THE ROLE OF DRY
CONSTRUCTION IN ENSURING AFFORDABLE HOUSES IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
With
Nigeria’s capital expenditure profile put at 24 per cent of recurrent
expenditure in 20 14, falling price of crude oil and a high cost of funds for
execution of capital projects, the construction industry in Nigeria is
obviously under pressure to evolve more time and cost efficient system of
construction to ensure affordable housing in Nigeria.
The
importance of housing in human history cannot be overemphasized. Housing is
seen as one of the best indicators of a person’s standard of living and of his
or her place in society (UNCHS, 1993). Housing and building conditions also
reflect the living standards of a society (Venkatarama, 2004). Thus, the
importance of access to adequate and affordable housing took the front burner
in the mid 20th century. Most Nigerian don’t have access to decent housing
units due to the cost occasioned by the cost of building materials. This has
led to various researches into development of the new and innovative dry
construction techniques to enhance access to housing for all.
The
new construction technology which is based on dry construction system which are
manufactured from cement, quartz sand, cellulose, natural calcium and water,
are processed by autoclave (drying process under high pressure and temperature)
for durability and dimensional stability. They are manufactured into boards. The
boards which come in various sizes and thicknesses between 6mm and 20mm, are
manufactured under strict quality control and international standards.
Describing
the dry construction system as a modern building system which tends to
translate the building process into an industrial process, Le (2014) said the
system is more versatile and faster construction method that allows up to 70
per cent construction time saving possible when compared with the traditional
wet construction using bricks and blocks. He added that whatever the design
idea the Architect can conceive, the dry construction system can achieve,
pointing out that various reference building projects using the boards now
abound in Nigeria.
This
system, unlike the traditional brick and block method requires minimum use of
water. The system generates minimum construction waste and dry construction
buildings have much better preserve room temperature and they are energy
efficient. The use of timber associated with the traditional construction is
avoided with dry construction, and the system impacts positively on reducing
deforestation.
Lower
dry construction load impacts on minimum excavation, less soil disturbance. The
system compliments better the green building idea for modern construction world
over. In additional, the system is a lightweight construction. It is about 10
times less in weight compared to equivalent blocks and mortar construction,
resulting to savings in foundation and structural costs.
Dry
construction for eave solution has also proved to be a much viable solution
with lower self-weight, faster and better technical finishes. Dry construction
building boards have a high fire resistance rating and good acoustic and
thermal properties. It is also a moisture and pest resistance solution. Explaining
that skill-gap is a major challenge for dry construction, Le (2014) noted that some
companies in Nigeria who are in partnership with other stakeholders with skills
in dry construction technology to put in motion machinery for skill acquisition
with regular trainings to ensure the technology is domicile with the Nigerian
populace, adding that customers’ perception is another challenge to address,
while efforts are in top gear towards continuous education about the modern
system of building.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Various
researchers are of the opinion that with the demand for housing in Nigeria
growing at a geometric rate while housing provision is at arithmetic rate,
there is obvious need to evolve a more practical method of achieving mass
housing development in the country. Dry construction presents an excellent
opportunity to government at all levels and the primary mortgage institutions
to guarantee speedy provision of mass and affordable housing in Nigeria. The
researcher is of the view that dry construction technology will provide for
building professionals and contractors a viable alternative to the traditional
wet construction method with blocks and bricks and concrete. However, this
study will examine the role of dry construction in ensuring affordable housing
in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the role of dry construction in ensuring affordable houses in Nigeria.
2. To
examine the process involved in dry construction system.
3. To
determine the factor limiting the use of dry construction system for building
development in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What
is the role of dry construction in ensuring affordable houses in Nigeria?
2. What
is the process involved in dry construction system?
3. What
are the factors limiting the use of dry construction system for building
development in Nigeria?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO:
Dry construction system cannot be use as a means for the provision of
affordable houses for Nigerian.
HA:
Dry construction system can be used as a means for the provision of affordable
houses for Nigerian.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. The
outcome of this study will educate professionals in building technology and
other stakeholders in the building industry on the need for active innovative
development with the use of dry construction system with the view of ensuring
the provision of affordable houses for Nigerians.
2. This
research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers
interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if
applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study on the role of dry construction in ensuring affordable houses in Nigeria
will cover all the process involved in the use of dry construction system with
a view of determining approaches that can be adopted in the delivery of
sustainable mass housing for Nigerians.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently
will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
UNCHS
(1993). National Trends in Housing Production Practices Volume 4: Nigeria.
Nairobi, Kenya.
Venkatarama
Reddy, B.V. (2004). Sustainable building Technologies. Current Science. Vol.
87/7
Le,
A. (2014) Understanding Stabilized dry Construction. Virginia: VITA Publication
Technical Paper No 2. Retrieved on July 7, 2014from
http://sleekfreak.ath.cx:81/3wdev/VITAHTM/SUBLEV/EN1/STABERTH.HTM