KolaShangOne:
Just a thought..

The "window hood" designs we do with mortar (either precast or in-situ). Can we explore options like thick plastic or polystrene?

Wood, Polystrene and Aluminium should work. So also steel but not in areas water can reach.

Plastic for outdoor application is a Big No for me.

I just saw the below in Brabus's diary of the same QC1 house.

https://www.nairaland.com/1338637/chateau-ile-oluji-construction-journal/44#20528892

Which makes me to conclude that Brabus could have done this really?

Question is: Why was this not done? .... even if a Pile cannot be done, it can be done on a very wide inverted-T Raft.
Hopefully, if the "load/Weight" of the house was then properly managed, it might just sink a little before the various laws of "Fluids and Upthrust" come into play

Would that be a decision of the Builder .... or the Client?







Lastpage!

n3xt:


Bros, there's a place of theories and there's a place of practical experience.
Though it appears like "Mr Know-it-all" but that's what fate did to me. But look at what happened within just 2 days, even though it's had to believe.

Iriri l'agba. Mo dupe l'owo eyin Agba o.

Now, it's no longer a filling dirt. It doesn't look like a rip off again. This is what my sojourn with Baba Lati's of this world had taught me.

This is one of the opportunity this forum has afforded us.

You could have taken it upon your supplier based on comments here that he's playing pranks with you but see what happened after just two days.

Thanks, Dude, I'm totally stoked.

I actually just needed to know if I should order another load, I won't go apeshit on my suppliers for N15k ($40).

This is why I ask questions even though I know it pisses some certain sectors off but oh well

lastpage:
I jsaw the below in Brabus's diary of the same QC1 house.

https://www.nairaland.com/1338637/chateau-ile-oluji-construction-journal/44#20528892

Which makes me to conclude that Brabus could have done this really?

Question is: Why was this not done? .... even if a Pile cannot be done, it can be done on a very wide inverted-T Raft.
Hopefully, if the "load/Weight" of the house was then properly managed, it might just sink a little before the various laws of "Fluids and Upthrust" come into play

Would that be a decision of the Builder .... or the Client?

Lastpage!

The bolded part in red above sums up the problem. Even a pile foundation will be displaced in a liquified soil. This explains why soil stabilization is very critical in foundation design.

It should be the builders decision to a large extent but I'm not willing to discuss that now because even when the builder took a drastic decision to stop work, the owner chooses to continue work.


Brabus.


_______
I'm responding to this for educational purpose and not a project defense. Neither is it to proof who is right or wrong but for learning purpose.

EgunMogaji:


Thanks, Dude, I'm totally stoked.

I actually just needed to know if I should order another load, I won't go apeshit on my suppliers for N15k ($40).

This is why I ask questions even though I know it pisses some certain sectors off but oh well

Buy as much as needed now, the rain is coming and it'll help remove the silt and clay contents.

And more importantly turn your jollof rice into fried rice.

n3xt:


Buy as much as needed now, the rain is coming and it'll help remove the silt and clay contents.

And more importantly turn your jollof rice into fried rice.

won't the quantity be reduced?

n3xt:


The bolded part in red above sums up the problem. Even a pile foundation will be displaced in a liquified soil.
This explains why soil stabilization is very critical in foundation design.

It should be the builders decision to a large extent but I'm not willing to discuss that now because even when the builder took a drastic decision to stop work, the owner chooses to continue work.


Brabus.


_______
I'm responding to this for educational purpose and not a project defense. Neither is it to proof who is right or wrong but for learning purpose.

I understand what you are driving at.

Thats why l concluded that "we need prayers" for that house.


I am very much with you on learning and exchange of ideas.

For educational purposes, let me point out that the bolded above, in your statement is not supported by Engineering principles, IMO.

Let me explain:

- The idea behind a Pile foundation is to insert Piles into the ground, to the point where the load-bearing capacity of the soil is STRONG ENOUGH, to withstand the CALCULATED/ANTICIPATED Live and Dead loads, of the building. (As established by a Soil Test result)
This is the work of the structural Engineer, using the Architectural drawings and Soil Test results, as guide.
It is on these group of PILES that the building's foundation, sits on.

if the above is TRUE, then it is safe to say that the Pile foundation is actually not "on a liquefied soil" since it is sitting on solid ground, (well below the poor surface soil) and is therefore expected to suffer non ......or very minimal settlement, but certainly not a 'differential' type/nature.

If by "Soil Stabilization", you mean "soil loading and compaction", this is only useful where the soil itself is strong enough to an appreciable degree, at a low depth (typically < or = 12ft) ...... as against a Swamp where whatever soil is loaded on the "Muddy Swamp", will sink under its own weight (denser than Swamp mud) ..

