The document discusses various cost-effective construction techniques that can be used in India to reduce building costs. Some techniques mentioned include using stabilized compressed earth blocks, fly ash bricks, rat-trap bond brickwork, filler slabs for roofs, and replacing concrete lintels with brick arches. Adopting these alternative materials and construction methods can save 15-40% on building costs while still providing durable structures. Proper selection of materials suited to the local area is important for developing cost-effective construction techniques.

2.  The important need and everyone's dream
to have there own home with individual
needs.
 Since India is a developing country, the
economy haves importance. The housing is
so impacted with the cost based
construction.
 So, there are various cost effective
techniques of construction. Lots of them are
also energy efficient and easily adoptable.

3.  Essential requirement to human existence is a
HOME next only to food and clothing. A
breakthrough for application of sustainable
and cost effective technologies for better
housing in rural and urban areas is an urgent
need considering spiraling construction costs.
 There is a need for the adoption of
strong, durable, environment
friendly, ecologically appropriate, energy
efficient and yet cost effective materials and
appropriate technologies in construction.

4.  ar. Laurie baker is one who worked on cost
effective construction techniques as its
best.
 Baker showed, in fact, that sustainable
technologies when adopted with care and
creativity, could lead to a unique
architectural expression, one that moved
the expert and the layman alike.
 Proper materials is the basic need to
develop any construction technique.
 Brick, wood, stone are three major materials
which can be used in India for any type of
construction.

5.  Building Cost-
The building construction cost can be
divided into two parts namely:
Building material cost : 65 to 70 %
Labor cost : 65 to 70 %
 Size-The smaller the project in terms of
scope or the number of square feet, the
more it will cost per square foot.
 Type-Different types of project have
different levels of complexity and detail.

6.  Special Construction
Complexity can greatly increase the cost of
the project. For exp-Renovation, especially
if it requires altering or moving structural
components, can be costly because it
necessitates demolition as well as building.
Special construction may also be necessary
to shield surrounding spaces from noise, fire
and other hazards.
 Project accessibility
 Labor Rates
 Material Costs
 General Economic Pressures
 Time of Year

7.  These were the
factors affecting the
budget of making
any structure but we
are here to know
more about the
construction
techniques- the
techniques which
helps us in reducing
the cost of structure.
 So, lets move towards
the techniques…

8. Central Building Research Institute (CBRI),
Structural Engineering Research Centre
(SERC),
Centre for Application of Science and
Technology to Rural Areas (CASTRA),
Regional Research Laboratories (RRL),
National Environmental Engineering
Research
Institute (NEERI)

9.  a)Stabilized compressed earth
blocks are made of mud
stabilized with 5% cement/lime
etc. and compacted in block
making machine with no
burning. A good walling material
as burnt bricks and is
economical, stronger, energy
saving and simple to
manufacture.

b) Fly ash gypsum stabilized mud
blocks are much stronger with
less water absorption and
cheaper than cement stabilized
blocks. With 5 to 10% flyash-
G, 30% saving in cement could
be achieved in addition to
utilization of the waste product
like flyash.

10.  c) Flyash- lime gypsum products
manufactured by blending flyash lime
and calcined gypsum for making a
useful product named Fal-G , and can
be used a cementations material for
mortar/plaster and for masonry blocks
of any desired strength. It can also be
used for road pavements and plain
concrete in the form of Fal-G
concrete.
 d) Clay red mud burnt bricks
produced from alumina red mud or
bauxite, an industrial waste of
aluminium producing plants in
combination with clay. Posses all the
physical properties of normal clay
bricks and solves the problem of
disposal of the waste product and
environmental pollution. In
addition, they have good
architectural value as facing bricks
due to their pleasing hues of color.

11. e)Precast stone blocks of larger size
than normal bricks are manufactured
by using waste stone pieces of various
sizes with lean cement concrete and
enable a rationalized use of natural
locally available materials. Shaping
stones in this manner, enables speedy
construction saves on
cement, reduces thickness of stone
walls and effects overall saving by
eliminating plasters on
internal/external wall surfaces.
 f) Precast concrete blocks made to
similar dimension of stone blocks
without large size stone pieces, but
using coarse and fine graded
cement. They have excellent
properties comparable to other
masonry blocks, are cheaper and
facilitate speedy construction and
especially suitable where quality clay
for bricks making is not available.

13.  Random rubble
masonry in
mud/cement mortar
placed in excavation
over thick sand bed.
Rubble pointing above
ground level in stabilized
cement mortar.
 Use of lean cement
concrete mix 1:8:16 for
base with brick masonry
in 1:6 cement mortar
footings.
 Use of lean cement
concrete mix as above
for base and over
burned bricks masonry
in cement lime mortar
(1:2:12) footings.
 Arch foundations in
place of spread
foundations

14.  Normally the foundation cost comes to
about 10 to 15% of the total building .
 It is recommended to adopt a foundation
depth of 2 ft.(0.6m) for normal soil like
gravely soil, red soils etc.
 It is suggested to adopt arch foundation in
ordinary soils.
 In case of black cotton and other soft
soils, it is recommend to use under ream pile
foundation which saves about 20 to 25% in
cost over the conventional method of
construction.

