kaze4blues:


Thanks for sharing.

The foundation is seven blocks deep. We also used a damp proof material together with the oversite concrete.

This is my first building experience and I’m finding it interesting. Planning is different from when work is being done.

Good practices so far, you are doing well!
True to that, actual work onsite is like nothing I had in my head at planning stage.

Still we build!
I have mentally modified expected completion dates for the project.

Building is beginning to take shape.
I believe it looks like the design.

We exhausted available 9inch blocks so had to mould 250pcs more (10 cement bags).
This was to complete the headroom.

Traveled for work but back...

Construction ongoing and making progress.

How much spent so far

How much spent so far

I have lost track of the cost but all of the expensess to the state noted here was very accurate.

For sanity reasons and life got extremely busy for the last 18 months, I stopped tracking it.

I'm partially back to continue the assignment I started here...

Work has continued over the last 18 months and I have left the Program I was managing at the office so a little free.


June 2023 (last year) - we bought 70pcs. of bamboo for scaffolding.
This was to aid the parapet work; pre-cast was choosen to help block off break-ins through the soffit/fascia.

I also attached the design I intended to achieve.

Here is the quote for the parapet work. Total was 71m length from the drawing but I believe I paid for about 75m.

*PRECAST CONCRETE FACIAL*

*Materials*
* Cement 45bags ( for parapet beam and molding of parapet) × 4600per bag= 207,000
* 15 tuns of sharp sand = 50,000
* 10 tuns of granite = 150,000
* 10mm 27 length of iron rods × 4000 for the beam =108,000
* 8mm 10 length × 2700 for the stelrope= 27000
* Quarter rod 20 PCs × 1200per1 = 24,000
* Banding wire 30kg = 25000
* Bamboo sticks 70pcs for scaffolding × 600 = 42,000
* 5inches nails for scaffolding ½ bag =8000
* 3inch nail ½bag =8000
* Concrete nail 15packet × 800 (4inch 10pack/3inch 5pack)= 12,000
* 3 lenght of 2by1 iron range pipe = 12,000
* 2by2 wood 15pcs × 600 = 90000
* 30 Tick plank for installation × 2500 = 75,000
* Transportation 20,000
Total cash materials=NGN570,000


*Labour charge for parapet*
- Per metre is *3000* × 71metres = 213,000( molding, installation & finishing)

- Carpenter charges 70,000 (budding and scaffolding)
- iron bender charges 40,000
- bricklayer charges 60k for casting beam and parapet

New Total = N383k

I did NOT pay N3,000 per meter. Likely N2,500 or N2,700 but can't remember the actual rate.
I also did NOT pay in full those bricklayer, carpenter and iron bender charges.

Actual pictures from the work added from June 2023.

Added a breakdown of the actual amount spent for the parapet.
Multiple activities are ongoing side by side so the breakdown is a little tainted by like a soak away cost.


Only issue with the parapet is I wish it was a larger width (there are different 'standard' sizes in mm) to be more proportional with the house size but it's not bad overall.

Mid June, 2023: Soak away was decked, I believe workmanship for this was a lump sum.

They said it's not done by day rate.

Completed the parapet and Started borehole drilling, quote was N2m and the drill rig was a manual one.

Diesel guzzling rig and that's where a bulk of the amount went, it took them about 3weeks.

However, we first did a geological survey to find the optimal location to drill from and I got a printed report for this. Costs N120k to avoid trial and error drilling.


July 10, 2023: Cement became N5,200 per bag

Fence trench digging started at the same time, plot size is 3plots at this point, wish it was larger.

Trying to add the rig picture here but unable, will try again later; I cropped a picture from a drilling video.
Forgive the potato camera quality.

MackyNaija:
Trying to add the rig picture here but unable, will try again later; I cropped a picture from a drilling video.
Forgive the potato camera quality.

still following you chief, you're really doing a great job.

still following you chief, you're really doing a great job.

You are very welcome, made so much progress.
Will try to make a post at least once weekly so I can catch up to the current state.

1.1 Block molding - Done
1.2 Foundation to DPC - Done
1.3 Soakaway Digging and Foundation Filling - Done
1.4 Oversite concrete - Done
1.5 DPC to lintel - Done
1.6 Lintel - Done
1.7 Lintel to Roof beam+ - Done
1.8 Parapet - Done
1.9 Borehole - Dug and cased
1.10 Roofing - Cost die

Generator rental (5k daily) to flush the bore hole also came with a lot of fuel purchase (10k daily).

