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Hello guys, I trust September has been real good to everyone of you?

Going straight to the point.
Our objective is to redesign/remodel an old 3-bedroom bungalow into something beautiful to behold, with all rooms en-suite, a fairly large lounge/dining and a comfortable entrance porch.

During the first stage of inspections I noticed that the building had a very low DPC, like it was visibly less than 200mm when compared to the street level. I also noticed that most buildings around the area, especially the bungalows, are built in this fashion.
For the ones I've seen, this practice results in excessive dampness around the lower bases of the walls plus the floors within.

So, our objective after making our observations known and recommendations approved, is to
a. Raise the DPC level by at least 450mm above the actual ground level.
b. Strengthen the walls and provide support for the parapet.
c. Make up internal levels by filling up with laterite.

Photos. 1 and 2 are the front shots of the existing building.
2 and 3 are different perspectives of the remodelled building and it is our expectations to replicate this, baring any unforeseen changes.

Got any questions??
You can ask or DM via the WhatsApp link on my signature.

Work officially started on Monday, Aug. 31.
The old building had been leveled up in readiness for roofing..that is, it had 3-courses of final blockwork after the lintels.
However to raise the DPC by 450mm, we need to add 2-courses of blockwork on the existing DPC/window sills/door openings etc., While removing the last 2-courses used to level up the house.
This means our new lintels would be on the first course of blockwork on the old lintel.. hope you grab?

To remodel, some new walls would be introduced, while some specific ones would be removed.

Foundations for new walls were 2feet or 600mm, blinding concrete 5inches or 0.125mm.
Column bases were 0.75m wide and 0.75m deep with base concrete thickness being 0.15m.

Column reinforcements:
Mats are 0.6m x 0.6m (10mm rods)
Columns are 0.225m x 0.225m with 4-y12mm.

NB: I may not be able to upload this chronologically as the work progresses.. thanks to Nairaland file size restrictions. But I will be updating the ones I can.

For the first stage, we are expected to complete all the blockwork, fill up levels and cast all concrete columns.

First picture now was taken Saturday evening, had to skip the ones in-between due to size, but so far we have dug all column bases, primed it and placed the mats..75% of the columns have be positioned, cast and held in place.

All new walls have been formed up.. with most now above our new DPC level.
New lintel reinforcements are being placed and anchored.
Carpentry work will start on Monday as well as continuation of blockwork/iron works.

Running a project in the middle of the rainy season no easy sha, you got to prepare to have your trenches flooded, site slippery, work targets hampered and the associated cold..the rain beat shege commot for our body yesterday, but, Na the season...Na we find trouble


Anyway, don't forget we can run your new projects from design to finishing.
We can flip that old structure of yours and make your neighbours wish it was theirs..check my profile to get started!

I just come look picho

bewla:
I just come look picho

You're very welcome, there's a seat in front.. I'm sending someone to bring popcorn for you.

Josnac:


You're very welcome, there's a seat in front.. I'm sending someone to bring popcorn for you.

God of Jacob, Isaac , Joseph will bless u and I






happy Sunday

More photos from Monday (07/09)..

Today:
New walls taken up to lintel level, woodwork for support columns 90% complete.
Concreting starts fully tomorrow.

@josnac nice job you are doing there if I may ask how much is sharp sand a trip thanks

Hum2020:
@josnac nice job you are doing there if I may ask how much is sharp sand a trip thanks

Much thanks. At the moment, it is 18k/trip.

Happy Sunday guys..so for the delayed updates.
Let me drop a few pictures of our current level now.

We're making progress..

Updates:

Well done Op

westernized:
Well done Op

Thank you.

Hello guys, sorry for the delay in updating this space..been quite busy with my other site (first picture).

We have already completed the block works to be done, parapet, septic tank and fence in next in line..stay tuned.

Trust you'll do wonders to this structure as usual. Plz, how proper is it to level a front porch with only one course of block?

joycluv:
Trust you'll do wonders to this structure as usual. Plz, how proper is it to level a front porch with only one course of block?

Many thanks for the commendation.
Regarding your question, for a building without a roof parapet, the final leveling outside/inside is 3-courses of blockwork counting directly from the first on the lintel, this reduces to 2-courses on areas having beams. Remember beams come directly on top of the lintel?

