Why the “Fundi You Know” Might Be the Most Expensive Choice You Make
Every Kenyan knows someone who “knows a good fundi.” Maybe it’s your cousin’s friend from ushago, or a guy who once did a great paint job in your neighbour’s flat. He’s available, affordable, and you feel like you’re helping a brother out. Until your doors won’t close properly. Your tiles start popping. Your house begins […]
Why Construction Timing in Kenya Can Make or Break Your Entire Budget
Many people assume that as long as you have money and approvals, you can start building. Technically true. But if you’re building in Kenya and ignoring the calendar, you’re not just risking delays—you’re flirting with budget blowouts, structural flaws, and endless site frustrations. Let’s break it down. Heads-up: Kenya’s seasons don’t just affect crops—they affect […]
Why Your ‘Plot Size’ Might Be Lying to You—and What You Should Verify Before You Build
You buy a plot in Ruai or Kitengela, and you’re excited. You’ve been told it’s 50 by 100. Your mind races: two bedrooms here, a backyard there, maybe even a car shade. The plan is ready. The fundi is on standby. Then a surveyor steps in—and breaks your heart. The land you thought was 50 […]
How Poor Site Supervision Leads to Millions in Wasted Materials (and How to Stop It)
Picture this: you walk onto your building site after a few days away. Sand you paid for has disappeared. Steel bars are scattered and bent. The tiles you imported? Cracked—because they were dumped carelessly in the rain. This isn’t an accident. It’s a consequence of poor site supervision. It happens all the time in Kenya. […]
The Hidden Costs of Building in Kenya That No One Talks About (But You’ll Pay Anyway)
Building your own home in Kenya is a dream many pursue—but few anticipate just how many “invisible” costs come crawling in once construction begins. The figures you scribbled in your notebook or entered into that Excel sheet? They probably only reflect about 70% of what you’ll end up spending. These hidden costs don’t make headlines, […]
From Mabati to Marble: Tracing the Evolution of Kenyan Home Finishes (And What It Says About You)
Walk into a newly built home in Nairobi, Eldoret, or even Nyeri today, and you’re likely to find imported tiles, quartz countertops, suspended ceilings, and LED lighting strips. But ask your parents—or take a stroll through homes built in the ’80s—and you’ll find a different story: mabati roofing sheets, chipboard ceilings, terrazzo floors, and green […]
Red Soil vs. Black Cotton Soil: The Untold Story Behind Your House’s Foundation
Before you dream of floor tiles or ceiling designs, there’s a silent influencer you should understand—the soil beneath your home. In Kenya, the two most common types of soil that construction projects deal with are red soil and black cotton soil. They may seem like just colour variations, but they behave very differently, especially when […]