domack99:
Did I here 400k for a soil test. If only there is a law that mandate land sellers to do a soil test before putting them up for sale.

So I want to buy a land that worth between 4ook to 1.5 million, I will be doing 400k soil test to determine if I should be buying or not.

I think soil analysis is only good for determining the type of foundation after satisfying that you love the location.

I don't dispute other fact like sloppiness, distance from power source and slope hight from main road for drainage purpose. All these are physical analysis that bringing a professional for site inspection and consulting shouldn't cost more than 30k as consultancy fee. With this I can take the professional to several sites.

But soil analysis fee of 400k to determine buying the land or not

moshino:
@ Olumide4Christ and Alpontif

Thanks for the enriching information you guys are freely volunteering here at the expense of your time, I very much appreciate it.

My question:

What advice will you give someone who wants to buy are 'Water Front' land in Banana Island, for Residential development?

Thanks!

olumide4christ:


If you really went through what Brabus/n3xt said which you are responding to, soil tests are of different grades. It all depends on what you want - the least is about N100k and it can be more depending on what you want.

domack99:


Thanks Olumide, I read through the post. The 100k is for boreholes and 400k and above for a standard soil test for building foundation. I read where he said a lady did hers for 120k but his write up seems to doubt the quality of the analysis

alpontif:


A geologist has no business carrying out Geotechnical Investigations( Soil Test). Geotechnical Investigation is different from Geophysical Investigation, which is also different from Geological Investigations. Dont confuse things.

Also, all propoerly trained Civil Engineers can Design for and Supervise Geotechnical Investigations to be carried out by the Geotechnical Specialist, also....a Structural Engineer HAS NO BUSINESS carrying out Geotechnical Investigations. We are all Civil Engineers, but we specialise at some stage in our carreers, some become Structural Engineers, some geotech engineers, some Transport Engineers, some Water engineers..etc...All are Civil Engineers who Can Supervise, but cannot Carry out work specialities of the different specializations.

charlesu49:


Do your research or ask questions before jumping into conclusion, a geologist can also carry out Geotechnical investigations efficiently, I know because I'm a geologist.

alpontif:


And how do you make recommendations after your investigation?.....

How do you recommend Foundation Types based on bearing capacity or Bearing pressure?

What do you know about foundation design to be able to recommend foundation types to be used based on your ''investigations''?

Nigerians.

But I dont blame you sha, I blame the economy.

charlesu49:


Do your research or ask questions before jumping into conclusion, a geologist can also carry out Geotechnical investigations efficiently, I know because I'm a geologist.

Delafruita:
While i agree with a number of things on this thread., i have to point out a few things. I will use my experience as a yardstick because i have built a house in a swampy area and i have built on a sloppy land just as i have built on other terrains. Many a time, it comes down to the budget, location and preference. I got an offer for a plot of land which is less than 5 minutes drive from a major expressway for a knock down price of 2million. That particular land was waterlogged as were a few others but those that were dry land wete going for 4-5million and above. After all analysis, it Was a good deal because whether it was waterlogged or dry land, the plan was for a storey buikding which would have required a raft foundation either way. The only difference is the pile foundation on the waterlogged land and when viewed vis a vis the difference in cost of land, it was a better deal

olumide4christ:


If you really went through what Brabus/n3xt said which you are responding to, soil tests are of different grades. It all depends on what you want - the least is about N100k and it can be more depending on what you want.

olumide4christ:


I don't think it is right for both of you to exchange words over this little matter.

Geologists and/or geotechnical specialists conduct soil investigations or tests on the proposed location, prepare the soil test reports; however, it is the responsibility of the Civil engineer or structural engineer to, on the basis of the soil report, recommend the foundation type to be best used for such location.

Have a nice week.

alpontif:


Please, geologists dont have any business carrying out soil investigations for building construction projects, It is not best practice. Geotechnical Engineers carry out the investigations and Recommend Foundation Type and depth based on the result of their investigations.

The nearest thing a Geologist will carry out for construction projects is geophysical investigations.

That is Best practice.

msogunro:


Different grades? Or do you mean different quality because of the experience of the person conducting the test?

If you mean different grades as in level or type, what is the grade one should request to find out what type of foundation is needed for his/her proposed building?

olumide4christ:


What I mean is the equipment and methods deployed to carry out the tests could differ and also like you have said, "professional pass professional', so charges may differ.

n3xt:
@ olumide4christ, alpontif - Good job you guys are doing.

For soil test, I'll go with Geotechnical Scientists/Engineers. For soil formation and geophysical information of a given area, I'll go with Geologists

If I'm asked to choose one between the two, I'll choose a Geotechnical Engineer over a Geologist because a geologist cannot perform the laboratory tests required to determine bearing capacity of a soil. He can only tell you the properties of soil and the formation of the ground.

olumide4christ:


Okay, if that is the fact and it seems you are knowledgeable in that area, under what profession, course or career path do 'Geotechnical engineers' learn, qualify and practice?

I ask because in my years of education and then work experience, I haven't come across a stand alone profession, course or professional tagged 'Geo-technical engineer or engineering'; is it a branch of a more pronounced profession? Is it offered as a course or specialization in schools in Nigeria?

Please educate me and others further.

alpontif:


Geotechnical Engineering is a specialization under Civil Engineering, and yes it is offered in schools in Nigeria, from UI to Lautech.

shamecurls:
Impending Lekki-Ajah residents, Take note

realomonile:
A plot of land located at Akesan Lagos state Along Lasu iyana iba going for 1.5m negotiable

Direct seller...

Serious buyer should call/whatsapp[b]08085310359, 09054800167[/b]


Hello Nairalanders, i have this land facing Lasu iba express way all round fenced for sale at rate of 70million Naira Negotiable,

Available document: Family Receipt, survey plan,

Side attract: facing expressway, close to Lagos state university, close to Iba New site estate and alot more

NOTE: This is dry Land...

Good for filling Station, churches, shopping mall,event center,schools and lot more..

Serious Buyer should contact Call/Whatsapp 08085310359 For inspection or call 08033588797

olumide4christ:
[b]BEWARE!! – BUYING THESE LANDS MAY INCREASE YOUR CONSTRUCTION COST ASTRONOMICALLY! (PART 4)


SLOPING LAND

This is a kind of land that has a steep gradient (or slopes) from one end of it to the other and/or in different directions, usually encountered in hilly terrain.

The Issues – The pertinent issues that may arise when using sloping land for construction are:

 Limitation of design – Due to the sloping nature of the land, architects are usually limited to design buildings with different levels leading to stepped foundations, in a bid to reduce cost.

 High foundations – As a result of the sloping nature of the land, foundations would have to be made higher either by structural design or by implementation on site. This results in - increasing the height of the foundation blockwall or concrete raft ground beams; increased quantity of filling sand resulting from the increased height of foundation; introduction of concrete tie beams (in case of blockwall foundations) due to the increased height of blockwork.

In conclusion, if possible, it is advisable to avoid buying sloping land; it leads to increased cost of foundation works. I have a personal experience on this, when I bought a sloping land in an estate in Abuja some years ago. Due to the sloping nature of the land, we eventually ended up spending about N2.1 million for foundation works for the main building and boys quarters, as against about N1.6 – 1.7 million due to the factors mentioned above.[/b]

ThaThinka:


Wow! This post and the thread as a whole are quite educative.

I found this thread while trying to find out whether buying land in a slopey terrain is advisable. The quoted post is enlightening in this regard.

If I may ask, sir, is it likely for foundation on a slopey lot to cost more than 30% more compared to regular foundation on flat plain? Thanks.