They tried adding pipes to case more depth so we can still get water during the dry season when water level gets low but they got resistance from mud or sand in hole.

Made us rent a 'compressor machine' to flush the hole more. Cost maybe N150k

Added some money to the driller for the 1.5HP Astral pump he purchased, price change from what was quoted.


Heard the cost to drill now is N5m, I spent maybe N2.3m in all.

July 2023: Next was fencing the 3 plots and purchased lots of sand, stones, cements and labor cost.

Have no idea how much this costs but I suspect around N4m including the trench digging and footing.
Lots of rods and concrete went into multiple pillars along the fence.

This delayed the roofing work but had to fence it so the Borehole is not vandalized.

Difficulty adding pictures..

Boss you kon abandon us for your travel thread, good to see you're doing great for yourself

MackyNaija:
Next was fencing the 3 plots and purchased lots of sand, stones, cements and labor cost.
Have no idea how much this costs but I suspect around N4m including the trench digging.

3plots? E sure me die say na mansion you dey plan build. Good to have you back bro

hammed71:
Boss you kon abandon us for your travel thread, good to see you're doing great for yourself

You are welcome back Sir/Ma.
Work hold me for neck like bow tie.

Olumighty123:


3plots? E sure me die say na mansion you dey plan build. Good to have you back bro

Na who get billions deh build mansion o.

The house is larger than I thought, current land is full.
The front is almost touching the fence, wish I had a 20meter recess from the front fence but a duplex was NOT an option make older family members no fall from staircase.

Family house being built in my hometown and breathing space, trees/vegetable garden and parking spot is needed, still trying to acquire the 2 plots beside mine and relocate the owner but they refused to sell - him say him wan build mansion there.

Trying to see if pictures will attach...
Front and backside fence completed around November 2023.
***Attachments not showing.

Discussions for roofing started.

Trying again to upload fence pictures.
Kept some openings in the front sides for metal works.

What I would change if given the chance:
More recess away from front fence
Larger land, about 6plots
Larger front porch area


The good things:
Hand moulded 9inch blocks for the structure, will double down on strength during plastering
Too many windows for natural lighting and cross ventilation
Multiple rooms, can accommodate ten+ people for more than short stays
High quality I can afford, not skimping on cost as remediation is an expensive process

December 1: Cement N5,900 a bag
Blocks N380 a piece I believe for 6inch

Roofing discussions ongoing, had 1 estimate during the design stage and got 3 quotes.

1 Woodwork quote attached.

Another quote for 550m2 roofing sheet + accessories

D. G. ROOFING CONTRACTORS

(1)Shingle Roof=560m²×5500=3,080,000
(2)Ridge Cap=84m×2400=201,600
(3)Valley Gutter =54m×2500=135,000
(4)Apple (5)Nail=6pkt×10000=60,000
(6)Sealant=2pkt×7000=14,000
(7)Transportation=100,000
(8 Workmanship =#500,000

Total=#3,590,600.

N3.5m for the complete roofing sheet?? I deh laugh

February 2024: Naira very volatile, I think we were trending towards N1,800 to 1$

Market survey for roofing sheets -1st picture from a store during market survey
Shingles any colour 6,900 per m2
Classic 6,800
Milano 6,800

My supervisor said my target W1cht3ch should be around N25k for 1m2.

I used the website 'filta dot ng' and their prices for high quality sheets were accurate (2nd attached pictures are from the website today today)

***Retried uploading pictures, no success. Be back tomorrow

2nd woodwork quote for N2.2m total material and workmanship.
Planned to use this crew for the work but they could not arrive at an agreement with the Site Supervisor on initial payment

Added cost of metc0pp0, st3ptiles and l0ngspan around that timeframe.

The wood purchased was greater than planned, here I learned to be very careful about given estimates as they could fall short.

The entire job moved to a model of us buying materials and the work crew get paid for execution.

Always thought each of these phases was meant to be 1week long.
It takes approximately 3 to 6weeks to get most phases completed.

Ties me down emotionally when I want to complete and move ahead.

Woodwork was completed in about 3 weeks, had to go buy additional wood and final cost was N2.9m including workmanship.
About 20 PCs of wood remained.

***I can only attach pictures once a day...
Subsequent attachments never show until when I return the next day and reattach so l be back to modify the post above.

Settled on using stone coated tiles.
Total surface area installed was about a few meters less than 620m2.

Two trips to buy roofing sheets and we had left over as I bought a little extra.

Na here I confirm say this project na grand project.