₦airaland Forum

Merry Xmas to all Nairalanders. Nigeria will be great again

Nice Work. Well Done

There's more to doing your German floor now other than pounding yam, walking or crawling on it. The first is to contain moisture from coming through the concrete slab and the second is to support the foundation.

Usually, there may be pressure to move on with the project immediately after the filling stage so as to avoid delays and possible additional costs. But this can have adverse effect on your building as soil can become very heavy and exert extreme force on the foundation walls when it is wet and left for too long.

How?
Block or brick foundation walls are pushed outward due to pressure from the filling sand as it expands due to plasticity nature of the soil. The soil will swell when it gets wet, and it will shrink when it dries. This swelling and shrinking will WORK the weight of the structure down into the ground. Over time, the foundation will remain more settled than it has risen, leaving you with an unlevelled house.

If you can maintain the moisture of the soil under the foundation at a constant level, there will be no swelling and shrinking, but this is only possible if you can take pain to do the german floor now. Although, it is not compulsory.

Think of how easy it is to knock off stack of blocks without weight on top,


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For me, I'll complete one stage before moving to the others.

We are not changing the rails. Just minor makeover.

@Spyder880, we are extremely cautious. December is only few hours away.

jaytime:
The search should be armed with fumicants to smoke it (or them) out from any hide-out. Sorry, I know how "snakeophobia" can be!

My advice is to stay off the site for now

benimeogu:
Aluminum windows quotation for a duplex in Abia state.
Please i need suggestion from the experts in Nairaland.
I received the quotation from Aluminum village in lagos.
thanks
Ben

The cost here looks scary o. I guess this is an extract from one of the Mike Adenuga's multi-million dollars building project.

Make una call roadside aluminium guy to give you estimate to compare note. Take picture of what you want, let other aluminium guys quote for it. If possible, post pictures here.

I cant say much here but what I do is to buy the materials (best quality) in Aluminium village, do the fabrication, and pay the installers to assemble (installer charges btw N500 to N3k per window). All within a day or maximum 3 days.


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Maybe this will help - see pics below. I paid the installer N500 to assemble the projected window 2' x 2' and the materials cost me less than N3,500 including net.

@Ogbefi_007

Is this area water-logged or prone to flooding? Just thinking

More

Rearranging the wires - the hardest part of the job.

Here are the latest images of the work that is being carried out on the stairwell at the LSPDC Reno Site. Work is progressing well…but as you will see from the photos, there is still a long way to go!!

But that said, I'm happy to report that work has been completed on the tread of the staircase and ready for the next step,  figuring out what to put do with the riser.

The initial choice is to screed and paint over but this isn't very flexible and won't achieve a very good finish. Another option is to install 5" x 3' rectangular boards on the riser and paint over,

I think waiting for my client in this regards will be the best option. I can't take a unilateral decision on this.

@Eros, what are you using tons of iron rod for when you are not building a duplex. I really don't know. Iron rods should be cheaper in Iwo road but I can't say how much they'll sell but definitely not N150k. It should be lesser than N135k. I've never bought 16mm more than 2,400 in the last 2 years.

@NL1960, there's difference between oven-baked and non-oven baked roofing sheets - it may not be visible to the eye but the non-oven baked will start to fade in a short while.

Dear NL Friends,

Sorry it took so long, for me to write this. I can't thank you enough for everything. If it weren't for you guys, I would be in a world of hurt today. I owe you so many thanks.

Most especially to my dear client "Ahanohia" - I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for your help with my recent difficult situation. I was amazed at the level of maturity displayed and appreciative of your insight in these matters. I can look back on this experience as a valuable lesson and continue on with my business as usual.

Thank you for giving me a second chance to create first impression.


@All, make una help us thank our esteemed client for giving us newer jobs.

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STAIRWELL AND ENTRYWAY RENOVATION UPDATE

The preparatory work for the staircase renovations has started.

Today 22|11|2011

The first, or ‘cleaning up’, phase of the stairwell and entryway renovations here at LSPDC 63 is nearing completion. We have removed all the unwanted junks from the stairway. The whole floors are nearly cleared out as well and awaiting its new makeover. It’s messy work but it’s exciting as well.

