Building Construction
How to construct residential building?
There’s first step is to make an estimate before starting the construction of residential building. Material cost, labour cost and contingencies are included in estimation consideration.
Before the estimation, building plans and drawings are prepared according to the need of resident/owner, then it is approved by the competent authority and owner.
The purpose of approval is to insure that building drawings, designs and plans are safe & according to regulations. After approval the construction work is started on contract basis or daily labour basis.
First step on ground is to take possession of plot and mark the boundaries of plot. Then the plot is cleaned and layout is done according to drawings. Now the construction of residential building construction begin.
Following are the steps for house/residential building construction.
Earth work in building construction:
In construction work usually there’s a excavation for foundation, this excavation is called earth work. Foundation has width and depth according to drawings. After the construction of foundation, the excavated soil is refilled and compacted.
After refilling up to the ground floor level, if the remaining excavated soil is extra then it is used in ramp and road construction in front of building. If there’s more remaining soil left, it is then dig into a suitable place.
Concrete work in foundation:
After the completion of exacavation, its depth is checked by the level. If there’s fluctuation, it is then corrected. After that layer of concrete is then placed at the bottom. That concrete mix ratio is usually (1:4:8).
Sometimes it can be (1:5:10) or (1:6:20), because its a lean concrete and lean concrete is use/place to get smooth surface. Depth of this concrete layer can be between 20cm to 45cm (9″ to 18″). Usually 30cm (12″) is used.
Damp proof course:
To protect the super structure of building, there’s a 2.5cm (1″) thick concrete layer is placed which is called damp proof course. Concrete mix ratio (1:1.5:3) is used for DPC. Sometimes waterproof material is also added in @ 1kg/cement bag.
Read in detail about damp proof course.
Masonry work in building construction:
Masonry work is done with cement mortar. Mix ratio for mortar is 1:4 to 1:6 is used. The quantity of brick work is calculated separately for sub structure and super structure as well.
It is also calculated separately for each storey. If it solid wall e.g. 9″ or more then it is calculated by volume method in cubic meter or cubic feet, and then windows and doors spaces are then deducted.
The calculation of single brick wall e.g. 10cm (4.5″), the quantity of brick work is calculated by area method in square feet or square meter.
Arch and Lintal:
To cover the top of openings of doors and windows in building, arch or lintal are constructed. According to their material, its quantity is calculated separately in cubic meter and cubic feet. Arch is mostly made up with bricks while lintal is made up with reinforced brick or reinforced cocnrete.
Reinforced concrete work:
Lintal, slab, column and column footing usually constructed with reinforced concrete. Good quality of concrete should be used in R.C.C work e.g. (1:2:4).
These quantities are calculated in cubic meter and cubic feet, plus the addition of steel. Steel is calculated as separate item.
Flooring and roofing:
Floor and roof quantities of building are calculated in cubic meter/cubic feet as separate items. Floor finishing can be conglomerate, tarrazo, marble or tile floor. Which is calculated separately.
Plastering & pointing in building construction:
After completion of masonry and R.C.C work. The form work of slab is then removed and plastering/pointing is started. For plaster work the mortar mix ratio (1:3) to (1:4) is used.
Plater is usually 12mm (1/2″) thick while pointing is done accordingly. Pointing is done on the outer surface of building while plaster is inside.
Doors and windows:
Doors are usually made up of wood while windows of aluminum is consider to better nowadays. Door frames are fixed while masonry work and shutters are joint after plaster with the help of hinges. Aluminum windows can be fixed after plaster and paint work.
White wash in construction of building:
White wash is done after drying of plaster. It is made up with lime. In this step 3 coats of lime is placed on walls to make its surface smoother. Different colours are added sometimes to increase the beauty which is called colour wash.
Nowadays mostly distemper and paint is being used, which is costly but durable as compare to white wash.
Paint and polish:
Wooden doors are polished at the end. Sometimes steel and wooden doors & windows are painted, which is done with the help if brush. Steel door and windows can be painted with spray gun.
Services:
While residential building construction, different services are provided e.g. electricity, gas connections, water supplies and sanitary. For electric supply conduits and boards re fixed in walls and slabs before plaster.
Likewise water supply and sanitary pipes are fixed before the floor placement and walls plaster. After the paint work Electric switches, fans, taps are fixed to prevent them from paint stains.
