₦airaland Forum

Apart from good workmanship and top grade professionals handling your building project, the quality of materials you use will be next most important factor in determining the outcome of your building.

These are some of the advantages enumerated.



http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2016/12/20/advantages-of-quality-materials-in-construction-of-buildings/

buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2008/03/15/to-build-house-or-to-buy-one-which-is/

Fluctuation in currency exchange rate-The production of basic components requires importation of some materials, in time of downfall in naira to dollar, we can see the effect in the immediate 100% rise in price of cement and other materials.
Dependency on foreign materials for construction-For materials gotten out of the country, determination of prices may be difficult, it will either goes up or down in most cases there is always an arbitrary rise in cost.
Theft-Adequate security must be provided for materials if not they will be stolen and you will need to replace them.
Contract Management-Schedule by timing and milestones with cost should be maintained, but for every fluctuation it must be clear to the contractor and the client. Any delay or not keeping with the specifications will affect cost of production.
Use of Quacks-Professionals actually saves money, it is advisable you use them to forestall costly errors in construction which can result in demolition and rebuilding which ultimately affects the final cost of construction.
Economic instability-Just as we have in Nigeria, cost of construction have one high across board.
Fluctuation of prices of materials-In a volatile economy , it is increasingly difficult to peg price of materials, this also affects the final cost of construction.
Poor planning-If you fail to plan, you already planned to fail. Tasks have sequence, you need to have a good plan to forestall or reduce wastages
Experience-Contractor’s experience will also affects how best you save money. Wastages will be reduced with an experienced contractor
Size-Size or numbers of project can give you a comparative advantage. The more the quantities of materials you are to purchase, the better the option of getting a good discount.
Quality or type of material- In most cases better quality materials gives better product but they are also costlier.
Type or Construction method- These are buildings that requires specialist input, of course you hire them with a lot of money.
Types of building-Houses made with mud,brick, blocks or concrete will also differs in prizes.
Financial status of owners- The reason architects demand the amount you are willing to commit on the project will determine the type of building been proposed for you.
Taste of owner/client-High class building with lots of luxury will definitely makes cost to go up.
Project Site Accessibility-If road leading to your site is not motorable, is either additional cost of the road will have to be added or the cost of labour of retransporting materials from a convenient spot to the site by labourers will be factored into the cost.
Government taxes, policies etc- There are areas you build that government will require you pay some money before they can allow you to build. Government regulations can make your cost to go high.
Omoonile/ site nuisances-These things can actually influence the cost of building if they aren’t properly handled.
Land dispute-If you have commenced construction and there are those laying claims to the ownership of the land, expect to spend money on legal fees etc before final settlements
Professional fees-This varies, it can be high for high networth professional and low for starters, all still contribute to cost of construction
Negotiation skill from contractor and owner
Agreement and clarity of a project- For a project that is not well understood by owner and contractor avoidable errors will affect cost of construction.
Competition- When there stiff competition cost of material and engaging professionals may likely drop.
Social Problems-Ethnic issues, religious issues and cultural issues also determines style of building which also affects cost.
Site preliminaries, overheads when overlook can cost you a lot which can affect significantly the total cost of construction.
Using non-professional family members- this has always resulted to fraud for many building owners, avoid it.
Labour rates –Labour rates differs for each area, the area site is located will determine the labour rate you use in your estimation.
Material cost
Project schedule
Contigency
Mechanised equipments- Will affects either price up or down depending on the scale of project.
Designing with even number of two feet increments- From the architect, this contributes in reducing wastages during construction as materials are in multiples of the module.
Number of Storeys- The higher you climb the higher the cost
Type of roof- complex roof will cost more.
Finishes-Good finishes will likely go with a higher cost.
Design features-Swimming pool, garden, carpark etc
Purpose of building-For building that will accommodate more people, machineries etc will require targeted structural designs that may cost more.
Church and mosque buildings for instance are always higher than normal residential bungalow.

Expectant lifespan will also affect the structural detailing which will also affect cost
Procurement method- You can buy in bulk which is cheaper and direct from wholesalers or manufacturers to buying from retailers
Environmental factors-
Climatic Conditions- Cost of construction can go higher during rainy season due to disturbances
Fraud from family members, contractors, suppliers etc.


http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2016/09/04/factors-affecting-cost-of-construction/

just get a payoneer mastercard and you can withdraw your money on any atm point here. very easy and fast.

