After four yours of pushing for market acceptability, dry construction, a viable building alternative method to the conventional wet construction, has achieved 50 percent interest and it is aggressively pushing for more.
Nigerite, which is promoting the relatively new building solution in Nigeria, says it is building momentum to launch this alternative building method again this year and, according to Jesse Onovre, an architect in the company, their reason for championing dry construction was to disabuse people’s mind and belief that it was not viable.
Onovre disclosed to BusinessDay on the sideline of Lagos Architects Forum (LAF) organised recently by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) that his company, beyond marketing its product at the forum, was also using the opportunity to let the public know that dry construction remained a very viable alternative to wet construction that involved use of brick and mortar.
Nigerite, a principal sponsor of this year’s LAF, has as its flagship product – Kalsi, which is its brand for dry walls with basic elements that make it possible for the product to be used to build a house and also be used for both internal and external works.
“We have been pushing for dry construction for about four and half years now. We are building momentum over time and that is why we are launching it again this year. The reaction to Kalsi wasn’t too lovely; I remember I had several presentations to people and they didn’t understand it very well; many said they didn’t want to be used as guinea pigs for this and it was like that for about two years when we started,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “after the third year, some people including the architects tested it and found out that it enhanced their jobs. Now, people have been coming for it and more are also keying into it. Overall, the response has been impressive, still growing though, and better than what we had before. I would say we have like 45 to 50 per cent acceptance so far; but it can be better.”
The Kalsi board solution offers this alternative at a cheaper cost, Onovre said, saying they were trying to let buyers know that it was possible to demystify the process of building.
“Kalsi is not being sold as a product but as a building solution; so it comes with other items like the galvanised steel and cement board. Experts knowledgeable in dry construction say that whereas there are some wastages in brick and mortar, which are not always factored into the construction, with the Kalsi solution, wastages are taken off the shoulders of the building owner,” he said, citing the pipe used which was already prefabricated, saving cost in employing artisans coming to chisel metals.
It would be recalled that Nigerite recently refurbished its reception office using the Kalsi solution to serve as a testimony to stakeholders, create more awareness for the Kalsi brand as well as demonstrate that Kalsi can be used to complement buildings and open area offices.
Kalsi Floors are cement boards used for sub-floor applications in houses, apartments and lightweight commercial buildings. They are also suitable solutions for false-floor applications to conceal services in buildings. It can be finished with marble, granite, ceramic, or any other finishing material of choice.
CHUKA UROKO
