Storey Building vs Bungalow - Building in Ghana 🇬🇭

[@Bilegagn]

This is a great video and you hit on most of the points that I experienced in building a storey building For starters, I wanted to build a starter bungalow/ranch house of 3-bedrooms and 2-car garage on a 100 x 70 plot of land. I started without a permit and apparently you can’t do that lol, so the dreaded red-X was put on the building to stop work. I came home and realized that this beginner/starter house had taken 85% of my plot and the area was not developed, so I abandoned the project for about 4 years. When I came back to expect the land, it was one of the few that had no building on. So I reinvigorated myself and decided to build a storey building to take full use of the plot and challenged myself to change the plan The foundation was a big challenge but it gave me an idea of what I was taken on as I spent a lot of money I didn’t think I’ll spend. The superstructure was properly planned and executed and it gave me a lot of joy. The problem came next The flow: just trying to locate rental plywood or metal flow material was a huge problem. Most people I contact wanted between $3,800-$4,300 to rent those material for 30 days. I thought they wanted too much so I decided to to buy the plywood and other wood needed to board for the flow and that ran me over $5,000, a huge surprised but i at least owned the wood and plywood. I ended up buying over 8 tons of iron rods and the concrete mixer people charged me almost twice because they’ve to take the concrete😮 up. I came home to see the flow but during that time I nearly gave up entirely on the building because of how it has drained me. I persevered by scrapping through that process. Building up the first floor took some planning but the roofing was another story all together. Just as I was about to roof, the dollar acted up and merchants went crazy and I had to put the roofing on hold because of an accident that incapacitated me for 5 months. When I finally came to it during this summer, it cost me slightly over $21,000 for the wood and roofing sheets. Everything is extremely expensive especially if you didn’t plan well. Even though it is a challenge, it is a challenge I am willing to face and try to overcome eventually. Just the electrical wires alone cost more than 100,000 Cedis, POP cost more than 120,000 Cedis and doing all this on a budget is cumbersome and that’s no lie. However I’ll take this option any day over financing a house through mortgage. I live in my current house over 20 years and still paying on it compared to using two years to build a 9-bedroom house with 2-bedroom boys quarters. If you like challenges, it can be worth it but if you don’t, then build a ranch/bungalow house and call it a day and save yourself of the flow and foundation worries. Worth it after all

[@HeadHeartHand]

This is very helpful perspective. I Hope you finish your dream home soon!

[@megadonmaster]

9-bedroom house with 2 bedroom boys quarters. 🤩 That could’ve build a block of apartments. You’ve done very well 👌🏿. Seems like a big project.

[@micaze8050]

Urban lands are scarce. I think it makes sense to aquire plans and permits for at least two storey. Develop at least the ground floor if thats all your means can finance, but with a standard foundation. You may 1. Resell the upper decking, 2. Secure joint agreement in future 3. Allow your rich heirs to continue in future etc. I guess this will be better than occupying the city with single bungalows, or having to break them in other to reconstruct high rise building in future. We can't create more land, but certainly we can build vertical. Maximise the land use.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for your contribution

[@mosestekper7659]

I agree with you 💯 percent. Do your best to do a decking for the first floor and design it in such a way that you can live on the ground floor without adding the top floor. Doing a bungalow is a waste of plot.

[@henrygeorge6388]

Dear brother thanks so much for your awesome information and analysis on building a house , God almighty richly bless you Amen and Amen ❤❤❤

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Amen

[@julielartey9352]

Thank you brother It's better to build storytelling than bungalow to save the land and have more space. GOD BLESS 🇬🇧

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Amen and thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@lovebless5307]

I thought I was going to complete my storey building within a relatively short time, but this’s costing me than expected but hopefully I get it done next year 🙏.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Amen. Why has it delayed?

[@lovebless5307]

@@AfricaBuildingHub 1 and half year ago, my windows was estimated to cost me 16 thousand cedis, but just installed it a month ago for 29 thousand cedis . Everything is going up with time in Ghana 🇬🇭 and it’s sad

[@lovebless5307]

1 and half year ago, my windows was estimated to cost me 16 thousand cedis, but just installed it a month ago for 29 thousand cedis . Everything is going up with time in Ghana 🇬🇭 and it’s sad

[@l.e.sparklesfkaelliesparkl5875]

With how close together these homes are built, privacy is out the window even on the top floor

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Hmmm. Good point also

[@africanbraidsbyetheltokyoj7974]

My plot was 43/93 and my contructor was so gud he did a gud job on the land by building a duplex 2/3 bedroom self contained as a storey building. Am very please and he s a very faithful person. I wish I can share my photos here so far. 6 month into the building.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

When you are done, can we do an interview? 😀. If yes, please send us an email. [e-mail]

[@africanbraidsbyetheltokyoj7974]

@@AfricaBuildingHub yes please. If u like, I can send u some picture from start and how it going. It been 6 month now

[@mamejoe2043]

Can you share his details

[@megadonmaster]

Which location is this and which contractor? Honest people are rare gems 💎 in building/ construction business in Ghana.

