I don’t hesitate to examine, count and return the broken ones back to the supplier using the same delivery truck.

- Do plasterboards instead of POP cement because I hate maths. I can easily work out how many boards will be used in a room. I can’t do same with pop cement. The boys will just be telling you “Oga bring more cement!” or “Sebi na you say make we manage cement?”

- Buy my window materials and get fabricators to install on site and pay them per window. Many window contractors hate me for this but I don’t care. I’ve had to defend late deliveries and incomplete orders in the time past.
I just send my boys to the aluminum village, buy materials and get boys who will do instant fabrication. No long stories!

- Bought concrete mixers to save big on concrete works.

- Buy my light fixtures directly from manufacturers that gives 3 years part and labour warranty. Who Alaba Market epp? Most of this stockiest don’t even spend up to what we spend on materials.

Even Jesus picked one Judas among just 12 disciples. In Nigeria, there’s a Judas in every trade you’ll work with in your project. You have to be extremely smart.

Going to the market to do the shopping is completely out of it - for me!

If I have 1.8m naira to spend on wire, I’ll walk directly into the manufacturers office and do my purchase. You can even order cables online from most of these manufacturers.

GoodFaith:
I had a mad person suspend my account here
Please post my comment for other to review to justify your dumb ass reason
I wrote about Physical and logical security ( computer, other devices)
That all security are vulnerable
What we do is make it harder to discourage attacked
You was completely out of line
Greatly disappointed on your narrow view
We are here to educate each other

Nairaland Spambot was on rampage on Christmas Eve.

davodyguy:
I regret not buying all those cables from you.
Even if you had made ₦100,000 profit from me, it's still ok, based on your truthfulness.

I respect you bro for this.

davodyguy:
We blame government for everything, forgetting we have evil citizens that care about profit than safety of others

Everything rises and fall on leadership.
It’s the government’s role to introduce statutory price and quality control to maintain smooth economy in nation.

The people in power knew what to do. They just don’t care.

For a very long time, we were getting cement at factory price in my ongoing project. The ministry supervising the project ordered the cement directly from Lafarge.

Let’s ask ourselves, what’s the work of SON, MAN etc?

I stopped patronizing retailers/agents a very long time ago. I buy direct from companies (Coleman, Lafarge, Dangote, Simonkk and the likes).

I count my stuffs on site.

KomonSense:
I would love to connect with you for a future business

+234.80.234.29.122

Xtopher123:
Exactly....

My company is investigating CLT as an alternative to Concrete and Steel here in Nigeria and it viability..

Would like to see what the future holds..

Engineered-wood? You’ll have to really DIY if you’re going to tow that path here.

Dijita:
I commend your effort in impacting young ones. However I think that is a different topic entirely. Buying Gerald instead of Long span does not stops one from giving back to society. Bill Gates live in Medina where average real estate cost is close to $3million. It didn't stops him from helping people all over the world. He didn't move to Newark New Jersey because the reduction in the cost of living can help more people.

If you are the one standing in the front in suit. what you are wearing are not just nice stuffs they are luxury to some people. Apple fan boy is a discussion for another day

Smiles.

Bill can afford the moon but he chose the earth. He does not do Gucci or Versace even though he can afford to buy off the company, Hushpuppies does.

I’m not going to remember Bill because of what he wear or where he lives but the change he brought to the world.

I can’t do material stuffs when I’m surrounded by hundreds of brainy young Nigerians who need a helping hand. Every savings matter to me.

Maybe one day I’d be able to afford Gerald and still help a lot of people.

Xtopher123:
Is it just me or Construction Quality in Nigeria has not improved in the last 20 years.

No innovation, just same old style and material.

We've very mediocre designers and Architects, with Construction Professionals not pushing any boundary at all.

We cannot continue in this brick and mortar way of doing things and expect better results.

The alternative solutions are out there. Our problem is we “How” them to death instead of “Wow-ing” them to life.

Muyi002:
Chief n3xt,

From your experience, what is the ratio of bags/sponge to sqm. i.e. how many bags of POP cement will cover 1sqm or how many sqm will 1 bag of POP cement cover.

it is equally important for me in my calculations. any other person can assist o.

This depends on the following:

1. How wasteful your installer is?
2. The thickness of your pop board

But give or take, expect 4sqm.

neduboo:
I want to do foundation for my 4 Bedroom bungalow.

