₦airaland Forum

Bought 200 Cement at N3,000 (incld’g delivery) in Ibadan yesterday.

Got same offer, Greenville Badore but yet to be supplied.

30 Tons Stonedust (Ibadan) - N72,000 yesternight.

I can understand price increase for imported goods. What I can’t understand is the price increase even for those materials in which the country is self-sufficient.

How have you been coping with the rising cost of materials at your end?

EgunMogaji2:
So we can see that the used Mikano dealer will still be in business for a long time

Sure.

EgunMogaji2:
In regards to solar, I recommend to my customers that they shouldn't go off grid as a first step because it will be overwhelmingly expensive.

A good start is a hybrid inverter with matching panels and batteries to power devices from dusk to dawn. With a hybrid inverter you can still plug in NEPA and/or generator - the system I sell manages the most effective connection for you.

So you can use NEPA during the day and then switch to full solar at dusk (programable).

Then as time and funds goes on you can start adding panels and batteries. At the same time you can start reducing your consumption. For example changing your devices to more efficient ones. Lights bulbs to lower wattages, etc

The best thing about solar is its upgradability and scalability.

In 8 years, I am still going off-grid.

Installing solar panels on the roof and few batteries does not mean that one is off the grid.

There are homes that function very well off-grid with smaller and less expensive solar and storage systems. These houses are highly energy efficient and require very little energy for heating or cooling.

Even with this, you still have to find a way to reduce your daily consumption.

A ballpark figure to go completely off-grid will be around N4,000,000+ for a 4 bedroom bungalow.

Going off-grid is less about cutting the cord but improving resiliency.


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My madam had A1 in managing energy consumption

Even 12 DC bulbs aren’t cheap yet. I had a few on my fence hooked to a 12V battery bank which also power the gate.

bobkezel:
To go off grid is expensive, else all of us would have...

It’s really expensive to go completely off-grid.

omanzo02:
Do they have sales points nationwide?

I can’t really ascertain that but you can send them an email/message on their website.

I’ve always had to deal with Ikeja office every time I had to use them.

dongc:
Best Aluminium or First Aluminium....top players....

Correct!

EgunMogaji2:
What gauge did you use on that hidden roof that you did and have you returned to see its performance since?

Thanks.

Edit: To be honest I used .45 on my Welcome Center (small footprint).

We use 0.55 gauge. No issues.

EgunMogaji2:
What gauge did you use on that hidden roof that you did and have you returned to see its performance since?

Thanks.

Edit: To be honest I used .45 on my Welcome Center (small footprint).

To be honest, I use 0.35 on my roof and it’s almost 9 years now. No issues!


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No one should abuse me o.
I won’t recommend this to anyone but that’s difference of a good installer. If anyone doubt it, just bring your calliper and come and test the gauge.

Shegman22:
0.7 gauge tower for small duplex ?? When is not iron roof or open space like stadium. 0.55guage tower or sumo is okay for me oooo

Correct! SUMO

EgunMogaji2:
It's what Darenyx spec'd. I don't think it's due to span though as its a small duplex (learnt my lesson about building a huge house).

I think you’ll be fine with 0.55 from reputable aluminum roofing companies.

Beyond getting the right product, the experience and expertise of the installer matters a lot in roofing installation.
I always focus more on the latter than the former.

EgunMogaji2:
When I read the attached my sphincter muscle slammed shut

Is there any reason for the recommendation to use 0.7?

Span? Or Acoustic Absorption/Reduction?

mufutau55:
Any idea of the price now?

Hajji M.

0.55 - N3575 (as at this evening)
0.70 - N4728 (as at this evening)

I can send you their salesperson’s number for direct enquiries tho.

mufutau55:
I can imagine that... there has to be difference given those gauges. Must be expensive too?
I know many imported lies about their gauges, Naija.

Hajji M.

Yes it’s expensive but worth it. That was my first time tho but I really loved the thickness.

0.45 Tower is likely same thing or thicker than 0.55 imported.

When they gave me 0.7, I was like “Is this 1.0mm?”

mufutau55:
Personally, I have never used anything over 0.55.
Unless there is an armoured bird pecking my roof, I think that should do.

