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Sustainable Building or Green Building is a modeling and designing concept introduced in the Construction industry for building environmentally friendly and resource effective structures. Throughout the lifecycle of the construction right from planning till its implementation and even when it undergoes preventive and proactive maintenance, the principle is followed.

The question is, “What are the materials used in establishing such buildings, leveraging natural resources efficiently, and reducing waste as much as possible?”

Raw Materials Used for Green Building

Typically, before designing the various parts of the Green Building, it is essential to finalize the raw materials to be used. Here are the key ones, commonly utilized:

1. Bamboo for flooring can be curated into multiple colors and styles.
2. Steel for beams which is recyclable and eco-friendly.
3. Wood collected from barns, shipping crates, excavation sites, etc., often referred to as reclaimed wood is environment friendly.
4. Tin dioxide for windows for protection against ultraviolet rays and aid energy conservation.
5. Cork made by stripping bark from trees are used for flooring; resistant to fire and waterproof.
6. Ferrous rock or steel dust, as an alternative to cement, for constructing pavements, staircases, driveways, walking trails, etc., and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
7. Mushroom fibers or Mycelium are used in constructing a green building for tolerating high temperatures.
8. Sheep’s wool is used for thermal insulation, energy efficiency and is eco-friendly too.
9. Porotherm Smart Bricks made of natural raw materials like Clay.

Materials Leveraged For Designing The Crucial Parts Of A Green Building

Usage of Insulated Concrete Forms or ICF and Structured Insulated Panels or SIPs are prevalent in constructing the foundation of green buildings. They provide effective thermal insulation, resistance to natural hazards, and excessive climatic conditions. The result is balanced energy bills and in turn saving money spent on electricity.

Roofs made from Clay and Vinyl are commonly used due to their innumerable advantages. The material protects the building from the sun’s extreme heat, thus aiding in conserving energy. It is lightweight and flexible to mold into customized designs.

Plastic foams or sealant foams are the best and proven solutions for doors. They are strong, sustainable, durable, soundproof, secure, and energy-efficient too. Plastic assists in regulating the temperature inside the house. Sealant even filters the air of its impurities, an added advantage benefitting human health.

Vinyl windows and tin dioxide made windows are prominent in constructing green buildings. They are termite and insect free, a mandatory requirement for residents. The material does not rust or erode and helps in reducing condensation. They can withstand harsh weather conditions and do not break or damage. Additionally, vinyl windows regulate air quality and purity.

Tile or vinyl sheets and bamboo are widely preferred for flooring in green buildings. They help in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the floors, a common requirement of residents. Besides, they are easy to maintain and preserve for long-term sustainability. Both tiles and vinyl sheets are water-resistant, strong, and durable. Dust, termites, insects, and other bugs can be easily prevented in these kinds of flooring.

Plastic or vinyl is the material preferred for wall coverings. In addition to being strong and durable, they help in maintaining the air quality. The air remains odor-free. Contrary to other paints used for wall covering, vinyl emits almost negligible volatile compounds which disperse rapidly via the housing ventilation.

Electricity is one of the vital factors to focus and plan in any building construction. Both wired and wireless connectivity need to work efficiently without any glitches or accidents. The wires are majorly insulated using plastic sheets or vinyl sheets and sometimes using sheep’s wool as well. Due to their fire-resistant qualities and longevity, the materials are best suited for the wiring as well as for the casings.

Railings and fences in a building stand outside and hence would need to be fire-proof, weather-resistant, and rust-free. Recycled plastic offers all the required features. Besides, they help to preserve the plants and trees that you may be growing in your front yard. Moreover, the advantage of using recycled products is a substantial reduction of waste and hence reduced expenses.

Without a proper drainage system and pipes, survival in a building is next to impossible. Plastic piping is the best solution offered since it is affordable, economical, lightweight, leakproof, fire-resistant, and can bear harsh weather. They can be easily installed as well.

Interesting: 12 Famous Architects In India Who Adopt Sustainability As A Vital Feature In Their Work

Conclusion

The popularity of green buildings is increasing exponentially because of their extensive benefits over traditional structures and establishments. Builders can achieve faster realization of benefits with reduced costs. Being environment friendly, thermally insulated, corrosion-free, durability and energy-efficient qualities have earned high regard and accolades over the conventional harmful building materials.

urated by editor at  Wienerberger India

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected] or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Healthy Buildings for All – It is time to put people’s health and well-being at the center of the built environment. For the past one decade, sustainable buildings and ‘green’ living have been a popular trend in the world of real estate. But now healthy buildings and wellness/well-being environments are trending as the latest buzzwords. Yes, the term healthy buildings have become commonplace, and quite often it is interspersed or mixed with terms like ‘Green Buildings’ and ‘Sustainable Buildings’.

