Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:12 pm
I have noticed a number of ways that Angolans build that is different to in the UK...
a) When rendering, Angolans use a hawk and a gauging trowel. They throw the muck on the wall with the trowel and then use the hawk as a float!
b) It is rare to use u-bends on waste pipes!
c) A builder is either a labourer or a skilled tradesman. Aside from plumbers and electricians, if he/she is skilled he/she is a bricklayer, plasterer, tiler, painter/decorator, roofer etc all in one... I have yet to meet a competent Angolan plasterer, tiler or a competent painter and the bricklaying has only consisted of block laying so far...
d) Wood is generally the most expensive material to build with and so everyting is built from masonry or metal unless the client is extremely rich.
e) Angle beads do not exist so plastering reveals is labourius.
f) Skips do not exist so fly tipping is the norm. Generally if you take your truck to a poor neighbourhood, they will relieve you of your rubbish.
g) All concrete or mortar is generally made as a 3 parts sand/aggregate to one part cement, whether this be concrete for a slab, a fence post, mortar or render. This is generally as the quality of sand and aggregate is so poor I think but as a bag of cement is now $22.00 unless bulk ordered it makes building pricey.
h) They call rendering plastering but don't plaster as they render everything. Plaster is not available.
g) They pour their own lintels here... pre-cast ones are not available.
h) Unless the house is for an exceedingly rich guy who specifies European standards, they don't really bother with foundations for walls and pour floor slabs of between 1" and 2"! Surprisingly few walls show signs of subsidence although I have spotted too may cracked slabs.
i) Although the firm I work for has banned it and provides steel toe cap boots, it is common for builders to work barefoot and I also saw this in South Africa.
j) Instead of carrying things on their shoulders they carry things on their heads.
k) Most tools available are made in China and are horrific - unless you go to the odd very expensive shop which imports stuff from the US or Europe. In these stores a 10m tape measure (admittedly a very nice one from Germany) will cost you $160.00 and a pair of steel toe capped boots by Timberland will cost you an eye watering $340.00.
l) Skirting boards, architraves and other bits of decorative timber are not available so you have to make your own. They generally don't bother and in a high end refurbishment often prefer concrete architraves and skirtings.
Those are the main ones I can think of...
What oddities have you noticed overseas in the building game?
a) When rendering, Angolans use a hawk and a gauging trowel. They throw the muck on the wall with the trowel and then use the hawk as a float!
b) It is rare to use u-bends on waste pipes!
c) A builder is either a labourer or a skilled tradesman. Aside from plumbers and electricians, if he/she is skilled he/she is a bricklayer, plasterer, tiler, painter/decorator, roofer etc all in one... I have yet to meet a competent Angolan plasterer, tiler or a competent painter and the bricklaying has only consisted of block laying so far...
d) Wood is generally the most expensive material to build with and so everyting is built from masonry or metal unless the client is extremely rich.
e) Angle beads do not exist so plastering reveals is labourius.
f) Skips do not exist so fly tipping is the norm. Generally if you take your truck to a poor neighbourhood, they will relieve you of your rubbish.
g) All concrete or mortar is generally made as a 3 parts sand/aggregate to one part cement, whether this be concrete for a slab, a fence post, mortar or render. This is generally as the quality of sand and aggregate is so poor I think but as a bag of cement is now $22.00 unless bulk ordered it makes building pricey.
h) They call rendering plastering but don't plaster as they render everything. Plaster is not available.
g) They pour their own lintels here... pre-cast ones are not available.
h) Unless the house is for an exceedingly rich guy who specifies European standards, they don't really bother with foundations for walls and pour floor slabs of between 1" and 2"! Surprisingly few walls show signs of subsidence although I have spotted too may cracked slabs.
i) Although the firm I work for has banned it and provides steel toe cap boots, it is common for builders to work barefoot and I also saw this in South Africa.
j) Instead of carrying things on their shoulders they carry things on their heads.
k) Most tools available are made in China and are horrific - unless you go to the odd very expensive shop which imports stuff from the US or Europe. In these stores a 10m tape measure (admittedly a very nice one from Germany) will cost you $160.00 and a pair of steel toe capped boots by Timberland will cost you an eye watering $340.00.
l) Skirting boards, architraves and other bits of decorative timber are not available so you have to make your own. They generally don't bother and in a high end refurbishment often prefer concrete architraves and skirtings.
Those are the main ones I can think of...
What oddities have you noticed overseas in the building game?
