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The Use of Traditional Building Materials in Modern Methods of Construction (A case Study of Northern Nigeria)
Amal Gambo Muazu1, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Zafer Alibaba2
1
Eastern Mediterranean University, School of Architecture, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus
E-mail: amalmuazu@gmail.com
2
School of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University,Gazimagusa, North Cyprus
E-mail: halil.alibaba@gmail.com
Abstract
In Nigeria, traditional building materials are found in large quantities and varieties, although these materials are dependent
upon the geographical location of the area. The most widely used and readily available traditional building materials in
Nigeria are adobe, sheep’s wool, clay, bamboo, thatch, stones, timber, coconut tree, and straw bales. These materials have
economic advantages compared to the imported and retrofit materials.
Sustainable construction is a form of construction that requires knowledge in use of readily available building materials
which have low carbon emission and also reusable and recyclable for other functions, and produced on site or nearby area
to ease transportation cost. The rise in the cost of constructing houses has remained a major concern for the government in
Nigeria because of the over reliance on the use of imported construction materials. Its high time to look into sustainable
traditional building materials as an alternative which would act as a catalyst in the reduction of housing cost. Apart from
the economic aspects, most traditional building material are known for their thermal properties which would go a long
way in reducing the energy cost and issues of thermal comfort in houses. Energy consumption is a critical environmental
factor in the construction sector which is a relevant factor in the processing of building materials in the industrialized
process. Sustainable design should utilize traditional building materials because of how readily available it is and its
renewable properties. However, some of these traditional materials are produced without any form of standardization.
This has greatly affected its development in Nigeria. Hence this paper would be looking into how best traditional
buildings materials can used in contemporary form of building construction and techniques. At the end of this paper we
should be able to determine why traditional building materials has not been accepted into the contemporary construction
sector in Nigeria and proper solutions on how traditional building materials can be reinvigorated back into the Nigerian
construction sector.
Keywords: Traditional building materials, questionnaire survey and modern methods of construction.
1. Introduction
Majority of buildings in Northern Nigeria are still constructed using traditional techniques and materials (timber,
bamboo). Once again, in the most recent years there has been an increase use of modern techniques for building
development, driven by a range of factors including requests for more rapid construction, the sustainability of construction
and shortage of skilled labor. Natural building materials, such as stone, wood, straw, sheep's wool, fibers, hemp, cork and
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clay are examples of the traditional building materials. But, in the last fifteen years, there has been an upturn of interest in
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Correspondinng Author: Amal Gambo Muazu, IJESTR, Volume – 2, Issue – 6, Page No. 30 - 40
Amal Gambo Muazu, et al. International Journal of Engineering Science Technology And Research (IJESTR)
natural and unconventional construction materials. Housing is among the most basic human needs, it is a vital component
towards a sustainable environmental development. Sustainability has been characterized as a development of the economy
that satisfies the needs of the current generation without compromising the opportunity and the potential the future
generations. [1] Generally, sustainability is divided into three sectors, which includes economic, environmental, and social
sectors, which represent three pillars of sustainable development [2]. In the design world, sustainable construction affects
the short and long term economic goals [3]. Traditional building materials cut the cost of the overall construction by an
easier construction process, low transportation costs and lower economic demands. Social sustainability focuses on the
building users. The occupants need (current and future) to influence the building design, which creates a highly-flexible
plan that lets the building to be easily re-purposed as needs change by the design. A structure that can be used for a very
long time portrays a flexible design, which prevents the negative impact involved in tearing down an existing building and
rebuilding a new one [4]. An increase in the efficient energy use of a building addresses its environmental sustainability,
therefore, the structure should be designed in such a way that it utilizes the natural energy for both heating and other
energy needed activities. It also entails installing water reduction measures, waste management and using green and local
building materials. In relation to site context, the location and orientation of a building can make it more environmentally
friendly. According to the three pillars of sustainable development, the main advantages of the use of traditional building
materials in modern methods of entails the following: [5] Economic sustainability; entails construction of buildings by
modern building methods using traditional materials have less effect and they can be built quickly. A better standard is
provided and quality of design and the process of construction can be zoomed up by mass production of prefabricated
components in factories or on site. Social sustainability; dwells on the methods and materials that have fewer accidents
and less impact on local residents during construction and as well the reduction in labor intensive activities and
establishment of a safer working environment. To help reduce unsuccessful work, Architects and contractors from
different places can work closely together in the early design stage. Environmental sustainability; entails less transport of
materials, and produce lesser amount of waste, for an efficient energy use throughout the life cycle of the building.