The World Green Building Council’s publication Health, Wellbeing, and Productivity concedes that there are strong studies that suggest green design features of buildings lead to healthier, more productive occupants. Building on this, we are going to throw light on the 7 most important pillars of perfectly healthy buildings.

7 Foundations Of Healthy Buildings

1. Ventilation

Ventilation in buildings is very important to bring in fresh air from the outside and dilute occupant-generated pollutants like carbon dioxide and product-generated pollutants like VOCs i.e., volatile organic compounds. If mechanically ventilated, a structure’s mechanical system is designed to pull in the fresh outdoor air, filter it and deliver it to its occupants.

While constructing or renovating a structure, one should meet or exceed local outdoor air ventilation rate guidelines to control indoor sources of odors, chemicals, and carbon dioxide. Filter outdoor and recirculated air with a minimum removal efficiency of 75% for all particle size fractions including nano. Avoid outdoor air intake at street level or near other outdoor sources of pollutants. Commission systems, conduct regular maintenance, and monitor ventilation in real-time to prevent and resolve ventilation issues promptly.

2. Air Quality

Buildings having poor ventilation rates have very poor air quality and are reported as unpleasant and stuffy. This type of air quality makes the indoor environment very uncomfortable to work in. That is not all, the increased pollutants cause a range of harms. Poorly ventilated structures promote health issues like fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus, cough, eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, nausea, and dizziness. Such symptoms stemming from prolonged exposure to poorly ventilated spaces are also called sick building syndrome (SBS).

To improve the air quality, the builders, designers, and homeowners should select building materials with low chemical emissions which can significantly help in limiting the sources of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.

3. Thermal Health 

The thermal comfort of a building is extremely important for well-being, health, and productivity. A lack of thermal comfort can cause stress in the occupants living in the building. When they are too warm, people can feel tired; when too cold, they will be restless and distracted.

A building structure should meet the minimum thermal comfort standards for temperature and humidity and should be able to keep thermal conditions consistent throughout the day.

4. Moisture

Buildings which are too damp or too dry can be bad for occupants’ health. Excess moisture or dampness and mold growth in buildings have been associated with some upper respiratory symptoms (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny or itchy nose) and respiratory diseases, especially asthma, in children and adults.

Moisture in buildings comes from both outdoor and indoor sources: rain, snowmelt, groundwater, construction materials, plumbing systems, kitchens, shower rooms, swimming pools, and wet surfaces such as mopped floors. It is important to conduct regular inspections of roofing, plumbing, ceilings, and HVAC equipment to identify sources of moisture and potential condensation spots. When moisture or mold is found, immediately address the moisture source and dry or replace contaminated materials. Identify and remediate the underlying source of the moisture issue.

5. Lighting And Views

Lighting affects our health. It affects our mood and circadian rhythms. Poor lighting is linked to glare, headaches, eyestrain, skin conditions, and various types of sight loss. Lighting is an essential element in quality environments that support health and wellness while reducing energy use.

Provide task lighting for comfortable viewing. Provide direct lines of sight to exterior windows from all possible zones in the building structure.

6. Noise  

Acoustic comfort is the well-being and feeling of a building or house occupants regarding the acoustic environment (noise-producing transport, equipment, activity, neighborhood). Providing acoustic comfort consists of minimizing intruding noise and maintaining satisfaction among residents (home and workspace).

7. Safety And Security

The safety and security of a building are something that must be at the top of every organisation’s priority.

Meet fire safety and carbon monoxide monitoring standards. Provide adequate lighting in common areas, stairwells, emergency egress points, parking lots, and building entryways. Manage points of egress and the physical perimeter. Be situationally aware through video monitoring, interactive patrols, and incident reporting. Maintain a holistic emergency action plan and mechanism for communication to building occupants.

Homes Are No Longer Just Four Walls

What goes inside the four walls does matters a lot today. When it comes to your comfort, economic aspects and the worth of your investment do not settle down for ordinary building materials when it comes to building perfectly healthy walls for your healthy buildings.

The Hollow clay blocks which are known as Porotherm Bricks are designed to provide better efficiency, durability, ease of use while constructing houses, office buildings, and other infrastructure facilities. These blocks of bricks are a host of many benefits which help in cost-effective wall construction. You can read more about Porotherm Smart Bricks here.

Read: We Compare The Benefits Of Porotherm Bricks With Traditional Materials

Healthy building refers to an emerging area of interest that supports the physical, psychological, and social health and well-being of people in buildings and the built environment. Buildings can be key promoters of health and well-being since most people spend most of their time indoors.

