Seven stages, each signed off by you.
You always know what is happening now, what comes next and what you will pay for it. Nothing moves to the next stage until you have seen the evidence.
| Stage | What happens | You receive | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brief | Consultation, site visit, budget check. | Written brief and feasibility note | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 2. Due diligence | Title document check, topographic survey, soil investigation. | Survey, soil report, land status note | 2 to 3 weeks |
| 3. Design | Concept options, then full architectural, structural and services drawings. | Drawing set, 3D views, bill of quantities | 4 to 8 weeks |
| 4. Approvals | Planning and building permit applications filed and tracked. | Approval documents and receipts | 4 to 12 weeks |
| 5. Substructure | Setting out, excavation, foundation, damp-proof course, ground slab. | Inspection sign-off, cube test results | 1 to 2 months |
| 6. Superstructure | Columns, beams, blockwork, floor slabs, roofing, services first fix. | Weekly reports, slab test results | 3 to 7 months |
| 7. Finishes and handover | Plastering, tiling, fittings, painting, external works, snagging. | As-built drawings, manuals, warranty | 2 to 4 months |
Durations are for a typical two-storey home. Approval times depend on the state and agency.
You pay for progress you can see.
A standard CIDO build contract releases money in stages. Each payment is due only after the milestone is inspected and the report is in your portal.
- 10%Mobilisation, after approvals are receivedStart
- 15%Foundation and ground slab completeStage 5
- 20%Ground floor frame and blockworkStage 6
- 20%Upper floors and roof structureStage 6
- 15%Roofing, windows and services first fixStage 6
- 15%Finishes and second fixStage 7
- 5%Retention, paid after the defects period+6 months
Tests we run on every structural job
Building collapses in Nigeria are most often traced to weak concrete, undersized steel and unapproved changes. These are the checks we make, and we send you the results.
Soil investigation
Boreholes or cone tests before foundation design, so the foundation suits the ground.
Cube and slump tests
Samples from each pour crushed at 7 and 28 days against the design strength.
Reinforcement checks
Bar diameter, spacing and cover checked against the structural drawing before every pour.
Engineer inspection
A senior engineer signs off each structural stage. No sign-off, no pour.
Written into every contract
- Itemised bill of quantities and a fixed scope before work starts.
- Material prices held for 60 days from contract signing.
- A named site engineer and project lead, reachable on WhatsApp.
- A 6-month defects period after handover.
- A 10-year structural warranty.
- Health and safety plan on every site, with PPE for every worker.
Let's build what comes next.
Book a free consultation. Bring your idea, your land documents or just a budget, and leave with a clear plan.