... unless the Swamp mud can be completely excavated from the site.
This ofcourse, will likely be uneconomical (especially for a private house) due to the depth of the unstable Swamp mud, below ground which would need to be removed and replaced.
In certain cases that l was privy to, we are looking at upwards of 70ft before a stable ground is encountered.
Now, imagine the cost, if we are to excavate the 'foot print' of a building to that depth.... and replace it with stable soil, after which we need to compact such again!

BTW: Where is @Abdulwastexc, when you need him?


Am learning a lot from this.





Lastpage!

twinskenny:
won't the quantity be reduced?

No! With 2 days rain, it's only the colourants and the unnecessary ingredients that will be washed off.

If it takes longer time in the rain, it washes off the nutrient.

But that'll only make it a sharp sand for a different application.

lastpage:
@Brabus,

Honestly, you fall hand small for this project of QC1!.... because you are the "professional here.
I know knowledge is not as much as we have today, back then ....but l cant make such excuse

Do you know why l said so?

I have not followed the thread of this project, so l never knew the history of the build until you posted those links in your last posts.

So, l went to check whether it was really true that you made all this "observations and recommendations" from the onset.
You know some people can lie, ehn?

Well, it is true you made those observations, so you are not lying ....... but


But you know what?
I did not see ANYWHERE in that thread, where you ADVICED QC1 that he needed to:

1.) Do a Soil test to confirm the type of foundation required

2.) You both just assumed that a 4-board raft should be adequate.


But where l fault you more is that looking at the pictures you posted, more so when you said you started work in that site in the middle of a DRY SEASON.... it should have occurred to you that NOTHING SHORT OF A PILE, WITH A FLOATING RAFT, WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THAT PLACE.

*The Pile is to ensure that the weight of the building rests on a firm sub-soil such that it will not sink .......noticeably.
*The Floating raft (which will be on-top of the Pile-heads, will ensure that run-off water can pass underneath (like a bridge) without affecting the walls of the building..... even if they divert third mainland bridge water to the side of your building.

But then, l know you are not an Architect or a Structural Engineer and you did not design the building.
One Structural Engineer must have specified the type of foundation given to the builder, to implement.... so, l can heap all the blame on you

I am not a builder, just a lay-man ....... but l have "observed' a few builds of my own .....(plus that of others).... and one of them was in such a nasty environment as this one! So, l think l can make a little comment like this, using my own experiences.

I feel really sad about this house....l really feel sad!

Infact, this house needs PRAYERS.
[b]*That vegetation you are seeing, is indicative of a SWAMP topography! Not just a "soft-soil" but a Swamp!
I hope we all know what l mean by SWAMP? Anyone who has lived in the low-land part Niger Delta, should educate us about SWAMP, please!

I have seen it swallow many Storey buildings.

*In cases l have seen, First, the ground floor will be converted to filling when it gets to the point where one can no longer fill it again (Filling don pass window level! )
*Secondly, after a while, the Upper floors becomes a Bungalow which eventually will still go (depending on where the hard Soil that has the bearing capacity is encountered.[/b]

Dont think l am an alarmist o, God spear our life, l hope we can all come back to read this post of mine, in about ten years time.
Bookmark it.

In the late 60's, a "family member" of ours had a land like this and l can remember back then, how they continued to spend money, upon money on the house on it .... and like what Yorubas call "Agbaa'noo" , it just kept swallowing it because the foundation of the house was wrong and they was not advised properly, that the ONLY solution is to demolish it, do a proper foundation and rebuild.

One "Money-miss-road" even came later and instead of him to learn from our own mistake and heed the advise my we gave him, he quickly built a Storey building within about 3-months .....but l tell you, that building went "completely underground" in less than eight years!
Till today, there is no building on that his land (owner don die and his children decided such "Agbaa'noo is not for them), its a church that just put some ramshackle on it.

Somebody should have told QC-1, that he needs a PILE, for that foundation!
I dont know for sure if somebody did and he dismissed it .....but my guess is that he was not told
I am not even talking about the surface run-off flood or pipe channelled onto his land nor the underground water you mentioned.

PROGNOSIS:

1.) A complete Rebuild, with proper foundation (Pile with Floating raft) - costly but most reliable and cost effective in the long run.

2.) Patches here and there to keep it afloat - will help to manage cash-flow for now, keep a roof over owner's head but a waste of money in the long run because "money used to maintain it within the next five years" will be enough to start another build to at least a Decked, Bungalow level.

