COST EFFECTIVE BUILDING MATERIALS

SARTHAK KAURA

FLY ASH BRICKS:• CONTAINS CLASS C FLY ASH AND WATER.•COMPRESSED AT 4000 PSI •CURED FOR 24HRS IN A 150 DEGREE F STEAM BATH THEN TOUGHENED WITH AN AIR ENTERTAINMENT AGENT.•THE BRICKS LASTS FOR MORE THAN 100 FREEZE THAW CYCLES.•REDUCES MERCURY POLLUTION OF CALCIUM OXIDE IN CLASS C FLY ASH.•IT IS A SELF CEMENTING BRICK•COSTS 20% LESS THAN TRADITIONAL CLAY BRICK.•ADVANTAGES:•HIGH IN STRENGTH•NO BREAKAGE DURING TRANSPORT•LOW CONSUMPTION OF MORTAR•LOW WATER PENETRATION •GYSUM PLASTER CAN BE DIRECTLY APPLIED WITHOUT BACKING IT WITH LIME PLASTER.•DO NOT REQUIRE SOAKING IN WATER FOR 24HRS.•SPRINKLING OF WATER BEFORE USE IS ENOUGH•DISADVANTAGES:•MECHANICAL BOND STRENGTH IS WEAK•LIMITATION OF SIZE ONLY MODULAR SIZE CAN BE PRODUCED.LARGE SIZE WILL HAVE MORE BREAKAGES.COST:Rs 1.5- Rs 3

CONCRETE MASONRY UNIT:

•CONSUMES ABOUT 1/3RD OF THE ENERGY OF THE BURNT BRICKS.•THE WALL THICKNESS CAN BE REDUCED•SAVES MORTAR CONSUMPTION•THE PRESENCE OF A CORE ALLOWS STEEL REINFORCING TO BE INSERTED INTO THE ASSSEMBLY GREATLY INCREASING ITS STRENGTH•GREAT ABILITY TO RESIST LATERAL FORCES SUCH AS WIND LOAD AND SEISMIC FORCES•THESE UNITS ARE USED AS BOTH STRUCTURAL AND NON STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AND HAVE BEEN THE PREFERRED BUILDING BLOCKS IN THE WESTERN WORLD•THEY ARE FAST REPLACING TRADITIONAL BRICKS •CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCKS CAN BE:HOLLOW OR SOLIDLOAD BEARING OR NON LOAD BEARINGLIGHT WEIGHT OR DENSE•THESE BLOCKS ARE USED IN LOW AND HIGH RISE BUILDINGS,FOR BASEMENTS ,EXTERIORS AND INTERIOR WALLS AND PARTITIONSADVANTAGES:•ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY•PREVENTS OUTSIDE TEMP. FROM ENTERING THE INTERIOR•LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUMS •SPEED UP CONSTRUCTION•FIRE,MOLD ,WINDAND TERMITE RESISTANT•CHEAPER THAN WOODEN FRAMES•DURABLE

•DISADVANTAGES:• NO INSULATION•OFFERS UNPLEASANT ASTHETICS•COST:•4”- Rs 22 BASE PRICE FOR HOLLOW AND SOLID•6” Rs 25•8” RS 28

SOIL CEMENT BLOCK TECHNOLOGY•SOIL MIXED WITH 5% AND ABOVE CEMENT AND PRESSED IN HAND OPERATED MACHINES AND CURED WELL AND THEN USED IN THE MASONRY•DOSNT REQUIRE PLASTERNG ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WALL•ENERGY EFFICIENT METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION•15 TO 20% OVERALL ECONOMY ACHEVED •ADVANTAGES:•SELF HEALING PROPERTY•ALLOWS UTILIZATION OF LOCALLY AVAILABE MATERIALS•COST EFFECTIVE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT•DISADVANTAGES:•LOWER SPECIFIC WEIGHT THAN RIPRAP•DURABILITY DEPENDENT ON CLOSELY CONTROLLED CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS•AFFECTED BY WET OR COLD WEATHER

Foundation

A dump made out of boulders, brick bats, quarry waste and cement is a good alternative to conventional-size stone masonry. Even concrete waste can be recycled for this purpose.Walls

Regular table moulded bricks used in rat trap masonry require less mortar joint and bricks; hence lower costs. Cement concrete blocks are cost-effective compared to conventional brickwork. 

