shofil2011:
=Thank you for your input.The project is for a superstructure of a 3 bedroom all ensuite and a 2 bedroom 2 bath, The whole project is a 5 bedroom duplex with 2 unit of 2 bedroom flat on same plot. We just finished foundation and german flooring and started walling this week till i asked them to hold on because of the quote for this phase: the bricklayer charged 295,000 and he supervisor said he made him reduce it to 270,000. The supervisor of the project said 3400 9' block will be used for this phase and said the bricklayer will lay 70 block a day( this is when i started having misgivings). stating 4500/day (3,000/bricklayer and 1 laborer to a bricklayer:1500/laborer). 3400blocks /70 blocks per day =28 days x4500/day.= 216,000 and 54,000 for filling of 36 columns...makes 270,000 in all. Please help me. I am thinking of getting another person entirely to do this work now.

I think the rates are fair enough even though you could get 4k/day/bricklayer and up to 80blocks/bricklayer/day, but its safer to be conservative.
Better to stick with a team that gives you the whole ugly picture at once than the one that will encourage you by giving you unrealistic but lovely affordable scenerios cause they want to get the initial commitment.
Also note that except you pay lumpsum/milestone you will normally spend more due to delays caused by rain, civil unrest, materials shortage, etc which might prevent your bricklayers from averaging 70-80bricks/day

3strikes:
What did I miss O ?

Where is lastpage?
Excuzeme
Brabus (which moniker is he using now) Next2your$?
Azuh
Crayola master
Fastshipping

Lets spice this thread up a little.

see I have been busy preaching the gospel about failed government . Pls vote for me as president of online . Nor ask me watin I mean . I dey practice madness since February oh .

44chux:

Normally the painter should cover but nigerians usually disappoint even in the simplest things.

So except you will have somebody on ground to enforce this, I would prefer to use the first rule of safety which is to completely eliminate the possibility (where practicable).

I must admit that the surest bet is to be around or have someone on ground to ensure it is done properly.

Hello house. Anybody able to recommend a welder that does steel doors, hand railings for stairs, and railings for balconies, and can deliver to Sango Ota? Thank you

i am looking for a bricklayer to fence my house (in august), after the rainy season.
location is rivers state. quote me if interested.

toastedbread:
i am looking for a bricklayer to fence my house (in august), after the rainy season.
location is rivers state. quote me if interested.

is ur land water logged area or dry land .

tevanso:
is ur land water logged area or dry land .

dry.

spyder880:
The discourse about whether to mold blocks yourself on site or to buy already vibrated blocks from block sellers is an important decision. I tend to support the molding of blocks on site, but only if the following conditions are met;

1. You must have a large space in your compound, space that will be enough to leave the blocks where it is and not need in to repack the blocks. Relocating blocks is costly, time consuming and risky too. Blocks can break when being re parked and you end up losing on the broken blocks.

2. You must have a supervisor, permanently stationed on site, if you cannot be on site yourself. Expect to pay the supervisor and add the cost to the 'savings' you are going to make for molding blocks yourself.

3. Make sure your site is not where trespassers can march through. I have seen a friend lose money because as soon as they finished molding the blocks for the day, a herdsman drove over a hundred cows through the back of his site, trampling and destroying most of the 20 bags of cement they freshly made for the day. He nearly cried when he came back in the morning.

4. You must ensure the molders are imbibing good block molding practices, when molders are working for an inexperienced person, they tend to relax their skills and turn the cement less than needed, all to make them move faster and make more blocks/money. The down side of this is that the blocks will be of poor quality.

Finally my people, the fact that you molded your blocks on site does not mean you cannot lose money or quality of blocks made. A person that bought blocks can move faster and save time/space/money, if the conditions are right.

I now buy most of the blocks I use on different sites, except where there are no nearby block industries. I also have a list of good block makers in many cities where I work. But if my clients insist we must use blocks made on site, I usually ask them to produce the blocks ahead of time, then I can move in later and start the project.

Good morning to you all.

Thanks for this very helpful information.

This information is very important to such person as myself. It further buttress my focus on Entry Level Home hypothesis for Nigeria Housing industry. Thanks for sharing

diordaves:


Let's extrapolation from details and statistics contained in the article.

