Pablo,

Thanks a million.i will look at it.

Hi guys,

Very nice educative forum this is...am intrigued. Am an engineer by profession and must say, you guyz got the facts right however laymanish it may sound...kudos

Now, for those interested in hydra-form technology. I have ever used it...It is a technology that employs an equipment (hydra-form machine)imported from SA. Depending on the plasticity of soil, a small % of cement is added to the soil and the mixture moulded into the building blocks...The machine is capable of producing 5000 blocks per day...The blocks are interlocking so no mortar is required between them...The machine is expensive (about 2M, last time i checked 2007)unless one needs it for commercial purposes, so it is cheaper to hire.

There is however a cheaper locally manufactured version of the hydra-form called Makiga...sure u must have seen it advertised at the back of newspapers every now and then...it is about KSh. 75,000. Employs more or less the same technology of interlocking stabilised hydraform blocks. The Makiga however produces about 500 blocks per day.

@ Mkosti, the average cost given by Pablo and confirmed by others of about 14,000/m2 still applies in Mombasa, for as long as you are constructing a standard building...variations may set in when it comes to finishes you decide to use....this is especially the case for commercial buildings...since a number of factors such as usage and class come into play.

For the estimates, u need to engage a QS, to go through the plans and calculate the quantities of materials ...then u can check suppliers around the area you are building and compare prices...the tricky thing you need to know about kazi ya mjengo is...u need to look aggressive when approaching guys (suppliers, foremen, etc), when u show any sign of naiveness....you get smashed financially...look like one of them, if possible, leave the car home and walk...

In case of any further queries, feel free to ask.

All the best.

Thanks Kenyan engineer,

I am trying to do the BQ by myself just to get an idea of how much money I will need. Its tough getting info but fortunately there are some people out there willing to share.

I have a few questions for now if you dont mind,

1. Do you have any idea of how much it costs to dig a borehole? I see more and more people having their own boreholes and I am toying with the option.

2. What are the gauges of the steel bars needed in the columns and the slabs?

3. Approximately how much does electrical wire in Kenya cost? I am thinking of bringing some from my job here but Im not sure its worth it if its cheap in Kenya.

4. How deep should one excavate for a 3 storey house on Mombasa island?

Thanks a lot for your input!

@ Kenyamoja I think you can have more than much more than one unit on an 80*40 piece of land. Hell my plans have 2 4br flats per floor on 75*40 and they look pretty standard in size (Im planning some changes though). Most Swahili houses are on 40*40 and people are building high on them with 2 appartments of 2br each. Some are even putting 3 or 4 flats per floor but I think they are quite small and squeezed. So its very viable.

About architects I have no idea unfortunately cos Im not in Kenya. My plans were made long ago and are from a building my cousin did on full contract but I plan to modify them before having them stamped.

Am currently shopping for roofing tiles. My fundi is recommending i buy tiles from Crystal Tiles Ltd, in Embakasi, Nairobi. Is there any one with experience in their tiles? I am meant to understand that there are fake tiles in the market so i dont want to make mistakes.

Thnx for your replies Kenyan Engineer. Will post more questions as the planning process goes on. You and Pablo rock!

Are you doing "matufali" (clay tiles) ama stone coated iron sheets?

@ Pablo -Stone coated iron sheets

hi guyz, any help is really welcome!!!

@ Swanky, that's a very tricky question to ask someone who won't be living in the house, because tastes are a bit different when it comes to personal space.All the same I'll try answering you based on discussions i have had with many homeowners that i have dealt with.

A house in the range of 2200 to 2600 sq ft should be able to give you sizeable airy rooms and also leave enough land to have a walk around garden....plant one or two trees and have area for having a barbeque....

The trick in building houses nowadays is to provide space and air in the house...large big windows to bring in as much light as possible, enough compound on the outside for kids to play and for relaxation, one or two trees here and there for shade, flower garden to make it homely. That's the reason why you see in many property adverts, vendors specifying that the property has mature garden and putting a high price on it....

Anyway, hope this helps...feel free to seek further clarification.

@Longman, i have a contact for someone who has experience in the tech and owns the hydraform machine..0722-393187 Rapando.

@pablo, thanks and as usual, you come thru. The plot is within a compound where one of the neighbours has built a huge three flour home on a 3/4 plot of land, so ours would be very modest.

@kenyaengineer, thanks, this gives me an idea of what to look for.

@kenyanengineer- rapando based in msa. Know of any resource in Nairobi? Thanks all the same