n3xt:


Good job! Congratulations @ Thenext

When should we turn up?

With knife abi na with guns?

Thief.

n3xt:


O ti red ni.

If I broke na my business

I’m here to learn today baba.

You to learn? Hmmm. Make I reserve my comment make you no think I have a personal beef with you

In January 2021, there’s someone here that I worked with on a 30 flats project. I only visit the project once but suggested ways to achieve more with less.

I gave him the same advice above. He was a first time self builder but I was amazed he did a 30 flats project in a record time as a self builder.

My oga I hail o!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00J8qMpdqh0

Here’s the link to the post: https://www.nairaland.com/2550211/general-topic-thread-to-discuss-anything/2026#99463559

DrGoodman:


With knife abi na with guns?

Thief.

lol. You funny

n3xt:




In time like this, construction cost efficiency is key. I don’t ever advice any client to look for ways to cut down on material costs but to find a way to work with the contractor on how to save cost and time wherever possible.

With the rising cost of building materials, all projects must vigorously pursue an efficient utilization of labor, material and equipment.

What does this mean? Achieving more with less without compromise.

For instance, I was able to erect, install formwork and pour 120 columns in 1 week using just 5 people cutting off the need for:

1. Exorbitant labour cost
2. Woods & Planks (my client didn’t buy a single plank)
3. Nails
4. Reducing Construction Time
5. Minimizing Wastages (planks etc)

I would have spent thrice the amount to achieve the same result in 2 weeks or more.

Today, the cost of building materials is K (constant) and it’s quite unfortunate we can’t do anything about it but we can lower our final cost through innovation.

The earlier the OP can get out of the ground the better. This means working with the builder (like we did back in time ) to come up with ideas to get the job done faster, cheaper and without compromise. At a cost though!

It’s tough but it’s not impossible.

I trust the builder will deliver a good job.
____________

>> Forget about moulding blocks for now. If there’s spare cash (700k or more) to invest on block moulder, it won’t be a bad idea. You can shave off 30% local market cost.

>> Focus on getting to the roof level within the next 60 days.

>> Do Structural Frame. (discuss with builder). There are ways to achieve this without wasting resource.

>> Get all the Materials needed up to first floor slab sorted. Reinforcement, cement, boards for slabwork (outright purchase if possible)

>> Discuss with truck owners to hire their truck for 1 week or more and do all your deliveries within that period. We were only able to achieve all we did on Desmond flats because we had NextHome Dump Truck. I was saving almost 50% on all sand deliveries.
I know there are trucking companies that do this.

>> Explore the option of hiring wherever possible. Be a bargain hunter.
For instance, I’m currently dangling 250k on raft panel hire for a project. It saves me cost and headache of buying woods, paying carpenters and spending unnecessary time. The company takes care of the worries while I focus on other things.

Lastly, kindly work with the builder to come up with ideas to make this a reality without breaking bank.



^^ Wishing you all the best.

This is where you are excellent that is to advise well but surprisingly you cannot do same on your builds to tbe satisfaction of your clients. Why?

DUNKA:
This is where you are excellent that is to advise well but surprisingly you cannot do same on your builds to tbe satisfaction of your clients. Why?

The only reason Nonuplets project got stucked was because the client didn’t know what I brought into the project is actually what’s giving the project a push.

To achieve 5 buildings in one month would require a lot of money or a lot of creative endeavor.

I applied the same strategy on that project.
You might want to check out the construction of Crimson court by Structuracasa. They employed the same strategy.

Construction efficiency is key.



Blackmail is not a good thing.

3strikes:


You can say that again. literally the price of everything has almost doubled.

Quick Question
- is it advisable to mold our own blocks? is that going to save us some money, I know with this approach, I can be rest assure of the quality...based on the mix ratio

- What are other suggestions on what to do to save cost on building materials?

I am open to your suggestions and guidance

Thanks

3strikes!!!

Did all my own blocks . Contracted it out . Basically the advice afroxzy gave

All the best with your build

twinskenny:

I guess this is a work in progress huh? Cos it appears dangerous.

twinskenny:

This can't be the finished job.

n3xt:


The only reason Nonuplets project got stucked was because the client didn’t know what I brought into the project is actually what’s giving the project a push.