The engineer gave me a quote for stage 1 foundation

Profiles #10000
Pilling #85000
Basement #45000
1 trip of sand
7 bags of cement

Please isn't this too much

What type of foundation is this?

Dijita:
You seem to think these benches are better that each other. They are not. they serve difference purposes. In fact if you asked me to choose I will choose Picture 1 because it can be used both indoor and outdoor. Picture 3 is permanently outdoor while you can use pic 2 outside pray it doesn't rain when you forget to bring it in.
But I got your point. If you don't like the way the bio digester chamber is exposed you can put a flower pot on or put a decorative light on it. The options are endless

That’s just the point!

Dijita:
Sometimes ones taste or style preference has nothing to the with trying to impress people. Some people build duplex and put long span. Some people build bungalow( including myself) and then install Gerald because we like it. 90% of the time I wear wrist watch it is under my sleeve no one sees it. the wrist watch is not to impress anyone or to keep time. I wear it because my dressing process give me some level of satisfaction. I Like to open my shoe rack to select the right shoe, select the appropriate curve links and the right wrist watch. I am not a fashionista. it is only my wife and children that knows what is in my ward robe. My dressing is not to impress people but the process give me satisfaction. The same thing people can buy Gerald or Lexus not necessarily to impress anybody but to derive self satisfaction.

I share this same value several years ago until I realize my iPhone can buy 3,000 blocks. I cherished the “Apple Fanboy” appellation until I realize the cost of my MacBook can empower 50 young Nigerian.

So my values changed from self-actualization to touching lives and driving impact.

The lives I touch became the Lexus and the nice stuffs I wear. That’s my story now!

_________

omanzo02:
The bolded was my statement when I heard comments, they will always find something to say and you can't impress them, I intentionally invested in my family and sibling who had the opportunity to study instead of buying cars and building houses to impress anyone, well that investment produced a successful surgeon and created bright futures. I have seen, experience and been in places they could dream off, when you are in the circle of more successful people who don't judge you with what have you get to understand the meaning of life and riches. I prefer common sense to guide what I do than doing what other people do.

If Australians can rock longspan aluminium why can't I in Nigeria.

Everything we love about modern in construction come from that part of the world.

Godisgreatest1:
I wasn't talking about 'bench', I was referring to biodigester. Is it a must that it must protrude to the surface so everyone must see it is there.
?. Thank you.

I’d suggest you talk directly to installers. I’m also an enduser.

Edit

___________
If you want to know more about the biodigester, I’d suggest you checkout this blog https://dreamhousebiodigesters.com/what-the-biofil-digester-and-toilet-waste-is-all-about-in-2020/

@Aforxzy see pics below.

Breaking!!!

Price of Longspan Aluminum have gone up. Further increase by almost 30% expected in January 2021.

You can call your local suppliers to confirm the latest price of aluminum roofing sheets.

EgunMogaji2:
Somebody on Twitter noticed my estate from the Lagos - Ibadan trains. I got an instant wood

And the Chinese train construction crew have visited thrice. Hopeful

Who knows you could have a Gerald manufacturer as a tenant?

Emi náà ti di òré oní gerald

Godisgreatest1:
Ok, but the problem i'm having with a biodigester is that it must protrude to the surface making it obvious that it is there. Normal septic tank can be made to be so flat and at the same level with the entire floor you won't even notice it is there, I don't know if same is possible with biodigester.

That’s not a problem bro!

Below are three types of bench that my Mukaila can construct.
If you ask him to make a bench for you, he’d do the one in pic 1 but if you show him pic 3 and give him materials in pic 4 to work with, he’d produce something close to or better than pic 3.

That’s where creativity sets in!

My Build, My Way. I don’t follow trend.

Aforxzy:
Does this have to be on the ground surface?

I really can’t tell but all I know is most of the installations I’ve seen so far (even in corporate organizations) have surface tanks.

I really don’t understand why it was so.

There are lots of documents however that you can read up to find out more about the solution.

The wastewater in the installation I shared was channeled into the public drain. It doesn’t smell.

Godisgreatest1:
Good evening all, please can you park a car over a 'biodigester'?

It’s not a car park na

The space requirement is so small you don’t even need to worry about parking. If you don’t have challenge installing a chamber in your building, I doubt biodigester should pose any challenge.

It’s just about the size of two conventional chamber.

