ROOFING IN KENYA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BY WWW.A4ARCHITECT.COM

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1. How do roofing systems contribute to overall cost of buildings?

On average, roofs including trusses and ceilings cost around 10% of the overall cost of construction.

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2. What are the current hot roofing systems in the market preferred by home owners or property developers and why?

Home owners prefer mainly iron sheets[mabati], concrete tiles and clay tiles. This is because mabati sheets are affordable and the cost increases from mabati to clay tiles to concrete tiles.

3. What are some of latest roofing technology available in the local market and why are more and more people turning to roofing tiles to replace wood in roof construction?

The latest roofing tiles at the moment in Kenya are Aluminium sheets and bitumen tiles. Wood is becoming very scarce due to environmental considerations hence use of steel trusses on the increase.

4 What type of roofing tiles are there in the market currently and which ones are generally preferred by developers?

There are concrete tiles, clay tiles stone-coated iron sheet tiles. Developers choose according to their budget. The concrete tiles are in the range of 600 kes per square meter, clay tiles in the range of 500 kes per sq.m. and the stone coated tiles in the range of 1700 kes per sq.m.

5 Which of these have we seen the most technological advances?

Stone-coated steel tiles have the most technological advances in the type of paint used, the type of joinery used, the type of trusses required.

6 Amid booming demand for housing caused by ongoing infrastructure developments in the country, the growth of middle-class, increased rural to urban migration how can local developers capitalise on affordable housing technologies and products and make profit out of this?

Local developers can start manufacturing their own clay tiles since all they need is a good source of clay and some experience. This can create a very large industry of its own since there is a huge demand for roof tiles in Kenya.

7 Can roofing tiles effectively provide protection against strong winds, hail storm and other adverse weather conditions.
Yes. Care should be taken to ensure Bernoulli’s effect does not create pressures that suck up the tiles upwards . Also, each roofing tile has its own specifications regarding overlap distance and roof slope to be used for it to work effectively.

8 Can the materials boost efforts by property owners to harvest rainwater – and how safe is the water for human use?
The paint used in roof contains lead and other harmful chemicals hence unsafe for drinking. Only the clay roof tile is natural hence its water can be used for drinking.

9 It is said simple decisions like choosing a colour for your roofing tile can add up to big savings. How true is this?

Its not true. The type of roof material i.e clay or concrete or steel is the one that determines the costs. There is no price change due to the colour.

10 How is adoption of new roofing technology picking up in Kenya and is current Building Code supportive of use of new appropriate building materials and technologies?

Due to addressing various needs such as superior aesthetics, need for curved roof surfaces e.t.c, new roof technology is picking up in Kenya. We are waiting for the new building code in line with the new constitution which should be made into law by August this year to replace the 1968 code currently in use. This new code will include use of new appropriate building technologies.

Use of methods outlined in the a4architect.com Diamond House effectively reduce the roofing costs by 58%.

<table style=”width:auto;”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2PHgnZ9i63SDKsdYQVHIDg?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2CmfSxI8wg8/TmHxsMwcTYI/AAAAAAAAFUs/yF7kdyAS_qE/s144/front%252520page.jpg” height=”144″ width=”108″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/a4architect1/DIAMONDHOUSEBOOK?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite”>DIAMOND HOUSE BOOK</a></td></tr></table>

 

Francis Gichuhi Kamau

B.Arch. U.o.N. Registered Architect-Kenya.

+254721410684

info@a4architect.com

www.a4architect.com
CURRENT CONSTRUCTION COST RATES
http://ujenzibora.com/nahinga/?p=1203

THE ROLE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT PRACTITIONERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA.

The new constitution clearly states that every person in Kenya has a right to adequate housing:

Economic and social rights

Section 43.
(1) Every person has the right—

(a) to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care;

(b) to accessible and adequate housing, and to reasonable standards of sanitation;

(c) to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality;

(d) to clean and safe water in adequate quantities;

(e) to social security; and

(f) to education..

For Kenya to provide adequate housing to its citizens, the Built Environment practitioners will have to think outside the box and provide a sustainable solution.
Demand for housing in Kenya is estimated at a deficit of between 100,000 to 200,000 units per year. This demand has resulted in high housing prices hence unaffordable and unsustainable to many Kenyans.

NEW BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Use of new building technology that lowers the cost of construction will be one way of making housing accessible to all in Kenya. The new Building code should allow for other methods and construction materials such as prefabricated housing ,Structural Insulated Panel housing and adobe construction. This will open up completely new industries as practitioners in the built environment come up with new building materials and methods of construction as they experiment with the already existing ones such as prefabricated housing.

