₦airaland Forum

I have the option of using steel or concrete to make a cross in my ongoing project but I went for something different (lightweight, cleaner, cheaper and faster to build).

spyder880:
Bros, mud houses in 2021?

Anyway, we should think alternative methods of doing this, but when all we build is upstairs and multi dwelling units, it make it difficult to use alternatives because of the type of building involved.

For us to succeed with alternative building methods, our structural engineers and architects must start the process from the design stage of the building. The foundation all the way to the frame of the building must be planned to accommodate alternative building technologies.

Just 2 days ago, I got a call from LafargeHolcim (one of the largest producer of cement in Africa). They wanted a storey building completely designed and built with Lightgauge steel.

My last 2 projects had Fibre cement Cladding that reduced the need for cement.

Just yesterday, I found and decided to experiment polystyrene ceilings. The prices are very interesting and friends. It’s lightweight and also very easy to use.

I was able to pull an over 300sqm suspended ceiling within 72 hours because I wasn’t doing the conventional pop installation.

I’ve shared picture of a gate column built by the Chinese in 2014. It has no single concrete and they were all tiled with 60 x 120 tiles.
The structure is still standing today without any sign of visible defect.

The world is constantly evolving. We need to move with time.

Pic 1-4 | Polystyrene Ceiling

spyder880:
Cement is selling for N4,500 in some parts of Nigeria.

How can people build and rent with good returns in this kind of economy?

Think alternative. There are too many out there.

There are still many mud house built many decades ago that are still standing today.

O God of Creation
Direct Our Noble Cause
Guide Our Senseless Leaders Right

BlushPink:
4. What's the avarage charge for block setting. And which is better between paying perday or based on the number of blocks used.

Please I'll need your input on this.

I believe you got answers to other questions posed.

For foundation, I’d pay per day and not based on the quantity of blocks used.

I’m sure good masons won’t even agree to paying per blocks with you during foundation stage

shortgun:
uote author=n3xt post=108245387]

Abule Egba, Lagos

Thanks.
Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in Lagos at the moment I can recommend.
Good luck.

Ok. Thanks.

My kids ain’t doing boarding no more.

shortgun:
Project location?

Abule Egba, Lagos

Thanks.

Abudu2000:
did a design for a client there since 3months ago, till now i never chop the money finish

Hehe!

You don enter the real place.

topsy23:
Immediately after Ajah bridge by the right . The environment is nice but still have alot of available plots that are not yet taken. Money is good anyway . We did an MEP installation for a politician inside the estate. The man spent millions on that project. Every single item brought from abroad.

The houses in that estate are something else entirely when it comes to finishing.
The least finishing you’d see there is over #120m

topsy23:
There is an estate after Ajah own by a well know man in Lagos . The yearly service charge is 3m and presently a plot is now 200m.

I think I know the estate. If it’s the estate I think it is, I believe the yearly service charge is fair for what the estate is offering.

shortgun:
It's always a good practice to have 2 or more skimmers for proper filtration, however if 1 is used, it should be positioned in the centre of the wall of the deep end of the pool and have minimum of 2 return nozzles directed to it.

Hello!

Pls do you have anyone you can recommend for this?

Thanks and please kindly treat as urgent.

sonnie10:
A compromise is still possible. Client cannot get cement for #3000 as at today. If current price is #3800, but at 17.5% inflation rate it is should be about #3550. Do you think it’s a fair compromise?

Cement was never sold 3,000 at anytime this year but I kept my figures at 3,000 during the lifetime of the project.

Neither did any blockmaker sold blocks at 200 at any time in the year 2021 but I kept my part of the bargain so that question of underquoting to pick a contract doesn’t arise.

So the issue of inflation didn’t start in October.

3350 seems more like a WIN/WIN.

Thanks.

There was a valid claim that my client spent some extra money on to do some remedial work on the steel trusses installed.

When this was brought to my notice, here’s my position.

Unfortunately my client had a better plan. I got the rudest shock when my client said the QS said he should pass the bill to me.

Who am I to stop him from spending monies that the QS who picked the contractor recommended that he should spend.

sonnie10:
We are made to understand from previous comments that while project was being executed, contractor did other jobs at the site that was not part of the contract.
Did you account for those in the reconciliation?
Secondly, when calculating the price of incomplete materials did you use original price as at March/April or current Market price?
Thirdly, how did you present your Report? Was the report based on the amount currently needed to complete the remainder or was it a subset of what was in the original bid amount?
Is the disparity between theses two reason for deadlock?

