HYDRAFORM BRICK: A COST SAVING BENEFIT WITH GOOD AESTHETICS FOR HOUSING

DEVELOPMENT IN OSUN STATE OF NIGERIA

(A CASE STUDY OF OSUN STATE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)

Moses A. Adejumo
Elewure2@yahoo.com, moshadex01@gmail.com
+2348038547296, +2348153087389
Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This report studied cost minimization in the use of hydraform bricks in housing development with good
aesthetics appearance. Generally, it is observed that the Nigeria construction industry with the aid of the
professionals in the industry are working earnestly in housing delivery for the masses at a reasonable cost, it is
obvious today that the Federal government of Nigeria tends to construct mass housing across the nation but there
have been a constrain for the government herself to accomplished this mission because little amount is always set
aside for housing in the government annual budget, looking at 2016 budget which also revealed that about 0.56% of
the total budget was set aside for works , power and housing which implies that this little percentage will be share
among the three sectors that stand as a single entity. In view of this, it is clearly observed that the amount that will
go for housing development will be so small compare to the total budget. It is necessary for the professionals in the
industry to look for a means of making judicious use of the amount so as to make an achievement in housing sector.
Findings shows that the use of hydraform bricks in housing development reduced the cost of construction and has
other advantages compare to conventional blocks most especially in superstructure wall and its finishes.
Keywords: Building Materials, Housing Provision, Development, Conventional blocks, Hydraform bricks, Quantity
Surveyors
INTRODUCTION
It is obvious today that the major problem facing the construction industry is the cost of building materials;
building materials make-up sixty (60) percent of the total cost of housing construction against labour cost, Arayela
(2005) averred that building materials constitute 65 percent of the cost of construction, while Ogunsemi (2010)
studied that 50-60 percent of housing construction cost is levied on building materials. The cost of materials for
housing construction has brought a setback on housing provision by the federal government in Nigeria. Many of the
materials use for housing construction today are imported materials and the costs of these materials are variants of
the exchange rate of the nations currency. Meanwhile, Adedeji (2002) observed that one main barrier to the
actualization of effective housing provision in Nigeria has been attributed to the cost of building materials; He
further argued that in the early periods, shelter in Nigeria was easily affordable as building materials were sourced
from mans immediate environment at affordable cost. As a result of the advancement in technology in the
construction industry, this has resulted in the use of sophisticated building materials for construction thereby
rendered the locally materials obsolete.
The fact about this situation is that housing is one of the main three necessities of man, it is necessary to
consider the means by which this can be actualize by man during his life time, for the fact that there have been
several constrain on the government side to make provision for it. Several research have made contributions to
enlighten the masses on the use of these bricks in lieu of the conventional blocks to bring their necessity to reality, it
is well known that a building should be able to perform its functionality and it should be noted that The durability
of a building or structure depend on the materials of construction quality and supervision.
The challenges facing housing provision in Nigeria does not exclude Osun State, being one of the States of
the Federation and this has been an existing problem since the creation of the State in 1991 out of the old Oyo State.
Unfortunately, despite all efforts of the State Government to achieve sustainable housing delivery to the common
people, existing realities indicate the goal is far from being achieved.

