Lekzy Global GEO Engineering Ltd

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

WHY CONTRACTORS CHARGE OVERHEAD AND PROFIT

One of the most common questions clients ask is:

“Why is the contractor’s price higher than the cost of materials?” 😅

The truth is that a contractor is not a charity organization.

A contractor is running a business and must cover costs while making reasonable profit.

WHAT IS OVERHEAD? 👇

Overhead refers to the indirect expenses incurred during project ex*****on that are not directly part of the physical construction work.

Examples include:

Office rent

Internet subscription

Staff salaries

Transportation

Fuel and diesel

Communication expenses

Equipment maintenance

Professional dues

Insurance

Security

And administrative costs.

Even before work starts on site, many of these expenses are already being incurred.

WHAT IS PROFIT? 👇

Profit is the reward for the contractor’s effort, expertise, investment, and risk.

Without profit, there is no motivation to stay in business.

After all expenses have been paid, the remaining amount becomes the contractor’s profit.

WHY SHOULD A CONTRACTOR MAKE PROFIT? 👇

The contractor is responsible for:

Project planning

Material procurement

Labour management

Site supervision

Quality control

Project coordination

And handling unexpected challenges.

The contractor also bears significant risks.

RISKS FACED BY CONTRACTORS 👇

Increase in material prices

Labour shortages

Project delays

Equipment breakdown

Bad weather

Client variations

Cash flow problems

Unforeseen site conditions

And sometimes Omo Onile charges and disturbances 😅

In some parts of Nigeria, contractors may encounter:

Foundation levy

Sand levy

Block levy

Roofing levy

Security levy

And other community-related charges.

Whether we like it or not, these are realities that may affect project costs in some locations.

A single mistake or unexpected expense can result in huge financial losses.

TYPICAL PERCENTAGES 👇

Although it varies from project to project:

Overhead may range from 5% to 15%.

Profit may range from 10% to 20%.

Some complex or high-risk projects may require higher percentages.

The exact figure depends on:

Project size

Location

Risk level

Duration

And market conditions.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING 👇

When a contractor gives a quotation that appears higher than others, it does not automatically mean the contractor is cheating 😅

Sometimes the contractor has properly accounted for:

Quality materials

Qualified labour

Site supervision

Risk management

Overhead

Profit

And unforeseen project challenges.

That is why clients should not focus only on the lowest price.

Focus on value, quality, experience, and project delivery.

Because in construction…

The cheapest quotation may win the project today, but a properly priced quotation is more likely to complete the project successfully tomorrow.

06/04/2026

A superstructure is the part of a building, ship, or structure that extends above the ground level or main deck, resting on a substructure (foundation). In construction, it comprises everything from the plinth upwards—walls, columns, beams, and roofs. It provides the functional, usable spaces of a building.

Key Aspects of Superstructure:
Construction: Represents the visible portion of a building, including structural elements like walls, columns, and roofs, as well as finishing touches.
Engineering Purpose: While the substructure (foundation) supports the load, the superstructure carries live loads, dead loads, and environmental loads (wind, snow), transferring them down to the foundation.
Marine Use: Refers to the part of a ship’s structure that extends above the main deck, such as the bridge or cabin.
Sociological Context: In Marxist theory, the "superstructure" refers to the social, legal, cultural, and political institutions that emerge from the economic base.
Comparison:
Substructure: Below ground level (foundations, basements).
Superstructure: Above ground level (walls, floors, roof).

06/04/2026

Subsoil investigation, or geotechnical exploration, is the process of studying soil properties, layering, and groundwater conditions beneath a site to design safe, economical foundations. It involves site reconnaissance, borings, field tests (e.g., SPT, CPT), and laboratory testing to determine bearing capacity and prevent structural failure.

Key Objectives and Components
Identify Soil Profiles: Determine the thickness, type (clay, sand, rock), and sequence of soil layers.
Locate Groundwater: Determine the water table level and its fluctuations.
Assess Engineering Properties: Measure soil strength, compressibility, and density (e.g., via Standard Pe*******on Test - SPT).
Detect Hazards: Identify potential risks such as liquefaction potential, slope instability, or expansive soils.

