ABSTRACT In the world of construction as we must all know, everything is staged with a unique practice attached to each stage. We should be mindful of these stages and processes as it all constitutes to the structural integrity of the structure. Engineers have got to take their time in harnessing these stages and the materials needed to ensure a safe and defined structure. TABLE OF CONTENTS --------------------------------------------------------1-2 CHAPTER ONE (PILE FOUNDATION) ----------------------------------------3 1.1 Leveling with the automated dumpy level------------------------------3 1.2 Casting of pile cap and blinding --------------------------------------------------3 1.3 Reinforcement work on the ground beams and boarding------------------3 1.4 Casting of ground beams -------------------------------------------------------------4 1.5 Site sand-filling with sand and hardcore ----------------------------------------4 1.6 Compaction and addition of damp proof membrane-------------------------4 1.7 Reinforcing the German floor -------------------------------------------------------5 1.8 Casting of the German floor ---------------------------------------------------------5 1.9 Raising of the columns, formworks and fixing---------------------------------5 1.10 Pluming and bracing -------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.11 Casting of columns----------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.12 Block work and dumpy level demarcation -------------------------------------6 1.13 Beam boarding, slab work and fixing of electric pipes ---------------------7 1.14 Extension of sewage pipes ------------------------------------------------------------7 1.15 Staircase reinforcement and formwork -------------------------------------------7 1.16 Casting of beams, slab and staircase -----------------------------------------------8 RAFT FOUNDATION 2.1 Excavation and blinding ---------------------------------------------------------------8 2.2 Fixing of roof drains, sewage, pipes and fixing of columns-----------------9 2.3 Boarding of ground footing and casting -------------------------------------------9 2.4 Boarding of ground beams and casting ---------------------------------------------9 2.5 Site sand-filling with pay-loader ------------------------------------------------------10 2.6 Compaction and fixing of pipes -------------------------------------------------------10 2.7 Blinding and application of damp proof membrane ----------------------------10 CHAPTER ONE PILE FOUNDATION 1.1 Leveling with the automated dumpy level On the day I resumed work I was given the dumpy level already being set and was told on how to handle it and demarcate the level in which the concrete cover will stop at so as the pile cap levels would be equal for the ground beans. 1.2 Casting of pile cap and blinding On this day water was being sucked out from the pile caps then casting started in earnest. After the cap was filled, slight blinding was done and was being poured to align column to column and ground beam to ground beam. 1.3 Reinforcement work on the ground beams and boarding Iron benders began aligning the ground beans perpendicularly to the columns from one pile cap to the other as regards to the structural drawing to know the depth and specifications of the beans. Plumbers get to work too by fixing piles in the ground beams as it falls in the toilets, kitchens in the architectural drawing. When all is completed, the carpenters now set to work to start boarding the ground beams and around the pile caps with marine boards and planks respectively. 1.4 Casting of ground beams During the casting of the ground beams, a little spacing of about 5 inches at the top of beam was left uncast so as to enable iron benders link the reinforcement around in preparation for the german floor. 1.5 Site sand-filling with sand and hardcore After the casting, the next day a pay loader was brought to sand fill the whole site with the sand and hardcore together avoiding the water pipes to avoid breakage. In the process carpenter begin to remove the formwork for the ground beams that have been cast already. 1.6 Compaction and addition of damp proof membrane After the sand filling a compactor was used to level all around the site. Water was added around before the compaction so as it would all be able to compact properly so after that the damp proof membrane just like a large black nylon was placed all around and blinding was applied all around it. The essence of this damp proof membrane and blinding being applied is to prevent water from seeping into the ground floor on the long run when the house is completed and to avoid grass growing around the ground floor too. 1.7 Reinforcing the German floor When the whole blinding is done, iron benders begin to fix the reinforcements according to the slab layout in the structural drawing. As it was required, the thickness of the german floor was 150mm so the carpenters equally did the boarding up to that thickness so it can support the concrete from falling over. 1.8 Casting of the German floor This was done in the ratio of ½:2:4 that means half bag of cement, two head pan of sand and four head pan of granite. 1.9 Raising of the columns, formworks and fixings At this point, the iron benders start using the structural drawing to adjoin the columns together while the carpenters make the formworks alongside. When it was all done, the columns were fixed on the column starters while the formworks were now used to cover the columns in preparation for the casting. 1.10 Pluming and bracing When all the formwork have been applied, each and every one of the columns were plumed. After being plumed, it would be traced all around with stoppers nailed firmly to the german floor. 