If anyone tells you that building has stopped sinking, say l, Lastpage! said l would have a bet that "if they can measure its height above ground now (accurately), 10% of that value, at a minimum, will be below ground by this time next year"!

I am speaking based on the foundation pictures l saw (Nobody is God! ...and with God, nothing is impossible; that is why l said above, that "We need Prayers".

My Prayer is that God will provide more Money for QC1, to surmount this challenge.
If l were him, l will start thinking ahead and not let anyone fool me that they can do one miracle on this building
Brabus cant, l cant, No one can..... without pulling it down.
Anything done is just a "patch-patch" ......which will waste more money on a futile effort.




Lastpage!

Caveat: I am sorry if you find my post "uncomfortable", especially the Client nd Brabus l am used to calling "A Spade, A Spade".
Most people wont say what l have said "openly" but l am sure inside most of us, we know this truth.
Its just not in my nature and those close to me know this
Am sorry.

^^^


I'm just the owner of the house not a builder, so Bosun looked at the house in the neighborhood and came up with the foundation. I don't evevn know that is called "Raft" before I hired him to build my dream home.

As you can see, all he has done is to make noise here on the internet. Because he has showed no remorse, that's why I may take a legal action. There's one "agbaya" here that everyone on this thread hate so much, and he will push Bosun into a ditch with his encouragement.

Qc1:




^^^


I'm just the owner of the house not a builder, so Bosun looked at the house in the neighborhood and came up with the foundation. I don't evevn know that is called "Raft" before I hired him to build my dream home.

As you can see, all he has done is to make noise here on the internet. Because he has showed no remorse, that's why I may take a legal action. There's one "agbaya" here that everyone on this thread hate so much, and he will push Bosun into a ditch with his encouragement.

Yet, the owner

1. Sandfilled the house with laterite despite been adviced against using such type of sand in the terrain. Or was the builder ever present during the Sandfilling of the structure?
2. Sandfilled the compound with laterite
3. Raised the upper structure with students on practical despite stopping work to resolve the water issues by the builder.
4. Built the collapsed fence despite the builder turning off the offer for fear of compromises.

Sir lastpage, as per your last comment. I'll differ to the professionals in the house and outside the borders to comment on it.

Sir lastpage, I'm not an engineer, not even learned in any related field, but I know exactly what I'm doing. Anyway, I want a pro to shed light!

I know you're not one either so those theories you're postulating above are just what you think.

Displacement do not occur at the bedrock. It occurs at the liquified layers that's why engineered soil are recommended for proper draining of water. I'm a geography student and had wanted all my life to be a geologist.
You'll never see any bridge built in running water whether it has 1000ft deep pile or not. Do you agree? And why? PRESSURE!

You'll never see a bridge in a flood plain without proper stabilization of the soils. You know? BEARING PRESSURE from liquefied soils which causes displacement.



Baba, make I no too talk.



The building in the attached is siting on pile. What happened?



Brabus


_________
Again, this is for educational purpose.

A simple geothecnic test would have revealed the soil bearing capacity, settlement rate, soil profile and water level, The geothecnic Engineer would have specified a foundation type after considering economy and durability. The test wouldnt have cost upto N150,000 - N200,0000 and saved both the client and the builder the stress.
I recommend in the future, Builders and clients should put it in writing that a soil test was not performed and the builders/structural engineers are not responsible from any eventual settlement of the soil leading to eventual failure of the house. According to barry in his book (construction of buildings Volume 1) he states that engineers usually overdesign foundations to avoild being sued by the clients for settlement of their houses.
Foundation is a wide subject that encompasses both the soil that withstands the load of the strucutre and the Reinforced concrete /Plain concrete layed on the soil. There are different types of foundation and every foundation was created to cater for different soil conditions. Apart from the common strip, raft, pile and pad, there are other specialized foundations done for special purposes like i read about an adjustable foundation in australia where you can use hydraulic pumps to raise the level of your house once its has settled considerably.
RAFT Foundation is a spread foundation that involves escavating the soil down to a part of the soil profile a soil with suitable beraing capacity can be met. And its with that bearing capacity that the RAfT foundation is designed uppon. Most properly done Raft have a basement due to the dept of the excation.
Any raft built without a soil test means the raft was not designed. Not designing your raft foundation is like walking on glass without shoes. There are different types of raft (not 1 board, 2 board). Each type depends on the load of the srructure and the bearing capacity for design.
PIle foundation from your soil test if you discover the dept of your firm strata is far down into ground and excavating that debt to lay your raft foundation would be uneconomical or unsafe then you opt for a pile foundation.
A Pile foundation works on two priciples, first principle is fiction between the pile and the soil. Second is drilling your pile into the ground until you meet a firm strata.