Curated by a building expert from Wienerberger India

For centuries, bricks form an integral part of any construction. In ancient times, houses, palaces, monuments, forts and in the modern era, buildings, skyscrapers, schools, hospitals; bricks provide the durability and strength to stand firm and straight. But the question is, “Which type of bricks should one select for construction?”

Well, essentially certain key factors influence the decision. Environment friendly, value for money, weight, density, strength, water absorption capacity, thermal conductivity, etc. are some of them.

The two main types of bricks and their key features?

1. buy Seroquel cheap online Clay Bricks

Made from clay. The clay is burnt at high temperatures to make the bricks. The heat generated fuses the clay particles and creates a strong ceramic bonding. The reason behind the warm and natural colors of the burnt clay. However, the colors can be modified through various techniques like regulating the temperature and the kiln atmosphere or changing the clay compositions. Even the textures can be varied to bring in extra beauty. The clay bricks are durable and resistant.

• http://solarsouthwest.co.uk/.well-known/pki-validation Hollow Clay Bricks

Hollow clay bricks are now the buzzword in the masonry industry. It’s being called the new age brick. They are also termed Porotherm bricks or Perforated bricks, due to the vertical or horizontal perforation and specially packed with insulating material. Lightweight, less absorption of water, eco-friendly material, and thermal insulation are some of its salient features. Besides, they impart a better aesthetic view than the normal traditional clay bricks. The hollow clay bricks are safe and fire-resistant.

Read: We Compare The Benefits Of Porotherm Bricks With Traditional Materials

Comparison – Clay Bricks vs. Hollow Clay Bricks

Let us now try to understand the difference between clay bricks and hollow clay bricks based on some critical factors.

1. http://shushescorts4u.co.uk/?p=491 Composition
   1. Clay Bricks are composed of clay, lime, sand, iron oxide, and magnesia.
   2. Hollow Clay Bricks are an amalgamation of clay, fly ash, coal ash, sawdust, and rice husk ash.
2. Chanika Usage
   1. Clay Bricks are mostly used in the construction of walls, sidewalks, pavements, driveways, walkways, and landscaping.
   2. Hollow Clay Bricks are used in both internal and external walls of a building but preferably till 4 floors. Partition walls sometimes are constructed using hollow bricks.
3. Weight or Mass
   1. Clay bricks are comparatively heavier, weighing approximately 2.5 kg to 3.5 kg
   2. Hollow Clay Bricks are almost 60% lighter than the traditional clay bricks
4. Water Absorption Capacity
   1. For Clay Bricks, it is about 20% of its mass
   2. For Hollow Clay Bricks, it is about 15% of its mass
5. Thermal or Heat Conductivity
   1. Approximately 0.6 to 1 Watts per meter Kelvin in Clay Bricks
   2. Approximately 0.28 to 0.31 Watts per meter Kelvin in Hollow Clay Bricks
6. Load withstanding Capacity
   1. It is in the range of 7.5 to 10 Newton per square millimeter for Clay Bricks
   2. It is around 3.5 Newton per square millimeter for Hollow Clay Bricks
7. Brick Size
   1. Clay Bricks are available in the market in two sizes – Standard (without mortar) and Nominal (with mortar).  Both have two different dimensions:
      1. Standard
         1. Length-190mm (millimeter) , Width-90mm and Breadth-40mm
         2. Length-190mm, Width-90mm and Breadth-90mm.
      2. Nominal
         1. Length-230mm, Width-110mm and Breadth-70mm
         2. Length- 30mm, Width-110mm and Breadth-30mm
   2. Hollow Clay Bricks are available in the market in various sizes,
      1. Length- ranges from 200mm to 400mm
      2. Width-  ranges from 150mm to 400mm and
      3. Breadth- ranges from 200mm to 400mm
8. Brick Density
   1. In Clay Bricks, it ranges from 1700 to 1920 kilogram per cubic meter
   2. In Hollow Clay Bricks, it ranges from 694 to 788 kilograms per cubic meter.

