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Building cost of materials has increased steadily in recent years.
five years ago, the average construction cost of a mid-priced building in Nairobi KES 15,000 per square meter.
Currently, it is the cost has increased by 68% on average KES 22,000 per square meter is the same.
The trend does not seem to be slowing down any time soon.
therefore need to think outside the box, low cost, and still have the same or higher quality oven construction.
This is achieved by using creative ways to reduce costs of the foundation phase to the surface.
FOUNDATION
foundation average cost is about 10% of the total construction cost.
The main work of a foundation
1. Earthworks
2. Reinforced concrete works [foundation footing and ground floor slab]
3. Masonry walls on the ground floor
Excavation costs can be reduced by the use of machinery -Excavators. Excavator rented an average cost of KES 6,000 per hour and would take 2-3 hours to excavate the foundation of a 3 bedroom house.This brings the cost kes kes 6000 x3 = 18,000.
Excavating same manual labor would take an average of 7 to 10 people at a cost of KES 300 each day. This brings the cost KES 300 X 10 X 7 = KES 21,000.
Reinforced concrete works
This is concrete reinforced with steel screws.
an average of only 7 cubic yards of concrete and cement bags cost a minimum of KES 8000.
One cubic meter of stone masonry consists of 75 stones 300mm long and 200mm wide. Each stone costs an average of KES 25. It is estimated that about 25 X 75 = KES KES 1875
That’s about 75% cheaper than concrete.
The concrete foundation footing can be replaced with masonry walling achieve this great savings.
Ground floor.
On average, a reinforced concrete floor slab at KES 1200 per square meter.
Masonry walls horizontally substitute this floor. The square stone walling machine when using stones cut costs KES Stones 40 X 15 = 600. Add kes KES 100 cement plaster, and it brings a KES 700 per square meter. It is made up of savings of nearly 45%.
Old colonial house built in the 1900s, Kenya has used this cost reduction methods and still stands to this day.
A good example is the National Youth Service Officer mess Bahati Farm Nyandarua.
The foundation and floor slab foundation is made of masonry and bricklaying still stands today was constructed nearly 100 years to the day.
The passage of the new constitution, we hope that this method will be allowed on the basis of local authority construction. The current building code specifies Kenya too much concrete / cement used therefore so is based on the high cost of construction.
Conclusion.
By using reinforced concrete for excavation machines [15% savings] and use in place of masonry foundation plinth [75% savings] and the ground floor slab [45% savings], it will greatly save the entire foundation construction costs.
Francis Gichuhi
http://www.a4architect.com [1945901million]
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Source by Frank Gichuhi