We have terracotta hollow blocks with different designs that are exposable in masonry. This is a good option provided they are not plastered and painted. 

Conventional-sized stones that are not elaborately dressed in combination with bricks in composite masonry can work out really well. 

While the stone face can be exposed, the brick face can be plastered and painted. Light-weight cement-based blocks made out of cinder contribute to economy in framed and high-rise structures. 

Where suitable quality soil is available, soil stabilised blocks made in-situ are a welcome option. They are made using soil, quarry dust and cement and can be used for load-bearing walls. 

They have a finish and colour that can be left without plastering. This material is not only cost-effective but also eco-friendly. 

Precast concrete wall units that can be assembled on site are an option in large scale constructions. They save time and thus cost. Bamboo is renewable as well as cost cutting.

Roofs

Composite roofs made out of filler slabs can cut concrete and steel costs. Terracotta blocks that are designed for roofs can be adopted. Precast beams and roof slab elements in RCC are widely used under suitable conditions. Also, there are materials like ferrocement and fibre reinforced concretes that can be explored. These units can be thin and can take different forms. With practically adaptable design options, one can arrive at cost-effective roofing elements.

Wood 

If one can recycle old wood for doors and windows, it saves a lot of money. Choosing aluminium and steel options are much cheaper than wood. Door frames made of concrete are available which are durable and involve less maintenance. In some situations, less expensive wood used for packing can be reused for panelling, railing or flooring. Hardwood that is enamel painted is less expensive compared to polished teakwood.Flooring

Locally available natural stones that are pre-polished are a good option. Other economical options are cement-based tiles, ceramic tiles and clay tiles. In-situ mosaics and cement floorings are also possible. Thin granite tiles made out of wasted granite works out really economical both in material and labour costs.

MORE MATERIALS FOR WALLS:COB:CONSISTS OF CLAY,SAND ,STRAW AND WATERPOSITIVE POINTS:•FIREPROOF•RESISTANT TO SEISMIC ACTIVITY•PROVIDES EXCELLENT THERMAL MASS•INEXPENSIVE•NEGATIVE POINTS :•24INCH THICK WALL•LARGE OVERHANGING ROOFCOMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK(CEB):CONSISTS OF DIRT AND NONEXPENSIVE CLAYCEB BLOCKS ARE INSTALED ONTO THE WALL BY HAND AND A SLURRY MADE OF A SLURRY MADE OF A SOUPY VERSION OF SAME DIRT/CLAY MIX WITHOUT AGGREGATE IS SPREAD OR BRUSHED VERY THINLY.POSITIVE POINT:•LOW MOISTURE CONTENT•DRYING TIME IS MUCH SHORTER •SOUND RESISTANT•FIRE RESISTANT•INSECT RESISTANT

VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS:

Vinyl windows represent the largest portion of market share in the replacement window industry. There is a variety of reasons for this all of them contributing to make vinyl the preferred material for windows. Vinyl is a material that can be extruded which is an important attribute. A well built window frame will have a great deal of hollow areas to it. The reason for this is there needs to be adequate width to the frame in order to bridge the thickness of the exterior wall, for the sides top and bottom. If the window were made in a solid fashion it would be overly expensive, be incredibly heavy, and believe it or not would not present with insulating properties as good as air.In the manufacturing process the frame of a vinyl window is created by extruding raw vinyl into complex shapes and chambers to provide the necessary size and strength. Thus from a manufacturing process stand point vinyl works extremely well.Another aspect to vinyl is its ability to resist heat transfer. What this means is if it's cold outside the vinyl does a good job of resisting the heat inside your home from being transferred to the out side. Conversely, if you are in a hot area, and are expending money keeping your home cool, vinyl will perform well by keeping that heat out, and the cool in.The only downside to vinyl is that there is a limitation on color selection. There are windows produced in different colors, but not all manufacturers bother with that, primarily because of concerns regarding fading.

