A4architect

How to Start a Machine-cut stone manufacturing business.

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by

Francis Gichuhi
in

How to Start a Machine-cut stone manufacturing business.

stone quarry in Juja, Nairobi, Kenya
Demand for machine-cut building and construction stone is very high in Nairobi and Kenya in general.
Currently, one has to wait for an average of 2 days to get an order as the queue is usually very long. The Lorries in the video below are all waiting to get a chance to load. Most of them will get their chance the next day.

In Nairobi, the best machine-cut stones are found in Juja near Thika area.
The most prudent method of acquiring land is to approach a land owner and lease a few acres of land.
You then acquire the stone cutting machine.
The machine has diamond cutting teeth which can easily cut through stone. See the video below.
The machine is laid on a rail track. The rail track sets the size of the stone. The most common stone sizes are 200mm thick, 150mm thick and 100mm thick. All stone size prices are the same.
machine cut stone quarry in Juja,Kenya

Price

The stone price varies with the quality of stone. When the quarry is new, i.e. the stones on the top layer of the quarry are soft; these can go for as low as 15 shillings each.
A Caterpillar Dozer is used to level the ground for the stone –cutting machine to move on. See the video below.
The stones on the lower section of the quarry are hard and sell for 27 shillings per piece.
A piece is of dimensions 200mm by 400mm by 200mm.

Structural tests
The soft stones can not be used on external walls or where the building structural design is made such that the masonry walling carries the load.
If used for structural walls, this can lead to the building collapsing. If used on external walls, they sip water into the house when it rains.

How to check the stone quality.

In the many years of experience in the course of my constructions, I have deduced an easy way to recognize a strong stone form a weak stone. A strong stone contains specs of glittering sand.
A weak stone contains specs of white spots.
Another easier way is to lift the stone till shoulder height and drop it against another stone. If it crushes, then its weak. The disadvantage of this method is that some porous stones will not break when dropped against other stones but when rained on, they sip in water into the house and get weak over time when exposed to rain. These kinds of stone should be used internally or when used externally, should be plastered.

Frank Gichuhi
Architect.
www.a4architect.com
info@a4architect.com
+254721410684

Comments

58 responses to “How to Start a Machine-cut stone manufacturing business.”

  1. cece Avatar
    cece

    Sounds like a brilliant idea Francis. The cost of stone also seems quite low compared to other places. In Kedowa (near Kericho), they sell the stone at sh 12/ft which is then dressed on one side for about sh8/ft. Since machine cuttingdresses all sides, it makes lots of economic sens. I think this is where masonry construction is headed to. I have been searching for this kind of machine on the internet but not finding any. Do you have some information about it?

    Reply
  2. djfredour Avatar
    djfredour

    great piece of information, how can one get these kind of stones in provinces like kisumu? and at what prices?

    Reply
  3. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Hi

    Can you tell us about the use of hydraform in buidings in Kenya. I understand the cost is much lower and this could revolutionise low cost housing projects.

    Thanks

    Reply
    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      Hi Chris. Thanks for your comment. Hydrafoam is very suitable in areas where masonry stone is not available. Fortunately for Nairobi, stone is readily available and sells for around KES 25 per piece in Kiserian, Njiru and Juja where there are major quarries.
      In any given Bill of Quantities, walling is approximately 15% of the total cost of the house. Hydrafoam walling therefore will only constitute 15% of the total cost of the house so if there are any savings, this is negligible.
      For a housing project to realise savings, all other major elements such as roof, windows,doors and finishes have to be very cheap.

      Reply
  4. frank Avatar
    frank

    for a total solution to provision of low cost housing, check out this link

    https://www.a4architect.com/2011/09/19/diamond-house-plan-8900-per-month/

    Reply
  5. stanley Avatar
    stanley

    Thanks for this information,am a land agent in thika and currently i have about 20 acres of land which consist of this type of stone around thika.Please contact me if you have any person interested.

    Reply
    1. frank Avatar
      frank

      Ok Stanley.

      Reply
    2. Jos Avatar
      Jos

      Hi Stanley
      is the land still available for quarry mining?

      Reply
  6. Salim Avatar
    Salim

    Admin, you say that the wall is 15% of the total housing cost. With hydraform blocks, you do not use extra cement to mortar the blocks thus saving alot on costs. while the normal blocks require cement in between to stick them together to form a wall.
    I stand corrected.

    Reply
    1. frank Avatar
      frank

      Hi Salim. Please rephrase your question. Do you mean that since you save on mortar while using soil blocks you will save alot? What i mean is that even if you saved 99% of walling, you will still remain with 85% of the rest of the house cost to deal with.