So Africa nay Nigeria has an army of restless youths in their 30s with below par purchasing power. When you build for investment rentals, what age demographic is your target market? If you dwell on this, you will understand why there's high rental default. We are designing and building houses for a demographic that can't afford them.

Africa, including Nigeria don't trade with one another. So we go to China, Turkey to buy doors for example. But do you know Egypt has top quality doors with competence in Egypt? Can we link that competence to Benin Edo State where the woodwork trade is dying out?

3D printing. Will this kill architecture? Civil engineering? Disruptive technology.

A 21yr old in South Africa has discovered blocks made out of waste paper and got funding. Is this the future or there's more?

I can go on and on.

So with obviously failing leadership, can the diaspora step in and step up? Can we bring back tools and machinery and technology and pass them on to our artisans and builders? Can the diaspora be the catalyst for Nigeria to plug into​ the next wave of wealth creation? Internet.

AZUH:
see I have been busy preaching the gospel about failed government . Pls vote for me as president of online . Nor ask me watin I mean . I dey practice madness since February oh .

If l were you, l will just press that IGNORE Button on newer electronics!
Idleness can be punishing like a slow, painful death and clowns are allowed to 'stroke each other'!


And about preaching the Gospel..l hope you do not collect Tithe, five times per session or use it on Otobo and Danniella!


BTW: I had Email communications with lastpage a few weeks back and he mentioned in passing that he was (his words) 'banned by same foolish MOD" till sometime in September or so" cant remember exactly.

shofil2011:
=Thank you for your input.The project is for a superstructure of a 3 bedroom all ensuite and a 2 bedroom 2 bath, The whole project is a 5 bedroom duplex with 2 unit of 2 bedroom flat on same plot. We just finished foundation and german flooring and started walling this week till i asked them to hold on because of the quote for this phase: the bricklayer charged 295,000 and he supervisor said he made him reduce it to 270,000. The supervisor of the project said 3400 9' block will be used for this phase and said the bricklayer will lay 70 block a day( this is when i started having misgivings). stating 4500/day (3,000/bricklayer and 1 laborer to a bricklayer:1500/laborer). 3400blocks /70 blocks per day =28 days x4500/day.= 216,000 and 54,000 for filling of 36 columns...makes 270,000 in all. Please help me. I am thinking of getting another person entirely to do this work now.

Dont negotiate based on Number of Blocks........ that would put you at a serious disadvantage.
You can only use that to estimate whether what they charged you, is reasonable or not.
If possible, can you not estimate 'on the average', how many block you would require? Do you have a Bill of Quantity for your build?

Like said, Bricklayers can mould from 50 to 150 blocks per day, depending on "who benefits"?
If it is them, they are wiling to do 150 since you will pay them double daily amount or more.
If it is you, they would probably be happy to do 50, since you will stil have to pay them a full day's pay.

Just have an idea of how many block it will need, cost it at a minimum of 10 blocks a day and negotiate based on that.
Always negotiate the whole Block work in one go, after doing your own home work properly.

ordinarily, for places like Ikorodu, per day charge is #2,500 per Bricklayer and labor is #1,500..
There is always an advantage/discount to the Client, when giving out jobs involving a whole building.
It should not be charged piecemeal.

- And dont forget to 'document' whatever you both agree on, as those people are known to start playing 'games' midway into a big project and denying or reneging on what you agreed to.

- Dont over-pay up to any extent of work done: Infact, let at least, 60% of money for work done, be with you at all times otherwise, your work could suffer abandonment, when the bricklayer realizes that he has collected a large chunk of the agreed amount and the work still plenty for ground.
- Watch out for Bricklayers that put sancrete blocks inside Concrete Casting, they do these to hasten the work and reduce how much Concrete they have to pour (laziness, but this could have very dangerous structural effect on your build).

- Supervise your job properly, by yourself or a trusted person. 'some' Supervisors, despite being paid, still collude with the bricklayer to cheat their Client. Be aware and vigilant.

No Eyes can see better, than your own eyes, when it comes to supervising your own project.
More grease to your elbow.

rabcnesbit:


Anybody able to advise on the above, please?

