The ability of persons from low-income backgrounds to access buildings is increased by the use of affordable building materials for the development of affordable housing. Low cost construction materials may be built using effective planning and project management, affordable low cost construction materials, cost-effective building techniques, and other available construction alternatives. The money made by using such techniques can lower the cost of building and increase everyone’s access to affordable housing. By using less expensive alternatives to traditional building materials, construction costs are also kept from rising as a result of the project’s eventual cost-increasing usage of scarce building supplies.
Selection of Affordable Construction Materials for Low Cost housing
Eco-friendly low cost construction materials should be chosen as the initial step in selecting low cost construction materials. Moreover, this strengthens the sustainable design idea. Pre-building, building, and post-building stages make up a building’s life cycle. Every stage of construction need to promote energy conservation. These three steps represent the movement of construction materials through various building phases. Manufacturing, which is further broken down into processing, packaging, and shipping, makes up the majority of the pre-building step. Construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal make up the bulk of the building phase.
Here are 25 tips for low cost construction materials:
- Use local materials: Using locally available materials can significantly reduce transportation costs, making them a cheaper option.
- Bricks: Bricks are a great low cost construction materials that are durable, strong and long-lasting.
- Concrete blocks: Concrete blocks are affordable and strong, making them a popular choice for low-cost housing.
- Mud bricks: Mud bricks are a low cost construction materials made from mud, straw and other natural materials.
- Rammed earth: Rammed earth is a low cost construction materials that is strong and durable. It is made from compressed soil and can be found locally.
- Bamboo: Bamboo is a low-cost and sustainable building material that is strong, durable and easy to work with.
- Timber: Timber is a popular low cost construction materials that is renewable and sustainable.
- Ferrocement: Ferrocement is a low cost construction materials made from cement and wire mesh. It is strong and durable.
- Steel: Steel is a low cost construction materials that is strong, durable and long-lasting.
- Fly ash bricks: Fly ash bricks are made from fly ash, a waste product from coal-fired power plants. They are a low-cost and eco-friendly building material.
- Recycled materials: Using recycled materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled plastic, can be a low-cost alternative to traditional building materials.
- Straw bales: Straw bales are an affordable and eco-friendly building material that are excellent for insulation.
- Stone: Stone is a low-cost and durable building material that can be found locally in many areas.
- Corrugated metal sheets: Corrugated metal sheets are a low-cost roofing material that is durable and long-lasting.
- Sandbags: Sandbags are a low cost construction materials that can be used for walls and foundations.
- Hempcrete: Hempcrete is a low-cost and eco-friendly building material made from hemp and lime.
- Insulated concrete forms: Insulated concrete forms are a low-cost and energy-efficient building material made from foam insulation and concrete.
- Plastic bottles: Plastic bottles can be used as a low cost construction materials for walls and foundations.
- Tyres: Old tyres can be filled with earth and used as a low-cost building material for walls and foundations.
- Clay: Clay is a low-cost and eco-friendly building material that can be used for walls and roofs.
- Compressed earth blocks: Compressed earth blocks are a low cost construction materials made from compressed soil.
- Wood pallets: Wood pallets can be used as a low cost construction materials for walls and floors.
- Gypsum: Gypsum is a low-cost building material that is used for walls and ceilings.
- Agro waste: Agro waste, such as rice husk or wheat straw, can be used as a low-cost building material for insulation.
- Paint: Using paint is a low-cost way to add color and texture to your walls and ceilings.