Reasons To Use Hollow Clay Bricks

Hollow bricks can be used to build load-bearing as well as non-load-bearing walls depending upon the compressive strengths of the material used. Some of the reasons to use hollow bricks are-

1. Hollow bricks are eco-friendly since they are manufactured by using recycled/waste material/natural substitutes like coal ash, rice husk, granite slurry, fly ash, etc.
2. Hollow bricks can reduce the use of cooling and heating devices as per the seasonal requirements due to their thermal insulation property. This reduces energy consumption thus saving the resources and your pockets.
3. The air present in the hollow area of these bricks makes them thermal insulators. They keep the interiors cool in summer and warm in winter especially the ‘clay hollow bricks’. They also provide more sound insulation as compared to solid bricks.
4. Hollow bricks display good compressive strength making them suitable to install heavy wall compartments, cabinets, geysers, etc. The presence of hollow space makes it easier to pass the electrical and plumbing fixtures as compared to solid bricks where you need to chisel adding to the labor, damage, and cost.
5. Hollow bricks are much lighter compared to solid bricks. This brings down the overall structural cost.
6. As these bricks are much lighter in weight than the solid bricks, the ease of working with them promotes faster constriction and early completion of the project. Also, one Hollow brick is equivalent to 9 bricks; hence, these are faster and easier to install which in turn saves construction time and labor cost.
7. Owing to it’s large size, these bricks reduce the mortar quantity and also the number of joints that need to be filled during the construction process.
8. Hollow Bricks is 60 percent lighter than the volumetric alike of 9 bricks. Thus, hollow bricks will reduce the amount of dead load for buildings, and thus structure cost will be cut down.
9. Hollow bricks are eco-friendly Construction material which is manufactured by recycled waste and materials such as coal ash, rice husk, and fly ash. They are rated by the Green Building Council of India.

Conclusion

Bricks are one of the most important materials used in building construction. The introduction of Hollow clay bricks has indeed created a revolutionary change in the masonry industry.

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected] or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

There are so many ways to compare buildings, whether it’s their height, styles of architecture or exploring their histories. But, as the environment is taking its course, more and more importance is being placed on a building’s “green” badges. In the era of climate change the decisions around a building’s design, construction and operations is moving towards increasing the overall green quotient of the structure.

Let’s face it, the concrete jungles are slowly but surely downing nature’s way of sustaining – naturally. And architects and designers, are one of the main players behind the creation of these jungles have now stared to realise the impact each structure on the environment. This is exactly why, ‘green buildings’ have become the new norm. Green building reduces depression in humans and the environment. Today, we look through 7 remarkable green buildings from around the world, that may enthuse more smart cities to replicate more of these.

7 Phenomenal Green Buildings Across The Planet

You can call it sustainable or green, these buildings are a spectacle on their own. Either through adoption of eco-friendly materials or reliance on renewable energy or both – every single structure is positively impacting to a greener future.

1. Suzlon One Earth |Pune, India | Design- Christopher Benninger

Source

Largest and one of the first green offices in India to receive a LEED Platinum rating in 2010. Spread over 10-acres of land, the office is 100 percent powered by offsite and onsite renewable sources. The building is designed in such a way that 90 percent of the interior receives natural light, 80 percent of its power comes from wind and 20 percent from solar. The rest of its electricity comes from its off-site windmill farms, making it a net zero energy building. Adding further is a water percolation system which is another outstanding feature of this structure as it controls stormwater runoff, that adds to an upsurge in the water table.

2. One Central Park | Sydney, Australia| Design – Ateliers Jean Nouvel with PTW Architects

Source

The public park at the heart of the precinct climbs the side of the floor-to-ceiling glass towers to form a lush 21st century canopy. Using 250 species of Australian flowers and plants, the buds and blooms of the vegetation form a musical composition on the façade. Vines and leafy foliage spring out between floors and provide the perfect frame for Sydney’s skyline, according to archdaily.com. They look incredibly pretty and send an unquestionable ‘GREEN’ statement.

One Central Park comprises 2 residential apartment towers, an east and west tower, in addition to a six-level retail shopping centre at the base of the towers. This structure was awarded a 5-star Green Star – ‘Multi-Unit Residential Design v1’ Certified Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, making it the largest multi-residential building in the country to receive such a designation.

3. Museum of Tomorrow |Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Design – Santiago Calatrava

Source

With its distinctive cantilevered roof, reflective pools and skeletal structure Museum of Tomorrow located in Rio is truly a testament to imminent possibilities. The sustainable sustainable design of this structure features includes adjustable, fin-like solar panels that add to the structures neofuturist aesthetic. Its effective pumping system takes cold water from the bottom of nearby Guanabara Bay for use in its air-conditioning system.

4. Shanghai Tower | Shanghai, China | Design – Gensler

Source

Shanghai Tower is the world’s 2^nd tallest building and an architectural wonder that is stands exceptionally great on the sustainability meter. The structure has a transparent skin wrapped around it that creates a cushion of captured air which works a natural ventilator reducing energy costs. Also, the 270 wind turbines integrated into the facade power its exterior lights. Shanghai tower uses significantly less power than other skyscrapers and also holds a platinum LEED certification.

