COST EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

At various research centres Extensive research and development works have been taken place to use, waste materials, local materials and prefabricated structural components to reduce the cost of construction. Improved cost effective technology is described below:

1. Foundation: for foundations under reamed piles have been developed for housing in black cotton soil area.

2. Damp Proof Courses: Use of bituminous materials, polythene and cement mortar with water proofing agents for damp proof courses have been suggested.

3. Walls: Fly ash bricks, precast hollow concrete blocks (without plaster), brick panels and precast wall panels can be used to get reasonably good comfort within little cost.

4. Doors and Windows: Precast R.C.C. frames can save 25 %to 30 %cost when composed with wooden frames. Particle board shutters may be used Instead of wooden shutters.

5. Lintels and Chejja: Locally available stones and slates may serve as lintels and chejja.

6. Precast Structural Elements: In mass constructions works precast members can be used for, beams, columns, reapers and stair cases. One can think of using wall panels also.

7. Roof Units: for low cost housing roofs. A.C. sheets, cement bonded fibre sheets, lime and fly ash cellular slabs, paper corrugated sheets solid planks, ferrocement roof units, slates etc. can be used

8. Flooring: Low cost housing flooring may be with thin clay tiles, soil cement base, bricks on edges or with flagstones.

There is cost reduction if group housing is taken up automatically, since mobilization of men, material cost is reduced and continuity of labour work is maintained.