Building In The Rains Can be Very Rewarding - Engr. Osaz’ ENOBAKHARE

There is a general perception that the raining season spells doom for the building industry so much so that several developers and project owners across the country find carrying out building construction work during the season a no-no; holding the view that heavy downpours which characterizes such seasons would impede on project schedules/timelines and equally encourage wastage. 

During this wet season, some uninformed project owners abandon their on-going projects or delay the commencement of new ones even when the funds are readily available citing a myriad of reasons why such works should be postponed till the dry season sets in. Sometimes it is the contractors, who should know best that even concoct lame excuses to provoke the halting of such projects, probably to satisfy their own selfish interest –like buying enough time to embark on their personal or similar project(s) elsewhere, creating time to embark on travels and tours and so on. 

Yes, rain can wash off freshly-applied paints on external walls. It can also affect the process of block setting in block walls and erode cement in concrete/mortar and cause all sorts of mess. The reality remains that the wise ones know the season could equally be a blessing in disguise; from economic advantage to a spot-on opportunity to probe if there are leakages within the structure under construction or whether it can withstand harsh external weather condition as well as provide good resistance to moisture/water penetration from surface and underground sources.

It might be quite difficult in some cases to ascertain how a building constructed on a water-logged land for example, would function against flooding or rise in water levels if it was built during the dry season especially when you are not fully abreast of the climatic or environmental history of the area. 

However, building in the rains would make it easier to observe first-hand what the situation is like. This would make both the constructor and the owner make more informed decision on better route and depth for waste water channeling, establishing minimum ground floor level in relation to the road and adjoining buildings and/or facilities, etc. such seasons aren’t the best times for inexperienced contractors because there is the tendency that their weaknesses would be exposed to their clients, which may cause them to lose the project. Likewise some property marketers or estate agents decline requests for property inspection from prospective clients during the wet period for obvious reasons.

It is also common knowledge that owing to low patronage typical of the season, prices of building materials in the local market, especially cement, paint, fittings, fixtures, etc are generally lower. The same goes for the cost of labour. Experience has therefore shown that building in the rains, if carefully executed using the right methods and processes is highly rewarding especially for the project owner.