1.1 Traditional Materials Available In Nigeria
Traditional (natural) building materials can be used as:
Structural materials – load bearing construction (wood, stone, rammed earth, straw bales, clay bricks, etc.)
Insulation materials – sheep wool, fibers - hemp, cork, etc.,
Complementary materials – realization of plastering, painting, flooring (clay, cork, etc.).
a. Rice hull is used in the production of hollow blocks thereby providing insulation. The raw material is readily available
and inexpensive, while the processing equipment can be made locally. [6]
b. Hempcrete is a bio-composite made of the inner woody core of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder. It is
used mainly for insulating materials in floors, walls and roofs as a high-quality product, containing hemp fibers
(85%), fibers 10%, and 5% sodium carbonate, which is added as a fire protection. [7]
c. Sheep’s wool is used as an insulation material. It is fire resistant, it purifies air and it is sustainable. It forms millions
of tiny air pockets that trap air, helping to provide a thermal barrier. It is natural, ecological and renewable.
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d. Stone is used for walls, floors, arches and roofs. Building stones possess high strength, durability, thermal mass. It can
easily be recycled.
e. Bamboo has higher tensile strength than steel because its fibers run axially. It is cost effective and easy to use. It is
fire resistant and has low weight. It also has high carbon sequestration capacities.
f. Coconut Lumber is best for structural elements like Pillars, window and door frames, floors and decking.
g. Clay is the oldest natural building materials. It consists of a mixture of clay, sand, and dust. It may also contain
coarser particles (gravel) or organic material. The most common way to use clay in the construction is in the form of
clay bricks or clay in the form of ramming. In addition, it presents the filling of half-timbered construction and wood
framed construction or as a clay plaster. [8]
h. Straw occurs in the form of straw bales which are then used either as infill cladding for wood framed buildings or as
load-bearing construction. [9]
Each of this traditional construction material is characterized by physical properties that determine its use in construction
sector (Tab.1). The natural materials are the most common use as thermal insulating material.
Natural material Density ρ [kg/m3] Coefficient of thermal Usage
conductivity λ [W/(mK)]
local work force on the materials. Hempcrete, cob, earthbags, straw bale construction etc. are some of the frequently used
natural building techniques. Raw earth is an abundant resource in several rural areas in Nigeria, and as a result it became a
popular building material [11]. Recently, modern technologies have renovated the use of raw earth materials to enhance
its workability. Compressed earth blocks made of a semi dry mix of clay and sand and produced using a mechanized
hydraulically compressed block machine are created from raw earth materials. One of the notable improvement observed
in these blocks is its load bearing capacity that is two-third that of concrete masonry blocks. Another improvement of this
earth material is achieved by adding little percentage of cement during the cause of production in order to produce
compressed and stabilized earth blocks. The comprehensive strength of the block is better and its water resistance, and
provide the platform for thinner and higher walls to be built. The energy requirement of stabilized compressed raw earth
blocks is 3-5 times lower than the conventional fired blocks. [12] Hempcrete has an extraordinary thermal property. The
pocket of air trapped within the material provides insulation; both in the spaces between particles of hemp shiv, and in
microscopic pores in the hemp shiv itself. Hempcrete provides thermal mass, as well as insulation, due to density of the
lime binder once it has set [7]. These points to the fact that hempcrete can store heat inside the fabric of the material itself,
as such it differs from lightweight insulation that only has the ability to store heat within the trapped air inside the
material. The ability of hempcrete to store heat in this way as well as insulating has two important advantages.
Figure 2A and B: Thermal insulation by Hempcrete panels and prefabricated Hempcrete panels [7]
The natural construction material which is frequently use is wood which can be applied to heavy framed, light framed or
log construction. The most popular types of building methods for wood are light wood framed construction in Northern
Nigeria buildings. We are familiar with the method of construction where the wood presents load-bearing construction
and other natural materials (straw bales can) presents infill cladding [13]. Wood can be used in various ways of
construction, with the major difference coming in level of prefabrication. Therefore, it becomes relevant to comprehend
the relationship between prefabrication, construction time, moisture content of the material and the need for climate
protection, as related to the choice of wood material and production method. High-rise buildings with seven or more
floors, sports halls, car parks are structures that are not usually associated with wood construction. Nevertheless, wood has
become a frequently used structural material in the construction of several buildings in Nigeria.