I think it is way too much. Or does it involve materials?
A 10ft x 10ft (or 12ft x 12ft wall as the case maybe) wall is considered a day's job, at a day's rate. (#2,500 t0 #3,000)
Use this to gauge or estimate what you think is reasonable.

But 4 flats of 3Bed house should not be more than 500K....... 700K maximum, if it is a very large building of same configuration.
I finished one in the heat of "Dollar ni o", early this year and it was 580K but the supervision, na-die!
I wont recommend the Bricklayer to anyone (dishonest, trying to steal materials)
'Location' can vary it by 5- 10%.

bzm7:
@Truthinlife please I have tried reaching you twice, I need theses doors too in PH.

Check your email. I sent you the info and pictures.

Excuzeme:


I think it is way too much. Or does it involve materials?
A 10ft x 10ft (or 12ft x 12ft wall as the case maybe) wall is considered a day's job, at a day's rate. (#2,500 t0 #3,000)
Use this to gauge or estimate what you think is reasonable.

But 4 flats of 3Bed house should not be more than 500K....... 700K maximum, if it is a very large building of same configuration.
I finished one in the heat of "Dollar ni o", early this year and it was 580K but the supervision, na-die!
I wont recommend the Bricklayer to anyone (dishonest, trying to steal materials)
'Location' can vary it by 5- 10%.

Hello, thanks for the response. It's just labour, no materials included, not even the scaffolding! I have negotiated hard and he agreed to include the exterior in the price as well, so 900k for both interior and exterior.

Excuzeme:


I think it is way too much. Or does it involve materials?
A 10ft x 10ft (or 12ft x 12ft wall as the case maybe) wall is considered a day's job, at a day's rate. (#2,500 t0 #3,000)
Use this to gauge or estimate what you think is reasonable.

But 4 flats of 3Bed house should not be more than 500K....... 700K maximum, if it is a very large building of same configuration.
I finished one in the heat of "Dollar ni o", early this year and it was 580K but the supervision, na-die!
I wont recommend the Bricklayer to anyone (dishonest, trying to steal materials)
'Location' can vary it by 5- 10%.

rabcnesbit:


Hello, thanks for the response. It's just labour, no materials included, not even the scaffolding! I have negotiated hard and he agreed to include the exterior in the price as well, so 900k for both interior and exterior.

When it comes to plastering, I have learnt that it can never be too costly or too cheap, it has a lot to do with the skill set of the guy doing the plastering and the overall quality of work done. A person can charge you N400k and give you the type of horrible work that will give you migrane! You may even need to call police

While another can charge 900k on same work and deliver with quality and timeliness. We all need to watch these guys work, else they will put you in serious trouble.

Excuzeme:


If l were you, l will just press that IGNORE Button on newer electronics!
Idleness can be punishing like a slow, painful death and clowns are allowed to 'stroke each other'!


And about preaching the Gospel..l hope you do not collect Tithe, five times per session or use it on Otobo and Danniella!


BTW: I had Email communications with lastpage a few weeks back and he mentioned in passing that he was (his words) 'banned by same foolish MOD" till sometime in September or so" cant remember exactly.

what are you talking about ?

twinskenny:


Why surface wiring though?

And by the way if u do surface wiring and install socket and didn't get a good painter they will mess up the switches and socket with paint....

Thanks for your tip. The house has been plastered inside and out..and it is a rental, so to avoid issues, i'll do surface wiring

rotecch77:
@worldambassador.
the next stage as you explained the project is surface wiring, painting is the last thing then general cleaning and fumigation.

Thanks

gbadexy:

The painter could use masking tape to cover up the sockets and switches while painting.

Thanks @gbadexy.

44chux:

While painting I think the socket outlets and switches should be removed and putback later on to prevent paint stains

Thanks. I think i'll either have the electrician remove the socket outlets and switches and put them back after painting, or have the painter mask the outlets or switches. I guess the better option will depend on the cost.

spyder880:




When it comes to plastering, I have learnt that it can never be too costly or too cheap, it has a lot to do with the skill set of the guy doing the plastering and the overall quality of work done. A person can charge you N400k and give you the type of horrible work that will give you migrane! You may even need to call police

While another can charge 900k on same work and deliver with quality and timeliness. We all need to watch these guys work, else they will put you in serious trouble.