Hajji M.

I did over 2,000sqm of 0.7mm with Tower last year, I can tell the difference.

Even their .55 is thicker than the imported materials.

Person2person:
mahogany wooden door is stronger and more expensive than the hollow flush door.

we can give you quality door with your budget, talk to us call/wasap 08063073913

pic 1..... mahogany panel door @58k with frame, architraves, lock and installation

Pic 2.... HDF solid flush door@ 58k with frame,architraves lock and installation

pic 3...... hollow flush door @ 13k door ONLY

The hollow flush door is without frames right?

mufutau55:
I think you can only get 0.70 from Tower Aluminium.
I don't think there is any imported for those. I may be wrong though.

Hajji M.

Solid Steel

michlins:
if you haven't made a mistake at pricing,then kudos. I made a mistake and I realized that and told you that I can't do it again. Good thing is that I realized earlier before you committed funds saving us some trouble. You should know that if I was a fraud, I would have accepted your offer and ran but I am not one so I told you that I can't do it again.

I'm sorry for the inconveniences caused

Honestly, I’m not bothered or worried. That’s why I still send you a new job that can be done offsite.

I’ll definitely get back to you on that.

Regards

michlins:
so I asked that I review my quotes upwards,does that qualify me as fraud?

I will gladly turn down a job if the pricing is poor instead of going into it and stopping half way because of paucity of funds

I’m here to help you bro. Believe, you’ll run into big issues if you don’t get your pricing right.

Take a chill and try to understand the dynamics of this work.

At what point did you realize the pricing is poor?

Did I ever negotiate your offers?

Am I not the one telling you your prices are too low? I think I did that about two or three times before I decided to make commitment for the project because I know your pricing are too low and I expect you to do your due dilligence.

Hmm!

I’m dropping mic on this one too!

michlins:
so I asked that I review my quotes upwards,does that qualify me as fraud?

I will gladly turn down a job if the pricing is poor instead of going into it and stopping half way because of paucity of funds

Baba just chill out. It’s your birthday!

If only you know what the above cost me, you’ll understand scrutinizing a service provider is beyond lip service.

I had to convince my client on why the people who we engaged to work on site can’t go ahead with plan.

I had to discuss with another welder to take up the project at a higher cost.

I had to adjust the project schedule to allow for the new change. We were meant to have a welder working on site but we ended up giving the job to someone working offsite.

The effect is beyond imagination.

Mayor78:
But here you are, goading Brabus for work, I hope you wont recluse when the offer comes. I you have been advised to post video of where you are working either in your workshop or at site since you have talked of moving to site to do work if the work is big and money is right. If you kept posting finished works from different fabricators in different workshops and passing same as your hand work, without showing us videos of at least on gate or door you are constructing or where you have installed your work, I and many here would remain unconvinced.

I have nothing against michlins but I think he needs to take a chill and understand that people are smart.

megacontrol:
Absolute crap!

And this coming from same set of people that'll write about innovation, development, exposure, doing things the standard way, following best practices and all other load of BS.

Is this how you engage or scrutinize a service provider?

Even if this is the kind of behavior expected of the regular guy on the street, i thought you guys are supposed to be different and classy?

You took me too serious there right?

I’ve done all I could and I’m almost at the point of committing fund for a project.

Can you make a guess?

Mayor78 was right and every other person who castigate him were wrong.

Anyway let’s allow the man enjoy his day.

michlins:
I'm new here. I describe my work because I know who will patronise me is at the background figuring out the difference between different doors and why their cost varies. The questions they ask helps me explain those things.

I think calling them empty heads is a bit of an over reach. It's the internet and everyone is entitled to their opinion.

What I hate however is Egunmogaji calling me a scammer without proof. It's a faceless forum if not,he will have to prove it to me how I am a scammer or provide whom I have scammed before. Libel is still a crime everywhere in the world

You’re blessed!

Grow through what you go through
Whatever challenge you’re going through right now should teach you how to serve your customer better.

The major difference between me and you is that you don’t have convincing evidence. And that’s fine. We start somewhere.