Ecocomy and structural intergrity is considered before any foundation type is selected. All foundation are designed to carry an estimated amount of load based on a specific bearing capacity. Even the strip foundation is designed to determine the width and thickness of the strip.

n3xt:
Sir lastpage, I'm not an engineer, not even learned in a related field, but I know exactly what I'm doing.

I know you're not one either so those theories you're posh laying above are just what you think.

Displacement first occur at the bedrock. It occurs at the liquified layers. I'm a geography student and had wanted all my life to be a geologist.
You'll never see any bridge built in running water whether it has 1000ft deep pile or not. Do you agree? And why? PRESSURE!

Baba, make I no too talk.



The building in the attached is si.ting on pile. What happened?

You must TALK o!
otherwise, how de we learn from each other?
The only way not to repeat past mistakes (of yourself or others) is to LEARM.

Me, l am not too old to learn, even from my youngest daughter! I tale time to kneel down and here kids talk, because l learn something from looking into their eyes when they talk.
try it one day.

First, remember, you are a Computer Sc. graduate........ not a Geography graduate!

Secondly, what you saw in that building was as a result of a FAILED PILE (broken set of Piles, on one side of the building, concurrently or consequentially ).
Its like sitting a house on Stilts. if one of the supporting stilts get broken (and with a weight as heavy as that of a house), expect that you will have a Leaning Tower of Pissa (Copyright @Brabus).


Now, before l get lost, explain what you mean by:

1.) Running Water

2.) Liquified Soil

3.) Displacement (in the context of this issue of Buildings, Piles and Bridges.)


But if the water under the 3rd mainland Bridge is moving (both on-top and under currents, which you can see if yo stand on top of that Bridge), l consider that as "running/moving water".

But maybe you mean something different and l may learn from your own explanation so dont let me jump the gun.



Lastpage!

beedam:


if you did all the above before , what now happened in Qc1 house? I don't seem to understand!

Try and meet with him so as to save the house from sinking further since you built the house. Biko!

@beedam, my email address is keem4ever69@gmail.com.

Thanks.

podosci:
A simple geothecnic test would have revealed the soil bearing capacity, settlement rate, soil profile and water level, The geothecnic Engineer would have specified a foundation type after considering economy and durability. The test wouldnt have cost upto N150,000 - N200,0000 and saved both the client and the builder the stress.
I recommend in the future, Builders and clients should put it in writing that a soil test was not performed and the builders/structural engineers are not responsible from any eventual settlement of the soil leading to eventual failure of the house. According to barry in his book (construction of buildings Volume 1) he states that engineers usually overdesign foundations to avoild being sued by the clients for settlement of their houses.
Foundation is a wide subject that encompasses both the soil that withstands the load of the strucutre and the Reinforced concrete /Plain concrete layed on the soil. There are different types of foundation and every foundation was created to cater for different soil conditions. Apart from the common strip, raft, pile and pad, there are other specialized foundations done for special purposes like i read about an adjustable foundation in australia where you can use hydraulic pumps to raise the level of your house once its has settled considerably.
RAFT Foundation is a spread foundation that involves escavating the soil down to a part of the soil profile a soil with suitable beraing capacity can be met. And its with that bearing capacity that the RAfT foundation is designed uppon. Most properly done Raft have a basement due to the dept of the excation.
Any raft built without a soil test means the raft was not designed. Not designing your raft foundation is like walking on glass without shoes. There are different types of raft (not 1 board, 2 board). Each type depends on the load of the srructure and the bearing capacity for design.
PIle foundation from your soil test if you discover the dept of your firm strata is far down into ground and excavating that debt to lay your raft foundation would be uneconomical or unsafe then you opt for a pile foundation.
A Pile foundation works on two priciples, first principle is fiction between the pile and the soil. Second is drilling your pile into the ground until you meet a firm strata.

Ecocomy and structural intergrity is considered before any foundation type is selected. All foundation are designed to carry an estimated amount of load based on a specific bearing capacity. Even the strip foundation is designed to determine the width and thickness of the strip.

You see wetin l talk before?


@Podosci (I hope you are not that Arsenal centre forward? )

what is your opinion on my post to Brabus, on the "choice of Foundation", in the post where he differed his response to experts like you?



Lastpage!

Qc1:


^^^

I'm just the owner of the house not a builder, so Bosun looked at the house in the neighborhood and came up with the foundation.
I don't evevn know that is called "Raft" before I hired him to build my dream home.

