- Contract Agreement vs Reality
- Quality of materials
- "Professionals" and their skill levels
- Tools and Equipment
- Conclusion
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Contract Agreement vs. Reality
We haven't measured yet if the quantities that were in the Contract Agreement were actually correct. The excel template used by Batir Constructions LTD has been made by someone whose excel skills do not exceed those of an amateur. Additionally the template is full of calculation error, some benefiting the client, others' the wallet of QS Fidelis. The calculation errors in the 2nd quote we received contained over KES30.000 in discrepancies.
As we can see in the image Fidelis quoted more than 151M² Marineboard for the form work, because Catir Constructions LTD only uses the highest quality materials. A marine board measures 122cm x 244cm which equals 2.97M² per sheet, that tells us that 51 pieces of marine board. However, only 20PCS were delivered during the entire construction period.
Typical "Bait and Switch" construction conman trick, substituting materials agreed upon for cheaper items of lesser quality. We have learned that this is a chronic problem with Batir Constructions LTD, the company cons their clients by using cheap material substitutes than what was agreed upon as when and wherever possible.
Quality of Materials
We already know that the marine board was substituted with much cheaper 6x1 boards, the intro image gave that away as well. If we look at the social media channels from Batir Constructions LTD and QS Fidelis Maiba it is obvious that they pull the "6x1 lumber-marine board" con-trick on all their projects.
Other than the marine board, metal reinforcement bars, Bamburi Cement, Sand and Gravel were used.
Aggregate
Aggregate per contract agreement: maximum gauge of course aggregate 25mm for the people who do not know what that means: The maximum aggregate size in concrete is the smallest sieve through which 100% of the aggregates will pass. Big failure, the quality of the aggregate used is not conform the contract agreement. We still have a few cubic metres of Fidelis' aggregate here and it takes less than a minute to find aggregate that couldn't pass through mesh with 35mm x 35mm (30% larger guage) square holes.
Sand
All but one lorries with sand were were delivered by the same supplier. The sand was definitely not of the "highest quality", it was contaminated with pebbles, stones and rock, in many cases exceeding the maximum aggregate size of 25mm. Again, Fidelis doesn't pass on a good deal for gravel and sand even if it means compromising the structural integrity of the clients' dream home.
Quality