While l agree that different Artisans have different level of competency and skill set, l think there is a minimum standard we all expect from such job (smooth, well-angled where necessary and on time), irrespective of how much the Artisan wants to charge!

I think it is always wrong to equate Quality of Work .... to how hefty the Labour Charge will be. It is NOT directly proportional.
Greed by some Artisans means they will just be very extortionist while the competency is in question.
We have seen many examples of these sort of Greed, among our "Builder/Contractors" in this section..... except for a few who have distinguished themselves while not charging heaven and earth at he same time.


@rabcnesbit: Are you telling me that he initially charged you 900K....... without the OUTSIDE PLASTER involved?
I am sure the guy sees you as a novice and is taking advantage of you.
How can you negotiate outside and inside plaster, separately?

Bottom line, it all depends on your power of negotiation.
But dont forget to document everything and let him sign his signature (or record the conversation on your phone) and spell out the payment tranches, explicitly. Every Contractor is not Spyder that is honest and has dignity.

Experience is always a good teacher. I sense you are not versed in these things and that is the type of person they enjoy cheating.

AZUH:
what are you talking about ?

I see that you did not catch the humour.
No worries, let it fly.

Excuzeme:


While l agree that different Artisans have different level of competency and skill set, l think there is a minimum standard we all expect from such job (smooth, well-angled where necessary and on time), irrespective of how much the Artisan wants to charge!

I think it is always wrong to equate Quality of Work .... to how hefty the Labour Charge will be. It is NOT directly proportional.
Greed by some Artisans means they will just be very extortionist while the competency is in question.
We have seen many examples of these sort of Greed, among our "Builder/Contractors" in this section..... except for a few who have distinguished themselves while not charging heaven and earth at he same time.


@rabcnesbit: Are you telling me that he initially charged you 900K....... without the OUTSIDE PLASTER involved?
I am sure the guy sees you as a novice and is taking advantage of you.
How can you negotiate outside and inside plaster, separately?

Bottom line, it all depends on your power of negotiation.
But dont forget to document everything and let him sign his signature (or record the conversation on your phone) and spell out the payment tranches, explicitly. Every Contractor is not Spyder that is honest and has dignity.

Experience is always a good teacher. I sense you are not versed in these things and that is the type of person they enjoy cheating.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, he initially quoted them separately, as we were doing the work in stages. Quoted 180k for plastering the decking (inside ceiling), which he has already done and paid. Then 900k for interior and 150k for the exterior, which made no sense to me (ie. the big difference between the labour for interior and exterior). Anyway, we now negotiated to include both the exterior and interior for 900k. On another matter, any idea what I should be looking to pay for scaffolding for the exterior plastering work, as this is not part of the labour for the plastering?

Excuzeme:


While l agree that different Artisans have different level of competency and skill set, l think there is a minimum standard we all expect from such job (smooth, well-angled where necessary and on time), irrespective of how much the Artisan wants to charge!

I think it is always wrong to equate Quality of Work .... to how hefty the Labour Charge will be. It is NOT directly proportional.

While the relationship is not necessarily linear, there is always a corolation which is also affected by the quality of work of the previous bricklayers that did the block laying(affects the plaster thickness in some areas if wall is not plum or angled correctly).

However being on ground to negotiate and oversee does improve avg quality/$ as opposed to using proxy.

rabcnesbit:


Thanks for the advice. Yes, he initially quoted them separately, as we were doing the work in stages. Quoted 180k for plastering the decking (inside ceiling), which he has already done and paid. Then 900k for interior and 150k for the exterior, which made no sense to me (ie. the big difference between the labour for interior and exterior). Anyway, we now negotiated to include both the exterior and interior for 900k. On another matter, any idea what I should be looking to pay for scaffolding for the exterior plastering work, as this is not part of the labour for the plastering?

Men how big is this your house, did it include fence in and out?

kopell:
Men how big is this your house, did it include fence in and out?

No, does not include fence. It's a standard size block of four 3-bedroom flats.

rabcnesbit:


No, does not include fence. It's a standard size block of four 3-bedroom flats.