1.11 Casting of columns Before the concrete was added, water should be first poured into the formwork and around the sides of it internally so when the concrete is being applied it can glide down smoothly and won’t create honey combs as it dries up eventually. 1.12 Block work and dumpy level demarcation This is done using the architectural drawing, nine inches block was used for the external walls but six inches blocks were used for the internals. A good ratio was applied to make the cement used to hold the blocks. Sharp sand, cement and water was applied to make this cement mix. The block work maintained a height of 3m which is about 13 coarses for the headroom. The dumpy level was now applied after the block work in order to mark the depth of the slab beams. This is so such that all the beams will have equal depths, lifters too are put on top of the blocks to avoid the beams crushing the blocks. Now the 1x9 wood works are used to create the bases of the beams such that it is supported with bamboo sticks, the beams should also align with the columns as regards to the structural drawing. 1.13 Beam boarding, slab work and fixing of electric pipes When the beams were finally all laid, it was now boarded with marine boards. Then the slab supports of 2x4 and 2x3 woods were laid around each slab panels all supported with bamboo sticks. The slab support is necessary such that the marine boards can be easily kept on top of the slab. In this process too the slab reinforcement is carried out spanning in both directions, at this point the electricity wiring pipes are linked together on the slab and passed into the various rooms through the block work, this is carried out quickly so as to give the iron benders space to continue aligning the slab reinforcement. 1.14 Extension of sewage pipes When all was said and done, it was now time for the plumbers to extend the sewage pipes from the slab into the blocks, pipes of 3 inches, 4 inches, and 6 inches were used in this case. 1.15 Staircase reinforcement and formwork The staircase begins with the risers being up to 6 inches. The marine boards, 1x7 and 1x9 inches planks were used to support the stairs, bamboo sticks too were used to support the stair woods and reinforcement in preparation for its casting. The stair work was aided with the structural and architectural drawings too. 1.16 Casting of beams, slab and staircase The casting process begins with the beams then the staircase then finally, the slab. All in the ratio of ½:3:4 that is, half bag of cement, three head pans of sand and four head pans of granite. RAFT FOUNDATION 2.1 Excavation and blinding So far this was about a reclaimed land, a minor excavation and grass clearing was done before the blinding was carried out, the aid of the structural drawing was needed so we would know where the ground beams fall into. No dumpy leveling was carried out because the ground was well leveled from onset. I also noticed the presence of the ground footings which has been marked around the ground beams to a height of 9 inches. The ground footing has to be spacious enough because the weight of the entire building rests on this ground footing. 2.2 Fixing of roof drains, sewage, pipes and fixing of columns Plumbers begin to set the pipes into the ground beams while iron benders now install the columns at various points with the aids of the architectural and structural drawings respectively. 2.3 Boarding of ground footing and casting The carpenters begin the boarding with marine boards then the casting commenced. In the process of the casting no iron in the ground footing should be seen, it should all be covered with concrete. 2.4 Boarding of ground beams and casting When the casting of the ground footing was completed and allowed to dry, the marine boards were removed and then applied to the ground beams in preparation for casting. The carpenters also made sure that marked out spaces for the pipes were made so the pipes can protrude externally from the ground beam. After all that the casting then began. 2.5 Site sand-filling with pay-loader After the cast had dried up the next day the carpenters came and removed the formwork from the ground beams. In the process, a pay loader was already an standby to begin the back-filling around the site with both sand and hardcore. 2.6 Compaction and fixing of pipes After the pay loader was done, some shovel work was introduced for the hardcore then a compactor was brought to compact the whole sand and hardcore together in preparation to apply the damp proof membrane. The plumbers then came along to extend their pipes from inside of the beam to the rooms, kitchen through the compacted hardcore so as it protrudes out of the german floor. 2.7 Blinding and application of damp proof membrane Blinding and application of the dump proof membrane began in earnest. This nylon was spread out around each span on the german floor and blinding was done all around it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: By name, Igbonwelundu Ebubechukwu Emmanuel is a graduate of the prestigious University of Nigeria in Enugu state where he ascertained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Moving forward he has shown great resilience in outlining the various stages and processes needed during the piling and raft foundations of a structure so as to ascertain its structural integrity. Engineers and construction workers are expected to commit these processes to memory and also follow them strictly whenever being assigned any project to carry out. This will aid in reducing the number of collapsing structures in the society and in Nigeria as a whole. NAME: IGBONWELUNDU EBUBECHUKWU EMMANUEL INSTITUTION: UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE PHONE: 08163240788 GMAIL: [email protected]