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How Much Does it cost for False Ceiling?

A false ceiling is an affordable way to enhance the look of your home. Find out how to calculate its actual cost and how much does it cost for false ceiling .

False ceilings have become a popular addition to Indian homes and can be installed in materials such as POP or factory-manufactured gypsum boards. This article will give you a fair idea about the costs of different types of false ceilings which include labour and material costs for fixing the POP or gypsum boards onto a framework of aluminium channels that are suspended from the true ceiling.

Calculate the area of the false ceiling

It is essential to calculate the area of the room or any other area of the home where the false ceiling needs to be installed. How? For example, if the bedroom is 12 feet long and 15 feet wide, then the area of the false ceiling for the bedroom will be 15×12 feet – that is, 180 square feet.
Consider a cornice (at the junction of the false ceiling and the wall) along the perimeter of the room. The quantity and cost of the cornice is calculated on the basis of running feet.
If you want to incorporate a tray or recessed light, like in this example, then measure the area of the tray light. This can be done by referring the dimensions of the tray light from the drawing of the false ceiling design. A 3–4-inch vertical section in POP or gypsum runs along the entire length of the tray light to hold the tube lights or LED strip lights within it. This section is measured in feet on the basis of its length.

Gypsum false ceiling

Plain and simple straight-line gypsum false ceilings from reputed brands start at ₹75 per square foot.
However, the the cost of the false ceiling can become expensive and go up to ₹125 per square foot if the false ceiling needs to be elaborately designed.

POP ceiling
POP is available in the powdered form. It is mixed with water on site and can be moulded into any shape to achieve an ornamental design or an etched effect, such as you see in this example.

POP ceilings can range between ₹75–120 per square foot, depending on the type of design details.
POP cornices or decorative mouldings start at ₹45 per foot.

Grid ceiling
These ceilings are made up of a grid of ceiling tiles in materials such as gypsum or metal. The standard size of the ceiling panels is 2X2 feet and they are available in a smooth, textured or patterned finishes.

The cost of a grid ceiling starts at ₹75 per square foot, depending on the design of the ceiling tile.
Metal ceiling tiles for a grid ceiling start at ₹90 per sq foot.

Additional expenses
The additional expenses involved during the installation of a false ceiling include:

The electrical wiring that runs just above the false ceiling.
Fixtures such as concealed lights, LED strip lights and chandeliers, which need to be purchased separately.
The cutting of the gypsum or POP ceiling for installing the concealed light fixtures. The contractors will charge extra for this, as per the layout of the false ceiling.
The finishing of the false ceiling with paint, textured paint or wall paper.
Pairing gypsum with other popular false ceiling materials such as plywood, glass and acrylic raises the style quotient, but at an additional cost.

This is the approximate cost for false ceiling .

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Contemporary Decor : Explained with the elements

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Let us look into the Contemporary decor and their elements explained in detail in this article.

Less is more: Smooth profiles instead of ornamentation, solid or subtly patterned fabrics in lieu of colourful prints, minimal accessories rather than big collections. While it doesn’t have the overt warmth of older design styles, it won’t cast a chill either.

The terms “contemporary” and “modern” are tossed about interchangeably, but they’re not exactly the same thing. Modern refers to a specific design movement that arose in the early 20th century and follows stricter guidelines; contemporary, by definition, is more fluid and tolerates a bit of rule-breaking.

A strong emphasis on line and form – two essentials of good design – gives contemporary decor its energy. These rooms are designed with abundant open space and natural light in mind, which makes them feel airy and expansive. Because there isn’t any clutter, every piece has to count.

Simple lines
Lines, planes, angles. Contemporary decor is oriented along a strong horizontal-vertical axis, from architecture to furnishings. The structure of a space becomes an integral design component on its own.

That does not mean that everything in your home must have square corners. Balance the look with a few curves; the key is to stay true to simple geometric forms: circles, orbs, cylinders, waves

Sophisticated neutrals
Cream, white, tan, beige, black – these are the bedrock upon which contemporary design lies. Monochromatic and tone-on-tone schemes allow the lines and shapes within a space to take centre stage.

Open space
Contemporary design celebrates what isn’t there as much as what is. Empty space takes on an almost sculptural quality, carved out by the strong architecture. Because of their openness, contemporary interiors are especially well suited to large-scale furnishings, art and accents.

Too much space with too little to anchor it makes a room feel lost and forlorn. Break furnishings into groupings to help divide up a large room. Chandeliers or pendant lighting can visually pull down a high, cavernous ceiling.

Unadorned floors
Contemporary design eschews rugs and carpeting in favour of sleeker, harder surfaces: Bamboo; blond woods such as maple or ash; stone; ceramic. Ebonised planks or dark-stained concrete can ground contemporary .

Serious shine
Contemporary rooms are nothing if not polished, and that means high-gloss surfaces fit right in. Chrome, steel, lacquer, glass, plastic, tile and more all work in tandem to help bounce light around a space. Mix materials for contrast and depth.

High-impact furniture
Contemporary furnishings have clean lines and striking profiles. You won’t find a lot of skirts or slipcovers – even the most tailored versions can look too soft and full. Instead, focus on pieces that show a little leg.

Centre-stage windows
Windows in a contemporary milieu are usually abundant, and they’re often left undressed to highlight their crisp lines and let natural light flood in.
Sheers or solid panels that blend into the wall colour; narrow blinds; mesh shades can also be added if we need privacy. As long as they’re done in a neutral solid or barely-there print, and kept very tailored, Roman shades are another possibility.

Minimal accessories
Eschew eclectic groupings, fussy finds and bric-a-brac; keep accessories simple, few and well-chosen. In this pared-down arrangement, every piece adds drama without detracting from the streamlined feel.
Bookshelves should be filled with hardbacks; paperbacks are better suited for traditional rooms.

Overscale art
Walls in contemporary rooms don’t usually have much in the way of adornment: No heavy mouldings, no plate collections, no family photo groupings. So they’re a perfect foil for large works of art that shine best amid gallery-style simplicity. Canvases should be framed very cleanly, if at all. Streamlined sculpture, black-and-white photography, glass and prints also work. And if you like your art a little edgy, it’ll feel right at home.

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The Standard room size and location for Residential Building

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THE STANDARD ROOM SIZE & LOCATION IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

What are the Standard Room Size & Location in residential buildings? In this article, you come to know about the various standard dimensions of different elements of residential houses.