TECHNIQUES

Building technology techniques that use locally available materials to construct at a much lower cost will come a long way in ensuring adequate housing to all Kenyans. In recent years, we have seen several Kenyan architects who have come up with unique methods of lowering construction by use of locally available materials with unique technology.

A good example is Nakuru-based Architect Dumas’ NewBuild technology available at Ministry of Housing that reduces use of Reinforced Concrete on masonry house construction.

Use of Information Technology[ IT ]

IT can also lower the cost of construction in that once creative Built Environment practitioners set up web applications that can enable people easily access information regarding material costs and be able to tender out their house designs to potential contractors, this will lower the cost of construction in the long run.

A good example is Nairobi –based QS Nahinga’s http://www.ujenzibora.com/ who has developed an application that allows for online tender submission and quoting.

Other online IT methods such as online consultancy that reduces the frequency of face-to –face meetings will eventually reduce the cost of construction. The never-ending Nairobi traffic jams usually result to a lot of time and fuel wastage which is added upon the cost of consultancy hence high housing costs. These IT interventions might not seem to save a lot of money initially due to the fact that very few Kenyans have access to the internet but in the end, once more research is put into them ,the net result will be a major reduction in the overall cost of housing as seen in new technologies such as M-Pesa.

CONCLUSION.

There are other interventions in lowering the overall housing costs such as provision of lower mortgage and provision of infrastructure.

Solutions to lower the cost of housing in terms of use of building technology and IT lay squarely in the Built Environment practitioner’s court hence such interventions will go a long way to ensure that there is a reduction in the cost of housing in Kenya now that housing is a right to Kenyans.

J.F Kennedy’s[ 1917-1963]- famous words conclude:: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own. “

About the Author:

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau graduated from University of Nairobi School of Architecture in 2001 and is a registered Architect practicing in Kenya.
He researches on Architectural solutions to Affordable Housing in Kenya.
Contacts:
info@a4architect.com.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684.
Passport photo of Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau: Click the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/a4architect1/Online#5493980649635257170

WHY THE LANGATA SOUTHERN BYPASS BUILDING COLLAPSED

PICTURES OF THE RECENTLY [9/9/2011 @ 10.30 AM] COLLAPSED MATIGARI BUILDING ALONG THIKA ROAD NEAR MATHARE NORTH

From MATIGARI MATHARE NORTH THIKA ROAD COLLAPSED BUILDING

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf</e

THE SWISS KNIFE HOUSE DESIGN BY A4ARCHITECT.

As the name implies, this design behaves similar to the swiss army knife in that it has multiple uses all wrapped up in one.

It begins with a 2 bedrroomed house which can change into a 3 bedroomed bungalow which can further change into a 4 bedroomed maisonete which has an added ability to change into 2 separate 2 bedroomed houses or 1 no. 3 bedroomed house with another 2 bedroomed house upstairs.

The firm of www.a4architect.com has come up with this marvelous design that takes flexible house plans to new levels.

Advantages.

This flexible house plan design has several advantages:
1. The occupant can decide how much space they want to use and rent out the space that is not currently in use such as upstairs 2 bedroomed house.

2. 2. The occupants can decide to sell off the upstairs 2 bedroomed house through use of the Sectional Property act Title.

3. 3. The house owner can build in phases depending on his/her budget beginning with the ground floor until 1st floor.

Cost of Construction.

The cost of construction is also as flexible as the swiss army knife.
A4architect gives house owners a wide range of choice of materials and construction technology to choose from.
Use of natural local materials for construction coupled with low-cost housing technology reduces by over 50% the normal cost of construction.

To quote H.E President Mwai Kibaki during a recent seminar on Mortgage cost reduction organized by Shelter Afrique bank, he said that ‘ our continent has rich traditional architectural designs. In doing this, we must focus on the use of available local materials. These materials should be transformed through use of modern technologies that are making housing construction more affordable.” Source: http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/speeches/kibaki/june2011/2011140601.htm

For those who would require imported construction materials, we also provide for this specification in our design and the costs of construction are adjusted to reflect this.

For more information, please contact us at www.a4architect.com.

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI’S SPEECH DURING THE 30th AGM OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK AT KICC, NAIROBI-14TH JUNE 2011.
MORTGAGE FINANCE FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO HOUSING IN AFRICA.

Present:
H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI
VICE PRESIDENT KALONZO MUSYOKA E.G.H, M.P
MINISTER FOR HOUSING-Hon. Soita Shitanda, E.G.H,M.P.
MINISTER FOR LANDS AND HOUSING-UGANDA-Hon. Daudi Migereko.
CHAIRMAN OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK.
MINISTERS FOR HOUSING FOR 43 MEMBER STATES OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK.
ARCHITECTS .

