ما نعرفه، مكتوباًWhat we know, written down

Why do two quotes differ per metre?

Because a 'metre' isn't a standard unit. One quote covers structure only, another adds finishing, a third adds services. Before comparing two numbers, make sure they measure the same thing — and only a bill of quantities shows that.

The six factors

• Scope: structure only, structure plus finishing, or turnkey
• Number of floors: each one changes foundations and columns
• Foundation system: determined by a soil test, not an estimate
• Material specifications: can be 30% of the finishing line
• Design complexity: domes, screens and double-height voids cost
• Plot location: access, slope and service levels

What to ask for before signing

Ask for an itemised bill of quantities with specifications and prices, and a schedule with handover stages linked to payments. A one-page offer with a single total is a promise, not a contract.

Why do two quotes differ per metre?

Because a 'metre' isn't a standard unit. One quote covers structure only, another adds finishing, a third adds services. Before comparing two numbers, make sure they measure the same thing — and only a bill of quantities shows that.

The six factors

• Scope: structure only, structure plus finishing, or turnkey
• Number of floors: each one changes foundations and columns
• Foundation system: determined by a soil test, not an estimate
• Material specifications: can be 30% of the finishing line
• Design complexity: domes, screens and double-height voids cost
• Plot location: access, slope and service levels

What to ask for before signing

Ask for an itemised bill of quantities with specifications and prices, and a schedule with handover stages linked to payments. A one-page offer with a single total is a promise, not a contract.

First cost versus repeat cost

Aluminium formwork clearly costs more up front than timber. But it is reused dozens of times and shortens the floor cycle. The question isn't which is cheaper — it's how many times you will repeat it.

Where voided slabs pay off

On long spans that need a thick slab. Voiding cuts the slab's own weight, so columns and foundations shrink with it — the saving shows up across the whole system, not in the slab alone.

When not to use them

On a one-off project with a non-repeating design, conventional methods stay the better choice. There's no sense buying a formwork system for a build that won't repeat.

One rule governs every stage

Whatever gets covered can't be reviewed. Rebar disappears under concrete, services under plaster, waterproofing under tile. Inspection before covering isn't a formality — it's your only chance.

What to ask to see

• Photos of the rebar for each element before the pour
• The soil test result and foundation report
• Concrete test cubes and their 28-day results
• Flood tests on roofs and bathrooms before finishing
• The services route photographed before plastering

At Manzil Al-Binaa, termite treatment after backfill is carried out in a way that gives the highest level of protection and peace of mind: we use a liquid termiticide rather than the traditional powder, to ensure long-lasting effectiveness. The product is applied by a considered method that covers the full soil area, with a warranty of up to ten years — which reflects our commitment to execution quality and treatment accuracy, without affecting the pace of delivery or raising costs.

Building a services shaft serves several purposes. First, it avoids damaging the reinforcement of the roof beams: running services through the walls means cutting rebar, which harms load transfer and the behaviour of the structural system. Second, keeping the services outside the walls allows them to be maintained without breaking anything open, and makes a leak point easy to locate. On every project we create space for this shaft after reviewing the engineering drawings and agreeing it with the client.

Door lintels at Manzil Al-Binaa are built in a way that keeps the work fast and the cost down without affecting quality: for small openings we install a precast lintel in a double longitudinal arrangement, and for larger openings we cast in place, to ensure load capacity and accuracy of execution.