The work went so quickly that I didn't have time to snap any pictures. Or maybe I forgot - but really there's nothing much to show you.

Expect to see more construction activities on site from Thursday when major work is scheduled to begin. Work will be taking place simultaneously on the 3 floors.

Tomorrow, I'll be visiting the welder for the fabrication of the new entrance door. The bricklayer will be sealing all the seal-ables and blocking all the block-ables.

Quoted Price from the company supplied my roofing sheets.

0.35 (N770 - N800)
0.45 (N950)
0.55 (N1,050)

My installer charges N5k per day and he's from ____City (the company that roof Shoprite). The company that supplies the materials is opposite Mangoro Bus Stop, Lagos.

@NL1960, where are you buying from? Lagos or where?

The cost of your roofing sheet per sqm is almost 1.5 more than the price I got it in Lagos. And my ridges, flashing are special made - not like the ones you see around.

1050 per sqm. Make una no tell anybody o!

NL1960:
Abeg, make una help me answer this question which i have also posted in 'https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-689147.448.html'

@spyder880 et al. Sorry for bringing this thread back to life. Was inspired to use bush green step tiles aluminum roofing sheets for my villa duplex. I got a quote of N1,098,148 broken down as follows:

(1) step tiles: 398m @N1,646 = N655,108
(2) cladding sheets: 40 @N1,646 = N64,840
(3) ceiling sheets: 50 @N1,470 = N74,000
(4) Falshings (various items) 90m @N1,480 = N133,200
(5) accessories = N30,000
(6) transport= N40,000
(7) installation = N100,000
Total = N1,098,148

I got another quote of about N872,000. This quote has labour as N75,000. The curious thing is this person gave step tiles as 326m. One more quote of N1,122,000 has step tiles 400m.

Iam trying to get 2 more quotes because of the disparity in the step tiles.

What do you guys think. Abeg, make una help me out as time is not on my side.

@NL1960, all you require is understanding of simple geometry. Most of the so-called roofers give estimates based on assumption.

I really don't have time to go into details now but what I used to roof my house will be shocking to many people on Nairaland.

One thing I want you to know is that professional roofers in the aluminium company charges N5,000 per day. Except your house is triple the size of mine, your accessories shouldn't cost more than N15k.

The cost of roofing the section of the building shown in the picture plus wall cladding is less than N250k plus installation, accessories, transport, flashing, ridges, eave angles etc.
Note: the cost is for the back section alone


The initial quote I got is almost N2m for the woodwork and roofing of the whole house. But what I eventually spent is a little less than N1.1m

Nice work!

New Home Construction: The First Steps

1. List out all you need in the house (Must-Have Features)

1. List out all you hope to have in the house, if funds availability can permit (Nice-To-Have-Features)

1. Get the best Architect with qualifications, experience and lot of common sense to design your house and to guide you from concept to completion of house construction

Then, you will be properly and professionally guided to achieve the best with the least cost. Don't put the cart before the horse.


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muskham:
hi evey1 pls i need to know if anyone have used wallpaper in naija houses. does it last pls i need urgent reply .thanks

I've used it on so many occasions and it lasts.

Refinishing an old stairway can add a great deal of charm to a dead hallway especially the one in the pictures attached. Follow along as we renovate the stairwell and entryway for livability.

Nice One Bro.

@Colin,

Which one be dis na? Anyway, broken blocks are subject to liquefaction and have poor load bearing capacity and may lead to excessive settlement. What I'd advice is to excavate the pit and fill back with good load bearing soil.

This is what I'd do if I'm in that situation - especially if the groundwater in the area is high. Don't just assume

@mildred39,

I'm sorry for referring you back to your engineer. I'm not trying to pour water on your passion but what I'm trying to express here is that you need to discuss more with your engineer/architect/builders or whoever is handling the design of the project. He is the designer and you have employed him to help you create a home for you.

If you want him to do the best job for you, you will have to work together. Remember, we are not there with you.