To achieve 5 buildings in one month would require a lot of money or a lot of creative endeavor.

I applied the same strategy on that project.
You might want to check out the construction of Crimson court by Structuracasa. They employed the same strategy.

Construction efficiency is key.



Blackmail is not a good thing.

Brabus how I wish the Nonuplets Client would speak up so that we know what really happened behind d the scene

Why are you all talking about equipment cost for molding blocks? Those people do come with their molding tools and charge per bag. The last time I know was # 1k per bag. But I won’t encourage anyone to follow that route if you are cautious of time in your project

The down side is that those people wahala is too much. It’s too much headache!
If it is not cement missing
Laziness
Lackadaisical attitude
They expect you to baby them, on top of that.
You pay for packing of the blocks or they just scatter it every where on the site.
If rain falls, it’s your business not theirs.
They could spend weeks to mold just 100bags

Here is a rough estimate
10bags of cement..(plus transport)....#45k
Labour for molding 10bag....... #10k
Sand (SE) 10 tons.............. #25k
water.............................# 5 (might be free)
Total ........85k
You get 400 (40 x 10) pieces of hollow 9” blocks . This is approx. # # 215 each.

Vibrated blocks is a different ball game.

folmus:


Molding on your own guarantees you the quality however you might not save anything in real sense. ( It is risky. If it rains and you already have blocks molded, you might have to go through the tedious route of remolding.)

Why not look for a factory you can discuss with. Tell them your spec. They might add a few naira but you get a better blocks.

That is exactly what I did when I ordered 10,000 concrete blocks from my supplier. I’m lucky she have the capacity to supply us 1,200 at when needed from mainland to island. It’s not easy though, with all those area boys on the road day and night. Thanks God we get it done.

michlins:
At this height, you don't have to worry about the water pressure.

Let me do it for you as I have done it for many others here

and this has been delivered today

sonnie10:
Why are you all talking about equipment cost for molding blocks? Those people do come with their molding tools and charge per bag. The last time I know was # 1k per bag. But I won’t encourage anyone to follow that route if you are cautious of time in your project

The down side is that those people wahala is too much. It’s too much headache!
If it is not cement missing
Laziness
Lackadaisical attitude
They expect you to baby them, on top of that.
You pay for packing of the blocks or they just scatter it every where on the site.
If rain falls, it’s your business not theirs.
They could spend weeks mold just 100bags

Here is a rough estimate
10bags of cement..(plus transport)....#45k
Labour for molding 10bag....... #10k
Sand (SE) 10 tons.............. #25k
water.............................# 5 (might be free)
Total ........85k
You get 400 (40 x 10) pieces of hollow 9” blocks . This is approx. # # 215 each.

My brother 40 piece of 9” blocks per bag is suicide. Can’t ever compare hands mold with machine vibrated.

kopell:
My brother 40 piece of 9” blocks per bag is suicide. Can’t ever compare hands mold with machine vibrated.

Some do 60 believe me. Vibrated is a different thing entirely.

bolu1986:
We have been awarded to do pop for this project at shimawa..

Thanks to money121 via twinskenny

Pop only

Do am giveaway for me to thank my Oga
I thank you

spyder880:
On one of my threads, someone asked me why I buy blocks directly from block industries and not making them on site as before. My reasons are what I posted below.

1. Space.
You must have enough space in the land you plan to build before you talk of making your own blocks on site. Keeping the sand, and spreading out the blocks you need to make will take some extra space that's not on the build space. It's not every site that has this extra space to play with. There will also be the additional cost of moving and re packing the blocks when you finally want to build.

2. Supervision.
Before you conclude on making your own blocks, you have to first ensure that you will be there with the block makers to monitor the way they are making your blocks. Or you have to place a knowledgeable person on site for all the hours the block makers are working. This is to ensure that they use your whole cement to make blocks, and not use 80 bags out of the 100 you bought, because you are not on ground. The extra 20 bags could disappear, and you wont find out.

3. Mix ratios
This is the most important matter. The mix ratio of cement to sand and or stone dust, plus water is extremely important. You have to know this, and also ensure that the ratios are applied in every mix, because in your absence, workers will do what is easier for them, without minding what you planned to achieve with your blocks.