5. The Edge | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Design – PLP Architecture

The Edge, a 40,000m² office building located in the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam. What makes the Edge exception? it’s the fact that it bagged 98 out of 100 points from BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology). Yes, The Edge worlds greenest office building and has been inspiring the world since it opened its doors to the public in 2015.

6. PARKROYAL Collection Pickering | Singapore | Design – WOHA Architects

Source

The design of PARKROYAL Collection Pickering is inspired by terraformed rice paddies. It has numerous sky gardens inserted along the building’s façade which delivers luxuriant greenery, including palm trees to public areas and room balconies. This natural feature also provides a natural cooling effect for the structure. The crevasses, waterfalls and gullies features are designed to be self-sustaining; these take advantage of Singapore’s abundant rainfall to irrigate all those plants through a drip system.

7. The Whitepod Eco Resort | Switzerland | Design – Montalba Architects

The Whitepod Eco Resort nestled amidst the snow-covered mountains in Switzerland was awarded the World Prize for Sustainable Tourism. The highlight of the hotel is the innovative low-impact pods. These accommodation spaces are built with a self-sustaining frame and heated with a wood stove. Other eco-friendly features are water-saving devices, timeouts for boilers, LED lighting, and natural spring water for drinking. The resort uses solar energy in areas possible and keeps lighting at night to a minimum.  Considering the green features, this can be regarded as the most eco-conscious yet beautiful green hotel on Earth.

Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy usage – contributing to GHG emissions. Unquestionably, green buildings are the most sustainable way of diminishing the possibility of cities becoming storehouses of GHG.  Hence do not forget to implement the concept Green Building in your project – starting from the design process!

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

Like this story? Or have something to share?

Write to us at: [email protected] or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.construction quality

There’s so much to learn about architecture, isn’t it? With architectural revolutions happening every single second it is important to be updated – or be left behind. Today smart architects need to learn from a variety of sources to enhance and upgrade their architectural knowledge. One needs to keep a close watch on the best architecture videos, sketching and rendering skills, tips, and tricks and sometimes even watch architecture documentaries. There are many great architecture-related YouTube channels, hence it may look baffling for you to single out the best one. If architecture is your area of interest and passion, here are 7 great YouTube channels you might want to consider checking out.

That being said, today we suggest some of the very best around:              

1. Dezeen

Many recognize Deezen as one amazing online magazine for architecture and design; but did you know they have a specialized YouTube channel? This channel offers a wide variety of videos linked to their online magazine. You can find a large number of interviews, videos on major architecture and design projects, and even talks of all kinds. Unquestionably, Dezeen YouTube channel is one great way to make a total immersion into the big wide world of architecture.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/user/dezeenmagazine/

2. How to Architect

If you are inclined towards learning about architecture, hop into this YouTube channel to see 100s of tutorials around architectural terms, styles, lettering, and tutorials on models and from other professional architects. This channel is great for those who are just breaking into the field of architecture or those who wish to increase their knowledge.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/user/howtoarchitect/

3. ArchDaily

Apparently, ArchDaily doesn’t need a formal introduction. It is the world’s most visited architecture website providing inspiration, knowledge, and tools for millions and billions of architects around the world. Here you can find interviews with your favorite architects and coverage of major architectural events and projects from practically every corner of the world.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/user/archdaily/

4. Architectural Digest

AD or architectural digest is one definitive design magazine, traveling the world to report on the best in design for its audience. This international authority on design and architecture provides exclusive access to the world’s most amazing homes and also those who live inside them. It brings for its audience a wealth of information on architecture and interior design, art and antiques, travel destinations, and extraordinary products.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/user/ArchitecturalDigest

5. Sam-E Studio

Created for the beginners, this YouTube channel is perfect for those looking to learn about architecture drawings, model making, 3d art, optical illusion, architecture design software, interior design, and exterior design tutorials, etc. That’s not all it offers an assortment of tips and tricks which lets you learn how to make amazing things all by yourself in just a few steps.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-vj_VKn5iffTtUnAUOKTOg

6. ARQUI9 Visualisation

This YouTube channel is an extension of the award-winning architectural visualization studio ARQUI9. For those looking to advance their Photoshop skills, ARQUI9 Visualisation is dedicated to 3D architectural visualization.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBzPV2uSji-Z5-x_svnZV1w/

7. WienerBerger India

Wienerberger group is the world’s largest producer of clay (terracotta) building bricks and No.1 in the clay roof market in Europe. If you are interested to learn about Green Building Solutions hop into their YouTube channel.