The Economic Condition of Osun State

Osun State is an inland State in South-western part of Nigeria with her capital situated in Osogbo, created out
of the old Oyo State in 1991. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by
Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State.
Osun State is referred to Civil Service State, this is because the economy condition of the state rely mainly
on the civil servants in the state, although the present government is trying to improve the economy of the state
through other means so that the state internal generating revenue can improve, such as implementation of tax
payment by all citizens of the state, tenement rate, property tax and some other taxes that are not being paid by the
citizen earlier before now but which are part of their responsibilities. Due to the inability of the state to boost her
internal generating revenue compare to Lagos State and other states of the Federation was part of the major reasons
why the government found it difficult to make her dream a reality in Housing provision.
Housing development has being a survival of the fittest in the State because looking at the hardship condition
of the country which is affecting the State also, the government of the State could not afford the payment of the
workers salaries up to date like other States of the Federation instead the government bargained with the workers on
the payment of their monthly salary. For the citizens of the state to actualize their necessity on housing development,
advice opt to be sought from the professional (Quantity Surveyor) in the built environment on cost optimization in
housing development at best value.
Osun State Property Development Corporation: A Government Agency for Property Development
The agency came into existence following the creation of the State on 27th August, 1991, the edict which
established the corporation was formally signed into law on 31st April, 1991 with retrospective effect from inception.
The agency was headed by Late Arc. Adeyemo after its creation and it is the agency saddled with the provision of
mass housing in the state and also oversees the state landed property, as a state owned investment and property
Development Corporation, OSPDC is a Catalyst for industrial and property development initiation, planning,
development, implementation and realization and it can generate and attract capital within and outside the state.
Some other services rendered by this agency include; Architectural and Structural Design for all types of building
structures, Building Construction and Supervision, Feasibility Report and Valuation, Management of Real Estate
Construction and Maintenance of Infrastructural Facilities among others.
In order to fulfill its mandate and also to improve its internal generating revenue for the State, led to the
purchased of Hydraform Machine in February 2010 for the production of hydraform interlocking bricks, the brick
which was sought to be an alternative of the conventional block for housing development at a reduced cost. It is
obvious that the superstructure walls and Building foundations are mostly constructed using blocks or bricks.
Building Materials and Housing Development
The process of housing development should be based on sustainability principles, which could be applied in
the conception, construction and use of the buildings. The goals of the process are to decrease the environmental
costs incurred by inadequate constructive systems and solutions, minimizing the impacts on natural resources, and
improving users comfort (Amado, et al., 2007). Gilkinson & Sexton (2007) defined sustainable housing as a form
of affordable housing that incorporates environmentally friendly and community-based practices. The affordability
is germane to any development so that the client will not run at default or lead to project abandonment. Building
materials are environmentally responsible because their impacts are considered over the complete life time of the
products and should pose no or very minimal environmental and human health risks (Calkins, 2009). They should
also satisfy the following criteria: rational use of natural resources; energy efficiency; elimination or reduction of
generated waste; low toxicity; water conservation; affordability (Adedeji 2012). The production of building
materials locally by individuals and private investors should be given a logistic support by the government so that
there will be limitation in patronizing foreign materials.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH

From findings, the closest construction materials in our immediate environment is laterite which we use in
making mud blocks and a lot of benefits are derive from the block made with laterite but due to the change in
technology which rendered mud block obsolete. Upon this technology advancement, a company based in
Johannesburg, South Africa twenty-eight (28) years ago made used to developed a machine that was used to
modernized this block and this innovation later surface in Nigeria few years ago, although, not all masons can set
this brick but proper awareness and training on how it can be set should be made.

Fig 1: M7 Hydraform Block-making Machine (Procured by Osun State Property Development Corporation)
Source: Field Survey 2016

The production of these bricks are simple but involves sequential steps, the steps which include; grinding of
the laterite in an hydraform pan mixer which is purchased with the machine, so as to grind the laterite lumps before
it being sieve on a strong steel frame of about 2m x 1m mesh of 8-10mm thick and later poured into the compression
chamber where it being compressed with the Top arm. The brick form is of 230mmx230mmx115mm in dimension
and it should be noted that half of this brick can be produce. In the use of this brick on site, little or no waste are
incur compare to the conventional blocks. The brick produced are stacked on a screed or concrete floor preferably
under a shaded tent and covered with canopy to improve its strength for curing purpose.

Fig 2: Stacked Interlocking Bricks after production. Source: Field Survey 2016

Obviously, the appearance of this brick was satisfactory compare to the conventional block which gives it an
added advantage when being use for the construction of building. During my interactive with a mason on site where
the construction of perimeter fencing is on-going with other investigations, I was able to realize more of its
advantages; they include;

Easily to work with

Less of labor in its construction
Cost is greatly reduced because there is no need of plastering and painting
Mortar is not require for bedding and jointing (Only require at first course on concrete oversite)
With thick enough walls, they can be used to do several floors
They are a beauty to behold among others.

An observation shows that its appearance after construction is admirable if the production is properly
supervised. Production can also be made for coping in fence of which concrete is used for when conventional blocks
are used for fencing, in its own case; there is no need for finishes if used for coping. In other to achieve best
production of this brick, the mix ratio of cement and laterite for the brick should be of ratio 1:10 and 1:8 for the one
to be used for fence coping because it should be able to withstand environmental hazard such as heavy rain. Typical
examples are shown in the figure below:

Fig 3: Elementary School built with Hydraform bricks at Osu, Atakunmosa west Local Government of Osun State. Source: Field Survey 2016

Fig 4: Dethatched Bungalows built with Hydraform bricks at Moremi Estate, Ile-Ife,Osun State by OSPDC. Source: Field Survey 2016

Fig 5: Secondary School Fence under Construction with Hydraform Brick, Opposite Government House, Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. Source:
Field Survey 2016

Pictorial view of the fence completion.