Area limitations:

The limitation of area and height of the buildings of different types of construction and occupancy is achieved by satisfying floor area ratio (FAR). FAR is taking into account the following aspects:

Occupancy class
Type of construction
Width of the street fronting the building and the traffic load
The density & Locality where the building is proposed and.
Parking facilities
Local fire fighting facilities
Water supply and drainage facilities.
Floor Area Ratio(FAR) = (Total cover area of all floors/ Plot area)
The floor area ratio for residential buildings is ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 depending on the type ‘of construction. It restricts the height of the building and the number of stories provided. For example, if a plot measures 15 m x 20 m and building bye-laws stipulates permissible FAR as 2.00, then the maximum built-up area which can be put on the plot is 600 m². If the area covered at ground floor is 150 m², the total number of floors that can be constructed is (600 / 150) = 4
Thus, with these bye-laws, the height of the building cannot be more than 4 stories. FAR is also used in classifying the type of construction on the basis of resistance offered by building against the fire.

To know more about Floor Area Ratio in detail click here

· Height of the building:

The height and number of the storey for a building are related to FAR and the provisions of open spaces are already explained earlier. Where the building height is not covered by FAR, the maximum height should be limited to the width of the street as follows.
(i) The maximum height of the building shall not exceed 2 times the width of road abutting plus the front open space.
(ii) If a building abuts on two or more streets of different widths, the building shall be deemed to face upon the street that has the greater width and the building height shall be regulated by the width of that street and may be continued to this height to a depth of 24 m along the narrower street subject to the conformity of open spaces.

(iii) In the vicinity of aerodromes, the maximum height fixed in consultation with civil aviation authorities.

Appurtenances like a water tank on the roof, ventilating and air conditioning appliances, lift room, chimneys and parapet walls not exceeding 1.2 m in height are not included in the height of the building.

The Standard Room Size & Location for Different Types of Room:

1) Bed Room, Living Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study Room.

Minimum Area: 9.5 Sq.m.

Standard living room size 9 feet x 10 feet

Minimum Size of Side :
i) For one Room minimum width should be 2.4 m.
ii) Where there are two rooms, one of these shall not be less than 9.5 sq. m. and others not less than 7.5 sq. m. with a minimum width of 2.1m.

The height of Room: The of all room for human habitation shall not be less than 2.75 m. measure from the surface of all floors.

Other Requirement: For Air Conditioning-room height should not less than 2.4 m.

The recommended Standard Room Size & Location for the living room of various sizes are as below:

SIZE	DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA)	DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)
LARGE	6.71 × 8.53(57.24)	22 × 28(616)
MEDIUM	4.88 × 6.01(29.33)	16 × 20(320)
SMALL	3.66 × 5.49(20	12 x 18(216)
VERY SMALL	3.05 × 3.66(11.16)	10 × 12(120)

2) Kitchen:

Minimum Area: 5 Sq.m.

Minimum Size of Side: The width of the room is not less than 1.8 m. Where there is a separate store, the area of the kitchen may be reduced to 4.5 sq. m. A kitchen that is intended to use as dining also shall have a floor area of not less than 7.5 sq. m. with minimum width 2.1m.

The height of Room: The Kitchen height shall not less than 2.75 sq. m.

Other Requirement:

Its floor should be impermeable.
Unless separately provided in a pantry, means for washing of kitchen utensils which shall lead directly or through the sink to a grated and trapped connection to the waste pipe.

Standard Room Size & Location in residential building

The recommended Standard Room Size & Location for the kitchen of various sizes are as below:

SIZE	DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA)	DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)
LARGE	3.65 x 6.09(22.23)	12 x 20(240)
MEDIUM	3.05 x 4.87(14.85)	10 x 16(160)
SMALL	3.05 X 2.44(6.10)	10 x 08(80)
VERY SMALL	2.13 X 2.75(5.85)	07 x 09(63)

3) Bath Room and Water Closet:

Minimum Area: 1.8 Sq.m. (bath room), 1.1 Sq.m. (W. C.)

Minimum Size of Side : If bath and water closet are combined, its floor area shall not be less than 2.8 Sq.m. with minimum side width of 1.2m.

The height of the Room: Shall not less than 2 m.

Other Requirement:

It should be located such that at least one of its walls open to the external wall.
It should not be directly over or under any other room than another latrine, washing place, bath or terrace, in case of multi-storeyed buildings unless the floor is watertight.
It should have a platform or seat of watertight, non- absorbent materials.
It should be provided with the impervious floor sloping towards the drain with a suitable grade and not towards verandah or any other room.

The recommended standard dimensions of common bathroom of various sizes are:

SIZE	DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA)	DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)
LARGE	2.13 × 3.66(7.80)	7 x 12(84)
MEDIUM	1.83 × 3.05(5.60)	6 x 10(60)
SMALL	1.52 × 2.75(4.20)	5 x 9(45)
VERY SMALL	1.06 × 1.98(2.04)	3.5 x 6.5(22.75)

4) Store Room:

Minimum Area: The minimum area of store room should not be less than 3 sq. m.

The height of Room: The Storeroom should not be less than 2.2 m.

The recommended standard dimensions of store room of various sizes are as below:

SIZE	DIMENSIONS IN MT.+(AREA)	DIMENSIONS IN FT.+(AREA)
LARGE	3.65 x 4.26(15.55)	12 x 14(168)
MEDIUM	2.44 x 3.05(7.42)	8 x 10(80)
SMALL	1.52X1.83 (2.80)	5 x 6(30)

5) Garage:

Minimum Area: The minimum area of garage should not be less than 12.5 sq. m.

The height of Room: The Garage should not be less than 2.4 m.

6) Stair Case:

Minimum Size of Side: The minimum width of the stair is 1 m.

The height of Stair: The minimum clear headroom shall be 2.2 m.

Other Requirement:

The minimum width of tread without nosing shall be 250 mmfor residential buildings.
The maximum height of rising shall be 190 mm for residential buildings.

Plinth height:

The height of the plinth shall not be less than 450 mm from the surrounding ground level. A height of 600 mm is the best from drainage or other considerations.

Parapet wall:

Parapet walls and hand-rails provided on the edges of roof terraces, balcony, verandah, etc. shall be not less than 1.05 m and not more than 1.20 m in height from the finished floor level.

Boundary wall:

The requirements of the boundary wall are given below:

Except with the special permission of the authority, the maximum height of the compound wall shall be 1.5 m above the centerline of the front street. Compound wall up to 2.4 m height may be permitted if the top 0.9 m is of open type construction of a design to be approved by the authority.

In the case of a corner plot, the height of boundary wall shall be restricted to 0.75 m for a length of 10 m on the front and side of the intersection and the balanced height may be made up of open type construction (through railings) and of design to be approved by the authority.

These are the most commonly required standard room size. Do let us know in the comment section if you want standard room size for any other rooms.

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Types of Flooring and Tiles

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TYPES OF FLOORING AND TILES FOR YOUR PERFECT HOME

There are different Types of flooring and Tiles available for your home flooring work, But Choice of Flooring is a difficult task. Floor covering is a term used to describe finished material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. Flooring is referred more to loose-laid materials on the finished structural surface. Some different flooring materials a floor covering include carpet, area rugs, and resilient floorings such as linoleum or vinyl flooring and wood flooring, laminated wood, laminate flooring,ceramic tile, stone, terrazzo, and various seamless chemical floor coatings are known as a flooring material.