Sorry the link now is http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2007/09/how-to-supervise-your-building-projects/
That topic was posted 2007.

Dampness in a simple term is when excess water molecule is on building which results to visible growth of mould and destruction or disturbance of wall surfaces and materials.
Read more -

http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/damp-causes-effects-prevention-and-cure/

Is not a must you have money before you start any business likewise Real Estate, but you need a sound idea/ direction for your company and a lot of networking.

Your woman is inturn playing April fool on you...Try n get it.

You didn't add that a man already has a wife at home. And a boy is still single.

You can go through my old post

To build a house or to buy one which is better
Buying a land or building your house afresh which will you prefer? Not a few people have reached crossroads over this decision, side by side we will consider the advantages of one over the other.

1)Ongoing building may collapse .A standing house may not likely collapse, for one it is standing for the period of you acquiring it.

2)Substandard materials may have been used for a standing building while you can actually monitor materials used for an ongoing project.

3)Fresh building can be easily customised or designed to suit your taste perfectly. With A standing building you can achieve little with changing or remodeling.

4)A bad contractor may do you in when you are building a fresh house, you can easily detect a badly built house and avoid it when you want to buy one.

5)You can choose from a variety of what is available in market and in your preferred location,depending on the size of your purse . But you are only constrained to one design the moment your house is already built, no going back.

6) A lot of problems are encountered by people building these days one of them is the town planning permits/government allocation. You may have problems getting approval for the building project, but already built one is most likely approved, so you don’t need to bother yourself about town planning authority.

7)Building a house afresh is most likely going to cost you less especially if well managed while buying one from an agent/real estate person will cost more because those that builds also expect large profits for their project.

You will avoid great stress of monitoring your building project.

9)If you want to move in very fast then you need to buy rather than build.

10)Rate of development is probably slightly higher where you already have a completed and standing building.

11)When you buy then you must have cut contractor from cheating, the only person that can cheat you then is the property seller.

12)If you buy a house then you have avoided harrasment from omo onile and area boys.

13)For an ongoing project you have the choice of materials you’ll like to use for your house and is also easily modifiable but for a standing building, materials have already been applied.

http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2008/03/to-build-house-or-to-buy-one-which-is/

Having the right estimate helps the contractor and clients in their planning and helps to reduce tension alot during construction. Variations eats deep into budgets and can really destabilises entire projects when is on the negative side.

http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2015/10/why-estimate-goes-wrong/

As industrialization and search for better ways of construction, the need to also look at the possibilities in using steel more can’t be overemphasized.

(1)Speed of Construction- Construction with steel is fastest among the different materials of construction , most time you fabricates from your factory or shops and only installs on site.

(2)Low cost- In comparative high volume buildings constructing with steel becomes cheaper because you cover greater spans with steel.

(3) Longer spans- This is good especially when you are thinking of avoiding too many columns especially in auditorium that requires good view from the audience.

(4)Malleability- Under certain condition steel becomes malleable and can be shapen to any form which helps to achieve the designer’s vision.

(5)High Strength-Steel has good strength, thats one of the reasons is used for lots of multistorey structures. it can withstand pressure and can be very stable compare to others.

(6)Slenderness-Steel doesn’t take so much space compare to others. The design networks of steel structure can also be aesthetically pleasing.

(7)Good design flexibility and versatility.

(Lower weight- You obviously can’t compare the weight of a building built with concrete to that of steel.

(9)Recyclability and sustainability-Street is reusable as you can dismantle and reassemble elsewhere with little or no defects, very sustainable as it can’t be damaged by pests nor does it requires preservatives or glues. Is inorganic so it can’t rot.

(10)Modifiable-You can also adjust steel construction with a degree of ease.

(11)Reliability and Predictability- Due to high strength steel is quite useful in construction and very reliable, its stable and predictable.

(12)Mass production and availability-The steel can be mass produced during fabrication which gives room for efficiency and speed.

(13)Durability-Because is not organic, better resistance to fire etc it lasts longer than most construction materials substitutes.