15.  Arch foundation-
 This type of foundation
was used in olden times
where in spread
foundation is replaced by
inverted arch .
 It reduces the
construction cost up to
40%
 Advantage of this is-In soft
soils that the depth of
foundation can be greatly
reduced; disadvantage is
that the end piers have to
be specially strengthened
by buttresses so as to
avoid the thrust to arch
action tending to rapture
the piers junction.

16.  It is recommended to
adopt 1 ft. height
above ground level for
the plinth and may be
constructed with a
cement mortar of 1:6.
 The plinth slab of 4 to 6″
which is normally
adopted can be
avoided and in its
place brick on edge
can be used for
reducing the cost.
 By adopting this
procedure the cost of
plinth foundation can
be reduced by about
35 to 50%.

17.  Brick work in 1:6 cement mortar using bricks
from black cotton and inferior soil stabilized
with fly-ash.
 Rat-trap bond brick work in 1:2:12 cement
lime mortar/1:1.5:3 cement sand mortar.
 Hollow concrete block masonry in cement
mortar.
 Compressed mud blocks masonry in mud
mortar.
 Stabilized mud blocks masonry (4% cement
or lime) in stabilized mud mortar.
 Sand lime brick walls in 1:6 cement mortar.
 FAL-G sand block with 1:6 cement mortar.

18.  While laying
bricks, the manner in
which they overlap is
called the bond.
 The rat-trap bond is
laid by placing the
bricks on their sides
having a cavity of 4?
(100 mm), with
alternate course of
stretchers and
headers.The headers
and stretchers are
staggered in
subsequent layers to
give more strength to
the walls.

19.  This technology has about
25% overall-saving on cost
of a building of traditional
9" construction. The
structure has proven its
strength to go up to three
floors with the support of
brick columns. With this
technique there is
reduction in cost of the wall
by 25% as with
conventional English bond
(9’’thk wall) 350 bricks are
required per cu. m whereas
in Rat-trap bond only 280
bricks are required and
also the reduced number
of joints reduces the mortar
consumption.

20.  THE COMMON BURNT
BRICK IS ONE OF MAN‟S
GREAT INVENTIONS. ALL
OVER THE WORLD, WITH
ONLY A FEW
EXCEPTIONS, NEARLY
ALL BRICKS ARE
ROUGHLY THE SAME
SHAPE AND SIZE - THAT IS
ABOUT 9 X 4.5 X 3
INCHES.
 IN MANY OF THESE
SITUATIONS LISTED
ABOVE A “JALI” IS JUST
AS EFFECTIVE. FAR FROM
BEING A LOT MORE
COSTLY THAN THE BASIC
WALL, IF MADE OF BRICK
IT CAN BE LESS COSTLY
THAN THE HOUSE WALL!

21. BRICK JALI
CAN BE
USED
INSTEAD OF
PARAPET
WALL OR
BOUNDARY
WALLS...
LETS WATCH
OUT FOR
SOME
EXAMPLES....

22. Instead of using
regular walling
system of lintel and
window system ,jali
work can help cost
estimation.

23.  Soil cement block technology
this method of construction of wall is by soil cement
blocks in place of burnt bricks masonry. It is an energy
efficient method of construction where soil mixed with
5% and above cement and pressed in hand operated
machine and cured well and then used in the masonry.
The overall economy that could be achieved with the
soil cement technology is about 15 to 20% compared to
conventional method of construction.
 Concrete block walling
In view of high energy consumption by burnt brick it is
suggested to use concrete block (block hollow and
solid) which consumes about only 1/3 of the energy of
the burnt bricks in its production. Concrete block
masonry saves mortar consumption, speedy
construction of wall resulting in higher output of
labor, plastering can be avoided thereby an overall saving of 10 to
25% can be achieved.

24.  Domes and vaults in
brick or stabilized mud
block with appropriate
mortar.
 Upgraded thatch roof
on appropriate frame
work.
 Pre-cast RCC “L”
panel
 Precast RCC cored
units in M15 concrete.
 Precast RCC channel
units in M15 concrete
 Precast Waffle units in
M15 concrete
 Burnt clay tube roofing
in vault form.

25.  Filler slabs
 Partly precast RCC planks and joist in M15 concrete.
 Partly precast RCC joist and brick panels
 Partly precast RCC in hollow concrete blocks
 Thin RCC ribbed slabs
 Ferrocement channels
 Brick funicular shell on edge beam
 Bamboo reinforced concrete
 Brick funicular shells with RCC edge beams
 Brick jack arched over RCC joist
 Precast RCC cored units in M15 concrete.
 Precast RCC channel units in M15 concrete

26. Provide an economic
solution to RCC slab by
providing 30 to 40% cost
reduction on floor/roof
unit over RCC slabs
without compromising
the strength. These being
precast, construction is
speedy, economical due
to avoidance of
shuttering and facilitate
quality control.

27. 
They are easy to
construct, save
on cement and
steel, are more
appropriate in
hot climates.
These can be
constructed
using
compressed
earth blocks
also as
alternative to
bricks for further
economy.