[@emmaafriyie5170]

Thank you for the video. I for one have never been a fun of story buildings. It is very capital intensive and when I think of my 60 or 70 year old self, I realize I will not be happy living in one when that time comes. So I went for a 4 bed room ranch style home with 2 bedroom boys quarters and I hired a reputable construction firm in Ghana to handle my project. They are more expensive but the peace of mind not dealing with different artisans because I work in cooperate America and my vacation time is 2-3 weeks each year has given me so much peace of mind and everything is going so well.

[@Goodcitizen4]

Which reputable construction firm did you use

[@emmaafriyie5170]

@@Goodcitizen4 there are quite a few good ones in Ghana so please do your research and find one. If you need detailed information, you can let me know and we will book a consultation for further discussion. Thank you.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for watching and contributing

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

I bought 2 plot of land for 30k with no problems. i made my doccuments 10k so in all 40k... 😊😊😊

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Wow. Well done. Which location?

[@apaug630]

Is it better to use a 5 inches or 6inches hollow blocks for the second floor after the flowing if i will flow it and go another floor before roofing??.. Please advise in terms of cost savings and strength efficiency.

[@sistaluv1357]

Thanks for the good advice.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks bebree for watching

[@aSlimtube]

It always comes down to POOR planning. Very easy to underestimate how expensive it is to undertake a building project until you start.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

I agree. When people come to us for building estimates and our quantity surveyor gives the realistic quotes, then they say it’s too expensive. Meanwhile their designs don’t match their budgets

[@berthaacquah3598]

Thanks for the video.I am currently at a point in my building project(STOREY BUILDING) where i do not want to continue with the project due to financial reasons. Is there anyway one can secure the top flow from rains leaking into the building? I perfectly agree with you on PLANNING AND EVALUATION.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Build one or two courses of blocks, do screeding and angle it. Then use pipes to channel the rain water

[@berthaacquah3598]

Thank you very much for this idea. Will definitely follow suit.

[@everymanisyourteacher9951]

Don't give up please... I was in the same situation but I pressed on.

[@lilacer6841]

You can build a singke storey but inside you can add mezzanine by using high ceilings or do a basement instead of filling uo the foundation with laterite

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Great info

[@lilacer6841]

@@AfricaBuildingHub yes its all about design

[@nanapoku5259]

​@@lilacer6841 Do you have any links/sites for such sample designs with mezzanine to share?

[@lilacer6841]

@@nanapoku5259 just search in you tube. I am building in Agsifkua and that is how I designed MN y master bedroom. I created a mezzanine floor within the room for the bed. I have high ceilings then use mezzanine to add space. I also deck half of my roof top and use it as an entertainment space. It has a toilet and shower ok n the rooftop. It's all about design. Had a good architect and he is Ghanian. My project manager and workmen are also excellent.

[@dorkuchotanihu9589]

One thing about storey building is that Maintenance if you look around GHANA 🇬🇭 most of the storey building most are lack of maintenance as compared to one family building which is more easy to maintain ,

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

That’s also true

[@veraaddoyobo8482]

Thank you. Also old age

[@courageaddae9373]

Which process can l use to build on earthquake zones?

[@herodelegend6974]

Great one Always watching ur videos

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thank you for your kind words

[@twenejephter4798]

Great advice, thank you sir

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Welcome!

[@iTuber012]

Sounds like storey is still better even with the "cons" listed. One just needs proper planning, funding and appropriate experts to complete the project

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Great point

[@wiseup2399]

Thanks for your advice Sir.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Welcome bebree

[@ebenezerfrimpong7776]

Putting up storey building saves a lot of space so it's very very good if you can afford

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

I agree

[@lilacer6841]

I am building a house that looks like a singke storey but i have a one bedroom sepf contained flat in the basement. I have decking in half of the roof and that is like an entertainment space. The main house is 6 bedrooms kitchen dining room 5 and half baths and twio living rooms. Its all about design. The master bedroom has a mezzanine where the bed is.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Oh wow. Beautiful. In Ghana? We would love to see

[@coordinates_]

For me, I went for the single storey because i hand more space and also to avoid the unnecessary cost involved in storey building. I think anyone can build a single storey house that really look more expensive than a storey. I think, in my HONEST opinion, depending on what's included in your house and design, it would be better than a storey building.

