₦airaland Forum

NL, We are inching towards the end. The front door and back door are in and the interior has been plastered. we will either continue with fence or borehole system next.

Experience supersede emotion...Thanks for the reality check.

shakyriri:
Pleas keep that point in mind.the rent value.dont overdo the interior.i learnt my lessons the hard way.i overbuilt and over furnished. Most property don't pay back d value until 12-14yrs.
Next tenant again.u need refurbish.the headache is endless.
All the best sir

The Exterior is completed and the Interior is scaring me...I want a picture perfect interior, but mustn't spend beyond the economic value for the rental market.

Building a common man's house is relatively affordable, but when one level of exposure and taste is factored into the equation, then houses become an expensive endeavor. God has been so good thus far and the experience of building a house is beyond expression.

Having NL property section and its expertise has be very encouraging and motivating as well. At this junction, i want to say a BIG thank you to NL Property section participants.

Two down, the third unit to go...

Front door and Back door are in as well

plastering first day:

@erico, the total some for all windows; 5 casement so and 13 sliding equal #400k

when a military sign is display in a residential area, i believe its against the law. can any lawyer in the house correct me if am wrong pls. All alot of military people in Nigeria are abusive of all of our laws while they are suppose to be law abiding than anyone.

Will need picture on here to be legit. Try that and you will be on your way to selling them.

update from weekend. Plaster will commence tomorrow by His grace.

@Nextstep

Thank you.

Hi Fellows,

Windows are going into the structure. I'm feeling it! Pics:

Slab on Grade done. Lots of Light! i like a well lite room, so i make sure my units are well equipped with many windows. That drives the cost up a little, but i do not mind.

Hello NL,

The floor was done earlier today. Mistake was done, but i can live with it. I didn't ask for "step UP" into the kitchenette and bathroom alley, but that is what i got. Anyways, Im very impress by New Manager; always updating and executing task as funds becomes available. Unlike before, it was taking weeks to have things done, even when funds were in hand. New pics attached

I have always said that the young men and women are the proper set that can head Nigeria in the right direction if given the chance. If you had left without giving him the chance, he would not have been able to show you the more effective design appropriate for this site. I'm a Civil Engineer too. Piling is the best foundation design for wet land period. I feel sorry for Lekki corridor each time I see how their foundationsite are being built.

[I am really feeling your project. It's coming our nicely, especially the bathroom.

quote author=nextstep post=50179011]It's finally beginning to look like a place somebody can live in. We hope to finally finish the ground floor this year, but the going is slow sha
Because spacing was so tight in the bathroom we bought the cabinet, sink and toilet before any plumbing was done, to make sure they would fit, and where the pipes should go. I'm happy to see our efforts paid off, as everything aligns so well. Will show more details in a later post

You can't tell that there are batteries under the floor. We decked the battery area (4ft by 1.5ft) with a removable cover, like a soakaway, and then tiled over it.

There is an external vent for gas and visual inspection, but the batteries are mostly maintenance-free until their allotted 3 years of service. At that time, we just need to lift off the tiles and cover to gain access to the area.

Note that the small size of the structure (mandated by our earlier premise of using solar panels as roofing material) is the major reason for this hassle. If I was to do it again, I'd just make the building larger and have a dedicated closet space for the batteries.[/quote]

I looked into that option, but it wasn't economical. The prices for good Containers are too high and the logistic to transport and modify the container to finished product was just not feasible for the revenue targeted. Our people like old methods and familiarity to method of construction is what is impeding the innovation. When I spoke to a welder on modification, the prices for labor was out of this world. And the energy I was dispensing just to explain simple idea guided my decision to take the route am taking now.

justmenoni:
Op, why not just build a container house? i think it's more suitable for your plan.

The Fence has started. I have attached pics of the reason we have to do fencing rightaway. See pic 1

Quick update : I'm starting the fence today as recommended by most of you. I'm expecting things to move a little faster between now and November by God'said grace.

Hello NL,

Since the last Pic update, we have been able to finish the roof, form and poured Coping to cover the top of the blocks, installed the rough-in plumbing and Electric.