Without a detailed drawing and site information, we will all be giving you advice based on our instincts and prior experiences with a different project which will make any calculation or estimate given to be unrealistic and inaccurate for you project.

I can understand what you are trying to do but my advice is that you allow the to do his job. I want to believe you didn't hire a quack - but if you doubt his competence, then fire him before its too late.

mildred39:
Hiya, na Almighty God go bless you for wetin you dey do for us, friends and relatives think say the money easy for oversea, now wey you dey show us the day to day cost of building from scratch, all of them don shame, abeg my bros, tell me, to do pilla and linter for 2 flats before the decking, how much do yu think that will cost me, and please can you give me a rough estimate and the types of rod wey i need at this stage. of the rods and gravel to use.

Hollow block walls in residential construction don’t have much load carrying capacity or the strength needed to withstand lateral shaking. That’s why its so important that the reinforced concrete columns and the lintel beams are properly specified and constructed.

The only advice I can give here is that you should talk to your structural engineer, if you have one or post the building plan here maybe one of our experts on NL can give a professional advice.

Poor design or construction can have disastrous consequences. Do it right, my bro!

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Case Study: Brabus Neighbour

Mr Emeka (my site neighbour) assumed that the plans developed by his architect would ensure, if followed to the letter, that his project would result in a soundly engineered house. In some aspects, the design of the beams and columns, quantity and size of rebar, this goal was met.

He had actually looked at the way I built my house and felt it was ridiculously overbuilt. Interestingly, his builder was right in terms of concrete mixes, column and beam sizes, and quantity of reinforcing bar. They used good materials but, unknowingly, they did not always follow good engineering practices.

Why?

In many critical areas, the plans were deficient. It did not provide details that were needed to properly tie together joints for maximum strength. There were few details about critical issues such as adequately tying corners and walls together so that the building can act as a unit to resist blast-induced ground vibrations from WAPCO factory which is less than 2km to our site.

Given that there were few instructions in the plans, the workers followed their own instincts and prior experiences. While Mr Emeka was not knowledgeable about such matters, he was on the job every day until a whole section of the building fell apart. It even fell on my fence and my fence was not affected. I didnt even notice it until another neighbour told me.

Do it right Bro. It is your house.

Still Available for just N100k

Ogbefi_007:
Forgot to add, I ve finally stopped molding for the time being. Already got 4500 blocks at site and my contractor wants mr to buy 30 tons of granite for the Germany floor and the decking! He said N185,000 will do the magic? Is the price and quantity fair?
Need I remind guys that I m doing a storey building of 2 Flt down and 2 Flt up. Each flat with be 3bdrm. The ideal is to deck and concentrate on the down flats and later do the upper flats as cash inflow improves!

30 tons granite cannot do the German floor and Decking. What will you use for the columns, beams, lintels? Is it not from the same granite? 30 tons in Lagos is btw N130 - N150k depending on location (ie. distance)

Oga Fhemmmy, are we still on course?

^^^Interesting! Generally, most people think building a house is an effortless job. That you just have to buy bricks, pour concrete the way you want and level it; this is the biggest misconception people have (especially people in the online community). There are numerous preparations to be made before anyone set a stone, because of which it is a wise decision to hire skilled laborers and professionals who have the expertise in constructing houses.  Cost cutting is no reason to do such a hectic job yourself, you might wind up with a disastrous result.

DIYers Beware!

Bros, Well Done! A House is like a "box" into which we will put dozens of related "parts" in a wonderful journey - the journey of building affordable homes.
May God grant you accelerated speed in your project.

Nice work. Thanks for sharing with us.

I think the hardest part is teaching the people how to plan their home. Too many ideas/revisions may drag out a project.

This is not far-fetched from most typical Nigeria projects. A good rule of thumb is to do all revisions on paper.

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3/11/2011

Classwork

1. What was the hardest part about building?

@Diordavies, I'm very sorry for delayed response. The initial plumbing work in stage 9 is not compulsory but I usually do that in my project especially in flood zones e.g. Underground pipes for drainage. I'll upload a picture of initial plumb work done at a site hopefully by next week. It is a new project.