Low Cost Housing Techniques

Low cost Housing is a new idea that deals with cost effective construction and following of techniques that facilitate in reducing the price construction through the utilisation of regionally available materials together with improved skills and technology without sacrificing the strength, performance and lifetime of the structure.

There is huge misconception that low cost housing is appropriate for only sub standard works and that they are constructed by utilising low cost building materials of competitive quality.

The fact is that Low cost housing is completed by correct management of resources.Economy is additionally achieved by postponing finishing works or implementing them in phases.

Building cost

The building construction value will be divided into 2 elements namely:

Building material value : 65 to 70 %

Labour value : 65 to 70 %

Now in low cost housing, building material value is a smaller amount because we build use of the regionally available materials and additionally the labour value will be reduced by properly creating the time schedule of our work. cost of reduction is achieved by selection of a lot of economical material or by an improved design.

Areas from where cost can be reduced are:-

1) Reduce plinth area size by using thinner wall concept.Ex.15 cms thick solid concrete block wall.

2) Use regionally available material in an innovative type like soil cement blocks in place of burnt brick.

3) Use energy efficiency materials that consumes less energy like concrete block in place of burnt brick.

4) Use environmentally friendly materials that are substitute for conventional building parts like use R.C.C. Door and window frames in place of wood frames.

5) Preplan each part of a house and rationalize the planning procedure for reducing the size of the part in the building.

6) By coming up with each and every part of a house the wastage of materials due to demolition of the unplanned part of the house can be avoided.

7) each part of the house shall be checked whether if it’s necessary, if it's not necessary, then that part should not be used.

Published by: Izza Architects