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Question for a4architect
Rank: Member Joined: 3/26/2012 Posts: 830
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I just saw the Makiga interlocking blocks advert on national television and it got me thinking, which is better, a house built using these blocks or one using stones (common buildings)? apart from the budget advantage it purports to have, which other advantages do these intelocking blocks have over traditional building stones...and is it advisable to use them to replace stones...because if they can cut the cost by half, and if they have no disadvantages compared to traditional stones,,..they may be revolutionary...kindly advise A successful man is not he who gets the best, it is he who makes the best from what he gets.
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Rank: Member Joined: 9/17/2006 Posts: 94
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My sitting room is sunken and have got a problem on one side of this room. Water breached along the length of the wall bordering an opposite room that has a higher floor level. Though its not the whole length of the wall that is affected but about 10% of the length and only the lower course seems to have this problem. In addition, the part affected is close to the wall of the sitting room facing outdoors. The wood skirting on the affected part ended up warping.
During the construction, the fundi did fix the DPM.
What are the possible solutions to this problem? I am thinking of sealing that part by fixing a ceramic tile skirting. Or will this escalate the problem?
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Rank: Member Joined: 8/17/2011 Posts: 207 Location: humu humu
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S.Mutaga III wrote:I just saw the Makiga interlocking blocks advert on national television and it got me thinking, which is better, a house built using these blocks or one using stones (common buildings)? apart from the budget advantage it purports to have, which other advantages do these intelocking blocks have over traditional building stones...and is it advisable to use them to replace stones...because if they can cut the cost by half, and if they have no disadvantages compared to traditional stones,,..they may be revolutionary...kindly advise "cut the cost by half" Thats not possible. In construction walling is the easiest part.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 2/10/2007 Posts: 1,587
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The Architect; Thanks for educating us on construction costs and management.
Our investment group is thinking of investing in Lamu to take advantage of the upcoming port construction and associated facilities; coal power plant, cement, steel etc -
Looking at putting up 1. Logistic park/warehousing facility
2. Apartments for sell/rent
3. Commercial facility - shopping, banking hall etc.
we have land strategically located next to the port area. what will be best sequence of developing the above facilities? we are looking at equity investor and debt.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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@pkoli, a fraction of all types of developments i.e a fraction of residential, part of commercial and % of warehouse is the best approach. These can then increase in % as the lamu economy grows and expands till 100%. Commercial activities/warehouses will attract residential clients at an initial small scale which will grow in time as lamu develops. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: Member Joined: 10/8/2010 Posts: 446 Location: london
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bubethi wrote:My sitting room is sunken and have got a problem on one side of this room. Water breached along the length of the wall bordering an opposite room that has a higher floor level. Though its not the whole length of the wall that is affected but about 10% of the length and only the lower course seems to have this problem. In addition, the part affected is close to the wall of the sitting room facing outdoors. The wood skirting on the affected part ended up warping.
During the construction, the fundi did fix the DPM.
What are the possible solutions to this problem? I am thinking of sealing that part by fixing a ceramic tile skirting. Or will this escalate the problem?
make sure the soil is below the DPC line
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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@bubethi, you can try to waterproof the interior part of the wall with a polypropylene sealant then finish the interior wall with an anti mould type of paint and anti mould plaster. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 12/1/2010 Posts: 9 Location: Nairobi
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@Bubethi,
I suggest two solutions
1.Use cement based water proofing product e.g. Masterseal 101/102 or Sika 1 render and repair the affected areas
2. Make sure the soil on the external is below the DPC line like African Coloner says
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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@muthirimuugi, well said...making sure soil level is below the dpc level will go a long way in ensuring moisture doent climb up the wall through osmosis. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 10/16/2014 Posts: 33
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Anyone have a lead on where to clad steel with timber?
I have a fundi fabricating steel doors which I would like to clad with timber to give a nice wood finish..
Or is there a paint that can give the same effect?
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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any good steel fundi can install hooks for screwing the timber finish on. Check the fundis along ngong road near show ground who sell steel plus wooden gates. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: New-farer Joined: 10/16/2014 Posts: 33
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a4architect.com wrote:any good steel fundi can install hooks for screwing the timber finish on. Check the fundis along ngong road near show ground who sell steel plus wooden gates. Thanks A4. Will check them out.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/19/2010 Posts: 3,504 Location: Uganda
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our architect quoted here mobile.nation.co.ke/business/How-to-get-value-for-your-money-in-an-off-plan-home-purchase/-/1950106/2491082/-/format/xhtml/-/uo4nf6z/-/index.html punda amecheka
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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@newfarer, there is a wazuan who had asked me for the same advice where he intended to purchase off plan on a project around Nairobi which has conflicting rumours regarding its structural design but very good return on investment. I gave him the exact advice, for him to hire an independent engineer to countercheck the structural integrity then purchase. Judging from his thankyou emails, he must have laughed all the way to the bank after he took advantage of the opportunity confidently with his personal engineer's advise. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 3/19/2010 Posts: 3,504 Location: Uganda
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nostoppingthis wrote:Jitahidi wrote:hugumadede wrote:Dear Wazua,
Anyone knows where I can get steel y12, y10,y8 and r8 at a good rate?
Try Aberdare hardware located in Kariobangi Light industries; near outering rd - Juja rd roundabout. I found their prices the most competitive and they offer free transport as long as it is within nairobi. They specializes in steel and they only sell genuine ones  they do specialize in steel and the man knows his steel...@Jitahidi, he delivers even to Kajiado... bought from them for my slab saved 10k below my fundis. steel quote I'm now looking for a deal on steel doors now.any Good leads? punda amecheka
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Rank: Member Joined: 12/17/2013 Posts: 118
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@4architect,what is thebrecommended size of metal to be used on steel trappers for great durability?as in the gauges KCB,NMG,PAFR
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 1,668 Location: nairobi
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@yosie14, scaffolding suppliers would be in the best position to answer on this. As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 1/17/2013 Posts: 4,693 Location: Earth
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a4architect.com wrote:@yosie14, scaffolding suppliers would be in the best position to answer on this. You can Call Pius M.of Nanjing Africa for scaffolds.
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Rank: Member Joined: 9/27/2011 Posts: 123 Location: Nairobi
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Where can one get chinese tiles cheaply?
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/8/2008 Posts: 288
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KiFagio wrote:Where can one get chinese tiles cheaply? @KiFagio...what a choice of names? Where do you sweep? Have you tried Kijabe street?
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