OH 4, 3 bedroom apartments.

rabcnesbit:


Thanks for the advice. Yes, he initially quoted them separately, as we were doing the work in stages. Quoted 180k for plastering the decking (inside ceiling), which he has already done and paid. Then 900k for interior and 150k for the exterior, which made no sense to me (ie. the big difference between the labour for interior and exterior). Anyway, we now negotiated to include both the exterior and interior for 900k. On another matter, any idea what I should be looking to pay for scaffolding for the exterior plastering work, as this is not part of the labour for the plastering?

So, in total, he quoted 180 + 900 + 150 = #1,230,000 (One Million, Two hundred and thirty thousand Niara... to plaster a Standard Dour Flats!
The Lord is good, all the time.
Anyway, its all good.

But going forward, what you should have done is bargain on ALL PLASTERING WORK for the whole building first,
After the price is agreed, you then break the toatl cost down by allocating "cost" to each of the above areas (Decking, Inside, Outside), from the total cost.

That Bricklayer don hammer!

NB: Inside Plastering, to outside plastering is mostly, usually about ration 3:1.
That is, 65% - 75% Cost for Inside and 25% - 35% Cost for outside plastering.

Scaffold: You will but the Bamboo yourself (it cost roughly #150 - #200 each), You will buy Binding Wire of about 2-3 Bundles
Construction/Erection should be between 30K - 45k, depending on your negotiating power

Excuzeme:


So, in total, he quoted 180 + 900 + 150 = #1,230,000 (One Million, Two hundred and thirty thousand Niara... to plaster a Standard Dour Flats!
The Lord is good, all the time.
Anyway, its all good.

But going forward, what you should have done is bargain on ALL PLASTERING WORK for the whole building first,
After the price is agreed, you then break the toatl cost down by allocating "cost" to each of the above areas (Decking, Inside, Outside), from the total cost.

That Bricklayer don hammer!

NB: Inside Plastering, to outside plastering is mostly, usually about ration 3:1.
That is, 65% - 75% Cost for Inside and 25% - 35% Cost for outside plastering.

Scaffold: You will but the Bamboo yourself (it cost roughly #150 - #200 each), You will buy Binding Wire of about 2-3 Bundles
Construction/Erection should be between 30K - 45k, depending on your negotiating power

Why is it so surprising that he paid N1.2m to plaster a four unit of 3 bedroom flat? Don't you think he should bother more about his Job been worth the figure than the figure been that high. Una no want make the guys Chop?

skimanski:



Why is it so surprising that he paid N1.2m to plaster a four unit of 3 bedroom flat? Don't you think he should bother more about his Job been worth the figure than the figure been that high. Una no want make the guys Chop?

Skimanski, I don't think the question is about "chopping",it should be about fairness. If it's about chopping everybody and anybody can charge anything and that will be taken hook, line and sinker. How does the owner "chop" if it's about "chopping"?.

Again,why isn't there some sort of standard as to pricing. To tell you my experience,I have seen some kind of ridiculous quote that can only make me think/ask "does this guy think I am a fool?". Irrespective of professionalism involved, except there are some differences in materials to be bought, there should be some yardstick to standardise charges so that all parties are fair to one another.

Excuzeme:


So, in total, he quoted 180 + 900 + 150 = #1,230,000 (One Million, Two hundred and thirty thousand Niara... to plaster a Standard Dour Flats!
The Lord is good, all the time.
Anyway, its all good.

But going forward, what you should have done is bargain on ALL PLASTERING WORK for the whole building first,
After the price is agreed, you then break the toatl cost down by allocating "cost" to each of the above areas (Decking, Inside, Outside), from the total cost.

That Bricklayer don hammer!

NB: Inside Plastering, to outside plastering is mostly, usually about ration 3:1.
That is, 65% - 75% Cost for Inside and 25% - 35% Cost for outside plastering.

Scaffold: You will but the Bamboo yourself (it cost roughly #150 - #200 each), You will buy Binding Wire of about 2-3 Bundles
Construction/Erection should be between 30K - 45k, depending on your negotiating power

Thanks for the advice