Link – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWe0d4qUVgUAlWshzBbSOXQ

I hope you liked the video repository in the above YouTube Channels. But again, this isn’t an all-inclusive list as there are many more amazing YouTube Channels with amazing video content waiting to be explored.

Interesting Read: Sneak Peek To Marie-France Roy’s 400-Sq.ft Sustainable ‘Cob House’

Curated by a building expert from Wienerberger India

Why are you planning for a home renovation? The common reason could be to revive the house and make it look more beautiful, updated, and most importantly feel more comfortable. The adventure of having a home renovation can quickly fade by unforeseen circumstances. If not avoided completely, most of these problems can be mitigated by watching out for the warning signals.

Unquestionably, any remodeling project may seem overwhelming, but it is guaranteed to go more or less smoothly if you consider these seven tips.

1. Research And Budget

One of the initial steps that you should consider before venturing into any project is – Researching. When it comes to home renovation, you will be baffled by the number of options and choices available. The gorgeous lampshade that you loved at a high-end store can be purchased at a cheaper price from elsewhere as well. Hence, whenever you are planning to renovate your home on a strict budget, do remember to research well. Things like finding the right furniture, paint, decorations, can be purchased at different prices at different locations, and researching could let you save a lot of money.

It is imperative that every single project needs a specific budget. Let’s face it that it is not at all easy to find that perfect balance between your dream design and the planned amount for the project. Hence it is essential to have a good understanding of the materials and labor, so you can measure expectations consequently.

2. Lay Down The Scope Of Work

Once you have set a realistic budget for your home renovation project, it’s time to get clarity on what work can happen and when. It is important to get answers clear on what is absolutely needed as opposed to what is simply needed. This helps in identifying the true intention of the project and lay out important ground rules; also help create a schedule of what works happens when.

3. Paint With Combinations That Do Not Go Wrong

One of the most common and true home renovation ideas is a fresh coat of paint. It is a simple way to completely transform the ambiance and feel of the house. But sometimes the choice of the color of the paint goes completely wrong which adversely affects the lighting of the home. If you are on a budget and choosing only painting as a part of the renovation, a diverse colored pallet might seem counterintuitive. We suggest you opt for a black and white palette; this gives a home a modern sophisticated look. Indeed, with black and white together there is very little chance for you to go wrong.

4. Make Small Spaces Look Spacious

In our view another very important motive of any renovation project is to make small spaces look bigger and spacious. An inexpensive and beautiful way of achieving this goal is to use mirrors or see-through partitions.

Related – Environment Friendly House Renovations

5. Tips For Your Kitchen

You would agree that nobody knows and understands your kitchen better than you do, isn’t it? The first thing you would need to watch out here is to de-clutter and maximize your storage. Exploiting your kitchen to its extreme capacity can help you minimize your storage problems. Another thing to note is to concentrate on refinishing than replacing. New cabinets can be very expensive; hence the remodeling trick is much affordable. Get your old cabinets sanded down and apply new finishes to achieve the look and feel of a completely new set without the purchase.

6. Match Your Floor

When on budget, planning a complete floor renovation can be one expensive affair. If you cannot find the flooring suiting your budget then it would be wiser to invest in everything matching your current floor design.

7. Be Ready For All The Discomfort

Yes, it can be trying times to live inside the house during a home renovation – A home full of dust, plenty of decluttering, and exhaustion. It doesn’t matter if you hire the most meticulous laborers – they can’t keep dirt and dust from flying everywhere in your home, and it’s going to bother you. There has yet to be a renovation project that has been silky smooth, without a single snag or snafu – So Be Positive.

Interesting Read : Historic Renovation Of 100-Year-Old Roof Of The Dokett Building In Cambridge, UK

In The End…

Renovating your home is a great way to stay satisfied without having to spend a lot of money on moving to a new apartment. The key to renovating your house beautifully is to devise a goal for yourself and most importantly stick to it. Paint the entire picture of what you wish to achieve and then move towards it one step at a time. These 7 tips will surely help you accomplish these goals on a fair budget.

Do let us know if you have thoughts around home renovation or similar experiences to share. We would love to hear them!

Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India

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Terracotta has been known for its earthy tones and textures; it is one of the oldest man-made building materials. Other than its aesthetics, there is much more to this age-old building material that makes it perfect not just for residential projects but also for office building façade design.

The Terracotta cladding is a 100 percent natural construction material. Over the past decade, it has been used impressively to create outstanding façade designs in combination with paint, glass, stone surfaces, etc. Commonly bricks have been used in buildings and terracotta facades have emerged as a perfect alternative to brick masonry. It imparts the look of exposed bricks with a smooth and flawless finish which conventional brick masonry can never match.

