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Uncertainties Surrounding the Economic Potential of Locally Available Laterite Deposits in Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Housing in Nigeria

American Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Vol.3 , No. 3, Publication Date: May 16, 2018, Page: 43-51

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Authors

[1]	Alolote Ibim Amadi, Department of Quantity Surveying, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
[2]	Amadi Kelvin Chijioke, Department of Economics, Elechi-Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Abstract

The wide-scale availability of clays in Southern Nigeria should be an avenue for the successful promotion of alternative natural cladding materials such as bricks for the construction of low cost housing. However, local clays and lateritic soils for use in engineering application, mostly lie wasted and unextracted. A major issue of contention being their structural viability as a building material for modern structures, with the bulk of its usage limited to rural areas. As such a fundamental gap remains, wherein the economic potential of locally available clay reserves is not translated into commercial production of bricks and patronage. The study appraises the factors determining the acceptability level of bricks as cladding materials for low-cost housing construction in Nigeria. The opinions of key construction industry professionals as well as marketers and developers in Port Harcourt were sought through the administration of structured questionnaires. The study revealed that aside from the perceived structural shortcomings of bricks, several issues abound as being responsible for the unpopularity of bricks. Typically, such views centered around difficulties in securing skilled labor for brick laying, lack of exact standards of material and workmanship, perceptions of adaptability to the environment, accessibility, supply shortfalls/poor marketing by brick manufacturers and the attitudinal propensity of Nigerians to view local materials as inferior. The study espouses the need for public enlightenment; skills development in bricklaying, creation of a viable platform for improved productivity, more aggressive marketing and quality control via standardization.

Keywords

Acceptability, Bricks, Housin

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