Ten construction materials to assemble houses affordably
Stone cladding
Using a thin layer of real or simulated stones applied to a building or other structure made of a material other than stone, you can you can construct a whole building or a part of it. Stones are beautiful.
Stone cladding is suggested for an affordable home. When cladding, stone veneers- thin layers of decorative stones - are applied to the exterior of the house.
They come in different thicknesses and can be used to mimic different types of finishing. Stone cladding can be used to get a rustic or modern look.
Plastic or earth
Plastic is recycled every day, hence it is easily available and cheap. Although most people use plastic for roofing, windows, and plumbing fixtures, creative architects have come up with modern ways to use it for home construction.
Using natural walls from the earth to form confines of a home reduces labor and energy.
Another option is building with a combination of sand, clay, and earth, a combination called pisé.
Prefabricated panels
Prefabricated panels are one of the cheapest materials to use when building houses. They are available in gorgeous designs and have also made trends in recent years.
These panels make home construction more straightforward and faster. They can be manufactured off-site and assembled on-site, meaning you can reduce your spend on the elimination of waste on-site.
There are no delays when using prefabricated panels. Additionally, homes are usually incorporated into the owner’s chosen design. When complete, it does not look fabricated in any way.
Shipping containers
These are stable structures and readily available for construction. Companies have started using them for construction of homes from scratch. They can also be combined and constructed into the size you desire.
It is not necessary that you buy a new container, as you can opt for a fairly used, but presentable one.
Moving them to your site may be costly but all expenses put together, they are still cheaper and more desirable for a low-cost home.
The only downside is they are prone to dents and rusts because of the nature of their use.
Concrete
Concrete buildings are durable and long-lasting. You can construct a house with a concrete look for less by using concrete sheets and panels.
They are stylish, easy to install, durable, and secure.They are also waterproof and fireproof; have sound suppression and insulation properties. You don’t have to spend on insurance and utilities.
Concrete can also be used indoors, enabling a home-owner to cut out expenses on ceramic tile by doing cement flooring.
Your cement wall can also be painted or decorated with mosaic tiles on the borders.
Corrugated metal sheets or iron
Corrugated metal sheets were used mainly to build industries and factories but are now predominant used for building homes.
Well-polished corrugated sheets can give your home a classy look, mostly when used for the whole façade.
Aside from this great advantage, steel is very durable and can survive harsh weather conditions. It is easy to maintain with just a coat of paint or zinc to prevent rust.
Corrugated metal sheets may require an extra cost on utility because they are heavy and not easy to work with. But they’re still cheap for building a house.
Recycled timber
Using recycled or reclaimed wood is also a cheap material for home construction. As you know, old things are no longer trash. They have proven to be very useful when transformed.
Offcuts from trees can also provide very cheap alternative material for constructing houses. Timber is eco-friendly and stylish for a new home.
It is usually more durable when it is dry and less likely to split. But timber may come in different and unique shapes and sizes, which makes it a bit challenging for construction. It may also be challenging to find.
Bricks
This traditional building material it not only cheap and long-lasting, but also easily available, though labor-intensive and requires more hands-on-deck during installation.
Exposed brick walls can serve as interior decoration and reduce the cost of painting and plastering. Bricks may not be suitable for earthquake-prone areas but are fireproof.
They cost more than vinyl sidings and the likes but are durable. However, keep in mind that bricks are weighty, and can cause damage to the foundation of the house if not installed properly.
Interlocking blocks
Interlocking blocks cuts the cost of construction by between 30 and 37 per cent thereby improving the affordability of building a home.
They are made by mixing crusher powder, cement and sand. They are an effective and proven earthquake resistant construction materials, as the self locking pattern of the bricks enables the seismic forces to travel across the whole structure equivalently.
Bamboo
Once regarded as poor men’s houses, Bamboo houses are now internationally recognised. Bamboo is flexible, strong, and recommended for building a cheap house.
You however need to select the bamboo you use carefully. You also have to be confident that your environment is conducive to bamboo, as it is not suitable for dry and humid climates.
In addition, get an experienced builder to guarantee proper construction. Bamboo may crack or shrink if there is not enough humidity in the air.
