Why Your Construction Budget Keeps Rising—And Where Your Materials Really Go

In many parts of Nigeria, private building projects are frequently handled by artisans who, after gaining years of site experience, begin to present themselves as engineers. While the buildings they produce may remain standing, they are often far from efficient. The structural layouts are rarely optimized, and decisions are frequently based on guesswork rather than engineering principles.

One of the most common issues is the indiscriminate oversizing of beams, columns, foundations, or reinforcement—usually justified with the phrase, “We’re making the structure safer.” This sounds reassuring, but it is misleading. Once a building has been properly designed to meet all safety and serviceability standards, adding more concrete or more steel does not make it safer. It only makes it more expensive.

Extra materials do not improve performance; they simply sit in the structure for the next 50–70 years, contributing nothing except higher construction costs.

This is where a qualified structural engineer makes a real difference. A trained engineer understands how to achieve safety precisely, using only the materials the building truly requires—no more, no less. The goal is not to produce the “heaviest” structure, but the best-designed one: safe, efficient, and economical.

For homeowners, the real message is simple:

A structure can be safe and still waste money.
A well-engineered structure is safe and cost-efficient.

By working with a professional structural engineer, you benefit from:

• Accurate sizing of structural members
• Reduced material wastage
• Lower overall construction costs
• A clear, predictable design that builders can follow
• A building that performs exactly as intended without unnecessary extras

When designs are not optimized, homeowners end up paying for concrete, steel, and labour they never needed. This is one of the silent drivers of construction price inflation in private projects.

A qualified structural engineer protects you from these hidden costs—not by cutting corners, but by applying proper engineering judgment. Every kilogram of material should have a purpose, and when that principle is followed, buildings become both safer and more economical.

Let’s consider a common scenario in many Nigerian building projects.

A structural engineer designs a typical reinforced concrete beam and specifies:

• 4Y16 bars (because calculations show this steel is enough to safely carry the load)

An artisan, wanting to “make it stronger,” decides to use:

• 6Y20 bars

This feels safer, but here’s what actually happens.

1. Steel Weight Comparison

Weight per metre of steel:

• Y16 bar = 1.58 kg/m
• Y20 bar = 2.47 kg/m

Assume the beam is 4 metres long.

Engineer’s design (4Y16):

4 bars × 4 m × 1.58 kg/m
= 25.3 kg

Artisan’s oversized steel (6Y20):

6 bars × 4 m × 2.47 kg/m
= 59.3 kg

Extra steel used:

59.3 kg − 25.3 kg = 34 kg per beam

2. What does this cost?

Say steel costs ₦1,020,000 per ton,
which is ₦1,020 per kg.

Extra cost per beam:

34 kg × ₦1,020 = ₦34,680 wasted per beam

3. Multiply that across a building

A typical duplex may have 40 beams.

Total unnecessary steel cost:

₦34,680 × 40 = ₦1,387,200 wasted
(on steel alone, with zero gain in safety)

If you want professional support in preparing accurate construction budgets, structural designs, or BOQs tailored to Nigerian conditions, Wes Amp Limited can help you avoid costly mistakes and build with confidence.

Contact Wes Amp Limited today to review your building plans, estimate your construction costs, and guide you toward a smooth, efficient, and successful project.