(14)Minimal waste-Steel has minimal raw material wastes.

(15)Maintenance-You do less maintenance with steel as it doesn’t really degenerate in any form for a very long time.

(16)Fire Protection-Better resistance against fire outbreaks.

(17)Less weight-The weight is far less to most structural materials hence requires simpler foundation construction.

(18)Lower floor construction depths- Concrete floor averagely is 6″ or 150mm but steel won’t require such thickness to be used as a floor.

(19)Because of its slender nature, more space are available for other integrated services like electrical, CCTV etc.

(20)It is safe to handle with hands by workers using it on site.

This is already looking good from starting.

The picture of physique of the guys on that video and what am seeing here don't seem there is any resemblance

1-Sign that most papers have been legalised for you to have an approved building plan, especially in Lagos where you must have your C of O or governor’s consent, your survey is also registered with the government. Hence you are sure that lots of legal works have been covered for you, of course you can spend a whole year processing these documents.

2-Time is also a big factor, you can move to site and start working the very day you buy the land. This will help to reduce and save time if you want to start immediately.

3-Authentication of plan- Approved plan is a pseudo authentication of your plan to meet up with basic standard. For a fresh design that needs to go through the process of approval, the plan may be rejected if you aren’t meeting up with their regulations, but in this case that has been taken care of, so you have more time to engage in other tasks.



http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2015/04/benefits-of-buying-an-approved-building-plan-land-from-a-developer/

I didn't say storey buildings are better off but has advantages too.
Thanks for the contributions, you can check an earlier topic
https://www.nairaland.com/2159745/advantages-one-floor-bungallow-storey#30949481

Despite some disadvantages of storey buildings, the advantages far outweighs the disadvantages. Some are enumerated below.

(1) Extra height gives good view, distinct and clear view from surrounding structures unlike one floor bungalow that may have been covered with perimeter fence.

(2)The buildings are more visible from a distance to one floor bungalow

(3)Distinct separation of private area from public area. For a two storey duplex, the bedrooms are taken up while the living rooms that are accessible to visitors are left downstairs, this is good for privacy and less noise around the bedrooms.

(4)Security-You can isolate the upper floor from the ground floor with a security door by the staircase in case of any attack. Burglars can’t easily access the upper floor through the windows. It also gives you a clear view of in case of any intruder lurking around the fence.

(5)Interesting features-Storey buildings can be interesting, climbing through a well designed staircase looking at the structure in whole can be quite pleasing to the eyes.

(6)Better aeration- More space is created for effective air circulation as the upper floor create rooms for additional rooms and windows and are most unlikely to be blocked by adjacent walls/fence.

(7)Increase of space-Of course there is far effective use of land space per square meter.

(Storey buildings adapts well to sloped site, a creative architect can design a very aesthetically pleasing building with such soil.

(9)Social Issues- In some clime, it is taken that those on storey buildings usually look down on those downstairs.

Apart from the space required, a one floor bungallow has lots of advantages over a storey building some of them are (1) Lighter foundation: The weight of a floor bungallow is far less to a storey building hence you’ll require far less materials to that of a storey building.

(2) Few or no columns/pillars in the house: Depends on design and nature of soil you may not need concrete columns in a floor bungallow. For most storey building you will need it to help transmit load from upper floor to the soil.

(3) Lower fire risk: It is easier to escape fire incidence and the electrical works on a storey building is more complex which can also leads to fire incidence if there are defects.

(4)Easier Maintenance:Plumbing pipes, electrical installations and the building generally are easier to maintain when is only a floor bungallow. You can easily remove plumbing pipes and replace , unlike a multistorey building that may have pipes embedded in concrete.

(5)One floor bungallow can be easily expanded as long as there is adequate land for for the expansion. Storey building ca be quite complex, you need a lot of engineering input and cost for expansion.

(6)Easier evacuation: In emergency, you are already on the groundfloor, you can jump through the window and you also have closer access to the external door which will help you to move out of the building quickly.

(7)Cost of Construction: From the professional fee,labour costs which will be far higher in case of a storey building to the materials that will be used like scaffold, iron rods, wood ,cement etc in higher quantities to a floor bungallow.

(Climbing stairs: For the aged,climbing stairs could be a daunting task.

