I am yet to decide which is the best,cost wise and quality of finished product. Any one in the know?

Muthonwa a Agikuyu

machine cut save on plastering...

coz it is not bumpy...

though they are 1 feet long and could mean there are so many joints....

When you run so fast to get somewhere,you miss the fun of getting there... Life is not a race,so take it slowly....

@murenj,give us ua location/intended source. At juja,the rejects(slightly damaged) go 4 less than 15 bob,gud ones about 30 bob. Hand dressed ones go 4 less than 15 bob. There woz a thread here on cost cutting measures n it was the best. Dig it up n read it.

Can silence be misquoted?

@ murenj

It would be advisable to use the manually dressed stones on the external walls of the building if it is your home that you are constructing...the manually dressed stones are aesthetically more beautiful because of the uneven lengths,you can mix other desired stone colours and you can shape them anyway you like. the machine dressed you can use them in the internal walls where they will be plastered anyway....in small scale say for a 4 bedroomed bungalow or maisonnete there may not be any cost difference between the machine and manually dressed stones...

If you require stones for rentals go for the machine dressed

@ simonkabz,

the last time i used the manually dressed stones,i was buying them from Ruiru quarries at ksh10 per foot and the dressing was costing me ksh 3 per foot. at the same time the machine dressed was costing ksh 18...that was in 2004.

as of today i dont know how much the undressed stone is going for but the machine dressed is going for ksh 35 a foot excluding transportation in Juja quarries.



NEVER TALK OF A RHINO IF THERE IS NO TREE NEAREBY - ZULU PROVERB

Lessons i have learnt:
1. If you are buying a couple of trucks,always go to the quarry personally with a truck,chagua the stones you want (quality & price),negotiate and ensure all other stones are from the same quarry- You get the quality you want and at a good price
2.As someone said,avoid brokers,they are allover the quarry area. Dont even carry someone ati to show you directions. The moment the quarry owner/seller sees you accompanied by a broker,he/she will add the broker fee automatically to your price e.g. instead of 20 bob,akwamie 24 bob a piece
3. Hand dressed will consume more cement during construction and finishing but ideal for foundation since they are stronger. Make sure ukigongesha inalia kama shuma :)
4. The quarries close to the road maybe more expe since every newbie will buy from them since you can see them from the road
5.

@dsgnplus,correction.. it does not always apply that machine cut are soft/porrous as such. while some will disintegrate if rained on others are tougher than even mannully cut. it depends on quarry and type of rock at a particular point and depth. thus the need for one to inspect before buying.

penye wazee hapaharibiki neno

@fantony,you are right about the consultant bit. My old man only needed an architect to draw plans for approval. After that..... I intend to put up two bedroom low cost houses for rental on kangundo road. ... Just flat on the ground. No storeys.

Muthonwa a Agikuyu

@fantony. Thanks man. I guess you have at one time bought drugs across the counter before consulting a doctor who has spent six years in campus..... But you did not post a thread that goes......help! i need a headache specialist for My hangover. . . :)

Muthonwa a Agikuyu

Its annoying how building consultants are falling over each other trying to get PJ's through this forum...............................Think of the other thread on 'Architectural services' where guys were advertising themselves even when the person who posted it was not responding.



WOULD RATHER DIE FIGHTING 4 MY RIGHTS THAN LIVE FOREVER WITHOUT ANY RIGHTS

@beef,im now on my 4th summit,cnt recall a damn thing.

Can silence be misquoted?