All the doors I’ve shared aren’t on my client’s project. I do them as DIY so that I can be showing you every details as you’re requesting for them.

Don’t run away from the things that’ll shape you in life. And don’t be sissy!

Some years back, I saw a N2,000,000 door (close to pic 1 below) at Swiss Trade, VGC Lagos. I approached the local carpenters at the sawmill in Ijebu Ode/Itokin road to make a similar door for me at a very ridiculously cheap price.

A lot of people felt like it’s impossible or the materials used for the door are inferior. Of course, I got my hinges, locks and handles from quality hardware store I didn’t take a gamble on that.

Interestingly the door is still as good as a new one in my kitchen.

Did people agree with me? No!

Is the door serving it’s intended purpose in the house? Yes!

Did I pay N2,000,000 to get almost the same door? No!

Was it the same finish? Absolutely not but it’s good enough for the intended purpose.

I know there are people who can produce good doors half the price. The challenge is they don’t carry tag.
So I believe it’s possible BUT you need to know what you’re bargaining for and the areas of compromise.

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Sorry I won’t be able to tell you how much I made the door but if you search you’ll find. It’s on one of my thread.

Ridiculously cheap at Ijebu Ode Sawmill.

michlins:
this is sample of the door I described. All these printed designs doesn't come as 14guage pan rather they come as 18guage. Anywhere you see those printed designs, they are simply 18 guage but that's not what your welder will tell you

Nice!

Me I don’t like prints.

michlins:
if you have 40,000 you wish to spend on a single door, here's how you can get it.

1.5mm 3by1½

14 guage plain pan

16mm pan for frame

1.5mm ¾ square pipe

Foreign hinges and bolt

Anti rust will come first before normal painting

I don't see your local welder doing the bolded at all


Give me a chance to make at least one sample for you. If I fail to impress you, take your business elsewhere. If I impress you, let me do the rest at the place of your choosing.

Thumbs up for Antirust.

michlins:
if doors are extremely expensive at your end, it's not my fault that the welders are making a kill.

Have fun bro!

Today is your day. Don’t let anything ruin it. I believe you’ll laugh last.

michlins:
the locks in the attached photo I saw when I was with my boss. Someone bought a door and brought those keys. I have always made it clear that the choice of materials depends on what the customer wants. The quotation I sent to you two days ago, I gave you two options which is then left for you to choose from.

You also confirmed that you asked your welder why he will sell a door for 40k when the most expensive materials costs about 5k. Nnewi is a relatively cheap town and that affects the prices of goods and services here

Don’t be angry with us.

Here if you offer us something at a ridiculously cheap price, we will ask you “How much for the original one?”

It’s left for you to convince us beyond reasonable doubt that you’re right and we are wrong.

That might require you sending a sample down to Ibadan for us to dissect

That’s who we are over here! We are not mean

michlins:
here's me telling you about the difference about materials so saying that I'm just admitting such is a complete lie. You either have short memory or deliberately have mischief plans

No pun intended bro.

Don’t take it too serious. We are all trying to help you here.

You don’t want to run into issues here bro.

EgunMogaji2:
Baba, so it's not N18K again?

The locks for that door should be about 18k now if not more.

I know cheap doors but this is custom-built. I bought the locks by myself.

I understand your points very clearly sir and the implication of the 18k price tag but what I feel is 18k is a good deal for whatever quality of door michlins produces.

To be fair, michlins, the price is too low to expect anything quality. I always use thick gauge in all my project which cost more than light pipes.

You need to consider most of these factors too.

EgunMogaji2:
Baba, so it's not N18K again?

Can you hear me sir?

_{You didn’t ask me when?}

michlins:
thanks for the advice. Like I said, I have learnt a great deal since I came across this thread and I'm glad for all the advice.

Enjoy your Sunday

Pls don’t forget our cake o

michlins:
I have pictures of my work in my phone. He asked for me to position the doors at a different angle. And I don't have such

Ok that’s fine.

Always take as many “as built” pictures of your work. It helps a lot.

If I post any image here, I have over 20 other pictures from different angles stored in different storage locations and I also tag them for easy reference.