COST ANALYSIS AS AT MAY 2016 (Data sourced from Osun state)

The cost per metre square (m2) of wall using conventional blocks for both setting, rendering and painting as
finishes (internal and external) varies between five thousand (6000) naira to six thousand (6500) naira depend on
location (25 percent overhead and profit inclusive). For the fact that bedding and jointing, rendering and painting is
not require when hydraform bricks are used for construction, the cost expended on it is reduce compare with the
conventional blocks. From the perspectives of the cost estimate for the production of the brick as analyzed below, it
is observed that the cost of producing a unit of the brick is approximately sixty-seven (67) naira ( profit exclusive)
and labor cost for setting per brick is fifteen (#15) naira.
The following cost and production parameters are used to derived at the production cost;

Parameters
Laterite/ single load of tipper (3.81m3)
No of head pan per load of tipper
No of head pan per wheelbarrow
No of wheelbarrow per load of tipper

#8000
120
4
30

No of bricks produce per bag of cement

Cost of bag of cement
Mix ratio
Labor cost per bag

60
#1600
1:10
#800

Note:
* Cost of wheelbarrow filled with laterite = 8000/30 = #266.67
*A bag of cement is mix with five wheelbarrows
*Cost of five wheelbarrows = 5*266.67 = #1333.35
ESTIMATE OF COST/UNIT OF BRICK

cost/bag of cement
cost of labour/bag of cement
cost of 5 wheelbarrow
Add
Water
2%
maintenance &
fuelling
5%

cost/unit of brick

1600
800
1333.35

3733.35
74.67
186.67
3994.69
3994.69/60
#66.58

*No of bricks require per metre square =0.23*0.115=0.02645

1/0.02645=37.80718 ~ 38 Nos
Increment or reduction in the cost of cement and other inputs also reduces the production cost which can also
cause reduction in selling price.

In as much there are no competitions in the selling of the bricks compare to the conventional blocks, the
prices as at the time of my findings varies from #70 to #80 while OSPDC sell a unit at #75. The fact about this brick
is that if there are competitions in the production the price will be reduce, It was revealed that it was sold at the rate
of twenty-five (25) naira per unit as at March 2007 (Adedeji 2012) if there are competitions in its selling and it is
widely used in construction, it is obvious that both the selling price and the site setting cost will reduce. It should be
noted that the workmanship is calculated per brick at a fixed rate and there are no waste to be incurred in the used of
these bricks because the production can be made of varying sizes.
Cost of bricks per square metre
Workmanship at #15/unit

75*38 = 2850
15*38 = 570

Loading and offloading

5*38= 190

Transportation

5*38= 190

Internal plastering &painting

Add
25% overhead and profit
`

= 900
4700
1175
5875

Multiples of its difference in cost/ m2 with that of conventional blocks in a building project is of great value.
In other to improve the better use of it in construction, the first two bottom courses of the bricks after the
oversite concrete should be plastered at the exterior part to prevent splash of erosion and the other area of the
exterior part should be painted with a water-based PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol), matt emulsion or gloss paint, the
internal part of the bricks also require a cement skirting plaster to prevent furniture dragging on floor.
CONCLUSION
This report shown the cost and aesthetics benefit of using hydraform bricks in housing development in lieu of
conventional ones, it obvious with the findings and other investigations that came to existence in the course of the
report, shows preference advantages of the bricks ahead of sandcrete blocks such as design flexibility, cost
effectiveness, construction time reduction, less of labour work on site, environmental friendly. Therefore, the report
has provided information that could help in cost reduction for housing project. Therefore, in order to improve and
promote the use of local materials in the construction industry, the professionals in the industry especially the
Quantity Surveyors need to propagate its usefulness and the cost saving benefit attached to it so that the programme
of Housing for all being propagate by the government can easily be achievable. It must be noted that this can be
achievable for the fact that the said material is readily available within our immediate environment and cost of
construction can greatly be reduce if there are competitions in its production which will affect the selling price and
setting on site by masons
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