(9)Possibilities of falling and injuring yourself in a stairway

(10)Just like ’6′ ease of moving in and out is harder for a storey building

(11)Banging/stamping/pounding on floor upstairs may cause discomfort to occupants downstairs but this can’t be possible for a floor bungallow.

(12)Carrying materials, furniture etc in and out a storey building is harder.

(13)Storey buildings also have psychological effects on lower surrounding buildings, it gives feeling of someone looking down on people at lower level.

(14)Higher building will also block a proportion of air and sun from getting into closer lower buildings.

(15)And for town planning authority , they will charge you more to get approval for a storey building

(16)Storey buildings can also block clear views of people enjoying the landscape of an area.

(17)Storey building can be a threat when they are close to the airport.

Thanks CityNG, I will upload that.

A four bedroom duplex recently built is up for sale Off Admiralty Way Lekki.

Check in pictures and video.

http://propertiesweek..com/2015/01/a-4-bedroom-duplex-off-admiralty-way.html

Call Omion on 08026228682.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_JNaMGJF4c&feature=youtu.be

This is pure insider work.

Supervising your building or executing your building project without being shortchanged is always the greatest fear of a would be owner.
Understanding that building project costs a substantial sum especially when the taste is high for a salary earner, it is imperative to minimise lost from unscrupulous contractors and nothing can be as fulfilling seeing your house grows from conceptual stage through foundation and ultimately to completion. The objective is to be able to build your house during your leave at work which is usually one month.
For a businessman or a salary earner that can only affords a leave of one month, you can be a witness in the process of building your house, however you need good planning in time,money allocation,labour and materials.
For this project we will discuss a storey building and we are assuming on a fairly stable soil that can allow for a strip foundation.
To get it right, you must be conversant with the stages for an average building project which I will list as follows

http://buildingcontractorsecrets.com/2015/01/how-to-build-a-duplex-in-one-month/

Clueless Obama!...lol

obama2

Obama1

Laying blocks without cracking requires some basic steps to watch out for. If you are careless the probability of having cracked walls will be high.
These amongst others are the causes and how to avoid them-
(1)Wrong block moulding mixture-Cement and sand mixture for sand needs to be properly checked which is usually between 1:6 to 1:8 depends on types of constituents.
Very good mixture for a 9” block will produce 30 pieces worst it should not exceed 50 on any account.
Stone dust are also added in a proportion to give a stronger block, trying to save cost by using inadequate cement, sand ratio will weaken your walls and can lead to cracks.
(2)Wrong cement mortar mixture-Mortar is what you use as the bond between one block and the other, the blocks are expected to be adequately bonded by the mortar, if this is weak it can also affect the block and can lead to cracking.
(3)Wrong laying pattern-Blocks should be set on each other in herringbone manner see diagram——

