Cost Effective Ways of Home Construction

 They say that if you need something done well, do it yourself. I think this applies to houses too. If you need your house to be exactly the way you want it, you know, the design of the rooms, the garden area, any Vaastu compliances, all of it – then you may want to get a house constructed. Now, it can be quite a costly affair so let me give you some tips on how you can save some money on Home Construction.

Building materials:

While low-maintenance materials might tempt your wallet with a higher initial cost, remember – their minimal upkeep down the line is a sweet reward worth every penny! Here are some of the materials and economical home construction ideas that you could go for:

1. Furniture – There’s always some furniture that one places at a particular place in the house and then it never moves until eternity. For example, I have the seating area in the Hall that has never seen another part of the house. I may replace the sofa when it gets worn out but the new sofa isn’t going to get a different resting place. Now, I am sure you’re going to have some of this as well. So, I suggest going for masonry furniture. You see, it’s going to be done as the house is getting built so not a lot of effort for the construction crew which ultimately means you saving money. But here’s the icing, masonry furniture is also more durable, especially when it comes to withstanding the natural elements.
2. Flooring – Now I know that wooden flooring or ceramic tiles add a touch of class to the house but cement flooring isn’t that bad at all. Especially, if it’s done by a skilled person. And if you still want to add some more life to it, you could always add borders consisting of mosaic tiles or even paint the floor to your desire. If you got a rustic theme going, consider going for cement floors surely.
3. Pallets on Walls – Wooden pallets are a great savings technique. Granted, they can go with only particular design ideas but they sure are growing in popularity and add that touch of a classic and contemporary finish.
4. Brick Finish – Brick finishes are a trend these days. I don’t know if it’s because they’re economical or just look good! Maybe both. Doing away with plastering and painting the walls ought to save you some of that moolah, isn’t it?
5. Using Recycled Wood – Recycled wood adds so much to the natural aesthetics of the design. You can use them for building roofs over your terrace or as deck flooring in the outdoors. Imagine a half-covered arena in your garden with a recycled wooden roof and recycled wooden cylindrical stools to sit and sip a cup of coffee (or tea) on. The bonus here is that they’re an easy material to work with, hence even for someone like me with some average skills, I could make a DIY project out of it and save some more.
6. Uncovered pipes and fixtures – Another rustic theme idea this. Although I am not sure how reliable and durable exposing your pipes and fixtures is to the natural eroding elements, but hey – an option to think about isn’t it!
7. Doors and Windows – Save cost on door framing by opting for RCC door frames instead of wooden ones. Using PVC doors for bathrooms and other wet areas is recommended. To reduce the cost of your doors further use laminated flush doors or blockboard for door opening but not for the main door of the house.
8. Prefabrication – Technology to the rescue here! Prefabrication involves constructing parts of the house at a factory, perhaps in different places, and then assembling these parts at the site to make them into a home. It is not just cost-effective, but also time-saving. And time is money, my friend.
9. Bricks – Fly-ash bricks are hi-tech bricks used for construction that are also known for their improved quality. They are also more eco-friendly compared to your usual red counterpart. Due to their lightweight and economical cost, they will help you lower the construction bill. But, if your house will be of more than 3 floors (you son of a Jeff Bezos), may I recommend AAC blocks. They are costlier than bricks but they’re quite lightweight. They will also reduce the steel consumption per unit built up and also keep the house slightly cooler compared to bricks, thus saving you tons on electricity bills.
10. Cement – Using the right cement grade is quite important. So let me educate you a bit on that. OPC cement, which is slightly costlier and PPC, is recommended for structural works like foundations, columns, roofs, and beams. PPC can be used for non-structural works like plastering and tiling. This is going to be a cost-saver in the long run as there will be no to fewer cracks due to heat. You could also mix 15 to 25% of fly ash to OPC 53 cement to go a step further. Another cost-saving and durability tip. Feel like a civil engineer now?
11. Buy Local – Buying material from local vendors helps save transportation costs which can be quite high depending on the distance between the vendor and construction site and how good you are at bargaining. You stand to be corrected if you think local brands are not of good quality.