Three-Bedroom House Structure Overview

Summary

• Video is Part 2 covering structure from suspended foundation to roofing.
• Participants: Nick Mma (Property Noma), homeowner Kimmani Kura, Engineer Dave Karaoke (Catric Pras Construction).
• House: three-bedroom, 190 m², includes study, walk-in closet, pantry, laundry.
• Structure completed; finishing planned to start around March next year.

Action Items

• (March – Homeowner) Commence finishing works as resources allow.
• (TBD – Homeowner/Contractor) Close site and secure the property before finishing.
• (TBD – Contractor) Build non-structural infill wall under suspended slab to close gaps.
• (TBD – Contractor) Install downpipes and route roof water to a storage/reservoir for harvesting.
• (TBD – Contractor) Periodically clean mesh on concrete gutters to prevent blockages.

Structural Details

• Foundation
  • Suspended foundation chosen due to black cotton soil and prior farming on site.
  • Transport and rainy season caused access road costs and some delays.
• Walls and Ring Beam
  • Precast wall panels used; wall plaster applied to T-beams, RC columns, beams, parapet.
  • Ring beam runs continuously through all walls.
  • Precast panel height: 3.0 m; parapet height: 1.2 m.
  • Parapet finished using bricks (locally cheaper transport) then plastered to match panels.
• T-Beams and Slab
  • T-beams installed and plastered to connect with panels.
  • Suspended slab visible from back facade; plan to build filler wall under it for enclosure and insulation.
• Roof
  • Hidden "butterfly" roof with box-profile sheeting and concrete gutter for drainage.
  • Concrete gutter used to avoid rust and potential leaks from steel gutters; mesh cover prevents debris.
  • Gutters sized for 190 m² roof area; downpipes to be routed to a water-harvesting reservoir.
• Services
  • Concrete biodigester with soak pit present; capacity ~1.5 cubic meters.
  • Inspection chambers for drainage accessible near biodigester.

Room Sizes & Layout

• Living Room
  • 5.0 m x 6.0 m; includes fireplace/chimney structure and gypsum ceiling with recessed features.
• Dining
  • 3.3 m x 4.0 m; opens to kitchen.
• Study
  • 2.5 m x 2.8 m; located near entry door.
• Entry Porch
  • 1.5 m x 4.0 m with steel casement door and high ceiling per client request.
• Laundry / Back Area
  • Laundry partitions with pantry; rear access via dining sliding/steel door.
• General
  • Architectural plan used 200 mm brick walls; precast panels are 90 mm, effectively increasing usable internal floor area.

Decisions

• Use suspended foundation due to black cotton soil.
• Use precast panels for walling to gain internal space and speed construction.
• Parapet built with bricks then plastered to reduce transport cost for small precast panels.
• Use concrete gutters (waterproofed) for hidden roof despite higher cost, to reduce rust and leakage risk.
• Mesh over gutter outlets for debris protection; downpipe routing planned for water harvesting.

Open Questions

• Exact schedule and budget breakdown for finishing phase not specified beyond March target.
• Final routing and sizing of downpipes and reservoir for harvested rainwater not yet determined.
• Confirmation of interior finishes, fireplace internal brickwork, and final glazing/grill designs pending.

Structured Summary Table