Hon. KALONZO MUSYOKA’S SPEECH.

Vice President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka began his speech by jogging peoples’ memories on the fact that in the year 1987, he was honored to lead the Kenyan delegation to the 6th AGM in Kigali, Rwanda. During the AGM, he says that Kenya did not hesitate to host the Headquarters in Nairobi.

Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka said that he was also honored to lead the Kenyan delegation to Vienna in 1996 where after Kenya made a decision to include shelter an issue of Human Rights.

He said that the new Kenyan constitution now makes shelter a basic human right.
He then invited H.E President Mwai Kibaki to give his speech.

H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI’S SPEECH.

H.E President Kibaki welcomed all to the meeting on behalf of the people of Kenya.
He noted that the theme of the meeting was Mortgage finance for increased access to housing in Africa.
He said that the theme was timely to address the housing shortfall in Africa due to rapid urban growth. He said that Africa is currently experiencing 5% annual urban growth rate which is the fastest in the world. This has resulted in environmental degradation and the onset of slums.

He said that Africa must invest in more resources in Housing. He stressed that innovative housing finance strategies are critical. The cost of Housing should reduce.
He noted that mortgage financing is expensive, risky and only for the rich and Africans must make property financing affordable to low income people.

He hoped that the meeting will come up with a concrete proposal to unlock mortgage to enable people to access housing.
He noted that since 1982, Shelter Afrique has played a crucial role in facilitating development of housing mostly in the middle income households e.g. in Kenya, Shelter Afrique has funded over 86 projects at a cost of 111 million USD which has resulted to an increase in Kenya’s economy.

He said that use of locally available construction materials should be used with modern technology to make construction affordable.
He said that the Banking Act has been amended to accommodate extension of credit to the real estate sector. E.g. mortgage companies are now allowed to operate current accounts to mobilize deposits and Banks can advance up to 40% of their total deposits up from 25% for investments in real estate.

Conclusion.

H.E President Kibaki said that cost of borrowing money to build a home was too high, hampering Kenya’s development. He challenged Shelter Afrique to find ways of reducing this and requested all present to focus on this dimension.

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau. B.Arch. Nrb. M.A.A.K[A]
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684.

How To Build A Raft Foundation In Silty Soils

Author: Andrew Karundu

Silty soils are unstable and have very low safe bearing capacity. This means that they cannot safely carry foundations. Due to there unstable nature, different foundations are used. This foundations are either piles or rafts. The raft foundation involves bulk excavations. Other soils that may require total bulk excavations are cotton soils. The excavations allow for the loose silt to be removed. This is normally found on areas near water bodies, rivers, bottoms of valleys and swamps. The depth will vary according to the topography of the land.

Raft foundations cover the entire area of the building. This means that the total surface to be covered is built on this foundation. The depth of excavation should be determined on site. The foundation should be cast on a firm surface. This is usually a hardcore surface. The depth of concrete is one foot over general surfaces. to be located, the depth is one and a half feet. The whole base should be like a floating mass of reinforced concrete.

The raft foundation commences by marking out the desired building layout. After checking the depth of silt from a trial pit., excavation commences. After it is complete, a compactor is used to form a flat hard surface. Care should be taken to avoid water in the pit. The firm surface is then compacted to the approved levels. When this is complete, Hardcore is then added to the pit. This is compacted in stages of one foot. A two feet depth is ideal.

After the hardcore is in place, The areas to have the walls are marked out. Any walls that are load bearing are clearly marked out. Hardcore is then removed to a depth of one foot and two feet wide. Blinding and a damp proof membrane are laid over hardcore. A mesh reinforcement is laid over at a height of six inches. Concrete is then poured onto the hardcore. After curing for a week, the walling may now commence for the actual building.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/how-to-build-a-raft-foundation-in-silty-soils-1871499.html

About the Author

Andrew Karundu Is A Building Economist, Providing Home Based Solutions To Fixing, Repairing, Remodeling And Redesigning Homes. He Uses Simple Tried And Tested Methods To Improve Family Lifestyles.Visit His Site Here For Adequate Information On Most HOME IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS.

HOTEL AT AMBOSELI

ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION
Reception, offices, and Lounge: Approximately 300m2. Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 15,000,000.
Bar: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
Restaurant: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
Kitchen: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
20 Bandas: Approximately 50m2 each: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 50,000,000.00.

TOTAL: KES 80,000,000.00

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau
info@a4architect.com
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

JOINT VENTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES FOR SALE IN KENYA

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com offers Joint Venture partnership with land owners in order to develop houses for sale within Kenya.
This Joint Venture is financed by Shelter Afrique bank on a 50-50 sharing on the proceeds from sale of the houses. The land owner is then granted an additional amount being the value of the land.