As you can see, all he has done is to make noise here on the internet. Because he has showed no remorse, that's why I may take a legal action. There's one "agbaya" here that everyone on this thread hate so much, and he will push Bosun into a ditch with his encouragement.

Bros,

I am really sorry for the experience you are having.
I am not given to hiding words behind my tongue and that is why l lay it open like no one has done on this thread.
I understand that peopel dont want to offend you .....or Brabus!

But we all cant keep quiet and act like we dont know what went wrong!

Both You and Brabus made a lot of "serious mistakes"! I wont rehash all those mistakes again.
I am sure you did not do a Soil test and you were not "advised to do it" by those who designed your building (Not the Builder!, l am referring to Architects and Structural Engineers), who should have suggested this to you as very important.

Brabus himself just went ahead and start building (l dont know what informed his choice of Raft foundation.... not even an inverted T-raft?)
But to make matter worse, you were also in a hurry to finish it and did not consider the "LOAD and Soil type" so much so you even loaded Parapet on it!

"We all fall down but when we do, we must look back (to know what tripped us) and then rise up and walk again".
You must be strong!
The fall of a man is not the end of his life.
Where this money came from, more than ten folds of it is still coming
(Thank God you are not knocking on old age like me and my good friend Egun! Okay, see as trouble siddon jeje, l dey go find am? )

God-willing, You will build something bigger than these, IJN.... but you need to take a deep breath and ....
just make fun of yourself! Its a therapy method.
When matter pass crying, we simply turn it to laughter!

Dont dissipate your energy into "Lawsuits" (contrary to what most people will advise you! ).
It is not about whether you will win or not, its about maximising your energy for productive purposes.
I am saying this because l really feel your pain but my thoughts are very clear, is not beclouded by anger!

Dont waste more money unnecessarily, on a very bad situation. be cautious about all these promise of 'miracle" to float the building.
Short of if somebody promise they would put 20,000 air-filled Drums under the building


[b]Worst case scenario:[/b] Move Upstairs for now. Forget Ground floor.
Keep working and save more money (why you need not be distracted by lawsuits!).
Buy land on Solid ground (Red Soil as l use to say).... and give yourself a two-to-five year period to build a better building.

The advantages of this approach is that you can have peace of mind, normal blood pressure and focus your "energy and mind" on making more dough.
You will look back on this situation in ten years time, when you are in a bigger Mansion,... and LAUGH, ....and remember one person said so.

Just in-case, l have told myself to "Gbenue'soun" but l wont mind if you told me the same thing.

Good Morning.



Lastpage!

where is Madam Gabbytabby? She is one person whose words l take and swallow, hook, line and sinker! I love that madam-die!!

@brabus...when you take on a build and you advice a client to do something and he refuse. You should always allow the client to sign a document clearly stating that you are excluded from the ramifications of his decision. This will save you from a lot of problems in future.

@qc1....if brabus really adviced you, why did you go further to continue the work without following his advice?

BRABUS, FOR THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T ENSURE THAT THE CLIENT SIGN'S SUCH AN AGREEMENT TO EXONERATE YOU, ALL BLAME POINTS TO YOU. LEGALLY, AS IN THIS CASE...YOU ARE THE BUILDER AND YOU ARE TO BLAME

EgunMogaji:


Because someone is scared of termites that can carry a house away at night

Baba y bringing up old shyte

@ lastpage,


Here's another Brabus Project in a more challenging terrain.

Foundation type: Raft
Fixes applied: Water exclusion


The client bought fillings that I cannot just talk about. We went ahead to redo the raft foundation securing the perimeters not minding what the old neighbours had done on their fences. The client bought pumping machine, hose, boots, did bamboo bridges over the water and did everything and anything that will help him secure his property. This came at extra cost but everything is done at the foundation stage. At a point he left to come back and continue after securing the property.

The building is owned by one of us here and I can tell you it is standing tall among equals.

No soil test! Maybe the client is lucky implementing the fixes recommended by a fluke and not ignoring them.

babalose:
@brabus...when you take on a build and you advice a client to do something and he refuse. You should always allow the client to sign a document clearly stating that you are excluded from the ramifications of his decision. This will save you from a lot of problems in future.

@qc1....if brabus really adviced you, why did you go further to continue the work without following his advice?