In a world in which energy, environmental, and financial difficulties cannot be ignored – Terracotta makes perfect sense for construction purposes. This type of clay, bricks, façade, and roof tiles are perfect as they bring along an array of benefits. In this blog, we shall confer to why terracotta is perfect for office building façade design.

Terracotta For Office Building Facade Design

For an office building facade design, don’t aim just on creating a good-looking one. Instead, aim at creating an exterior that works as a protective shield for your building. No, we are not saying that it has to be a boring exterior with an unappealing look and that fails perfectly to attract people’s attention. This is exactly where Terracotta façade design works exceptionally.

So why should we install Terracotta Façade Tiles?

Here are some reasons that make terracotta facades perfect for office buildings:

1. Sustainable And Recyclable

Terracotta used in architecture is made from natural clay and fired in a kiln. Intrinsically, it’s an environmentally friendly building material and can be easily recycled. Bricks and façade panels can be repurposed or they can be reduced to debris for use in the construction of roads.

2. Energy Saving Alternate

Globally, the move toward renewable energy is not happening fast enough to contribute evocatively to the fight against climate change. Terracotta cannot offset that totally, but its outstanding thermal insulation properties can help mitigate the heat-island upshot of larger buildings, and it can lower the overall energy consumption – This means lower energy bills. Terracotta is apt in storing heat energy during the day and they release it gradually at night.

3. Durable And Corrosion-Resistant

Other prominent advantages of terracotta are its ability to bear exposure to the outside elements and its corrosion resistance. If the environmental concerns of the 1980s and early 90s are recalled – acid rain grabs most of our attention. It’s not something we hear these days, but it hasn’t disappeared. The acidity of rainwater has been rising continually with the swelling levels of industrial pollution. The ill-effect of this has been very evident on the buildings made of less-durable construction materials. Astoundingly, such effects are strikingly absent on structures constructed or cladded with terracotta. This is mainly because of baked clay; it has a high alkaline level that makes it far more acid-resistant.

4. Great For Noise Reduction

WHO (the World Health Organization) has cited “noise pollution “as the next big catastrophe after climate change. Building materials (Bricks, façade, and tiles) made by architectural terracotta can divert sound waves and diminish echoes. Moreover, with decreasing the echo inside a structure, terracotta claddings also provide insulation against external noise, which makes it an ideal material for those looking to cut the amount of city noise that filters into workspaces.

5. Almost Fireproof

During the manufacturing process, the clay is fired in extremely high temperatures, hence it becomes almost fireproof. For this reason, the terracotta construction materials can withstand large, intense fires for longer than almost any other building material. This is not to say that they are entirely fireproof, but that their durability even in an intense blaze is notable.

6. Various Designs And Colors

One of the major advantages of terracotta is, its numerous options in texture and colours. You get to select from a range of colours from natural to human-made. Even you will get a wide variety in texture as well from smooth to rough.

Listed below are the reasons to install terracotta in office building façade design:

• Terracotta is durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation, i.e. it doesn’t fade in sunlight
• Recyclable, sustainable, and eco-friendly
• Fast and easy to install
• Weather-resistant and it also has low absorption properties
• Prevents the absorption of heat into the interiors and it is an energy-saving property
• Reduces the level of sound absorption
• Good fire resistant properties
• Good aesthetic appeal
• Widely used in modern and heritage structures

The clay composition consists of water, aluminium, silica, carbonaceous substances, magnesium, and other natural elements. Clay is blended, grounded, and screened for impurities and the moisture is extruded under pressure. Professional terracotta cladding solutions will reflect an exterior world-class look of the building and excellent interior features. Terracotta has been very popular for its cost-effective feature, it aged beautifully to become one of the most fashionable and versatile construction materials.

Let’s now look upon few of the salient features of Terracotta façade design solutions:

– Broad array of different sizes impart perfect scale for the façade textures.

– Façade panels can be tailored depending on the design requirements.

– Available in different textures, this allows designers to play and experiment with the shadow effects on the structure.

– Rich, warm, and earth tone colors can be produced by extreme heat in the kilns with no effect of the sun.

– Façade colours do not fade in any way.

– Cladding can be installed both horizontally or vertically.

The terracotta façade cladding on the office buildings is easy to install and maintain. These are lightweight and extremely. The cost-effective nature of this ever-green building material has made it one of the most desirable choices for improving the exterior looks of various buildings. Take professional assistance before finalizing a type of façade tile and its installation.

Wienerberger offers world-class facade solutions that contribute not just ethereal aesthetics but also numerous functional benefits creating perfect office spaces. Visit www.wienerberger.com for more details.

