Insights
Notes from site
Practical writing from our engineers, surveyors and site managers on building well in Nigeria.
Pouring concrete in the rainy season
How we plan pours, cover fresh slabs and keep a frame moving from April to October.
Building approvals without the runaround
The documents you need, the order they go in and how long each stage really takes.
Why we never price without a soil test
Three projects where the soil report changed the foundation design and saved the client money.
Cement prices and your budget
How we protect clients from price swings with early buying and fixed supply agreements.
Wiring for solar from day one
Why adding solar later costs twice as much, and what to ask your contractor.
Snagging: what to check before you accept the keys
A room by room list our own engineers use at handover.
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Every month our engineers answer one reader question in full. Recent questions covered basement waterproofing, roof leaks and the right block for coastal sites.
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What readers come back for
| Topic | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Rainy season planning | Up to 40 working days a year can be lost without it |
| Approvals | The most common cause of late starts on private homes |
| Soil tests | Foundations are 12 to 20 percent of most budgets |
| Snagging | Problems found before handover are fixed at no cost |
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