Low-Cost Housing has been a buzzing topic in the world of construction. It mainly deals with effective budgeting and following certain low cost house construction techniques that help in significantly reducing the construction cost through smart use of locally available materials along with improved skills and technology. And yes, all this comes without sacrificing the strength, performance, and life of the building structure.
Now, there is a huge misconception that low-cost housing is suitable for only sub-standard works and they involve the use of cheap building materials that are of low quality. The fact is that Low-cost housing is done by proper planning and efficient management of resources. In this guide, we bring for you the top low cost house construction techniques that you could use in building your dream home.
Top 10 Low Cost House Construction Techniques
1. Select The Right Plot
Before you begin construction, you select the plot, isn’t it? So, when you are selecting a plot for your home, opt for one that is neither too high nor too low compared to the height or depth of the road. This is because if the height or depth of the construction plot is way not up to the road level on the front, then a higher amount of filling would be required which is going to surge your construction cost.
2. Keep The Plan Simple
One of the things that add up the additional cost to your project is a fuzzy plan that is full of curves and complexities. Such plans represent a huge chunk of your building costs; hence it is important to keep a watch. If you have hired an architect, then evaluate every single detail and complexity of the plan – and yes, the cost involved.
3. Your Material Choices Can Make A Huge Difference
In any construction project, building materials form one of the main items of expenditure and can make or break your budget. We suggest you take quotes from different sellers before selecting your final materials. When you get multiple quotes for different construction materials it becomes easier to go with the reasonable one and this helps in lowering the cost further down.
But again, never compromise with the quality of the construction material just for lowering the cost, this can cost you irreversible damages in the future.
You can also go for eco-friendly construction materials like Porotherm Smart Bricks.
4. Prefer Load-Bearing Structure Over Frame One
When it comes to defining the structure of the home, your arrangement should preferably be a load-bearing one. This is primarily because of the below mentioned advantages:
- More Economical – in the case of low rise buildings, these are quite cheaper. This is because a lesser amount of steel rods and concrete is used.
- Easy To Construct – Load-bearing structures are easier to construct as it demands lesser time which reduces cost and energy consumption.
- Flexible – It is quite flexible, as well.
5. Foundation Of The Building
The building’s foundation is one of the most vital aspects of any construction. It involves around 11 percent to 16 percent of the total building costs. Normally, the depth of a building foundation should be 3-4 feet deep in the soil. But this can be altered to around 2 feet in depth for typical soils. This can save a lot of time and the total costs; but in other delicate or soft soils, the cost reduction objective may not be fully attained or executed correctly.
6. Go For Known Contractors
It is always a good idea to take suggestions from relatives and neighbors about the best and budget-friendly contractors in your area. Unquestionably, a good resource full team can help you save a lot of time and also guarantee you quality at an economical price.
7. Prefabricated materials
Prefabricated construction denotes a state where all the essential and necessary building or construction basics are ready-made and bought. So, it is quite visible that it will save a great amount of time and concentrate on the work’s durability. Examples of some prefabricated materials include floor slabs and materials for doors & windows.
8. Precast Staircase System
As compared to the conventional “cast-in-situ” staircase system, the precast staircase system is a new, efficient, and effective method of building a stairway in buildings. Here are a few of the benefits of a precast staircase system:
- Quick and cheap construction.
- Less labor is required.
- A cantilever can support it.
9. Pay Attention To Electricals
To reduce the recurring cost for repairing select the branded wires for House wiring. You may save costs by choosing native build switches and sockets. Also, go for the fittings which are economical for you and which demand less maintenance.
10. Doors, Windows, And Sanitaryware’s
We already mentioned the perks of using prefabricated materials to be quicker and more creative. You should make sure that you do not spend so much money on windows and doors and select a design that provides maximum durability with significantly less amount. And when it comes to Sanitaryware’s, be as choosy as possible, this could save you a lot of money involved in repairs in the near future.
In Conclusion
With the above low cost house construction techniques you can complete a low-cost housing or construction project without compromising on the quality of materials being used. The above-stated low cost house construction techniques also help in saving energy throughout.
Also Read: 12 Amazing Wall Painting Techniques That Can Style Up Your Walls
Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India