Method of Flooring:

Base –Laying of a base coat of 100 mm thick in the ratio of cement concrete 1:8:16 ( 1 part of cement, 8 parts of fine sand and16 parts of the brickbat) or 1:4:8 on compacted earth under the floor. Base laying is almost the same for all types of flooring work.
Finishing-Then finishing of the floor is carried on, for different flooring materials.

This article, we discuss various flooring options that are available for your perfect home and how to select cheap flooring material.

Types of flooring:

Vinyl flooring
wood flooring
Stone flooring
Brick flooring
Glass flooring

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl Flooring Tile (VCT) is a flooring material used mostly in commercial and institutional applications. These are most durable flooring.

These Tiles are manufactured by mixing colored vinyl chip, which is then shaped into solid sheets. The thicknesses may be varying by heat and pressure and cut into 12-inch squares.
These tiles are spread over to a smooth, leveled sub-floor using a specially formulated vinyl.There are types of vinyl flooring availble in market.
Sheet vinyl flooringcomes in large, continuous, flexible sheets and made up sheet floor is completely impermeable to water

This type of flooring is mostly used in house interior work and also photo laborites, airport, drug. Room, bedroom, offices waterproof used in bathrooms.

Installing Vinyl Floor Tiles:

Vinyl floor tiles are versatile in nature and available in the market in a different form. It feels warm underfoot, easy to clean like other hard surfaces. It is good around water easy in installing.

Materials Needed for the Job:

Trowel, Tape measure, Vinyl tiles, Utility knife, Self-leveling compound Floor roller, Adhesive, Hammer, Chalk line

Step 1- Measure the Floor

Step 2- Prepare the Room

Step 3- Center the Tile

Step 4- Cut to Fit

Step 5- Finish Up

Vinyl flooring advantages:

One of the major advantages of vinyl flooring is that it is easy to install and cost effective and durable as well.
The maintenance cost and effort required to install is quite low.
Vinyl flooring is one of water resistant and provides great support to the feet.
This type of flooring offers an attractive appearance.
Vinyl flooring is quick to install and replace. you can change it, when you so desire and without much difficulty
The wide range of variety available in the market today, you can choose any products.

Tiles:

Tiles are often used to form a wall or floor coverings and can range from simple square tiles to complex mosaics. These are one the cheap flooring options for your perfect home.
Tiles are manufactured from ceramic with a strong glaze finish, but other materials are also commonly used, such as glass, marble, granite, slate and reformed ceramic slurry. There are various types of tiles discussed below.

Types of flooring Tiles:

Ceramic Tile
Vetified tiles
Porcelain Tile

1. Ceramic Tiles:

High wear resistance with low density.
Corrosion resistance at high temperatures.
Resistance to plastic deformation.
Easy to clean and water-proof.
Harder and stiffer than steel, more heat, and corrosion resistant than metals and polymers.
Resistant to stains and spillages.
Their incombustibility prevents the spread of fire.

Advantages of ceramic tiles:

Aesthetically far much better than any other flooring, as it is available in various shades and textures.
Easy to maintain.
Laying is easy and less time taking.
These Tiles are available in various sizes thus no cutting required.
Tiles are fire resistant.

Vitrified tiles:

These are ceramic tiles with high % of vitrification and water absorption is less. Vitrification is a process of development of a glass phase inside the tile during the firing process. This is done by melting of some constituent in the body. These are the best floor tiles available in market.

Wood flooring types:

The wood flooring is majorly used for special purpose floor example auditorium, hospital etc. and nowadays house flooring is done with wooden flooring. For a Aesthetic purpose, wood flooring is the best flooring. There are various wood flooring options and as discuss below.

Strip flooring: –In these type of flooring a narrow and thin strip of wood joined to each other by tongue and groove joint.

Planked flooring: –In planked flooring, the wider planks are used and these are also tongue and groove. they are most durable wood flooring.
Heavy wood block flooring:-

Heavy wood block flooring is made up of thicker pieces of wood cut in short lengths ranging from 5 to 10 cm. This form wooden block which is set with the ends of the grains exposed.

Fabricated wood block:–

These consist of Small Square of a rectangular block with tongue and groove joints all side.
All are available in solid wood and in laminated wood, which is a thin veneer layer laminated to a layer of wood so that it can be sanded and refined several times.
One of laminated wooden flooring is better suited to moisture prone area such as the kitchen.
As we know that wood is a natural material, it expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. Their proper installation leaves a margin for this movement.

The wooden flooring hardness can be comparable to marble and the former is available in up to 45 different colors and shades.

available in up to 45 different colors and shades

Precautions:

We must use a vacuum or sweep your wooden floor since small stone and gritty dirt will scratch your floor quickly.
You must require mats or rugs in the doorways leading to a room with wooden flooring and these doormats should be cleaned regularly.
This type of floor can be wiped with a dampened sponge. But, it requires immediately followed by wiping with a dry terry towel cloth.
Second coat of surface finish should be applied to the wooden flooring when the cleaning the shine, or when the cleaning no longer restores the shine or when the floor has been heavily used.
Excess water in wiping the floor can damages wood, so avoid wetting the floor.

The long exposure to the sun can cause the wooden floor to warp, or change color. So use appropriate sun-blocking drapery in the room with wooden flooring.

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Types of Marble : A complete guide

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TYPES OF MARBLE FLOORING – AN EXCELLENT BUILDING MATERIAL

Let us look into the different types of marble which are very popular too.

What is Marble:

Marble is precipitate from limestone and dolomite; it is irregularly colored by impurities and used especially in architecture and sculpture. Marble floor tiles are used for exterior and interior flooring applications. Marble floor are available in various color red, black, white mottled and banded, gray, pink, and green.

It is extensively used for all types of commercial buildings and residential spaces. It is also used for high quality daily use products such as bath tubs, wash basins and souvenirs such as statues.

Following are most popular types of marble,

Golden Calacatta Marble :
Calacatta Michelangelo Marble
Calacatta Borghini Marble
Talathello or Silver Beige Marble
Emperador Marble
Crema Marfil Marble
Carrara Marble
Levadia Black Marble
Nero Marquina Marble
Honed Marble

1 . Golden Calacatta Marble :

It is a premium quality stone also known as Calacatta Gold Marble. It is an imported marble having origin Apuan Mountains near Carrara, Italy. It comes with natural and shiny white color with deep grey or golden pattern on it. It has very graceful appearance for the interior of house. It is used for many construction as well as decoration applications like flooring, wall cladding, stair casing, bathroom floors and walls and other decorative purpose.

