Building a home is an exciting exercise because it is an opportunity for one to get a place of their own and live a rent-free life.

However, this excitement is usually dampened by the cost of the project.

Construction is not cheap, but we have to find ways to manage the costs. Architect Abdu Wahab Nyanzi, an architect says the most important of all activities on a project is to have a qualified architect to work with.

He says the engagement of an architect on a construction project can save you from wastage of money that can amount to the tune of about 30% of the project cost. “Architects design the project, manage its construction process and ensure that it is delivered the way it was envisioned,” he says. Architects make decisions on materials, building methods, selection of builders and cost saving/management strategies.

Foundations

Muhammad Nsereko, a construction expert says foundations built on sloping sites cost property owners a lot of money. As such, a property owner needs to hire an architect to offer technical advice suitable for the site.

 Nyanzi adds that if the architect does not exploit the slope of the site, it is better and cheaper for the site to be levelled other than building high foundation plinth walls. “It should be noted that when foundation walls become too high, they need reinforcement in terms of concrete and steel.

They also present a high cost for back-filling and external finishes in addition to the risk of breaking due to back-fill pressure. All these put together cost more than levelling the site in the first place,” Nyanzi explains.

Plastering and walls

Walls look like the most obvious parts to build on a house. They also form the largest part of your house. For that reason, walls have to be worked upon carefully right from setting all the way to finishing. To save money, walls have to be built straight and plumb. David Kireli, a civil engineer says many property developers demand that walls should be built fast and quick. Constructing walls in a hurry causes them to be crooked and to get out of plumb.

According to Kireli, good practice demands that walls are built five courses per day. This helps to give the bricks in the wall time to set and get firm before loading them with more weight. Nyanzi says when walls are out of plumb or when they are not straight the cost of plastering increases because a lot of material is lost trying to fill up bulges and curves. This also increases the cost of labour for the job.