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Question for a4architect
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S.Mutaga III
#741 Posted : Saturday, September 27, 2014 10:39:13 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 3/26/2012
Posts: 830
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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bubethi
#742 Posted : Sunday, September 28, 2014 3:28:01 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 9/17/2006
Posts: 94
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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kaifastus
#743 Posted : Sunday, September 28, 2014 7:01:05 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 8/17/2011
Posts: 207
Location: humu humu
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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PKoli
#744 Posted : Sunday, September 28, 2014 10:43:28 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 2/10/2007
Posts: 1,587
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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a4architect.com
#745 Posted : Monday, September 29, 2014 3:33:22 PM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 1,668
Location: nairobi
@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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african coloner
#746 Posted : Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:06:53 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 10/8/2010
Posts: 446
Location: london
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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a4architect.com
#747 Posted : Tuesday, September 30, 2014 8:39:59 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 1,668
Location: nairobi
@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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muthurimugi
#748 Posted : Tuesday, September 30, 2014 2:20:12 PM
Rank: New-farer

Joined: 12/1/2010
Posts: 9
Location: Nairobi
@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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a4architect.com
#749 Posted : Wednesday, October 01, 2014 8:18:05 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 1,668
Location: nairobi
@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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dpmungai
#750 Posted : Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:20:00 PM
Rank: New-farer

Joined: 10/16/2014
Posts: 33
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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