      Reply
  7. Salim Avatar
    Salim

    Thanks for your reply. If you save 10% of the 15%. I think we would be saving 10% of the total cost. Today in Mombasa, the cost of building a whole floor is around 6M. 10% of 6M is 600,000shs which isnt bad at all. Consider if you had your fence as a wall or wanted to construct shops that require 1 window and a door.
    My surprise is that,this hasnt picked up so much in Kenya compared to other countries in Africa who have made beautiful houses by the way.
    Is it people are too ignorant to change or is it a class issue.

    Reply
    1. frank Avatar
      frank

      Welcome Salim. If you save 10% of the 15% total cost, you will save approx less than 1 % of the total cost which is small.
      The cost of construction is measured by m2 unit so that its easier to compare costs. For example, the whole floor you describe should be described in m2 so that we can deduce the unit cost.
      Unfortunately Kenyans do not tap into construction experts such as architects, Quantity surveyors and Engineers for most of their constructions unlike other African countries e.g South Africa. This makes them construct using expensive methods. The best way to reduce construction costs is to use a holistic approach. See details here
      https://www.a4architect.com/2011/10/26/interlocking-stabilized-soil-blocks-construction-costs-savings-in-kenya/
      Its mostly the fact that consultants are few in Kenya and Kenyans themselves do not see the importance of using consultants .

      Reply
  8. JAMES Avatar
    JAMES

    Hi Frank,
    Thanks so much for this vital information.Meanwhile, Please ask Stanley (above) to get intouch with me through my email? Alternatively, you could provide me with his email address.

    Reply
  9. Farida Avatar
    Farida

    Help Francis is stonecutting business still viable since you wrote this article

    Reply
  10. Musembi Avatar
    Musembi

    I ave quarry can u get somebody with machine whom we can share

    Reply
    1. Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau. Avatar
      Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

      yes i can. email me info@a4architect.com

      Reply
    2. caleb Avatar
      caleb

      Hi can you assist me link up with him

      Reply
    3. caleb Avatar
      caleb

      Hi can you assist me link up with musembi

      Reply
  11. Mbaya Avatar
    Mbaya

    Hi Frank
    I am looking for someone with stone cutting machines willing to partner with me for the venture. i have about 5 acres of Quarry.

    The quarry is within some unexploited area and machine cut stones are retailing at 40/= per piece in the neighborhoods. Link me if there are any interested parties.

    Reply
    1. Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau. Avatar
      Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

      ok. will do that.

      Reply
      1. paul Njenga Avatar
        paul Njenga

        Hi franck
        does it matter which part of kenya?I have a quarry but i don’t have the machine.Can i get a person with the machine we make a ?deal

        Reply
    2. caleb Avatar
      caleb

      Hi can you assist me link up with h looking for a quarry

      Reply
    3. kahindi william Avatar
      kahindi william

      contact me on this email. i have a stone cutting machine

      Reply
      1. george Avatar
        george

        am also looking 4 the machines. i operates some quarries but i use th old method

        Reply
    4. James Avatar
      James

      Hi mbaya do y still hv the 5 acre.
      Where is the land?
      Is it in meru.
      Are u still looking for a partner

      Reply
  12. tom Avatar
    tom

    I have aquarry site and we have been using old method of cutting stones ie cheselling and ithink its high time we be efficient. The only problem the stone is very hard. Advice

    Reply
    1. kahindi william Avatar
      kahindi william

      where is the quarry located at?

      Reply
  13. faith karanja Avatar
    faith karanja

    hi.i am the owner of a percel of land ready 4 machine cut stones in juja along ndarugo river.

    Reply
    1. kahindi william Avatar
      kahindi william

      would you be willing to lease some of that land?

      Reply
    2. Michael Avatar
      Michael

      Hi Faith,
      Is the Land for quarrying the machine cut stones still available.

      Reply
  14. Michael Macharia Mwangi Avatar
    Michael Macharia Mwangi

    Hi frank,

    Am looking for a stone cutting machine for hire …I have six acres land which I want to mine.

    Reply
  15. SHEWIT Avatar
    SHEWIT

    I am looking stone cutting machine in Kenya new one.
    Can you tell me pls where can i find.

    Reply
    1. Joe Avatar
      Joe

      HI Shewit, Am also in the market for a reliable stone cutting machine, please advise the top three models in the market whose parts are readily available in Kenya. I will also share any info i stumble upon within my search. @ Bwana Francis (Admin) any pointers from your End?

      Reply
      1. H Nyoike Avatar
        H Nyoike

        Are you still interested in a stone cutting machine?

