Temporary Houses
These are cheap, easy to build, but easy to destroy by fire, and are useful to live in temporarily while cultivating new land, or building a permanent house. An example is the grass hut, which is not very satisfactory because there is sometimes poor lighting, not enough space, it is difficult to keep clean, and in many grass huts there is danger from rats in the grass that can carry plague. This type of house can easily catch fire and so can be very dangerous.
Semipermanent Houses
These type of houses can last for about 10 to 15 years and are often made of mud and wattle, with a thatched or iron roof.
The round house may be adequate for one to two people and shall be the following:
1. A diameter of about 12 feet for one person and of nearer 15 feet for two persons.
2. A window 3 feet by 2 feet.
3. Floors 6 inches above the level of the ground.
4. If divided the wall should be 7 feet high.
5. A shallow trench dug to catch the rainwater from the roof.
6. The roof should have good slope.
7. If the walls are plastered with mud there should be a smooth finish without cracks.
Round huts are easy to make, and cheap and local materials are used. Extra huts can be built for a growing family, and in traditional polygamous families there can be separate units for different wives.
Permanent Houses
It is important for people to understand how to build, use, and maintain a modern house for a family. It might be better to keep a number of round huts than to crowd a large family into a badly built modern house.
First, a good site must be choosen on good soil, away from the road, and near to a water supply.
Good materials are then needed - blocks, seasoned timber, cement, iron or aluminium roof covering, windows and ventilators in one unit, and doors with hinges.
Help and advice about costs, sites, plans, and building problems in general can be had from local health inspector or district councils. It is good to have a plan that will allow for extension of the building if the family grows, and the income also grows.
The walls should be strong to support the roof and a damp-proof course is needed. This is layer of some impervious material, for example bitumen or sheet metal, placed above ground level and below the underside of the floor. Walls are sometimes made from hollow blocks and there are good for insulation and sound-proofing. Whitewashing helps to reflect light in the room.
All rooms should be of a reasonable size and the entire house should be big enough for the family.
There should be mosquito guaze on the windows and also on the permanent ventilation that should be present in each room. Ventilators provide fresh air, especially in areas where it is necessary to lock windows at night for fear of burglars.
In cold districts modern houses need fireplacer and chimneys so that a fire can be safely made in the house.