Approx Price : Rs. 500 / Square Feet

Features

smooth, Polished and honed surface
Natural imported stone
long lasting shine and durability

Specifications

Slab Thickness: 15 mm -16 mm
Slab Size: 5′ x 3′ and above
Size of Tile : 1′ x 1′ and 2′ x 2′

2. Calacatta Michelangelo Marble:-

It is a kind of white marble quarried in Italy. This marble suitable for mosaic, exterior – interior wall and floor applications, fountains, pool and wall capping, stairs, window sills and other design projects. It also called Bianco Statuario Michelangelo Marble,Bianco Michelangelo Marble,Statuario Michelangelo,Calacata Michelangelo Marble . Calacatta Michelangelo Marble can be processed into Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, Tumbled and so on

Approx Price : Rs. 250/ Square Feet

3. Calacatta Borghini Marble –

This is unique in a way that neither it is too plain nor loaded with complex designs and patterns. It comes with deep gray veining and may contain gold deposits. Interior designers prefer to have this stone because it is not only beautiful but also very durable and strong. It is currently being used in many countries around the globe.

Approx Price : Rs. 350 / Square Feet

This marble tiles are available in market in different sizes. Most of the times it is sold in the form of tiles of standard sizes but you can also get it in custom sizes according to your needs. These tiles are best for those who want to give their houses a new and totally different look.

Calacatta Borghini is a white marble from Italy.
Forms: blocks, slabs, tiles
Processing options: Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, Tumbled.
Proposed uses: Exterior – Interior wall, monuments, countertops, mosaic, fountains, pool and wall capping, stairs, window sills, floor applications etc and other design projects.

4. Talathello or Silver Beige Marble:-

Talathello Moon is a kind of grey marble quarried in Turkey. This stone is especially good for Building stone, countertops, sinks, monuments, pool coping, sills, ornamental stone, interior, exterior, wall, floor , paving and other design projects. It also called Talathello Moon Marble, Moon Grey Marble. Talathello Moon can be processed into Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, and Tumbled and so on.

Approx Price : 20-25mm thick – Rs. 350 / square feet

5. Emperador Marble:-

Egyptian Emperador Light Marble is a kind of brown marble quarried in Egypt. This stone is especially good for pool coping, building stone, sinks, monuments, pool coping, sills, ornamental stone, interior, exterior, wall, floor , paving and other design projects. It also called Egyptian Light Emperador Marble, Crystal Maroon Marble, Egyptian Imperador Marble, and Egyptian Imperador Gold Marble. Egyptian Emperador Light Marble can be processed into Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, and Tumbled and so on.

Approx Price : Rs. 200 / square feet

6. Crema Marfil Marble:-

Crema Marfil Gold is a kind of beige marble quarried in Spain. This stone is especially good for Exterior – Interior wall , fountains, pool and wall capping, mosaic, stairs, monuments, countertops, window sills, floor applications etc and other design projects. It also called Crema Marfil Gold Marble, Crema Marfil Marble. Crema Marfil Gold can be processed into Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, and Tumbled and so on.

Approx Price : Rs. 230 / Square feet

7. Carrara Marble:

This is the most common type of light colored marble. It is also one of the economical marble types. It is found in varying hues of white and gray colors. The background of this marble is whitish gray and it has linear, thin and feathery veining pattern.

Carrara marble has been in use since the era of Roman civilization when in 1564 the Malaspina and Cybo families established the Office of Marble for regulation of marble mining industry.

Listed below are places and areas where Carrara marble can be used according to the finished product type available in the market:

Approx Price : Rs. 150 / Square feet

Carrara Marble Tiles:You can use Carrara marble tiles on the floors of Hallways and corridors, bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, bathroom, shower areas. The tiles can also be used for decoration of fireplace surrounds, kitchen backsplashes and even for covering the bathroom walls.
Carrara Marble Pavers:Marble pavers are generally used for exterior decoration for areas such as patios, pools decks, gazebos, fountains, garden pathways and stepping stones, walkways, courtyards and driveways. Carrara marble pavers are also used for covering retaining walls and fire pits.
Carrara Marble Slabs: Marble has major use i.e. bathroom / kitchen countertops and stair treads. Countertops can be installed in the kitchen as regular countertops and for covering the kitchen island.

To know more about Carrara marble click here

8. Levadia Black Marble :

This is a kind of black marble quarried in Greece. This stone has special application Exterior – Interior wall and floor applications, mosaic, fountains, and wall capping and other design projects. It also popular by name of Black Levadia Marble, Black Lividia Marble, Black Livadias Marble, Lavadia Black Marble, Livadia Black Marble, Nero Lavadia Marble, Nero Levadia Marble, Livadeia Black Marble . Levadia Black Marble can be processed into Polished, Sawn Cut, Sanded, Rockfaced, Sandblasted, Tumbled and so on.

Approx Price : Rs. 35 / Square feet

9. Nero Marquina Marble:

The marble look more beautiful when it arrives on the scene in interior architecture and in contemporary decors is simply fascinating. Negro Marquina, which takes its name from the Basque Country quarries from which it is extracted, brings to light all its noble and primeval beauty on floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchen countertops and even as breathtaking artistic murals and ornamental pieces. Its irregular white veins, concentrated to a greater or lesser extent according to the slab being installed, visually recall a painter’s brushstrokes on an intense black canvas.

Approx Price : Rs. 250 / Square feet

Advantages

This marble finish has natural textures, extraordinary polished finish, , variety and colour richness are only some of the qualities that have made of marble one of the materials preferred by decorators and architects.

10. Honed Marble:

Approx Price : Rs. 110 / Square feet

This is one type of polished marble, but not to the extent of polished marble. It look like matte finish and does not reflect as much light. However it is still smooth and prevents slipping.

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Types of Stairs : A complete Guide

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TYPES OF STAIRS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Let us look into the different types of stairs in this article.

Definition: Stairs are a series of steps properly arranged to connect different floors of a building.

A continuous series of steps, form a flight and there may be two or more flights between platforms called landings.

The horizontal upper portion of a step called a tread and vertical or front portion of a step called a Riser. These are supported by inclined boards called different types of stairs,.

Proper sizes of treads, risers, newel posts, hand rails and balusters are designed for stairs to provide comfort and safety to the persons using them for easy and quick access to the various floors. Flights of stairs and landings encased on either side by balustrade are called a staircase. The opening or space occupied by the stair is known as a stairway.

The means of communication between the various floors can be also provided by lifts, ramps, ladders and escalators.

The materials used in the construction of stairs are stone, steel, wood, R.C and cast iron.

Fire protection of staircase is extremely important particularly in multi-storeyed buildings. Staircases not only provide access and communication, but also they are a path for spreading of fire from one floor to another. Also people of higher floors rush down the stairs during a fire hazard. Lifts are easily paralyzed then. Staircase therefore must be enclosed by fire resistant walls, floors, ceilings and doors. It is desirable that the linings to the walls and ceiling are non-combustible.