4. Turning methods
The turning of sand is a process that has been mastered by block industry owners, and except you are knowledgeable about the methods, the block makers will circumvent the process and do what's easier for them, right in front of you. There is a method of turning, and there is a number of times you must mix, and there is a particular moisture content that must be used before your blocks turns out right. How many house owners knows how many buckets of water must be added into a mix of 1 bag, at what intervals should this water be added?

5. How many blocks per bag
Do you know that owners of block industries can make 45 - 50 blocks from one bag of cement and it will be stronger than the 28 - 30 blocks you made from your bag of cement at your own site? Do you know there are specific cement brands that gives more yield, do you know that there are some sands that will give you a lower yield of blocks, or blocks that break upon minimum impact?

6. Curing process
When are they supposed to start treating the newly made blocks with water, how many times in a day, what water pressure, and at what times of the day should the water be poured on the blocks? Most importantly, who's monitoring this water treatment?

We should carefully go through these points and if either one or more of these important processes are breached, your blocks might turn out to be less strong than the ones they make in the block industry.

I started buying blocks from trusted hands in the past 10 years after finding out these truths, and as you can see from those pictures, none of the 2,000 blocks offloaded in this site was broken. We are using some of the blocks as seats on site now.

Good morning.

More detailed information

sonnie10:

Some do 60 believe me. Vibrated is a different thing entirely.

Wooo, are you serious. 60 blocks per bag of cement. The concrete blocks 9”
I ordered 28 per bag. Years back in different location back when. I did hands molding blocks for fencing 32 per bag for 9” when 35 per bag for 6”

Kingdemu:
Egbon Mogaji, I just went through this and I must say it is eye opening as this is my first time knowing a gas powered water heater. I am most grateful to you and to this thread. Now, considering the present high cost of LPG in Nigeria, do you think a propane water heater would still be a cheaper option compared to electric water heater?

Thanks Sir. We’re all learning.

Back in the early 70’s in Ile Oluji my parents had a propane powered fridge.

I’ll always prefer a gas powered appliance when I can.

kopell:
Wooo, are you serious. 60 blocks per bag of cement. The concrete blocks 9”
I ordered 28 per bag. Years back in different location back when. I did hands molding blocks for fencing 32 per bag for 9” when 35 per bag for 6”

Most that want to maintain standard would do this but the block industries won't

n3xt:
In January 2021, there’s someone here that I worked with on a 30 flats project. I only visit the project once but suggested ways to achieve more with less.

I gave him the same advice above. He was a first time self builder but I was amazed he did a 30 flats project in a record time as a self builder.


Here’s the link to the post: https9

How much money did you steal from the site before they chased you away like they do in everywhere you steal?

Talking about block moulding, whether it’s good or not. I think we need to understand the type of client we are serving.

The client I served in 2015 is completely different from the client in question.

2015 - 3strikes (Private Individual)
2022 - Grandbricks Ltd.

I wouldn’t expect anyone to treat the 2 client same way.

Grandbricks to the best of my knowledge should be a profit making business and should conduct her business different from a private individual.

So exploring every avenue to save cost without compromising on quality is a good one for Grandbricks. And one of the best way to achieve this is by investing in equipment for block production under strict supervision for standard and quality control.

Otherwise, what would make Grandbricks different from just any other person out there developing a house.

_________
Nonuplets

During the construction of Nonuplets, we bought blocks from the biggest block supplier in Ìbàdàn. We just had to live with what we were offered during the project. They weren’t all so fantastic despite the hefty price tag.

_________
Browne Mews

If I can recollect, I think we did about 15k block on Browne Mews before I went to setup NextHome’s solar powered block production facility in Lekki Scheme II and we never had issue of space constraints. We were deliberate in our planning.

__________

The Bariga 30 Flats

OIMC produced their blocks under strict supervision.

https://youtube.com/shorts/AgPl2dZ2Z9U?feature=share

These blocks were produced and used on a project by a real estate development company in Lagos.