EgunMogaji2:
The talk around my neighborhood is that I’m a deportee. I didn’t use Gerard

Reason? Another neighbor who went to USA 3 years ago dey roof 2 buildings at the same time

Me I just dey laugh.

I received sense when my dad told me “You cannot impress anybody.”

I’m rocking my longspan aluminium jejely. I’ve used my Gerald money to buy two and half acres of cheap land that I will sell to yankee returnees who can buy and install Gerald roofing.

I’m not in competition.

_______

mexxy1:
Herein lies my argument against a three chambered system. It remains to me, a waste of resources and serves no particular purpose.

If the biodigester solution below could serve a small factory (15 - 25 employees), then you may be right.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fk4c3oVAu4

But again, this is Nigeria where people put on jacket and switch on ACs

I won’t forget when Myles Munroe pull that joke on us. He said “Pls kindly remove those jackets. I know you can afford it but you don’t need it in this terrain.”


_______
Pic 1-3 | Biofil Digester installed 2015. 100% maintenance free.

EgunMogaji2:
I agree with you.

Septic Tank Sizing

The sizing of a septic tank and the number of sections (2 or 3 chamber design) should be determined by the number of people living in the house and the intensity of their use of water supply.

For a family of three to seven, a two-chamber model will suffice except the property is a public latrine. However, if 8 or more people live in the house, then it is better to choose a three-section or even five-section option.

To accurately determine the size required, there’s need to know the volume of wastewater per day.

__________
The average daily consumption of a person per day is 200 litres except the person/household is on “highly potent agbo jedi” or some other concoction.
This means the capacity of a septic tank for a family of 3 - 7 should be at least 2000 litres per day. By standard, your septic tank should be able to hold a 2 - 3 day volume of water. Thus a 4,000 - 6,000 litres septic tank should be fine.

Anything above is ....


————
A septic tank is not a water reservoir.

cjfbn:
Good day house,
Is there anything or a device I can use to re-inforce my door to prevent a breach.

Just be good in your community.

OilGasNg:
As a civil engineer who has been involved in the design of steel structures mainly for industrial structures and oil and gas structures, I can tell you some of the challenges:

1. Lack of technical know-how: most of our higher institutions do not teach steel design and construction in detail to civil engineering students, as most of the lecturers themselves are concrete-biased. So they do shy away from teaching students, due to limited knowledge. Only few consulting firms in Nigeria also have the capability.
2. Difficulty in construction: unlike concrete that you can make mistake during construction, break or chisel and re-do, steel construction is very technical and has to be precise. The tolerance for error is only few mm in most cases. Also, you need specific equipment in all phases of steel fabrication and installation, whereas you only need basic tools like shovel, headlamp, buckets for small concrete buildings. Hence, there are very few construction companies that can fabricate and install steel structures.
3. Cost: As rightly mentioned by some earlier commenters, steel construction is generally more expensive than concrete in Nigeria, because of 100 % importation of steel materials, and more expensive equipment for fabrication and erection. It is only economical for large industrial structures (warehouse, workshops, etc) and high rise buildings. Hence it is only large manufacturing companies and oil and gas industry that often tend to build steel structures.

However, steel structures is preferable in the following cases:

1. Where you need long spans: steel can easily go several tens of metres before column support. The depth and weight of concrete beam and colums that would be required in this case will be unrealistic, hence the preference for steel in industrial structures, e.g factories and warehouse.

2. Fast construction schedule: Steel members can be fabricated faster in the workshop, and just installed at site. You only need to get your foundation ready. Hence, steel structure can be installed much faster. You can easily buy and import a fully prefabricated steel structure from China nowadays, and just install with crane at your site in a matter of days or weeks.

3. Cheaper foundation cost: Due to higher strength than concrete, you can use far lighter steel members to carry same load as concrete. Hence in high-rise structures for instance, in addition to shorter construction schedule, you can make significant savings on the size of foundation required for steel structures compared to concrete structure.

At Aquila Consults Limited, our service include the design of steel structures, and we also offer training on the design of steel structures. You can check my signature for our website and get more details.

Thank you.

Succinctly put.

Thank you.

Orubebe01:
My compound is using postpaid, previous months' bill was around ₦25,000, ₦22,000 and ₦35,0000 but to my greatest amazement November bill was whopping ₦70,000

How is it in your area cos am wondering if am being cheated alone.

30,000 should be my bill in a year.