Types of Stairs in Civil Engineering

Classification of Stair from construction point of view as under,

Straight flight stairs
Quarter turn stairs
Half turn stairs
Three quarter turn stairs
Circular stairs
Spiral stairs
Bifurcated stairs

i) Straight flight stairs:

These are continuous stairs along which there is no change in direction on any flight between two successive floors. The stair may consist of either one single flight or more than one flight (usually two) with a landing. These are used for houses where there are restrictions in available width for its location, but enough length is available. As there is no change in direction, risers facing the ascending person cause uneasiness and monotony.

Straight flight stair with a landing may further increase the length of stairs and had very little advantage.

ii) Quarter turn stairs:

When the direction of the flight is changed at right angles either to the left or to the right, quarter turn stairs are used. The change in direction can be effected by either introducing a quarter space landing or providing winders at the junction of two flights. Half turn stairs: Half turn stair is the one which has its direction reversed or turned through 180° by introducing a half space landing or winders. This type of stairs is commonly used in residential buildings and public buildings. These may be of two types:

a) Dog-legged stairs

b) Open well stairs or open newel half turn stairs.

(a) Dog-legged stairs:

This name is given because of its appearance in sectional elevation. A dog-legged stairs is called from its being bent or crooked suddenly round in fancied resemblance to dog’s hind leg.

It consists of two flights of steps which run in opposite direction. No space is provided between the flights in plan. Usually a half space landing placed across the two flights at change of direction. This type to accommodate two widths of flights of stair is useful where width of the stair hall is just sufficient.

(b) Open well stairs or open newel half turn stairs:

Open well stairs is very similar to a doglegged stair. There is a well opening between the flights and it may be used to accommodate a lift. The width of stair would therefore be twice the width of the stair plus the width of the well hole or opening (1500 mm to 10,000 mm). It requires more space than a dog-legged stair.

At head and foot of each flight of the stair, newel posts are placed which form a conspicuous architectural feature for the stair to be called newel stair.

iv) Three quarter turn stairs:

These type of stairs change their directions three times i.e., through 270° with its upper flight crossing the bottom one, In general, in this type of construction, a bigger open well is formed.

v) Circular stairs:

In this type of stairs, all the steps radiate from a central point of a semi-circle (in plan) in the form of winders. Circular stair is commonly provided at the entrance of a building for better architectural appearance. These are commonly constructed in R.C.C. and brick.

vi) Spiral stairs:

These stairs consist of same sized winders provided at a constant deflecting angle to offer continuous change in direction along within elevation. They radiate around a central newel post and occupy the least space. Overall diameter of such stairs (winders) may range from 1 m to 2.5 m. The stairs are not comfortable as they are full of winders and continuously change the direction.

When the available space is too small and number of users is limited, this type of stair is constructed with cast iron or R.C.C.

To know more about Spiral Stairs click here

vii) Bifurcated stairs:

This type of stair is very common in modern aristocratic symmetric public buildings at their entrance in which it appears as a prominent feature. The stair has a wide flight at the bottom, which bifurcates into two narrower flights, one turning to the left and other to the right at the landing.

It is a combination of two quarter turn stairs symmetrically arranged.

The most common type of stair which is provided in residential houses is the dog-legged type. Open well type and bifurcated type stairs are provided n public buildings. Geometrical type stair is provided to give better appearance, straight flight type stairs are most commonly used in residential buildings.

Three quarter turn stars are adopted in special cases as in posh hotels with a very wide stair case room incorporating reception in between. It may also be provided in palaces of more headroom to create a spacious and majestic look. Spiral stairs are provided when space is not available for common types of stairs. It is provided at the back of the buildings for sweepers or servants for cleaning bathroom, w. c. etc.

These are the most famous types of stairs. For any more doubts , do let us know in the comment section.

Step by Step Process of Building Construction

Best CEMENT for Construction in INDIA

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What is RCC ? : A complete Guide

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What is RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete)?

In the civil engineering field, the concrete is material made of Cement, Sand, Mortar, Admixture, etc and has a different grade based on strength.As we know that Concrete is can resist compression very well, but is very weak in resisting tension. Hence reinforcements are introduced in the concrete wherever higher tensile stress is expected. When steel provided in cement concrete it becomes reinforced cement concrete. The most popular reinforcement is steel. This is due the fact that steel has high tensile and the bond strength compare to others and also provide strong with concrete. Steel has high modulus of elastic so that it can resist much more high tensile force for same amount of extension compared to concrete. Let us get to know What is RCC and their types in detail.

Types of reinforcement used in concrete:

There is a various form of Steel reinforcement available in market for construction like reinforcement bars, prestressing wires and strands, rolled steel sections and light-gauge steel sections are the major steel forms that are generally used in building construction.

Steel bars have come with many shapes and grades or strengths. These steel bars are of some specified tensile strength, used to reinforce concrete to develop good bond strengths with concrete and also used for fabrication of grills, gates, etc.

The major type of reinforcement steels available in the market is mild steel, tor steel, TMT bars, etc. The following types of bars are commonly used as reinforced concrete steel for construction.

1) Hot Rolled Steel:

There are four types of hot rolled steel in the market.

The first type is mild steel bars (MS bars) is traditionally Produced by hot rolling. The bars are hot rolled and form a round shape with smooth surface. These bars also called mild steel plain bars

Mild steel bars come in two grades I and Grade II. Grade I mild steel is slightly higher than that of Grade II. These bars are more resistant to corrosion than tor steel bars.

The hot rolled mild steel ribbed bars is the second type which consists of ribs on them. These ribs help increase the bond strength of the bars. Steel bar with Rebar’s or ribbed bars, which are likely to be confused with HYSD bars, are not recommended to use in R.C works.

The hot rolled high strength ribbed bars is the third type which is produced by hot rolling and got by microalloying which is of high strength.

The Fourth type is HYSD bars; there are hot rolled high yield strength deformed bars. These bars now replaced by TMT bars.

2) Cold Twisted Deformed Bars (Tor steel):

Cold Twisted Deformed Bars or Tor steel bars were the first high strength bars used in India. These bars are first hot rolled in the mill and formed high-grade mild steel with three or more parallel straight ribs on it.

As the projection on steel are like straight line this steel is easily identified in field. Also they will form a helical around the bars in cold twisting.

These steel are more susceptible to corrosion much quicker than other bars, which are not recommended for use in many advanced countries.

3) TMT bars:

TMT stands for Thermo-mechanically Treated Reinforcement Bars are manufactured by sudden quenching of red hot steel bars by a spray of water can produce steel bars with high strength at the surface with a core of mild steel. At the end bar structure with tempered martensite on the periphery and a fine-grained ferrite-pearlite structure at the center zone. TMT bars are also manufactured with ribs (rebar’s) to increase the bond strength of the bars.

