Abstract
This study analyzed the cost of production and construction of 225mm hollow sandcrete blocks and hydraform interlocking bricks and walls to compare the findings of the results. The study was conducted in Auchi, Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study compared the construction of two models of 225mm hollow sandcrete blocks and hydraform interlocking bricks, materials employed for wall construction for the study are; clay, cement, sand, water and mould. The result of the study indicates that unit cost of 225mm hollow sandcrete block and hydraform interlocking bricks are ₦168.57 and ₦57.85 respectively. While the cost per square metre of 225mm hollow sandcrete block wall and hydraform interlocking brick wall are ₦3,199.40 and ₦3,079.52 respectively. The study also revealed that it is more costly to apply finishes to sandcrete block wall when compared with hydraform interlocking brick wall. Sandcrete block wall requires rendering or plastering to both faces of the walls, while hyraform interlocking wall requires rendering of not more than 300mm girth to vertical external corners of the brick wall. The study, therefore, recommends the use of hydraform interlocking bricks for low-cost housing to reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria. Keywords : Sandcrete block; hydraform interlocking brick; walling; cost analysis; Auchi; DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-22-07 Publication date: November 30 th 2020
Highlights
Housing is central to virtually all of the activities of humans
The results revealed that it is more costly to apply finishes to sandcrete block wall when compared with hydra form of an interlocking brick wall.Sandcrete block wall requires rendering or plastering which include the application of a smooth coat of material to walls to provide a joint-less, hygienic, decorated smooth finish to walls as well as to covers up the unevenness in the block wall
5.0 Conclusion The following conclusions can be drawn from the results of cost analyses of hollow sandcrete block and hydra form interlocking brick wall as experimented: i
Summary
The cement used was Elephant cement an Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) purchased from a cement depot in Auchi, and it conformed to BS 12 (1978) as cited in [25]. Production of Sandcrete Blocks: Mixes of Cement/Sand ratio 1:14 (1 head pan of cement to 14 head pans of sand) produced 35 hollow sandcrete blocks of 225mm x 225mm x 450mm. Curing of the blocks took place under laboratory conditions for 7, 21, and 28 days. Production of hydraform interlocking bricks: 1:19 (that is, one part of ordinary Portland cement: nineteen parts of clay soil) and Cement/Clay ratio 1:12 (1 head pan of cement to 19 head pans of clay soil) 59 bricks were moulded for each mix, the cement stabilized clay bricks of size 230mm x 230mm x 115mm were produced and cured under laboratory conditions for 7, 21, and 28 days curing periods. Cost Analysis: Cost analysis at the time of this study was based on per square metre of both clay bricks and sandcrete blocks respectively and results are presented in findings and discussion below.
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