The QS valued the material met on site at the contract price

Blocks - 200
Cement - 3,000

The QS now presented a bill of 3,800 to me per bag of cement to rebuy the same cement he met on site that I provided at 3,000

Th same applied to the blocks. The report claimed my client bought blocks at 280 after selling the ones that I produced on site at 200 to only God knows person.

I smiled and smiled.

______

Lastly the report claimed an outrageous number of blocks were used to complete a portion of the project that were ongoing as at 25th September.

I presented the time stamped picture of the building as at 24th and 25th September to the QS and asked him to show me where the blocks were used on the building

QSFemi:
The scope of work for the contract entails the construction of the carcass of the building including the roofing. The contract was meant to run for just two months commencing from March to April.

March to May

In September 24th, I recommended the termination of Next Homes and Builders contract after the project has been overrun by 5 months and there wasn't any real action being shown towards the completion of the contract by the said contractor.

I was actually silent on this issue of termination because I knew there’s no credible nor valid reasons for the recommendation.

Here’s the true picture of things.
The project reach substantial completion stage in April 2021. You can verify this on the construction thread and check the image of the building as at the first week of May 2021.

I put it to you to show anything substantial different from the image of the building in May 2021 and now.

We spent the rest of the months working on things that were completely out of my scope of work and we do them when we were paid.

So if you paid for one of the dependables on a project in August, you don’t assume the contract has void a contract that was meant to finish in May.
It was clearly spelt in the contract what could lead to excusable delay on the project.
There were too many of them.

If you need evidence, I’ll provide them on request.

Here’s the part you’re missing sir.

I have on the contract the date for the substantial completion of the project and the date for the full completion of the project provided there are no change order request that can alter the delivery date or circumstances beyond the contractors control.

After the termination, the contractor was asked to prepare and submit a handover notes and present himself on site for assessment of work done and undone in order to have a financial reconciliation. The contractor failed not only in submitting a handover note but also in presenting himself on the 28th of September which was the date I eventually visited the site for the first time. It should be on record too that the contractor failed to even send a representative.

Unfortunately I do not have any official communication stating the reasons for the termination of the contract. I only read about it here.
And the request to meet the contractor was equally a nairaland affair and I respond to the client that I can’t make commitment on short notice.

Lastly you were meant to revert to me after the last reconcilaliation we did together but you never did.

somehow:
The last valuation remains the official valuation upon which I want my refund. the laughable "valuation" you sent in after I sent the ball back into your court can't even fly before you and I know you sent such just to buy more time then.

Oh... I guess the QS didn’t inform you that I found some other holes in the last valuation and he agreed to do another review before you came in and said the approach is no longer working since I’m debunking fictitious claims.

Please kindly reconfirm this from the QS sir.

The holes I found were undisputed errors in the biased valuation report hence the reason for long and endless reviews.
Otherwise, there won’t be need for reviews if the first valuation was fair and credible.

Nobody need my presence to do what’s fair and just.

somehow:
24th of November was when you reached out to me for a "resolution", a day before the first deadline. Then I told you everything must be sorted before month end (November).

I didn't hear anything from you, I tried calling you, your number kept saying "on another call for days"

I left you short messages asking for updates.

You only left "Good morning sir" on the 29th and nothing again till 2nd of December stating you have been "incommunicado" since, then said you will "revert ".

In 9 days, you said nothing about the refund, so what are you saying here?

All I know is that my refund must come within 7 days (day 2 counting).

This is a termination that happened since September 25th.

Enough said.

How much refund are we looking at sir? And what constitute that figure maybe you can share so that people can understand why my head is tuning on its own.

Is it the figure in the review 1 or review 2 or review 3 or my own figure?

FEGEITOK:
Service Charge sounds like a way to make landlords tenants-in-fact and landlords-in-name

Gbam-solutely! Especially with Naija real estate companies.

I smiled when one was listing what I’d get if I buy from their estate (good road, electricity, perimeter fencing, drainage and security).
I told him I know better and I actually live a street that has all he listed and we didn’t spend fortune to achieve it. We just included it in our construction budget and did a one time installation of infrastructures.

Last year we dredged over 5km waterway to prevent flooding. We spent just 430k. No dramas, no harassment. Just simple donation by few.