TMT Corrosion resistance steel (CRS) are also available in the market. The corrosion resistance property of TMT bars is achieved by the addition of corrosion-resistant elements like copper, phosphorus, and chromium.

Compare to Tor Steel the TMT bars are more corrosion resistance and are highly recommended to use in Reinforce concrete works. These bars are manufactured with four grades – Fe 415, Fe 500, Fe 550 and Fe 600.

4) Welded Wire Fabrics:

They consist weldmesh manufactured from medium tensile steel drawn out from diameter mild steel bars. Wires fabrics have higher than that of mild steel.

These wire fabric available in different width wire rolls, which are very much used in partitions, fencing, etc. and sometimes in R.C slab construction.

To know more about Welded Wire Fabric in detail click here

Properties of R.C.C :

It should have sufficient compressive strength.

· It should have Adequate tensile strength

· High Fire and weather resistance

· It should be Durability material.

· Economy to molded any shape

· Low maintenance cost

· Economy as a construction material

· Less deflection

· Use as precast structural components

· Less skilled labor

Uses of R.C.C :

The Reinforce cement concrete is widely used in civil engineering construction. Some of its important application listed below.

1. Reinforcement Concrete form the major structure of building structure. All main load baring components of building are made with RCC. For Example Footings, Columns, Beams, Chejjas, roofs, slabs, and Stairs.

2. RCC is also used for the construction of storage structure like Water tanks, Dams, Bins, silos, and bunkers.

3. It is used for construction large infrastructure project like Bridges, Retaining walls, Docks, and harbors, Underwater structures.

4. RCC is also used for precast element casting like Railway sleepers, Electric poles

5. it is used for constructing tall structure like Multistory buildings, Chimneys, Towers.

6. RCC is used for Paving Work for Roads, Airports.

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What is RCC ? : A complete Guide Read More »

Thumb Rules in Civil Engineering for Construction

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THUMB RULES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BASIC KNOWLEDGE

Thumb Rules in Civil Engineering is essential for any civil engineer, Site engineer or civil supervisor. They play a crucial role while taking quick decisions on site. Thumb rules help you in finding out the solution using a simple mathematical formula and make smart decisions whenever needed. But, while using these thumb rules, you must remember that the thumb rule never gives the exact or accurate results, you just have used them for approximate results.

There are numbers of thumb Rules For Civil Engineers which we used in construction work. So, the following are some most frequently used Thumb rules on the Construction site.

The Thumb rule method is an approximate & comparing method. In thumb rules and the units are not the same when we compare to get the results. So, ignore units while performing thumb rule.

Thumb rule for estimating the Concrete Volume with respect to the area:

The volume of concrete required = 0.038 m3/square feet area

Example:-If Plan Area = 40 x 20 = 800 Sq. m.

So, for the plan area of 800 Sq. m. the area the total volume of concrete required

= 800 x 0.038m3 = 30.4m3

Thumb rule for Steel quantity required for Slab, Beams, Footings & Columns:

Steel required in residential buildings = 4.5 Kgs – 4.75 Kgs / Sq. Ft.

Steel required For Commercial buildings = 5.0 Kgs-5.50 Kgs/Sq. Ft.

You can also use BN Datta recommendations for the more accurate result:

The following recommendations, Thumb Rules For Civil Engineers are given in B N Data for the Steel quantity used in different members of the building

Percentage of Steel in Structural Members:

1) Slab – 1% of the total volume of concrete
2) Beam – 2% of the total volume of concrete
3) Column – 2.5% of total volume of concrete
4) Footings – 0.8% of the total volume of concrete

Example:

How to calculate the steel quantity of slab having the Length, width, and depth of the slab is 5m x 4m x 0.15m

Step 1: Calculate the Volume of Concrete

The Total Volume of Concrete for given Slab = 5 x 4 x 0.15

= 3m3

Step 2: Calculate the steel quantity using formula

As per the guidelines are given in the B N Dutta reference book the steel quantity of slab is 1% of the total volume of concrete utilized.

Thumb rule to estimate Steel quantity of above slab = Volume of Concrete x Density of Steel x % of Steel of Member

Steel weight required for above slab = 3 x 7850 x 0.01 = 235Kgs

For accurate estimation, you can refer to Bar Bending Schedule

Thumb Rules For Civil Engineers to estimate the Shuttering area:

Shuttering costs is taken as 15-18% of the total construction of the building. Shuttering work is done to bring the concrete in Shape. Thumb rule to estimate the shuttering required is 6 times the quantity of concrete or 2.4 times of Plinth area.

For example, the concrete quantity is 0.5m3, then

Area of Shuttering is 0.5 x 6 = 3m2

Components of Shuttering:-

The Shuttering plate Ply, Battens, Nails are components of Shuttering.

Shuttering Ply Quantity estimation:

Suppose, The shuttering Ply has a length, width & depth of 2.44 x 1.22 x 0.012

The No. of Shuttering Ply sheets = 0.22 times of Shuttering

Suppose, the shuttering area = 3m

Then Ply required for shuttering = 0.22 x 3 = 0.66m2

Battens Quantity Calculation:

Shuttering batten usually has a length & width of 75mm x 40mm.

Batten Quantity = 19.82 x No. of Ply Sheets

If work requires 25 Ply sheets, the total quantity of Battens are 19.82 x 25 = 495 Battens

Nails & Binding Wire Quantity in Shuttering:

Approximately, 75 gams of Nails used in the shuttering of the 1m2 area.

75gms of Binding wire is used for every 1m2 of Shuttering.

Thumb rule for Shuttering oil estimation :

Shuttering oil is applied on the shuttering plate surface used to de-frame or de-assemble from the concrete easily.

Total required Shuttering oil = 0.065 x Total Area of Shuttering

(or)

For every 15m2 of shuttering 1 liter of shuttering oil is consumed.

Example :

If, total area of shuttering is 15 m2, then Shuttering oil Consumption = 0.065 x 15 = 0.975.

Thumb rule used for Cement, Sand, Coarse Aggregate Quantity in Different grades of Concrete :

Note: 1 bag of cement = 50Kgs

Thumb rule for Cement required in Brickwork, Cement Masonry & Plastering work in construction:

Thumb Rules For Civil Engineers for Brickwork:

Brickwork for 1m³	Cement Qty in m³	Cement Qty in Bags
230 mm Brickwork	0.876m³	25.4 Bags
115 mm Brickwork	0.218m³	6.32 Bags

Thumb Rules For Civil Engineers for Cement Masonry Quantity:

Cement Masonry Type & Mix	Cement Qty in Bags	Cement Qty in Kgs
200mm in Cement Masonry work of ratio 1:6	0.124Bags/m²	6.2Kgs/m²
150mm in Cement Masonry work of ratio 1:6	0.093Bags/m²	4.65Kgs/m²
200mm in Cement Masonry work of ratio 1:4	0.206Bags/m²	10.3Kgs/m²
150mm in Cement Masonry work of ratio 1:4	0.144Bags/m²	7.2Kgs/m²
100mm in Cement Masonry work of ratio 1:4	0.103Bags/m²	5.15Kgs/m²

Thumb Rules Plastering Quantity :

Type of Plastering	Cement Qty in Bags	Cement Qty in Kgs
Rough Plastering	0.09 Bags/m²	4. 5Kgs/m²
Internal Wall Plastering	0.09 Bags/m²	4.5 Kgs/m²
Duct Plastering	0.09 Bags/m²	4.5 Kgs/m²
External Wall plastering	0.175 Bags/m²	8.75 Kgs/m²
Stucco Plastering	0.175 Bags/m²	8.75 Kgs/m²
Lathen Plastering	0.55 Bags/m²	27.5 Kgs/m²

Do let us know if you have any doubts in Thumb Rules in Civil Engineering.