ELIGIBILITY
Prism Designs Africa will first carry our preliminary project structure to ascertain viability. Basically, the debt ratio should be as per Shelter Afrique’s requirements and the plot location should be in an area where the houses can attract buyers once constructed.
To be eligible for the Joint Venture, the land must be a minimum of 5 acres for land suitable for apartment development and 10 acres for land suitable for bungalow and maisonette development.
The larger the size of the land, the higher the chances of the project being eligible for the Joint Venture.
Lands situated in middle to low cost areas also have a higher chance of eligibility than lands in high-cost areas.

HOW IT WORKS:

LAND OWNER

1. The land owner expresses willingness to Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com to get into a Joint Venture for construction of houses for sale on his land.
2. Prism Designs Africa www.a4arhcitect.com visits the land site and carries out a feasibility study to determine the most viable options available and the cost of the project.

15% OF TOTAL PROJECT COST

3. Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com calculates 15% of the total construction cost. The land owner is supposed to bring in 15 % of this total cost. If the land value is less than 15% of total project cost, Prism Designs Africa will contribute Professional services [Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering] to top up the balance.
4. Once the contribution of 15% of total project cost is reached, Shelter Afrique bank arranges for financing of the remainder of the costs.

50-50 PROFIT SHARING + REFUND OF COST OF LAND

5. Once financing is secured, construction and off-plan sales of the houses commences . Once the houses are complete and sold out, the profits are shared equally between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner. The land owner is given a further amount to cater for the value of the land.
6. The land owner can now settle the amounts contributed by Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com in raising the contribution to 15% of the total project cost.

COMMISION AGENTS

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com recognizes the value of commission agents in sourcing for land owners who require Joint Venture partnerships with developers.
Prism Designs Africa offers 1% of the construction cost as agency fees to these commission agents.
Usually, the construction costs run into hundreds of millions of shillings since the minimum construction costs to be eligible for this Joint Venture partnership is KES 200,000,000. In this case, 1% of KES 200,000,000=KES 2,000,000.00.

For more information regarding this, contact Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau
Architect.
Prism Designs Africa
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

BUSINESS PLAN FOR A HIGH COST HOUSING ESTATE IN NAIROBI BY www.a4architect.com.

Land Value: 5.6m per acre.
Number of acres=30

View various house designs here http://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
I have given 25 different designs of 15 categories of sizes ranging from 100m2 to 400m2.
This way, a large and diverse section of house owners will have their taste and budget fulfilled by the project.
Each house is priced to independently cater for the cost of consultancy and external works in a pro-rata basis since cost of Land is constant.
The calculation is based on the assumption that 7 houses of each of the different sizes will be chosen. The final calculations shall be done once all house buyers make their choice.
Yours faithfully,
Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

15 DIFFERENT SIZES OF HOUSES RANGING FROM 100M2 TO 400M2 TO BE CHOSEN.

EACH OF THE 15 DIFFERENT SIZES HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO CATER FOR DIVERSE TASTES

ASSUMPTION:AN AVERAGE OF 7 HOUSES OF EACH OF THE 15 SIZES IS CHOSEN BY THE BUYERS

Cost Item Kshs %
Land 168,000,000.00 9.64337
Construction 1,092,350,000.00 62.702
External Works[ road,sewer,water,street lighting, driveway] 137,142,857.14 7.87214
Consultancy fees
Valuation-0.05% of Construction cost 546,175.00 0.03135
Quantity Surveying-3% of Construction cost 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Architecture: 6% of Construction cost. 65,541,000.00 3.76212
Electrical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Mechanical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Structural engineering : 3% of Construction cost. 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Civil Engineering: 0.5% of Construction cost. 5,461,750.00 0.31351
Legal fees: 1.5% of Construction cost. 16,385,250.00 0.94053
Urban or Town Planning Consultancy: 0.3% of Construction cost. 3,277,050.00 0.18811
Administration: 0.8% of Construction cost. 8,738,800.00 0.50162
Accounting services: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254
Environmental Impact Assesment[NEMA]: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254

Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.
HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE
A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.
SOLUTION.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA has worked out a solution to this.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.
JOINT VENTURE WITH SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK
Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA then organizes for a Joint Venture with Shelter Afrique Bank.
Shelter Afrique bank offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA consultancy contribution AND 15% from Shelter Afrique Bank], local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.
SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE
Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA, Shelter Afrique bank forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by Shelter Afrique and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.
CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA www.a4architect.com.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684