BRABUS, FOR THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T ENSURE THAT THE CLIENT SIGN'S SUCH AN AGREEMENT TO EXONERATE YOU, ALL BLAME POINTS TO YOU. LEGALLY, AS IN THIS CASE...YOU ARE THE BUILDER AND YOU ARE TO BLAME

Many client and Builders are guilty of this, There must be a signed agreement between the client and the builder. Any changes to the drawing should also involke a singed aggrement. This to avoid future disputes.
We are all learning and in the future no builder/client should start a project without a legallt binding aggrement detailing all the terms of both the client and builder.

The project above is a massive 3 unit duplex, not even a bungalow.

I hope the owner will be glad to post finished pictures here to see if there are any issues with the build.

We were upfront with the challenges and not waiting to play the blame game.


Brabus

babalose:
@brabus...when you take on a build and you advice a client to do something and he refuse. You should always allow the client to sign a document clearly stating that you are excluded from the ramifications of his decision. This will save you from a lot of problems in future.

@qc1....if brabus really adviced you, why did you go further to continue the work without following his advice?

BRABUS, FOR THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T ENSURE THAT THE CLIENT SIGN'S SUCH AN AGREEMENT TO EXONERATE YOU, ALL BLAME POINTS TO YOU. LEGALLY, AS IN THIS CASE...YOU ARE THE BUILDER AND YOU ARE TO BLAME

Baba,

You are dwelling into the real of legalese..... and its not that "clean-cut".

In Law, liability can be "vicarious" where more than one Actor is involved.

Sir, let me pose a question: if Contractor says "sign" that you refused to follow my instruction ...
and Client says "I am not signing anything to you".
*What recourse does such Contractor have? can he force Client/owner to sign?
*if he cant, can he still be held liable on the basis that he does not hold an "indemnity" document?

This is where Lawyers on both sides begin to "chop and deceive" their clients.

It gets complicated even more, as we dig-down into the nitty-gritty.



Lastpage!

lastpage:


I understand what you are driving at.

Thats why l concluded that "we need prayers" for that house.


I am very much with you on learning and exchange of ideas.

For educational purposes, let me point out that the bolded above, in your statement is not supported by Engineering principles, IMO.

Let me explain:

- The idea behind a Pile foundation is to insert Piles into the ground, to the point where the load-bearing capacity of the soil is STRONG ENOUGH, to withstand the CALCULATED/ANTICIPATED Live and Dead loads, of the building. (As established by a Soil Test result)
This is the work of the structural Engineer, using the Architectural drawings and Soil Test results, as guide.
It is on these group of PILES that the building's foundation, sits on.

if the above is TRUE, then it is safe to say that the Pile foundation is actually not "on a liquefied soil" since it is sitting on solid ground, (well below the poor surface soil) and is therefore expected to suffer non ......or very minimal settlement, but certainly not a 'differential' type/nature.

If by "Soil Stabilization", you mean "soil loading and compaction", this is only useful where the soil itself is strong enough to an appreciable degree, at a low depth (typically < or = 12ft) ...... as against a Swamp where whatever soil is loaded on the "Muddy Swamp", will sink under its own weight (denser than Swamp mud) ..

... unless the Swamp mud can be completely excavated from the site.
This ofcourse, will likely be uneconomical (especially for a private house) due to the depth of the unstable Swamp mud, below ground which would need to be removed and replaced.
In certain cases that l was privy to, we are looking at upwards of 70ft before a stable ground is encountered.
Now, imagine the cost, if we are to excavate the 'foot print' of a building to that depth.... and replace it with stable soil, after which we need to compact such again!

BTW: Where is @Abdulwastexc, when you need him?


Am learning a lot from this.





Lastpage!

Mr lastpage not all cases it is economical to get to a solid bearing strata that can carry the building load. The beauty of engineering is there is a solution to most problem, pile can also be friction piles by skin friction between piles and contact surface with the soil where the bedrock is too deep and it will not be economical to meet the bedrock with good bearing capacity capable to support the structure.
In summary, we have two type of pile in this regard, namely:
End bearing piles and friction piles.

n3xt:
@ lastpage,


Here's another Brabus Project in a more challenging terrain.

Foundation type: Raft
Fixes applied: Water exclusion


The client bought fillings that I cannot just talk about. We went ahead to redo the raft foundation securing the perimeters not minding what the old neighbours had done on their fences. The client bought pumping machine and everything and anything that will help him secure his property. This came at extra cost but everything is done at the foundation stage. At a point he left to come back and continue after securing the property.

The building is owned by one of us here and I can tell you it is standing tall among equals.

No soil test! Maybe the client is lucky implementing the fixes recommended by a fluke and not ignoring them.

My brother Brabus,

You are comparing "Apples with Oranges" here!