[@coordinates_]

You made really legit points! I am beginning to build a small enclosed estate on one plot of land. This would be 4 2-storey houses for rent. But i still fear flows/concrete works upwards lol

[@georgetitus-glover6228]

Chale, I’m building a story building n I can relate. In short, I refuse to give any commentary, cos it will trigger anxiety.

[@beatriceowusuachaw6210]

What a wonderful advice

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thank you for watching

[@niiamu3300]

I have completed my flow but I am only focusing on the ground floor to get it completed. Someone else (child or children) can continue when they become the owners. The ground floor alone is 5500 sq. ft. so I am focusing on the ground floor for now.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Wow!!!!

[@niiamu3300]

@mercymensah1819 , yes I know, lol.

[@akosuaadusei5745]

I totally agree! Your children or grandchildren will continue when they inherit the building. You can’t come and kill yourself

[@mercymensah7597]

😂😂😂😂someone else child s3e

[@emmaborq492]

What type of mm iron rods and how many each do I need to floo six bedroom story building

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

It’s impossible to tell without your structural drawings.

[@nanayawkoreebrako]

Great video Can we divide building the story building into stages?

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Why not?

[@s350mbz]

Please do a factual comparison of the cost of slightly deeper foundations for storey build vs extra slab and roof costs for bungalows. In other countries its generally across that "more square", storey buildings are much cheaper than "rectangular" single floor bungalow. Considerably cheaper....

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@berniceinjapan]

Best video ever❤❤❤❤❤

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Really? Why do you say so? Thanks anyways.

[@ruhainaruhaina5079]

Thank you so much very interested program 🙏from Rome Italy ❤

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for watching

[@atv7266]

Thank u very much for your advice

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Welcome

[@aberba]

I don't agree with the ventilation point by I'll let it slip 😅. Building a storey building is space saving method, that's the ONLY real benefit. Many family and retirement home are better as a bungalow. Storey buildings are not any secure than bungalow... thieves can also use stairs, so?

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

You can see them before they come because you have a wider field of view. Also why don't you agree with ventilation?

[@aberba]

@@AfricaBuildingHub 1) thieves don't really come at a time you'd see them. Yes you are up but thieves can also use the stairs. If they break in, it doesn't matter whether it's storey or not 2) ventilation... air doesn't fly strictly straight like a bullet. A bungalow will get enough air just fine.

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

I want a hidden chamber! like a book chamber that no one knows about but can only see books

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Like in the movies right? Nice nice nice

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

@@AfricaBuildingHub Exact! You got me!😁

[@ericgamor9975]

Its true, story building is very expensive. The cost of iron rod is getting more and more expensive. If land is not an issue, then going for bungalow is advisable.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@insidehildaslife6329]

I had to learn the hard way and noticed that might be the main reason there are plenty uncompleted buildings in Ghana. Family members offer themselves for helping diasporas and end up using it to blackmail them to bring them abroad because they have been of help whiles building. 😢The project comes to a standstill because if you use another person to build they get jealous and angry even with your life being in danger if you decide to do it yourself. The mindset of most African is to damage and destroy. Beware Diasporas: get your own flight ticket and be on ground and be careful of dealing with family. They get jealous whereby God has his plan for everyone.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for your feedback

[@Bilegagn]

Hahaha, we are going through it now. Price markup on most things you asked them to go buy and even labor. My wife never trusted the family member we put in charge and complained about him all the time but I didn't want to rock the boat, so I stayed off the topic until I was home with my wife this September. He increased the price an artisan asked for some work, so while I was at land commission trying to beg them to complete my papers, my wife asked the artisan and he mentioned his charge lower than what we were told and hell broke loose on him

[@veraaddoyobo8482]

@@Bilegagn Hmmmmm once bitten twice shy. That's why when my husband and I started building i told him unless he is on the ground in Ghana 🇬🇭 I'm not contributing in the project

[@Bilegagn]

@@veraaddoyobo8482 Women always see these things before we men do. Or we just intentionally play dumb lol but my wife has been telling me this since the beginning of the project and finally she was the one that unearth the theft. I was devastated and dumbfounded because it was family but she proved her point and now she is there supervising everything

[@veraaddoyobo8482]

@@Bilegagn good I'm glad, better late than never, we bought three bedrooms house but had land around it, so decided to extend it to four bedroom ,+ a wall around the house, these two things almost cost us the price of the house , my late mother in law ( God rest her soul) has to step in. And she told us never to give projects to family members, as someone born in England with Ghanaian heritage i will always be grateful to my mother-in-law

[@KwadjomemphisExplore]

Nice information Tnks

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks bebree for watching

[@jenniferkoranteng8691]

Thank you 😊🙏

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thank you for watching

[@africandreamsinhaze365]

Both are good.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Yes. But if you could only choose one?