Laying the edge of one block on another causes cracking along the mortar line when is not broken by locking it up with other blocks, The vertical mortar line is the weakest point and should be broken by walls, straight line from top to bottom will cause cracking.
(4)Weak Foundation- Weak foundation causes unusual settlements and movements on foundation that will ultimately affects the blockwalls ontop, this surely will cause cracks from foundation through the walls . Cracks could be horizontal or vertical, the horizontal requires serious structural remedy because that may be due to uneven settlements.
(5)Plumbness or straightness when laying your blocks can also adversely affect the blockwork especially when is terribly done.
(6)Boring holes indiscriminately-Electricians and plumbers are major culprits on site when it involves creating holes on blockwalls. Caution needs to be taking when creating these holes which are used as scaffolding else you will have crack walls or you can go for total free standing scaffolds.
(7)Long, successive horizontal and vertical blockworks without concrete breaks- laying blocks on each other with any height beyond 3.6m without a corresponding concrete break will create pressure on blockwalls which can also cause cracking especially when the blocks are not strong and loadbearing.
(Wet blocks-Blocks are supposed to be left to dry and strong before usage, usually it takes minimum of 48 hours to cure, using blocks under 24 hours is not advisable and it leads to cracking.
(9)Mishandling of blocks-Proper care should be taken when blocks are in use.
(10)Impurities in mixture-When there are dirts in constituents ,expect a weak block which will surely leads to cracking.
(11)Improper or wrong materials will not help save money but will create problems, for instance using sand gathered from drainage gutter.
(12)Loosely compacted blocks during moulding will also affect the block which will lead to cracking of blockwalls.
(13)Inadequate concrete support incase of load.
(14)Shrinkage-When you build on a clayey soil which contract and expand. Clay causes movement in foundation and when the foundation is shallow it will affect the blockwall.
(15)Using fresh blocks
(16)Using unclean sand with clay just as stated in ‘14’,clay contracts when is dried and expand when it is wet, these movements causes cracking.
(17)Flooding-Areas susceptible to longterm flooding will also experience walls cracking, water can go underneath foundation, weaken the foundation and cause movements which will affect the blockwalls and leads to cracking.
(18)Differential settlements in foundation-Please check to make sure where you are building, the problems of differential settlements does not arise.
(19)unevenly compacted fill. When you fill the foundation with laterite but you didn’t ‘rammer’ or compact very well the areas with loose soil will affect the blockwall on top of it and cause cracks.
(20)When one side settles on rock which can’t have any further settlement with a corresponding soil area that is required to settle, expect cracking of walls especially when the block spans across.
(21)Poorly designed structure without adequate planning of walls joining each other.
(22)When you have extremely rich mortar mix, this will also affect block and make it to crack, especially when you want to remove and place elsewhere. It causes wall stiffness, there should be room for the wall to breathe.
(23)Rapid loading of blockworks-When you have a deadline and you put too many blocks on each other you are most likely to have cracks.
(24)Removing props or construction supports too early will create tension on the blockwall which can lead to cracks
(25)When you have deciduous trees with roots growing underneath the foundation.
(26)Natural disasters like earthquakes,winds,tremor,volcanoes etc
(27)Free standing walls-This is caused by bad designs when you have too many walls not locking with other walls. The isolated walls are likely to crack
(28)Rising damp around building.
(29)Poor drainage will make water gather around building which will ultimately affect the walls.
(30)Mining activities around building will cause vibration and affects the wall which can cause cracking especially when it involves blasting of rocks etc with explosives.
(31)Very short lintel (concrete) ontop of windows, doors and other openings will affect the surrounding blocks and cause cracks.
(32) No oversite concrete or german floor.

11 types of people you shouldn’t be helping
Those who are ungrateful
Those who betray their principles for money
Those who gain at the expense of others
Those who have a hidden agenda
Those who will do anything for benefits at the expense of principles
Those who are unreliable, those who act pitiful when they need help, but become tyrannous when things are in their favour
Those who couldn’t complete the small tasks but dream of completing the big goals
Those who pin their hopes on others
Those who never fulfil their obligations after receiving help
Those who still act pitiful when given opportunities
Those who don’t feel grateful and take everything for granted

10 types of people you should work with
Those who are good friends with you whom you can easily talk with
Those who share the same life values as you
Those whom you can trust and understand
Those whom you can communicate easily when issue arises
Those who are as dedicated as you are
Those who are as magnanimous as you are
Those who share the same interests as you
Those who support you wholeheartedly
Those who have a standard of professionalism
Those who share the same vision and beliefs as you

5 types of people you shouldn’t work with
Don’t work with people who are selfish. They only care about themselves and disregard the contributions by others.
Don’t work with people who do not have a purpose in life. They are materialistic and only care about earning money.
Don’t work with people who lack compassion. They are greedy and selfish and working with them will be unhappy.
Don’t work with people who are pessimistic. They will diminish your positive outlook.
Don’t work with people without any life principles. They don’t believe in dreams and can easily succumb to temptations and give in to challenges in life.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/billionaire-jack-ma-shares-type-073040440.html

You are poor because you have no ambition.

Jack Ma: Before I founded Alibaba, I invited 24 friends to my house to discuss the business opportunity. After discussing for a full two hours, they were still confused — I have to say that I may not have put myself across in a clear manner manner then. The verdict: 23 out of the 24 people in the room told me to drop the idea, for a multitude of reasons, such as: ‘you do not know anything about the internet, and more prominently, you do not have the start-up capital for this’ etc etc.

