The rising inflation rate is forcing costs upwards. The cost of constructing a home is increasing too. But you don’t need to let this put the brakes on your plans of a dream home. With some careful planning, you can get all that you want in quality and space.

Cost-Saving Exteriors

With the cost of cement, steel and wood rising by almost 40 per cent over the last year, those constructing their homes are opting for cost effective materials in the building process. Use of sustainable materials such as bricks, mud, bamboo and clay tiles instead of the conventional cement and steel combination for walls and roofs.

Here are some cost-saving techniques

Walls

Hallow blocks: This type of brick is hollow and is commonly used in the construction of 9 – 10 inch thick walls. The hollow blocks are held together with rat-trap bonding. This involves laying bricks on their side with a cavity of four inches between them. The plan surfaces of bricks make the outer surfaces of the walls.

This method consumes 20 per cent less bricks and hence the overall saving on the cost of this wall is around 26 per cent Traditionally 9.3 square meters of this type wall will approximately costs Rs 7,000 compared to the conventional 9 inch wall amounting to Rs. 9,000. The overall saving on cost of this will compared to the traditional 9 inch wall is about 26 per cent.

Exposed brickwork: As the name suggests this type construction has the red brickwork on the walls exposed. Wire cut bricks is used. This method costs 30-40 percent lesser than most cement and brick types because the walls do not require concrete plastering. The cost is further reduced because these walls do not require painting too.

Mud plastering: Instead of cement plastering, a mixture of red soil, kerosene, tar and adhesive materials make a natural option for plastering. This type of plastering has natural properties and texture, and does not exude heat. It also does not require painting. Cutting down costs considerably.

Roof

Bamboo roofing: This is a new technique in this type of roofing; bamboo poles with 6-10 cm circumference are laid across the roof. Concrete mixture of one-inch thickness is spread on top of the bamboo poles.

Filler slab roof: This type of roof uses a slab made of a mix of local low-cost and light-weight fillers such as mud, broken clay tiles, pots, pieces of cement blocks and broken bricks. Because of this, this method consumes less concrete and steel due to the reduced weight of the slab. It reduces the cost of cement and steel by 40 per cent and does not use any timber. The cost saving on a filler slab is 23 per cent compared to a concrete slab. A filler slab of 4-inch thickness and 9.3 squre meters will be an estimated Rs. 13,000 compared to a concrete slab of the specifications costing Rs 17,000.

Mangalore tiles: The use of Mangalore tiles is another low-cost option for roofing .The concrete roof slab is laid with appropriate elevated striations to hold the tiles. Mangalore tiles do not require concrete to hold them in place.They are interlocked together over the striated concrete elevated lines. Since these clay tiles trap heat between them, the roof does not pass on the heat into the house.

INTERIORS:

When drawing up a budget for your home, apart from the construction costs, it makes sense to also add the cost of interiors like wardrobes and modular kitchen, wall and floor tiles, painting, etc. This can give you a rough estimate without unpleasant surprises later. Often an architect will work as an interior designer as well and can help you create the inner spaces. The kitchen and bathrooms are the most expensive areas in a home. The number, size and quality of windows, vaulted ceilings and high roofs can add to the cost. "Steel windows are cheaper than wood ones, and concrete frames are more cost effective than steel and wood put together.

WOOD OPTIONS

Sticking to low-cost options in wood for interiors seems prudent especially in times of rising prices. Particleboard today comes in excellent wood grain pattern to exude the same pure wood appeal. It is light and can be changed frequently to suit the interior decor theme on wardrobes and kitchen cabinets. Burma teak is the most expensive option yet but is a favourite for its sheer quality and strength. Since the front door has to be the sturdiest and most secure among all doors in the home, teak wood is used mostly for the front door.