Vinyl Windows - Pricing and Installation Cost Notes•Vinyl Window installation cost estimates typically require an onsite inspection - in most cases estimates are free, but will be accompanied by a strong sales pitch.•Cost ranges account for variations in contractor skill, job location and seasonal contractor wage rates.•Expect to pay an additional 5% - 14% in material and installation costs for complex installation configurations and patterns.•The homewyse installation cost estimate does not include costs for framing the rough opening, interior trim molding, decorative fittings.•The homewyse cost estimates includes all typical costs for delivery, simple frame modification and fitment, exterior flashing and trim, weatherstriping and accurate fitting to opening.•Higher priced Vinyl Windows may include features such as higher grade material of construction, more durable finishes, superior joinery, smoother operation and more energy efficient glass systems.•Vinyl Window installation costs will approach the high end of the range in or near major metropolitan areas.•Save money on the total project by having multiple vendors bid on the same, complete description of Vinyl Window work for your project.•Save money on installation costs by being flexible on project scheduling - schedule your project during slow periods for the installer.•Save money on material by shopping online or by choosing discountinued, odd lot, remnant or incorrectly ordered items from your retailer.

Vinyl Wall BaseInstallationone-inch long.Fold back wall base to pre-form the corner. The toe is to be rolled upwards which will assist in contouring. The top edge of the cove base should fit tight against the wall’s surface and the wall base toe should be rounded and sitting flat against the floor.Install the wall base corner as usual.Installation of Job-Site Formed Inside CornersInstall either piece directly into the corner as normal.Position wall base for other side of corner without adhesive on the adjoining wall approximately oneinch from the inside corner.Set dividers to corresponding width of gap.Slowly move the dividers downward in a straight vertical motion allowing one edge of the dividers to follow the profile of the installed wall base.After the profile has been transferred, use a utility knife to cut the pattern on the uninstalled wall base.Install the wall base corner as usual.Installation of Wall BaseInstall all corners prior to the installation of any wall base.Cut wall base to desired length and fit tightly against corners.Spread adhesive with a 1/8” saw

tooth spreader or disposable cartridge nozzle evenly on the back of the base or wall surface while not spreading within 1/4" from the top of the wall base.Apply the wall base in a manner that does not stretch the wall base. Stretching can cause the wall base to return to its original length and cause gapping.It is important to always roll the base in the direction of the last piece installed. This practice will ensure a tight fit at the seams.Bond the base to the wall within 15 minutes after adhesive application and lightly roll with a hand wall

The mezzanine floor often projects itself from the walls and does not completely close the view of the ceiling from the floor immediately below. In short, a mezzanine floor and the floor below it share the same ceiling. Mezzanine floors are often located between the ground floor and the floor above, but it is not unusual to have mezzanine floors in the upper floors of a building.

Mezzanine flooring:

Mezzanine Floor Cost: Mezzanine floors are very cost effective, especially when compared to relocating a business, even when a floor requires fire rating or planning permission. Mezzanine Floor Installation:Mezzanine Flooring with P.K Storage Solutions should be straightforward to install with most average sizes structures being installed in under 7 days Depending on size and location. Also on many installations current operations won’t be effected while the floor is being constructed. Mezzanine Planning Permission: Most mezzanines don’t require planning permission due to there size however even if they do it’s not a complicated process. Mezzanine Building Regulations/Fire Rating:Mezzanine floors do require building regulations and just like planning permission this isn’t a complicated or expensive or even stressful process. Building regulations and fire rating is a fairly simple but in-depth subject however until then or if you require information now speak to a P.K Storage Solutions mezzanine floor installer expert