There was only one friend (who was working in a bank then) who told me, “If you want to do it, just try it. If things don’t work out the way you expected it to, you can always revert back to what you were doing before.” I pondered upon this for one night, and by the next morning, I decided I would do it anyway, even if all of the 24 people opposed the idea.

Jack Ma founding members

When I first started Alibaba, I was immediately met with strong opposition from family and friends. Looking back, I realised that the biggest driving force for me then was not my confidence in the Internet and the potential it held, but more of this: “No matter what one does, regardless of failure or success, the experience is a form of success in itself.” You have got to keep trying, and if it doesn’t work, you always can revert back to what you were doing before.

As with this quote by T.E. Lawrence – “All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible.”

jack ma serious

Jack Ma: People lose out in life because of these 4 reasons:

Being myopic to opportunity
Looking down on opportunities
Lacking understanding
Failing to act quickly enough
You are poor, because you have no ambition.

Ambition is living a life of great ideals; a magnificent goal in life that must be realised.

In this world, there are things that are deemed unfathomable, but there is nothing in this world that cannot be done. The depth of one’s ambition determines the potential of one’ future.

The Story of Juliet Wu Shihong – one of China’s first-generation professional managers, who gained success by working her way up the ranks from a cleaner, a nurse, a marketing executive, through self-education and learning on the job.

Juliet Wu Shihong

She had been the general manager for the world’s most famous multinational IT groups’ Chinese branches (Microsoft 1985-1998; IBM 1998-1999). She is also China’s first successful international corporate executive to join the executive team of a domestic private firm. Wu was seen as a symbol of the new generation of business executives that China has produced in its economic reform and opening-up.

When Wu started off in a big company working from the lowest ranks, her daily job was to pour tea and sweep floors. Once, because she forgot her staff pass, the company’s guard stopped her at the door and denied her entry. She explained to the guard that she was indeed one of the company’s employees, and that she had merely left the building for a short while to purchase office supplies.

Despite her pleas, the guard still did not allow to enter. As she stood at the gate, she watched as those of similar age to her, but smartly dressed in business attire walking through without having to show their passes.

She asked the guard, “Why are these people allowed through without producing a pass?” The guard dismissed her coldly nonetheless.

That was the turning point for Wu – she felt great shame, her self-esteem trampled on.

She looked at herself, dressed in shabby clothes and pushing a dirty push cart. Looking back at those dressed in smart attire, her heart felt a deep ache from the sudden realization of the sorrow and grief from being discriminated. From that moment, she vowed never to allow herself to be shamed like this again, and to become world-famous.

Since then, she used every opportunity to enrich herself. Every day, she was the first to arrive at work, and the last one to leave. She made every second count, spending her time learning the ropes. Her efforts soon paid off; she was made a sales representative, and quickly progressed to being the regional general manager of this multinational company in China. Wu did not possess strong academic qualifications, and was revered as the ‘Queen of Part-timers’. Subsequently, she assumed the position of GM of IBM China. This is the Wu Shihong, the heroine in China’s business circle.

Juliet Wu Shihong
If not for the incident, Wu Shihong would not have had the ambition to become rich, and her life would have taken a very different path then.

You are poor because you do not have the desire to become successful.
You are poor because you lack foresight.
You are poor because you cannot overcome your cowardice.
You are poor because you lack the courage and determination.
With ambition you can overcome all inferiority and maximise your potential!
With ambition you can persevere, continuously learn new things and strive for perfection.
With ambition you can defy all odds, and create miracles when others daren’t.
No matter how poor your family is, do not doubt your own abilities and lose sight of your ambition.

When your family deems you worthless, no one will pity you.
When your parents do not have money to pay the medical bills, no one will pity you.
When you are beaten by your competitors, no one will pity you.
When your loved ones abandon you, no one will pity you.
When you have not accomplished anything by the time you are 35, no one will pity you.
Go big, or go home. Otherwise, you’re wasting your youth.

http://vulcanpost.com/7702/jack-ma-youre-still-poor-35-deserve/

Can we now say the soldiers that refused to fight because of obsolete weapons are justified?

Are the Nurses and Doctors serious about their jobs?
You have to even bribe some of them to attend to patient.

Be grateful to the owner, we wouldn't have known there was an elephant called Raju if it were to be this part of the world.