        Reply
  16. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    Hi gentlemen. The top two models are Pavoni and MACA. All are from Italy. Many people prefer Pavoni though its abit more expensive than Maca. Both are engine driven. There are other models like Rajani, which is manufactured locally and Magisa from Italy. Other models include: Damico, Magisa and various chinese models which are electric, meaning u have to have source of oower either electricity or a generator. The electric ones are far less expensive compared to the engine driven ones.

    Reply
    1. mwilaria Avatar
      mwilaria

      How much is the Pavoni model?

      Reply
    2. Lucy Kiarie Avatar
      Lucy Kiarie

      Hi Dan, how can i contact you. i need a pavoni model. i have a quarry.

      Reply
  17. Isaac Avatar
    Isaac

    Looking for someone to partner and start a stone cutting using a machine. I have experience in that business and looking for capital input either in shares or loan. I am looking for Ksh. 15000000. (Fifteen million)

    Reply
  18. gideon Avatar
    gideon

    Hallo,

    I buy machine cut stones.If you have quarry currently running kindly contact me

    Gideon

    Reply
  19. Seppo Leppala Avatar
    Seppo Leppala

    Hello everyone,

    Are you looking for splitter machine for granite or any hard stone?

    See our web site and contact!

    Reply
    1. Victor Avatar
      Victor

      Hi,
      Im interested in starting the stone cutting business, kindly give me details and price of the machine. Victor

      Reply
  20. H Nyoike Avatar
    H Nyoike

    Hi. I have a Pavoni machine that i want to sale. It has recently been serviced and is in excellent working condition.

    Reply
    1. Buynbuild Avatar
      Buynbuild

      Hi Nyoike.Do you still hav e the machine ? Kindly contact

      Reply
    2. Alex Avatar
      Alex

      Hi Nyoike, do you still have the stone cutting machine? How much is it?

      Reply
    3. Lucy Kiarie Avatar
      Lucy Kiarie

      Hi grace, do u stll have the machine? i need one contact me

      Reply
  21. paul Njenga Avatar
    paul Njenga

    I have a quarry in ol kalou but no machine.Kindly hook me up with guys with machine we make a deal

    Reply
  22. kate Avatar
    kate

    Hello everyone,I’m starting a business in supply of building materials.Anyone interested or any referrals please

    Reply
    1. Peter Avatar
      Peter

      Hello Kate

      I need like 3600 ft of very hard and very black machine cut stone from juja to be delivered in ongata rongai. What is the price per piece?

      Reply
  23. Sylvia Juma Avatar
    Sylvia Juma

    hi I’m Sylvia in Mombasa looking for someone we come up with a deal or negotiate with coz I have an 8acre piece of land that needs à machine to be worked on the place is in kilifi any one interested reach my email sylviajuma86@gmail.com.

    Reply
  24. Ruto Kip Avatar
    Ruto Kip

    Hi,
    How do you know if a stone is suitable for building?
    Is there a way to determine hardness of stone so as to know the suitable machine for cutting them?
    What is the average cost in KES/USD for a granite stone cutting machine?
    We have around 2 acres on land covered by stone at home and I am interested in knowledge of the same.
    Kind regards.

    Reply
  25. Samir Avatar
    Samir

    Hi Francis,
    Your article is very interesting. What licenses and permits are required for one to start this stone cutting business?
    Thank you

    Reply
  26. Amin Ahmad Avatar
    Amin Ahmad

    Hi, Planning to start stone cutting business.
    Any idea price of used Maca machine.
    And availability contacts. Also contacts for new ones to compare prices. Also used Dorser good running condition.

    Reply
  27. Juliet Avatar
    Juliet

    Hi I am Selling a 3 acre quarry land in ndarugo at 11 million.

    Reply
  28. Dennis Avatar
    Dennis

    hi Dan,interested in stone chopping machine although I am not familiar with prices for the various models in the Kenyan market.I am based in mt Elgon.

    Reply
    1. Kagia Avatar
      Kagia

      hi,am in a position to assist you…kindly contact me .Thank you

      Reply
  29. Evanson Avatar
    Evanson

    How much is the stone cutting machine? Lets talk about the cheapest one..

    Reply
  30. Eng. Casimir Avatar
    Eng. Casimir

    Hi there I just wanted to know if there are specific rock types that are machine cut for construction industry. I have the same Idea of owning a quarry in western Kenya but I have not been able to come across the rock deposit same as the one in Juja.

    Reply
    1. lennox sifuna Avatar
      lennox sifuna

      Hi sir my name is sifuna have been to ndarugu lukenya specifically looking and researching over the quarry bussiness I just realised it’s a good one but I realised there are different types of machines each pavoni,maga and Chinese which machine that is good for the bussiness and it’s pocket friendly thanks

      Reply

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