You are only looking at the surface Water..... you are not considering the fact that just below that water surface, at a distance of less than 10ft below ground level, this particular land can be HARD ROCK!
It could also just be water-logged because it is a fenced land without any Drainage hence it is retaining water inside after the rains

Qc-1's land[b] is PURE SWAMP! Pure Mangrove Swamp![/b]

I thought you said you have lived on Water or close to water before? I am not talking about that type of Ikorodu Water (Ocean)
I am talking about Bariga, Orile, Mende in Maryland, Makoko, e.t.c type of Swamp.

You can identify them by the type of Plants that grow in those places: Short palms (the useless ones that dont produce palm wine but thongs), that leaf that floats on water (cant remember the English name roght now but Yorubas call it "Oju-ooro, Osibata", Plants with stilt-roots that keep the body of the plant above water, brackish-salty water, e.t.c.

I can bet this is the situation on ground in that place.

That other man was just lucky he had good soil underneath the top soil!

Only a Soil test can tell you definitively, the type of foundation you can safely use.
Any other thing is guess work.... and this is the result.



Lastpage!

@podosci.....it's like a norm in Nigeria for most clients to make a few alterations to their plans when the construction is going on BUT it now depends on the builder to know if the foundation in place can accommodate such alterations. I have made alterations to my own build several times but I always seek the consent of the builder because in this case, he is the one that is meant to be the professional.
Hardly anyone can claim to be innocent of this regard.

abdulwastecx:


Mr lastpage not all cases it is economical to get to a solid bearing strata that can carry the building load. The beauty of engineering is there is a solution to most problem, pile can also be friction piles by skin friction between piles and contact surface with the soil where the bedrock is too deep and it will not be economical to meet the bedrock with good bearing capacity capable to support the structure.
In summary, we have two type of pile in this regard, namely:
End bearing piles and friction piles.

U and Podosci are Very Correct Sir!
I was just trying to be brief, for the purpose of this discussion.

Did you take a look at the "environment' of that build when the foundation was being dug (from pictures provided)?
Would you do an ordinary raft (not even an inverted T-raft) on that soil, if you were to "play-safe"?



Lastpage!


Oga Abdulwastexc, nor dey put "Mr." behind my username, l beg!
Just Lastpage will do, .......though l understand.

babalose:
@podosci.....it's like a norm in Nigeria for most clients to make a few alterations to their plans when the construction is going on BUT it now depends on the builder to know if the foundation in place can accommodate such alterations. I have made alterations to my own build several times but I always seek the consent of the builder because in this case, he is the one that is meant to be the professional.
Hardly anyone can claim to be innocent of this regard.

That is the key Sir!

"Consent" of someone who we believe knows better and will take responsibility when yaawaa-gazz!
If he disagrees, we should let him over-rule us.

I do same too .... but l make sure l dont over-rule the professionals, except where l am sure 100%, and l bear the responsibility.



Lastpage!

babalose:
@podosci.....it's like a norm in Nigeria for most clients to make a few alterations to their plans when the construction is going on BUT it now depends on the builder to know if the foundation in place can accommodate such alterations. I have made alterations to my own build several times but I always seek the consent of the builder because in this case, he is the one that is meant to be the professional.
Hardly anyone can claim to be innocent of this regard.

Some client make silly alterations like removing a colunm or removing a beam.. Some go further to add 2 more floors to the existing one. Its the engineers that go along with it that should be blamed.

lastpage:



My brother Brabus,

You are comparing "Apples with Oranges" here!

You are only looking at the surface Water..... you are not considering the fact that just below that water surface, at a distance of less than 10ft below ground level, this particular land can be HARD ROCK!

Qc-1's land[b] is PURE SWAMP! Pure Mangrove Swamp![/b]

I thought you said you have lived on Water or close to water before? I am not talking about that type of Ikorodu Water (Ocean)
I am talking about Bariga, Orile, Mende in Maryland, Makoko, e.t.c type of Swamp.

You can identify them by the type of Plants that grow in those places: Short palms (the useless ones that dont produce palm wine but thongs), that leaf that floats on water (cant remember the English name roght now but Yorubas call it "Oju-ooro, Osibata", Plants with stilt-roots that keep the body of the plant above water, brackish-salty water, e.t.c.

I can bet this is the situation on ground in that place.

That other man was just lucky he had good soil underneath the top soil!

Only a Soil test can tell you definitively, the type of foundation you can safely use.
Any other thing is guess work.... and this is the result.



Lastpage!

So bro's how come all other buildings in the area survived with strip on pad foundation.