Hello Sir,

Where did you secure the Drywall from? If its in Nigeria, can you pls post contact for the seller. I need some very badly for ceiling profile. Thanks in advance

Its ok, its not that serious. Have a good day

aarressa:
Must he look down or there is a law somewhere that says you must look down when people talk?

Or they didn't teach you to look at people in the face when they talk?

You people come up with the silliest and pointless rubbish..

on a softer note, why is Someone looking Up, while everybody else are looking Down I cant stop laughing when i noticed it!

I going to electrify the project with Solar if i can keep the total construction cost within reason. I want to do so much with this small project but i have to come to reality that its still a commercial project, not private. So it has to be investment viable too. with this project being just three studios, i should be able to power it on strictly solar. Now you can see my dilemma!

I have been following your solar documentary. Is the project being occupied now? cos you refer to enjoying it so much now

nextstep:
Very smart idea... I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the completion.

I was just thinking of how you plan to power these units? As you can see from my hostel project, I went 100% solar, and I think it's such a good idea that I'd encourage you to do the same. I've been experiencing 24-hour light and there's no joy like it. There are of course, several caveats:

1. it's an expensive upfront investment, but you could charge higher rents for the luxury of no gen, no NEPA bills
2. residents can't use an iron or water heater. Using AC is not advisable if they want 24-hour light in all seasons.

It just occurred to me to ask and see if you're at all interested.

Thanks Sir., the space between is done to create opportunity to expand the structure vertically in the future such there be demand for more units. All I will have to do is reinforce the existing, add slab and stairs in the gap between the existing.

I intend to create cabanas in the compound for outdoor activities...A small garden with Grill will be created on the backside of the land parcel


quote author=nextstep post=49503828]This is looking good, and remarkably still looks like the original drawings... kudos. Requesting permission to copy the design.

As an aside: what I might do though, is join all the buildings together (to save materials for 3 walls). I've also been thinking to provide a covered space in the back for hanging clothes and chilling out... the cover should be acrylic or something transparent so the sun can shine through, but not rain. It takes 2-3 days for my clothes to dry out if I keep them inside, and hanging outside is not an option, since I go out and it might rain at any time.[/quote]

you are right on the money on your objective...Very Simple and Elegant in my view

skimanski:
Master's Bedroom Wardrobe. Trying to go Simple and Elegant, just Hoping we got it.

Nice work as always. Pls what is the cost for POP Designs used in this project? Also, the blue ray window casement cost too please.

that will not be a bad idea for someone already into plastic business. it will have to be high strength plastic and inspected regularly too.

msogunro:
If only plastic septic tanks were made in Nigeria.

When you say precast, am assuming the once commonly use in Lekki area.... if so, am just thinking to avoid the time wasted casting, mixing concrete, pureeing it in to confine space and finally stripping it. That's just too much work when you can just go down the street, buy few Rings and just install into the ground. if properly done, rings are reinforced during casting which means, its going to be strong to resist lateral force. Just my reasoning out laud

mufutau55:
It will work... but then why can't you just use a precast soakaway/septic tank?

Hajji M.

All this methodologies are great in an environment where manufacturing is viable. But some can still be use if it can be made with manual technology. I'm hoping to use Concrete Rings; like for wells; to construct my septic tank. I don't see why it wouldn't work!

Maybe some of our honorable builders can weigh in on my logic

Hello NL,

I got the roof on my structure today. I'm thinking of repainting the Long Span aluminum but will wait and see how everything looks after the total work is done.

when you posted it earlier, I was looking into the possibility of using it but just wasn't cool with the idea of basin being so close to the toilet bowl. the Combo just wouldn't be convenient...will have to lean over the bowl to brush ones tooth and all. In terms of space saving, its very ideal.

msogunro:
You're welcome. I like the sink in the 3rd picture. That saves a lot of space where needed.

Another space saving item is a toilet and sink combo. I'm really considering this for a visitors toilet I have designed into my build.