28.  The filler slab is based on the
principle that for roofs which are
simply supported, the upper part
of the slab is subjected to
compressive forces and the lower
part of the slab experience tensile
forces. Concrete is very good in
withstanding compressive forces
and steel bears the load due to
tensile forces. Thus the lower
tensile region of the slab does not
need any concrete except for
holding the steel reinforcements
together.
 Therefore in a conventional RCC
slab lot of concrete is wasted and
it needs extra reinforcement due
to added load of the concrete
which can otherwise be replaced
by low-cost and light weight filler
materials, which will reduce the
dead weight as well as the cost of
the slab to 25% (as 40% less steel
is used and 30% less concrete)

29. 
The filler slab is a mechanism to replace
the concrete in the tension zone. The
filler material, thus, is not a structural
part of the slab. By reducing the
quantity and weight of material, the
roof become less expensive, yet retains
the strength of the conventional slab.
The most popular filler material is the
roofing tile. Mangalore tiles are placed
between steel ribs and concrete is
poured into the gap to make a filler
slab. The structure requires less steel and
cement and it is also a good heat
insulator.
 Conventional tests by different
institutions and laboratories has proved
the load bearing capacity of filler slab
and found it no less in performance
from the conventional R.C.C. slab.
Since filler roof tiles are firmly bonded to
and covered by concrete, it does not
collapse under the impact of say, a
coconut falling on the roof.

30.  Saving on cost
The savings on cost can be from 15 per cent to
25 per cent. But designing a filler slab requires a
structural engineer to determine the spacing
between the reinforcement bars.
 Thermal insulation
The air pocket formed by the contours of the
tiles makes an excellent thermal insulation
layer. The design integrity of a filler slab involves
careful planning taking into account the
negative zones and reinforcement areas.

31. Filler slabs provide aesthetically
pleasing patterned ceilings. In
most houses, the filler material
is left open without plastering
to form aesthetic design
symmetry but some residents
prefer to cover the space with
Plaster of Paris coating.

32.  Brick arches : Flat, semi
circular and
segmented
 Precast thin lintel and
lintel cum chajja
 Brick arch with sand
stone chajja
 Ferro cement chajjas
 Precast RCC frames
with wood insert
 Resin bonded saw dust
frame
 Polyvinyl chloride
frame
 Fiber reinforced plastic
frame

33.  Doors and windows
It is suggested not to use wood for doors and
windows and in its place concrete or steel
section frames shall be used for achieving
saving in cost up to 30 to 40%.Similiarly for
shutters commercially available block
boards, fibre or wooden practical boards
etc., shall be used for reducing the cost by
about 25.
 Lintels and Chajjas
The traditional R.C.C. lintels which are costly
can be replaced by brick arches for small
spans and save construction cost up to 30 to
40% over the traditional method of
construction.

34.  Arches are an
economical and
aesthetic means of
spanning openings.
Arches can be a
cost effective
alternative to the
lintels.
 The traditional RCC
lintels which are
costly can be
replaced by brick
arches for small
spans and save
construction cost up
to 30–40% over the
traditional method
of construction.

35.  Plantation timber
styles with particle
board inserts.
 Medium density fiber
board doors.
 Cement bonded
particle board
 Plantation timber
style with rice husk
board inserts
 Red mud polymer
panel doors.
 Ferrocement doors
 Polyvinyl chloride
doors panels.

36. The cost of
finishing items
like
sanitary, electric
ity, painting
etc., varies
depending
upon the type
and quality of
products used in
the building and
its cost
reduction is left
to the individual
choice and
liking.

38.  Is the circulation space economical &
functional & not wasteful? (i.e.
passages, corridors, stairs, access verandas
& so on).
 Study local climate & make use of wind
directions (to reduce power consumption)
& aspect(To prevent unnecessary heat
absorption).
 Make proper use of land gradients
contours, natural existing features.

39.  As much as possible use energy free, or
energy-less materials, that is, material, for
which very little energy is used in their
manufacture (e.g. cement & lime are
made from the same basic materials but
cement uses 100 times more energy) .The
result for mortars & plasters is equal.
 Remember that what is „good‟ for Kerala is
not necessarily good for Kashmir. What
works well in Bihar may be disastrous in
Rajasthan etc. Study local indigenous
architecture & use its principles even when
using modern materials indigenous
architecture represents thousands of years
of R&D.

40.  Avoid currently fashionable gimmicks. They
are almost always an addition that may be
eye-catching but are invariably an extra
expense and unjustifiable.
 Use local plentifully available inexpensive
(comparatively) materials .Avoid importing
(from other districts) much as possible.
 Insist on accurate mixes & mixing of
plasters, mortars, concretes. Don‟t use over
rich mixtures
 Don‟t forget to apply common sense to all
you design & do.

41.  http://www.gharexpert.com
 http://www.fs.fed.us
 http://www.greenstone.org
 http://manajemenproyekindonesia.com/
 http://sepindia.org/
 http://lauriebaker.net/
 Low cost housing- an analogical study of
the current practices & technologies by-
vastu shilpa foundation