Eng. Samson Gitonga
Civil & Structural Engineer
Samson Gitonga is TimberStone’s civil and structural engineer. Based in Nanyuki, he helps clients understand how the ground, the building plans and the materials come together to create a safe, practical structure.
Background
Samson is registered with the Engineers Board of Kenya and works across structural design, site supervision and construction delivery. His experience covers homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure projects in Laikipia, Nairobi, Naivasha and surrounding areas.
His work includes reinforced concrete buildings, steel structures, foundations, retaining walls and structures that manage or store water. He combines design work and structural calculations with site inspections, material coordination and oversight of contractors.
For clients, that means the engineering decisions can be explained in relation to the actual building and site. At TimberStone, questions found during construction can be checked against the design before the work continues.
His articles explain foundations, concrete, steel, upper floors and cracks in straightforward language, so clients know what matters and what to ask during their project.
On our projects
- Structural design for homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure projects
- Reinforced concrete and steel structure design
- Foundation and retaining-wall design for different ground and site conditions
- Site supervision, quality checks and coordination with contractors
- Structural calculations, statutory approvals and construction documentation
- Checking construction work against the agreed drawings
Advice from Eng. Samson Gitonga
Why dry timber matters for your doors and furniture
A door that starts sticking or a table that develops gaps can be frustrating, especially when the finish looked perfect on delivery. Timber can change shape as its moisture changes. Drying it properly, making it well and keeping it in suitable conditions all help it perform better in your home.
5 min read
Choosing the concrete floor for an upper storey
An upstairs concrete floor is supported by the structure below rather than resting on the ground. It is often called a suspended slab. The choice affects room sizes, ceiling heights, services and cost, so it is worth discussing while the house is still being designed.
3 min read
The steel inside your concrete: why the checks matter
The steel bars inside concrete help your house carry its loads safely. Once the concrete is poured, you cannot easily see whether those bars were in the right place. That is why the inspection before a pour matters, even when the steel looks neat and there seems to be plenty of it.
4 min read
Cracks in your house: what should you do?
Finding a crack in your wall can be worrying. Some cracks are limited to the finish; others need a closer look at the building. Where the crack is, whether it is changing and what else is happening around it all matter. Here is how to record what you see and know when to ask for help.
4 min read
Good concrete: what to ask before the pour
Once concrete covers the steel and foundations, much of the work is hidden. That makes the checks before and during the pour especially important. As the client, you do not need to choose a mix yourself. You need to know who is checking it, how it will be tested and how it will be looked after.
4 min read
What foundation does your house need?
The right foundation depends on your ground and the house you want to build. A bungalow, an apartment block and a house on a slope can need very different solutions. Your engineer should explain the choice in terms of your plot, the building and the cost of doing the whole job properly.
4 min read
Can you build a house on black cotton soil?
Yes, but the foundation needs to suit the ground. Black cotton soil can swell when wet and shrink when dry. If different parts of the ground move by different amounts, walls and floors can crack. The first step is to find out what is beneath the part of your plot where the house will stand.
4 min read
Need this expertise on your project?
Tell us about the site or the building and we will explain the next step.