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M Sand vs River Sand : A Comparison

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MANUFACTURED SAND – COMPARISON WITH RIVER SAND

What does M-Sand Mean?

M-Sand means Manufactured Sand. M- Sand is manufactured from a cubical shaped granite stone with grounded edges, washed and graded with consistency to be used as a substitute of river sand.

Definition: A fine aggregate that is produced by crushing stone, gravel, or slag.

Why Manufactured Sand:

We know that the river sand is mostly used for construction purpose all around the world, majorly for concrete making, cement mortar, and concrete blocks.

Various factors that show the need for manufacturing sand:

1) Global scarcity for natural sand:

Excessive sand exploration and out of limit consumption of natural aggregate sources have led to the implementation of new environmental/land use legislation. This law makes the supply of natural sand difficult and expensive. Nowadays sand mining is heavily taxed/ banned in many parts of the world.

2) Growing demand for fine-aggregates in construction:

it is nearly 30 – 35% volume of concrete is made up of fine aggregate. The UK construction industry demands an approximate 200 Million Tonnes of aggregates every year for various construction purposes.

3) The remote location of sandpits:

Due to legislative restriction on sand mining, the source of sand supply are now limited. Also there are available in remote location away from area of consumption Leeds to high cost of transportation.

4) Presence of silt and clay in natural sand:

Natural sand contains a high amount of impurities like silt and clay which can damage screed and concrete if the sand is not given proper treatment to bring down clay and other impurity content to acceptable levels.

Some of the Alternatives to River Sand:

Manufactured Sand
Fly Ash/ Bottom Ash/Pond Ash
Copper Slag – Filtered Sand
Sea Sand, Slag Sand
Crushed Waste Glass
Recycled Aggregate/C&D Waste Aggregate etc.

The demand for alternative materials of river sand for making concrete is increasing day by day as river sand cannot meet the rising demand of construction sector. It is fact that the river sand takes millions of years to form. Because of limited source of natural sand, the cost of River sand has skyrocketed and its consistent supply cannot be guaranteed. Under this condition the use of manufactured sand becomes inevitable.

Issues and General Requirements of Manufactured Sand:

The Civil engineers, Architects, Builders, and Contractors agree that the river sand, which is available today, is deficient in many respects. It does content very high silt fine particles (as in case of Filter sand). Sometimes the presence of other impurities like coal, bones, shells, mica and silt, etc makes m – sand unfit for the use in cement concrete and due to weathering effect, this material decay which results in shortens the life of the concrete. Nowadays, the government has implemented restriction on river sand exploration and uses. Sand Mining from river bed has deep impact on the environment, as water table goes deeper & ultimately dry.

General Requirements:

M – Sand particles should have a higher crushing value.
The surface texture of M – Sand particles should be smooth and even.
The Particles should have a rounded shape.
The Percentage of fines below 600 microns in the sand should not be less than 3.
M – sand should not contain any organic impurities.
Silt contain in M – Sand should not be more than 2%, for crushed sand.
The number of fines below 75 microns shall not exceed 15% in M – Sand.

Comparison of M – Sand with River Sand:

Is Sieve	River Sand % Age Passing	M-Sand % Age Passing	% Age passing for single sized aggregates of Normal Sand 115 383 – 19701 Zone II
4.75 mm	99.25	99.75	90 to 100
2.36 mm	93.50	78.25	75 to 100
1.18 mm	48.00	52.00	55 to 90
600 Microns	21.00	38.00	35 to 59
300 Microns	4.00	21.00	08 to 30
150 Microns	0.05	5.00	0 to 10

Comparison of Impurities – River Said Vs M-Sand
	River Sand	M-Sand
Marine Products.	2 – 4 %	Nil
Oversized Materials	6 – 10%	Nil
Clay & Silt	5 – 20%	Nil

Natural Sand	Manufactured Sand
Excessive and illegal quarrying of Natural sand at river beds, resulting into soil erosion and danger to the reservoir structures	100% replacement to Natural sand & It is One of the hi-product of aggregates
Scarcity due to ban on quarrying activities near the river bed by the Govt. to prevent depleting of natural resource	No scarcity. as the Govt. is encouraging the business to garnerun-tapped revenue.
No control on silt content	Govt. has identified the places and accorded the sanction for carrying out quarrying and crushing activities without compromising on any environmental issues
Very long distance transportation resulting into volurne toss on the quantity of sand received at site	Sand washing machine to ensure 0% silt content, benefiting best economized concrete with possibilities of reduction in cement content
Adulteration with filter sand (Unfit to be used in concrete]	Uninterrupted supply even during rainy season, which in turn facilitating timely completion of the project.
No guarantee on gradation	No adulteration
Huge inventory cost during monsoon for non avail- ability	World class Machine is employed to get the Top-Quality-Graded aggregates meeting both BIS and Customer requirement, the Consistency on the required gradation is guaranteed.
Fear of not getting sand, if rejected for quality	No fear, the quality is the main focus.
Additional manpower for removal of pebbles & boulders while Loading into belching plant to avoid pump choke ups	No additional manpower is required to remove boulders or pebbles, which is again cost saving
No mechanism on pricing ethical	Transparency in pricing as the manufacturing facility is legal

The Advantages of Manufactured Sand:

More cost-effective than natural sand: M – Sand manufacturing plant can be set up near the area of consumption, bringing down the cost of transportation and providing an assurance of consistent supply.

Compliant with the new European Standards: M – Sand can be used as aggregates in screed and concrete mixes, as per EN13139. As it can be utilized for blended mixture with natural sand.

Less disruptive to the environment: since the raw material for manufacturing m – sand is away from cities it is less environment effect. Also, use of sand can save natural river bed condition, which is essential for any river.

Lesser impurities and good working properties: It is free of silt and clay particles, and has denser particle packing than natural sand. M – sand has better test like higher flexural strength, better abrasion resistance, higher unit weight and lower permeability.