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Figure 4 [14]
Figure 8: respondent’s awareness about the use of natural materials available in Nigeria
The best know traditional material in Nigeria is wood as well as wooden construction (52%). Sheep’s wool and clay are
available too while the least available material is hempcrete because it is imported from other countries. As a result,
sheep’s wool is mostly used for insulation than hempcrete. The respondent’s response from the questionnaire survey
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was based on the cost of materials, availability in Nigeria, skilled workers that can work with natural materials, and the
availability of conventional materials.
Figure 9: respondent’s awareness about the cost of traditional materials over conventional materials
According to the respondents, 65% agree that traditional materials are cheaper than conventional materials while 27%
did not agree. Traditional materials are available in Nigeria and they are cheap, therefore the use of them in modern
methods of construction res
Conclusion
Sustainable construction targets to meet housing needs, infrastructure and conducive working environment without risking
the ability of future generation to cater for their own necessities when the time arrives. Sustainable construction includes
the economic efficiency, social responsibilities, and environmental performances which contribute to the architectural
quality and technical innovation. Traditional building materials are sustainable, renewable cheap and available
everywhere. Use of these materials in new construction techniques will enhance energy efficiency in sustainability and
reduce the construction cost. The modernization and Innovation implemented to meet current building standards and
living conditions are posing a threat to make the traditional building material perish. Nevertheless, sustainable and green
building movement provides the traditional materials to be used as a result of locally accessible resources/materials that
match the need local condition in a cost-effective manner. Most traditional buildings in Nigeria were constructed with
natural materials that are complex and sometimes not compatible with modern materials used today in the construction
industry. Some of the factors that add interest to a building and increase its importance are craftsmanship and building
materials. Prior to the commencement of the construction, the craftsmen must have a full understanding on the materials
and methods they are going to use in the building.In modern Nigerian Architecture, traditional building materials play an
important role; mostly in family houses and to a lesser extent in public buildings, as well as some examples of agricultural
buildings. The extent to which they are used can be explained by people's demands for high quality materials. Housing
holds a significant role in terms of necessities than education and health in developing countries like Nigeria. As such the
possession of a house in Nigeria is held with higher value than in advance industrialized countries. In developing
countries like Nigeria, when a family doesn’t have a home they call their own, that family is viewed as a very poor family.
The provision of affordable housing for many citizens is still the principal focus of the government in Nigeria. Traditional
building materials can be combined with conventional materials in modern construction to add their strength and
durability.The aim of this paper was the based on the questionnaire survey to define the use of traditional building
materials in modern methods of construction. The respondents of questionnaire survey determined the drivers and barriers
of traditional materials by using modern methods of construction and assess the public interest in natural building material
usage. The use of traditional construction material is one of the sustainable ways of construction rather than the use of
new methods of construction. The study revealed that the availability and affordability of traditional materials,
renewability, energy efficiency, biodegradability and many more are the main advantages of traditional building materials.
Similarly, durability, deforestation, acceptability, low strength, maintenance and other issues were discovered to be the
major problems of using traditional materials.
References
[1]. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). (1987). Our common future. Oxford University
Press.
[2]. Tazikova A. (2014). Sustainability of existing buildings obtained by reconstruction. In Innovative approaches to the
design and management of buildings reconstruction, Kosice: TUKE
[3]. Keiner M. (2005). History, definition(s) and models of sustainable development. ETH Zurich
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[4]. Akeju, A. (2007). Challenges to providing affordable housing in Nigeria, Paper presented at the 2nd emerging urban
Africa international conference on urban housing finance in Nigeria, held at shehu yar’adua centre Abuja, October 17-19,
2007.
[5]. Marcela Spišáková, Daniela Mačková, The Use Potential of Traditional Building Materials for the Realization of
Structures by Modern Methods of Construction. SSP - JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol. 10, Issue 2, 2015
[6]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_hulls
[7]. http://www.americanlimetechnology.com/what-is-hempcrete/
[8]. www.sustainablematerials.org.uk/resource/clay.html
[9]. http://www.strawbalecentral.com/techniques3.html
[10]. Modern methods of house building. (2003). Postnote, London
[11]. Prof. Ikechukwu Onyegiri and Iwuagwu Ben Ugochukwu, Traditional Building Materials as a Sustainable Resource
and Material for Low Cost Housing in Nigeria: Advantages, Challenges and the Way Forward. Int'l Journal of Research in
Chemical, Metallurgical and Civil Engg. (IJRCMCE), 2016.
[12]. Auroville Earth Institute (2009). Earth Based Technologies. [Online]: www.earth-
auroville.com/maintenance/uploaded_pics/4-cseb-en.pdf.
[13]. http://tiltconstructionlimited.com/images/project/Benin/wk6/wk6-2.jp.
[14]. www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/States
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