[@africandreamsinhaze365]

@@AfricaBuildingHub I like the look of a staircase.

[@ohenemajid100]

Skipping or cutting cost is going to cost more than the cost you were hoping to cut

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for watching to the end. You are awesome!

[@maryananoo5298]

Thank youuu bro 🙏 ❤

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

You are welcome

[@bernhardkron3020]

Another disadvantage of a storey building is that you lose some space needed for the staircase.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

That’s very true

[@mintfree]

I built a 2 storey building and I regret because the money could have built two separate bungalows. The master bedroom is on the 2nd floor which I may not use when I get old

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Hmm. You can sell and build another

[@thebill8891]

They will put u downstairs and party upstairs 😂😂😂😂

[@amaafrifa94]

I am getting scared,because I did none of this soil test and allthe other things but has already started

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Hmmm. I’m guessing you don’t have a building permit?

[@abenaosei693]

l like story building cos l feel safe sleeping in my storey building house. l feel like people are looking at me when is a self-contained.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@atwomaa]

😂😂😂

[@SamAsare]

Buildings are assets and they are the number one means of creating worth. Most black people always want to hold on to their assets and in the end, become a liability. People should be encouraged to dream big but only use professionals. Too many untrustworthy people, ie contractors, artisans is also a reason why we have lots of uncompleted buildings in Ghana

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Thanks for your contribution

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

No... businesses first then building project... You can start if you get the money!

[@jessochieng]

What is black people, what does that even mean? Africans? The mentality of calling people black people always exalts mediocrity, they are better than us attitude

[@SamAsare]

@@jamesbelmotes8855 That is ideal but not in Ghana. Unless you want to relocate permanently and overseas your business, don’t try. Build a house and sell latter

[@SamAsare]

@@jessochieng black peope are people with black skin. It dose not denote mediocrity. There are 1000s excelling in their fields. We have both blacks and whites who are mediocre.

[@amvicVLOGS]

right🇬🇭

[@BeccaDaily]

How much does a Soil Test cost in Ghana?

[@aberba]

I wouldn't trust these tests. All borehole water testing I've seen are completely wrong.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Best bet would be to go to the municipal assembly and make enquiries as that’s a core part of the process for permit acquisition.

[@BeccaDaily]

@@AfricaBuildingHub That will be difficult, cause I live in the States. I thought you or your team offers the service. Btw, thank you for responding.

[@xdmooo]

Is there a personal issue with Kasoa, lol? I've noticed you mentioning Kasoa a few times in your videos. This video you mentioned roadside. Is there something specific about Kasoa that's a concern?

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Hehehe. I will explain in a future video

[@bragoboakye5436]

😂😂😂😂

[@Patriot63677]

Why would you even suggest that? With the cost of land and all the prices of materials. Never suggest that to anyone but it's always BEST to build up. That's how the advance countries utilize their limited land space.

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

I’m just putting everything in context

[@smoofhouse7358]

Kasoa taking shorts lol but great video

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Hehehe. Thanks for watching

[@TheophilusAppiah-uc8gn]

You couldn’t mention a brothers business because he didn’t sponsor the video lol But you were able to mention Benz and other brands

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Such double standards. I'm disappointed in myself. 😢

[@megadonmaster]

😂

[@emmanuelt.sallyetsally9752]

Good point 👌

[@abeldzidzienyo8591]

Kasoa fo) da woase 😂😂😂😂

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Watch this one too instagram.com/reel/CwXuT-dsnR0/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[@nyabinghi870]

Building in Ghana is very expensive

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Building everywhere is expensive 😀

[@TheCoolio1992]

Kasoa people chop stray 😅😅😅

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Kasoa dier!!!!

[@EmmanuelNiiAmartey-fh3ed]

do not cut corners

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Fantastic!

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

12:46 awww what kasoa do again? 😂😂😂🤢 Kasoa dey suffer like Ewes for this country just jokes😊!

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

I know. It’s all just fun and jokes

[@jamesbelmotes8855]

yeah sure. 😊 just want to stirr things up!@@AfricaBuildingHub

[@justiceabban-m6t]

was the kasoa necessary hahahah

[@AfricaBuildingHub]

Very necessary 😀

[@marthacmd]

i live in Ghana and have a story house as well as others. you made a video based on your experience.....shame