Methods of Subsoil Investigation
Test Pits: Shallow excavations for visual inspection and sampling.
Boring Techniques: Methods like auger boring, wash boring, or rotary drilling are used to reach deeper depths.
In-situ Testing:
SPT (Standard Pe*******on Test): Measures resistance to pe*******on to estimate soil strength.
CPT (Cone Pe*******on Test): Provides continuous soil profiling.
Laboratory Testing: Analysis of disturbed and undisturbed soil samples for shear strength, classification, and consolidation properties.

Purpose and Benefits
Foundation Design: Determines whether to use shallow (footings) or deep (piles) foundations.
Cost Efficiency: Avoids over-engineering foundations while ensuring safety.
Risk Reduction: Minimizes construction delays and structural failures.
Stages of Investigation
Preliminary Investigation: Initial site visit and analysis of existing geological data.
Detailed Investigation: Drilling, sampling, and laboratory testing to provide specific data for design.
Reporting: Documentation of all findings to guide structural enginee

06/04/2026

Piling work involves driving or boring deep vertical columns (piles) made of steel, concrete, or timber into the ground to transfer structural loads to stronger, deeper soil or rock layers. Crucial for weak soil or heavy loads, these foundations are used in buildings, bridges, and marine projects to prevent settlement.

Key Types of Piling Methods
Driven Piles: Pre-formed piles driven into the ground using hydraulic hammers or vibratory drivers, displacing surrounding soil.
Bored Piles (Drilled Shafts): Holes are drilled using rotary rigs, steel reinforcement is inserted, and concrete is poured in-situ.
Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) Piles: A hollow stem auger drills to the required depth, and concrete is pumped through it while the auger is withdrawn, ideal for quiet, low-vibration sites.

Piling Construction Process
Setting Out: Surveyors mark exact pile positions based on structural drawings.
Installation/Drilling: Pile rigs drive or drill the pile to the designed depth.
Borehole Stabilization: Temporary casings or bentonite slurry are often used to prevent borehole collapse in loose soil.
Reinforcement Cage: Steel cages are lowered into bored holes for structural integrity.
Concreting: Concrete is placed, often using a tremie pipe to avoid water contamination.

Advantages
Allows construction on weak, unstable ground.
Supports extremely high compressive, vertical, and lateral loads.
Provides robust support for high-rise buildings and infrastructure.

I don't own copywrite for this song. Facebook please permit me

06/04/2026

A Pile Integrity Test (PIT) is a non-destructive method (ASTM D5882) used to assess the continuity, structural integrity, and consistency of concrete or timber piles. Using a low-strain handheld hammer, it creates a stress wave that detects defects like cracks, necking, or voids. This cost-effective method is ideal for QA and, while it cannot determine load-bearing capacity, it can estimate pile length

06/04/2026

An anchorage pile load test, or reaction anchor method, determines a pile's vertical or lateral bearing capacity by applying hydraulic pressure against a beam anchored by nearby reaction piles or soil anchors. It involves loading the test pile (often to 2x safe load) and monitoring settlement using calibrated jacks and dial gauges to confirm design capacity.

Key Components and Procedures
Reaction System: Typically consists of 2–6 reaction piles (or soil/rock anchors) installed adjacent to the test pile, connected by a reaction beam to provide resistance.
Load Application: A hydraulic jack applies loads in increments, usually 20% of the design load, with each increment held for a specific duration (e.g., 30–60 minutes) to observe settlement.
Measurement: Settlement is monitored using at least two dial gauges (0.01 mm precision) attached to a reference beam.
Test Loading: Preliminary tests often go up to 1.5 or 2.0 times the safe working load to evaluate performance.
Data Analysis: Load-settlement curves are plotted to determine the ultimate load, permissible working load, and pile behavior.

Benefits of the Anchor Method
Efficiency: Allows for high-capacity testing (up to 10,000kN or more) without the need for large quantities of dead weight (kentledge).
Precision: Provides precise, vertical load application, essential for verifying pile integrity in deep foundations.
Versatility: Suitable for on-land and over-water projects.

This method is crucial for verifying design calculations and ensuring foundation stability for high-rise buildings and infrastructure.