Disadvantages of Manufactured Sand:

Workability Issues: M – Sand is come up with coarse classification and angular texture than natural sand, which is smooth and rounded due to natural gradation. To overcome this we have add more amount of cement to achieve the expected workability, leading to increased costs.

Larger Proportion of Micro Fines: M – Sand contains large amount of fine particle, this is due its manufacturing process. Excessive fine can affect strength and workability of concrete.

Expert Opinion:

It is proven fact that the concrete manufactured with M – Sand perform better than concrete with natural sand as the property of crush sand is better than that of natural sand. M – Sand is environment friendly as it replace the natural sand. The cost of concrete made up with M – Sand is less than concrete made with natural sand. Also, Govt. has to encourage the use of M – Sand to save river natural bed strata.

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List of Top Innovative Construction Materials

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Following are the list of Innovative Construction Materials that could change construction in a whole different way.

1. Translucent Concrete:

The concrete structure is known more for its stability than their great lighting. That was until translucent concrete started to make its way on to the market.

Translucent concrete is manufactured by using glass fiber optical strands, which create a solid but sheer block. LitraCon, known as transparent concrete can be used in flooring and pavement.

From Research and testing transparent concrete, it is clear that the optical fibers make up only 4 percent of the mixture. So it shows that concrete block made from this material still have the ability to support load-bearing walls.

2. SensiTile:

Think about if you walk across your kitchen floor to get something from the refrigerator, the floor twinkles with a lighted path that guides your way through the dark room. this is now possible if you had SensiTiles.

In this type of tiles concrete acrylic fiber- optic channels that transfer light from one point to another are embedded in it. As person move across Terrazzo’s surface, the light channels flicker with a randomized, twinkling effect. Tiles are available for use as flooring, in bathrooms and even ceilings, so you can have twinkling lights follow you all over the house.

3. Electrified Wood:

Now you may never have to deal with the Bunch of wires that you need handle while lighting in home decoration purpose. The Wood – E European manufacturing company has material that can incorporate a source of electricity directly into tables and chairs. In that system they inserted two metal layers are pressed between the wood of the furniture, making it possible to pass an electrical current through the whole thing.

The power is supplied by 12-volt power is fed to the metal layers via one connector, and lamps and other devices can be connected via the other. But there is a doubt that if this furniture will work with all electrical outlets, but we’re for any piece of furniture that means we don’t have to find a way to tie all our wires together.

4. Flexicomb:

This material name Flexicomb’s describes itself quite well. The material designed by PadLab’s Dan Gottlieb while he was still an undergraduate at the Yale School of Architecture. This material is made up of a flexible honeycomb matrix, which can be used to build lighting fixtures, furniture, and sculptural installations. The Flexicomb material is made from thousands of closely packed polypropylene tube that will bend in the convex direction while remaining rigid in the concave one. Flexicomb can be used for almost any imaginable purpose.

5. RichLite:

A Countertop like wood made of paper might not sound too strong, but a Richlite counter material is almost indistinguishable from one made of wood. The material is made with 70 % of the recycled paper. This countertops material are made by treating paper with a resin and then baking it to create solid sheets. This material was first used in the aerospace, boating, and sports industries as reinforcement for surfaces like fiberglass, but now is available for architectural purposes as well.

To know more about RichLite click here

6. Self-Repairing Cement:

Lots of research have been done to replace concrete, but cement is itself still evolving. A newly invented self-healing cement is currently being developed which has the ability to repair its own cracks. This cement manufactured by mixed with microcapsules that release a glue-like epoxy resin that will automatically repair any cracks that form in the sidewalk or roadway.

it is a material that can absorb or release large amounts of heat have also been included in the ingredients. This material can save energy by developing buildings that can control their own temperature, and save money on repairs

7. Carbon Fiber:

Carbon fiber is a material which is extremely strong and light weighted. The carbon fiber material is 5 times as strong as steel, two times as stiff, yet weighs about two- thirds less. These fibers are made up of carbon strands that are thinner than a human hair. The carbon strands can be woven together, like cloth, and then that can be molded to any shape you might want. In addition, carbon fibers are strong as well as flexible, so it’s the perfect material for construction projects in areas with that are exposed to hurricanes and tornados.

8. Liquid Granite:

According to its inventor, liquid granite has the ability to completely replace cement in concrete. Liquid Granite is lightweight and has the same load-bearing capacity of cement, but is made of recycled materials. this material has none of the environmental impacts that cement and concrete do.

Liquid Granite made up of between 30 and 70 percent recycled material and uses less than one-third of the cement used in precast concrete. So it can greatly reduce carbon footprint and liquid granite is also fire resistant. It can handle temperatures of up to 1,100 degrees Celsius while still maintaining its structural properties. it does not explode in high temperatures like concrete.

9. Bendable Concrete:

Normally concrete is a very brittle material; any buckling or bending will cause it to crack. This problem of concrete can be removed by new fiber-reinforced bendable concrete might just be putting an end to that issue.

The new fiber-reinforced bendable concrete is around 500 times more resistant to cracking than regular concrete thanks to the tiny fibers, which account for two percent of its make up. The fibers inside the concrete slide within the concrete when bending occurs, providing it with enough give to prevent breakage. In addition, this concrete has a much longer life expectancy, which means it will cost a less in the long run too.

10. Concrete Canvas:

It is a flexible cement impregnated fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable waterproof and fire proof concrete layer.

• In this type of concrete, it just required to Add Water on a roll.

•CC is available in man-portable rolls for applications with limited access or where heavy plant equipment is not available.

•Once hydrated, CC remains workable for 2 hours and hardens to 80% strength within 24 hours

•Rapid, Flexible, Strong, Durable, Water Proof, Fire Proof, CO2 Savings, Low Wash Out, Environment nt Agency Approval (UK)

11. Low-E Glass / Films:

•Low-E glass is window glass that has invisible metal or metallic oxide invisible coating, creating a surface that reflects heat while allowing light to pass through. This type of glass is proven to reduce energy consumption, decrease fading of fabrics, such as window treatments, and increase overall comfort in your home.

12. Transparent Aluminum:

Transparent Aluminum has extremely-durable crystalline material with excellent optical transparency

It can be used windows, domes, plates, rods, and tubes in a wide range of sizes and thicknesses
It has clarity
Total absence of birefringence Outstanding hardness and high strength. Available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes thicknesses
Produced using proven ceramic forming processes
Cost effective advanced material
it can be Applicable to a wide variety of industries including aerospace, security, defense and Semiconductor, Energy and consumer products.
It has clarity
Total absence of birefringence Outstanding hardness and high strength. Available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes thicknesses
Produced using proven ceramic forming processes
Cost effective advanced material
it can be Applicable to a wide variety of industries including aerospace, security, defense and Semiconductor, Energy and consumer products.

This is our list of Innovative Construction Materials. Do let us know in the comment section if we have left out any Innovative Construction Materials.

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