I’d still follow same route (gated community) if I’m doing any development in any state in Nigeria. I can’t be living as a tenant in my own property.

You need to see the dramas and embarrassment when the estate managers are out to chase defaulters in my former place of residence. We’d be in traffic for several hours while the gate is locked to prevent defaulters from leaving the Estate.

For me, it’s completely absurd and total rip-off. A lot of these property owners can actually afford to put up all these infrastructure (one-off) by themselves without having to revisit it every damn year.

I’m talking about the big gate/big signage flashing estates and not the legitimate ones with solid management structure like Royal Gardens Estate, Osborne etc

#sharedcost #gatedcommunity

kapelvej:
Please builders in the house, I have some questions. I gave a welder to construct a sliding gate for me 2 weeks ago, he brought the gate today, and he said I will be the one to pay for the casting of the base where the gate will slide on. I thought the welder was supposed to do that as part of the gate installation. ?

Just as answered above.

You paid for gate fabrication/construction and not gate installation unless you both agreed his cost includes installation of the gate.

Installation of gates involves many other tradesmen which includes but not limited to carpenters, concreters, diggers, electrician etc.

diordaves:
Does your client know that you are "trying to wrap your head around" the contrary figures you posted or you are wrapping your head in isolation?

No.

#Harmless #LateNightPost

>> Pergola Shade

Beframia:
I understand the challenge but is it not better you reach out to the client for an amicable settlement rather than you sticking your head in the sand? Please don't let this matter degenerate beyond this, let it be resolved.

One thing I can assure you is I don’t bury my head in any sand

I’ve gotten my client’s QS to review his valuation on this issue thrice when I started to pick holes in the report and I didn’t make up those things I saw. That’s for you to understand how far we’ve gone.

As at yesternight, I still left a message for my client that I’ll revert

Tbh, I’m just trying to find a middle ground so everyone wins

nannymcphee:
Please what are the downside to this type of roof

a.Noise
b.Heat
c.wind pulling it off etc

This picture was taken from a thread on NL.

I intend doing a similar design , want to weigh my options between this design and a meduim pitched roof

CC
n3xt

None to the best of my knowledge if your roof is well constructed and watertight.

Heat and noise won’t be an issue if you do POP Ceiling.

bolu1986:
Oga bosun you have been here Solving issues … why can’t you handle this in civil way? Things should degenerate to this level at all… call your client have a meeting with him schedule a payment plan and keep to it….

Unfortunately you can’t be an umpire in your own game.

How much refund are we looking and what exactly constitute the figures? That’s exactly what I’m still trying to wrap my head around in the past weeks.

Is it how I’m expected to refund 280 naira per block when I sold blocks at 200 naira per blocks throughout the lifetime of the project even when others are paying 250 naira and above?

Or how I’m expected to pay N3,800 per bag of cement when I have a fixed price contract sum pegged at N3,000 per bag of cement?

Or how I’m expected to value a 10sqm security house at almost the same amount as a 400sqm fence with 600mm raft, 22 columns and block wall?

This is far bigger than me hence the reason for my long silence on this matter.

sonnie10:
I am beginning to believe them because the house is twice this big.

What’s the dimension of the building?

Picture can look deceptive. The kingpost of that building though?

Inspired by Design

sonnie10:
I prefer something simple but they cant achieve such with the size and design of house. Check that spyser880 thread. Too many ridges and troughs

Seen. It’s not really complex though. Just lots of variations.

Below is 640 sqm done in Anambra by Nnamdi 08062444363

sonnie10:
920 square meters of roofing on just one single family duplex. I don’t believe this!
I need a second opinion asap.
Location is East.

Smiles

I just finished roofing a whole church and we didn’t hit 500sqm

The pitch of your roof and the design might be the cause.

GoodFaith:
Naira Dollars
One Dollar = N550
Full plot: N45.75m -----------------$83,181.00
Half plots: N27.75m ---------------$50,456.00
Quarter Plots: N12.5m------------$22,728.00

Please what do people in Nigeria do to get this type of money for Land
You all keep robbing each other

It’s Kayfarms

EgunMogaji2:
@N3XT

Dude, when is the "free bike" arriving? I'm getting tired of roaming the Western states alone

Egun "poking the hornets nest" Mogaji.

Jesus wept.

hslbroker2:
thank u so much sir

Thanks for all you do! Keep it up bro.