Now it means that if the lintel should have 3-blocks placed on them, the beams would have 2.
This structure was redesigned to have a parapet, the parapet beam serves as the last remaining course of blockwork...thus for final leveling:
Inside - 3
Outside - 2
Areas with beams - 1.

Hope I answered you?

Yes. Your explanation is clear. But the issue here is that house has two courses on top of the lintels while the porch has only one course on top of its own lintel. The question now is whether that one course of block on top of the front porch as its final level is normal noting the fact that there is no beam or parapet. Thanks

joycluv:
Yes. Your explanation is clear. But the issue here is that house has two courses on top of the lintels while the porch has only one course on top of its own lintel. The question now is whether that one course of block on top of the front porch as its final level is normal noting the fact that there is no beam or parapet. Thanks

That's what I'm trying to make you understand that the parapet beam is yet to come up. What you have on the porch is a beam and not a lintel. The porch beam is resting on the general lintel.

Measuring from the top of the DPC to the bottom of a lintel gives you 2.1m..but from top of the DPC to the bottom of the porch beam, excluding the slight curve is 2.325m.

See this attached project picture.

Josnac:


That's what I'm trying to make you understand that the parapet beam is yet to come up. What you have on the porch is a beam and not a lintel. The porch beam is resting on the general lintel.

Measuring from the top of the DPC to the bottom of a lintel gives you 2.1m..but from top of the DPC to the bottom of the porch beam, excluding the slight curve is 2.325m.

See this attached project picture.

I clearly understood you but am actually referring to another build not really this one you are building. So to put it better, is it normal to have one course of block on top of front porch lintel/beam as its final level. NOTE: The house in question does not have any parapet or any other beam after the one course. Thanks for your time

joycluv:
I clearly understood you but am actually referring to another build not really this one you are building. So to put it better, is it normal to have one course of block on top of front porch lintel/beam as its final level. NOTE: The house in question does not have any parapet or any other beam after the one course. Thanks for your time

Oh..I get it now, for me it isn't.
Contractors/house owners do that when they want to cut down on costs.

Josnac:


Oh..I get it now, for me it isn't.
Contractors/house owners do that when they want to cut down on costs.

Please What effect is it going to have on the house?

joycluv:
Please What effect is it going to have on the house?

Well, 1..it affects the internal height/ceiling level of the building.
2. It equally affects the aesthetics.. because most times the front porch beams are almost entirely covered by the roof eaves and you know this is part of what gives the external areas of the building it's beauty.

Though these things don't really matter for some, but I always advice the standard 2-course blockwork for the beams.

Josnac:


Well, 1..it affects the internal height/ceiling level of the building.
2. It equally affects the aesthetics.. because most times the front porch beams are almost entirely covered by the roof eaves and you know this is part of what gives the external areas of the building it's beauty.

Though these things don't really matter for some, but I always advice the standard 2-course blockwork for the beams.

Thanks for your time my brother and sorry for bothering you. The real situation is that the other walls have 3courses of blocks on top of their lintels while the front porch has only one course. We didn't actually notice until after the roofing wood work was completed. Now the entire one course and even the beam are almost covered already and the roofing sheet is yet to be installed. In this very situation, can the front porch arc/beam be lowered by one course to remedy the situation. How best can this be achieved? Thanks

joycluv:
Thanks for your time my brother and sorry for bothering you. The real situation is that the other walls have 3courses of blocks on top of their lintels while the front porch has only one course. We didn't actually notice until after the roofing wood work was completed. Now the entire one course and even the beam are almost covered already and the roofing sheet is yet to be installed. In this very situation, can the front porch arc/beam be lowered by one course to remedy the situation. How best can this be achieved? Thanks

Wonderful!!
Anyway, you can send me pictures of the front porch via the link on my signature..best to see before further assessment.
Beat regards.

Josnac:


Wonderful!!
Anyway, you can send me pictures of the front porch via the link on my signature..best to see before further assessment.
Beat regards.

. OK. Thanks very much

Josnac:


Wonderful!!
Anyway, you can send me pictures of the front porch via the link on my signature..best to see before further assessment.
Beat regards.

. OK. Thanks very much. But the little challenge is that I don't have the pix that shows the current state of the house now and the house is in the village

joycluv:
. OK. Thanks very much. But the little challenge is that I don't have the pix that shows the current state of the house now and the house is in the village

Okay.