It’s one of their selling point.

kopell:
Wooo, are you serious. 60 blocks per bag of cement. The concrete blocks 9”
I ordered 28 per bag. Years back in different location back when. I did hands molding blocks for fencing 32 per bag for 9” when 35 per bag for 6”

Did about 35 to 37 I think .for 9 inch . Machine made , vibrated . With stone dust . Use 3x or other 42.5 variants for all my projects including block moulding

rmx:


Did about 35 to 37 I think .for 9 inch . Machine made , vibrated . With stone dust . Use 3x or other 42.5 variants for all my projects including block moulding

Nice one. Load Test.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ircSNBKCWMY

We did these sturvs here years back when we were testing NextHome’s CGF blocks. We even drove truck on blocks

We also talked about mix and the best practices

rmx:


Did about 35 to 37 I think .for 9 inch . Machine made , vibrated . With stone dust . Use 3x or other 42.5 variants for all my projects including block moulding

The stone dust really make the blocks to be stronger than the normal blocks..

We have a project inside gbagada estate and same blocks used, 3 of our cutting machine don suffer

topsy23:


The stone really make the blocks to be stronger than the normal blocks..

We have a project inside gbagada estate and same blocks used, 3 of our cutting machine don suffer

Hang your TV without worry kind of blocks

rmx:


Did about 35 to 37 I think .for 9 inch . Machine made , vibrated . With stone dust . Use 3x or other 42.5 variants for all my projects including block moulding

I have heard of blocks that nails have difficulty going through. This sounds like that kind of block.

It all depends on the budget on the one hand and the love of standards on the other hands.

These should be the kinds of houses that can live 100 years.

Someone who studied how to build houses in the US has refused to build houses in Nigeria because he doesn't want to economize like we do here, he says he wants to build houses that live "forever" and cannot be connected to a project that cannot stand the test of time.

He says our people don't want to pay for quality, so he changed professions when he came to Nigeria.

FEGEITOK:


I have heard of blocks that nails have difficulty going through. This sounds like that kind of block.

It all depends on the budget on the one hand and the love of standards on the other hands.

These should be the kinds of houses that can live 100 years.

Someone who studied how to build houses in the US has refused to build houses in Nigeria because he doesn't want to economize like we do here, he says he wants to build houses that live "forever" and cannot be connected to a project that cannot stand the test of time.

He says our people don't want to pay for quality, so he changed professions when he came to Nigeria.

they didn't teach him well or probably he didn't learn how to get his target audience.


In this Nigeria where people are importing something as simple as grass for their house, you said you can't build here.

There are very wealthy individuals who will give you open check if you can deliver what they desire

n3xt:
Talking about block moulding, whether it’s good or not. I think we need to understand the type of client we are serving.

The client I served in 2015 is completely different from the client in question.

2015 - 3strikes (Private Individual)
2022 - Grandbricks Ltd.

I wouldn’t expect anyone to treat the 2 client same way.

Grandbricks to the best of my knowledge should be a profit making business and should conduct her business different from a private individual.

So exploring every avenue to save cost without compromising on quality is a good one for Grandbricks. And one of the best way to achieve this is by investing in equipment for block production under strict supervision for standard and quality control.

Otherwise, what would make Grandbricks different from just any other person out there developing a house.

_________
Nonuplets

During the construction of Nonuplets, we bought blocks from the biggest block supplier in Ìbàdàn. We just had to live with what we were offered during the project. They weren’t all so fantastic despite the hefty price tag.

_________
Browne Mews

If I can recollect, I think we did about 15k block on Browne Mews before I went to setup NextHome’s solar powered block production facility in Lekki Scheme II and we never had issue of space constraints. We were deliberate in our planning.

__________

The Bariga 30 Flats

OIMC produced their blocks under strict supervision.

Very sweet stories until they pay you, then you will swallow the money and return foe maga number 15

n3xt:
htt

These blocks were produced and used on a project by a real estate development company in Lagos.

It’s one of their selling point.

Did you steal from them too?

OLOSHI.

Olatunbosun David Shoyeye

Brabus
brabusng
nexthome
n3xt
kobocity
Olatunbosun
David Shoyeye
Brabus
n3xt

Is a criminal fraudster .