They were all pushing the water away from them. The building beside pushed its water into the land using a pipe buried beneath ground. The building is always dry except during the rains.


The last pics posted has a building near it advertised for sale because it's completely useless to the owner as it has sank beyond flood level. It's a crazy swamp with roots!

I don't joke with water in the foundation or the roof!

________

So because it's Apple vs orange, the right preventative measures should be ignored.


Brabus

lastpage:


I understand what you are driving at.

Thats why l concluded that "we need prayers" for that house.


I am very much with you on learning and exchange of ideas.

For educational purposes, let me point out that the bolded above, in your statement is not supported by Engineering principles, IMO.

Let me explain:

- The idea behind a Pile foundation is to insert Piles into the ground, to the point where the load-bearing capacity of the soil is STRONG ENOUGH, to withstand the CALCULATED/ANTICIPATED Live and Dead loads, of the building. (As established by a Soil Test result)
This is the work of the structural Engineer, using the Architectural drawings and Soil Test results, as guide.
It is on these group of PILES that the building's foundation, sits on.

if the above is TRUE, then it is safe to say that the Pile foundation is actually not "on a liquefied soil" since it is sitting on solid ground, (well below the poor surface soil) and is therefore expected to suffer non ......or very minimal settlement, but certainly not a 'differential' type/nature.

If by "Soil Stabilization", you mean "soil loading and compaction", this is only useful where the soil itself is strong enough to an appreciable degree, at a low depth (typically < or = 12ft) ...... as against a Swamp where whatever soil is loaded on the "Muddy Swamp", will sink under its own weight (denser than Swamp mud) ..

... unless the Swamp mud can be completely excavated from the site.
This ofcourse, will likely be uneconomical (especially for a private house) due to the depth of the unstable Swamp mud, below ground which would need to be removed and replaced.
In certain cases that l was privy to, we are looking at upwards of 70ft before a stable ground is encountered.
Now, imagine the cost, if we are to excavate the 'foot print' of a building to that depth.... and replace it with stable soil, after which we need to compact such again!

BTW: Where is @Abdulwastexc, when you need him?


Am learning a lot from this.





Lastpage!

I don't really know your profession sir but I think you are very close to the problem (90% on point), I will do well to clear some misconceptions before I begin.

From my small experience and training in structural design and analysis, here are some word that we use casually on nairaland that means something entirely different in structural engineering.
Raft: what we build here are not raft but an advanced form of grade slab foundation or beam slab on grade foundation.


I will begin by saying brabus can't be blame entirely for all the problem that is affecting the building because he is just the '' builder'' not the designing engineer. The responsibility of the client is to hire all the consultant (architect, structural engineer) and even carry out soil investigation to ascertain all the engineering properties of the soil before designing the foundation.

Brabus as the builder don't have the technical know how to design or choose type of foundation for this kind of house (builders are not trained to design but to carried out designed work to specifications ), because that is not what he was employed to do. Is contractual agreement was to build the house in accordance with the architectural and structural drawings provided by the client.

Pile foundation could have been a better solution to that problem but how would any one know without proper soil test, how would we know the type of pile, the depth of pile, method of construction, the load carrying capacity of this pile without good soil test. I repeat civil / structural engineers are not magicians, they are trained professionals equipped with enough mathematics to make good prediction of the possibility of an event happening.

n3xt:


Yet, the owner

1. Sandfilled the house with laterite despite been adviced against using such type of sand in the terrain. Or was the builder ever present during the Sandfilling of the structure?
2. Sandfilled the compound with laterite
3. Raised the upper structure with students on practical despite stopping work to resolve the water issues by the builder.
4. Built the collapsed fence despite the builder turning off the offer for fear of compromises.

1. The sand filling was done by you. I only paid for it don't worry I will post your picture here with the sand filling later the the world will know that you're a liar.
2. You specifically ordered the laterite from Kunle "indomine". My wife questioned you when I called you back for the roof on your choice of sand to sand filled. She was so mad with you whey you choose laterite and you looked lost and confused. I wish I have the video of that moment.
3 I never did and you're a liar. The upper structures was raised by the professionals in who you duped N20,000 out of their money I paid you upfront.
4 The builder ran away with my N300,000 missing with the fence budget and never came near site again. The builder name is Bosun Shoyoye /brabus/Nexthome.



BTW

Even that I was thinking to sue you, I now know that you must be very stupid to typed all those crap above. YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS. are you kidding me? I mean, like seriously? If All I listed is true then YOU shall die a painful death in Jesus name, you and your family. Just like you put tears on my family, God will put hundred fold of it on yours.


How dare you?