Not A Sheer Fancy Façade

From protecting your exteriors and interiors from damage to looking extremely appealing – a terracotta façade design excels at doing multitasking. It is one pocket-friendly way to build a structure that would help you save on huge maintenance costs in the long run, and most importantly, lets you stay tension-free for years regarding the repair or reconstruction cost.

To know more about our façade solution get in touch!

Authored by a building expert from Wienerberger India

For any kind of assistance or tips on green building materials – drop us a word at [email protected]

Low-Cost Housing has been a buzzing topic in the world of construction. It mainly deals with effective budgeting and following certain low cost house construction techniques that help in significantly reducing the construction cost through smart use of locally available materials along with improved skills and technology. And yes, all this comes without sacrificing the strength, performance, and life of the building structure.

Now, there is a huge misconception that low-cost housing is suitable for only sub-standard works and they involve the use of cheap building materials that are of low quality. The fact is that Low-cost housing is done by proper planning and efficient management of resources. In this guide, we bring for you the top low cost house construction techniques that you could use in building your dream home.

Top 10 Low Cost House Construction Techniques

1. Select The Right Plot

Before you begin construction, you select the plot, isn’t it? So, when you are selecting a plot for your home, opt for one that is neither too high nor too low compared to the height or depth of the road. This is because if the height or depth of the construction plot is way not up to the road level on the front, then a higher amount of filling would be required which is going to surge your construction cost.

2. Keep The Plan Simple

One of the things that add up the additional cost to your project is a fuzzy plan that is full of curves and complexities. Such plans represent a huge chunk of your building costs; hence it is important to keep a watch. If you have hired an architect, then evaluate every single detail and complexity of the plan – and yes, the cost involved.

3. Your Material Choices Can Make A Huge Difference

In any construction project, building materials form one of the main items of expenditure and can make or break your budget. We suggest you take quotes from different sellers before selecting your final materials. When you get multiple quotes for different construction materials it becomes easier to go with the reasonable one and this helps in lowering the cost further down.

But again, never compromise with the quality of the construction material just for lowering the cost, this can cost you irreversible damages in the future.

You can also go for eco-friendly construction materials like Porotherm Smart Bricks.

4. Prefer Load-Bearing Structure Over Frame One

When it comes to defining the structure of the home, your arrangement should preferably be a load-bearing one. This is primarily because of the below mentioned advantages:

• More Economical – in the case of low rise buildings, these are quite cheaper. This is because a lesser amount of steel rods and concrete is used.
• Easy To Construct – Load-bearing structures are easier to construct as it demands lesser time which reduces cost and energy consumption.
• Flexible – It is quite flexible, as well.

5. Foundation Of The Building

The building’s foundation is one of the most vital aspects of any construction. It involves around 11 percent to 16 percent of the total building costs. Normally, the depth of a building foundation should be 3-4 feet deep in the soil. But this can be altered to around 2 feet in depth for typical soils. This can save a lot of time and the total costs; but in other delicate or soft soils, the cost reduction objective may not be fully attained or executed correctly.

6. Go For Known Contractors

It is always a good idea to take suggestions from relatives and neighbors about the best and budget-friendly contractors in your area. Unquestionably, a good resource full team can help you save a lot of time and also guarantee you quality at an economical price.

7. Prefabricated materials

Prefabricated construction denotes a state where all the essential and necessary building or construction basics are ready-made and bought. So, it is quite visible that it will save a great amount of time and concentrate on the work’s durability. Examples of some prefabricated materials include floor slabs and materials for doors & windows.

8. Precast Staircase System

As compared to the conventional “cast-in-situ” staircase system, the precast staircase system is a new, efficient, and effective method of building a stairway in buildings.  Here are a few of the benefits of a precast staircase system:

• Quick and cheap construction.
• Less labor is required.
• A cantilever can support it.

9. Pay Attention To Electricals

To reduce the recurring cost for repairing select the branded wires for House wiring. You may save costs by choosing native build switches and sockets. Also, go for the fittings which are economical for you and which demand less maintenance.

10. Doors, Windows, And Sanitaryware’s

We already mentioned the perks of using prefabricated materials to be quicker and more creative. You should make sure that you do not spend so much money on windows and doors and select a design that provides maximum durability with significantly less amount. And when it comes to Sanitaryware’s, be as choosy as possible, this could save you a lot of money involved in repairs in the near future.

In Conclusion

With the above low cost house construction techniques you can complete a low-cost housing or construction project without compromising on the quality of materials being used. The above-stated low cost house construction techniques also help in saving energy throughout.

Also Read: 12 Amazing Wall Painting Techniques That Can Style Up Your Walls

Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India