Thursday, March 15, 2012

#Kerala House Construction-Replies to your queries

TO RECOMMEND BUILDER

QUOTE

Anonymous   has left a new comment on your post "Answers to your queries #Architecture":

Sir,
I would like to build a Home around 2000-2200 SQ ft in Trivandrum in 5 cents, would you please recommend me a Builder & Designer and what would be the cost per Sq Ft ...?need your assistant

My reply

Such posting of comments in blogs without revealing your identity or email  cannot get you a reply from me as it will not be practically feasible for me to reply to comments in all blogs

So those who want replies from me please write your queries/comments/suggestions to

vhthomas@viruvelil.com

How can any one recommend or suggest a builder? There is not even two builders/contractors following same construction practices or procedures.When you try to find a contractor who quotes “lowest square feet cost” for construction ,contractor in turn try to  build your house with lowest labour charges and lowest material content to increase his profit

Contactor/Builder has only one objective in building your house: Get maximum profit.Quality of construction is simply for the talk making you believe that his quality of work is the best.You simply believe him and consider yourself as smart for getting the “best quality construction” at lowest cost! But the builder/contractor is definitely more knowledgeable about construction than you.He knows how to misguide you who knows very little about construction

Just try to put a good Architect or Engineer and tell the contractor to do construction as per drawings and instructions of your consultant.Then watch the fun.Contractor/builder will demand a higher cost if you introduce a person who knows about construction in between.

PLAN AND ELEVATION FROM ANY ONE

Quote

Ramnath   has left a new comment on your post "Elevation for three bed house":

I have a 8 cent plot that is rectangular. i am planning a house in the range of 35 lacs , anyone having a plan/elevation for a single storied house please email it to

My reply

8 cents is only area of land.It does not give any idea about dimensions of each of four sides.Also we have no idea of the position of roads near plot.To consider Vasthu aspects,directions also has to be considered.

So how can you simply take plan and Elevation of somebody else for your house? I simply do not understand why people talk like this.

BEST POSSIBLE SIZE OF PLOT

QUOTE

Anonymous   has left a new comment on your post "Replies to your queries#Architecture":

I am an NRI Mechanical Engineer like to build a 2500-2800 sq. ft. house in Cochin and on the look out for 8 cents of land (which is my budget) and identified few plots.
Appreciate if you could let me know the best possible size of plot in 8 cents to have a good architect designed house
I understand that the house can be designed to suite the plot but prefer to buy a plot where in design can be flexible

My reply

If I tell  a particular length and width of plot,will anybody sell you a plot of same dimension in Kerala that too in Cochin? Impossible.

If you have to identify a plot best suited to you ,take an expert who knows about Structural Engineering,Architecture,Vasthu and Kerala Building rules to the plot or plots you have identified and get his comments/advice before finalising the plot.

PARABOLIC ROOF DESIGN

Quote

Hello Mr. Thomas,

I am a frequent visitor of your blogs, Nice experience. I want know about Parabolic roof design, now a days people are doing this, I want know more about this how this design and how its covering with glass advantages & disadvantages. Hope you will reply

My reply

It is not my intention to educate people about every terminology that come in House design/Construction.For getting such details,you have various sources.If you cannot find proper sources for getting more info,you can try googling.

GRANITE LAYING COST

QUOTE

Anonymous   has left a new comment on your post "Flooring for house-options":

How much it cost to get 3200sgft granite installed.,any idea ?

My reply

First of all Granite laying for floors is fast becoming outdated like marble flooring.There are much more better,cheaper alternatives which are more trendy and environment friendly

Getting labour for building construction is becoming difficult as days pass.There is no such thing as a universally accepted standard granite laying charges.Again each of the labour contractor does the work in different manner.So you cannot compare charges of one with charges of another.Your Architect for the work will be able to guide you on this.

EXISTING BUILDING MODIFICATION

Quote

Menon has left a new comment on your post "Queries and replies-House design,construction ,rem...":

I am a retiree in Cochin residing in Chittoor Road. I have two houses separated hardly by 5-10 ft. I am interested in joining the terraces together and have a terrace garden and retreat with a small bed room, bath and kitchen on one so that It can be self contained also. I need someone to conceptualize the idea so that I can look at the possibilities. Can you do it please? or can you recommend someone please?

My reply

For any modification/remodeling/renovation work,I will have to visit the site and study all aspects related to modification you are thinking of.First of all it has to be checked whether the modification is feasible at all.

Without any doubt it can be said that modification will be much more costly than building new and no one can safely estimate cost involved as you will be working on a building about which you know practically nothing.As you break and cut in to old building parts it may present you new problems to be solved.

Unless you have so much sentimental reasons to retain the old building by  modifying and not simply bothered about cost involved,do not attempt remodeling.Try to design and build a new building instead of trying to work with old building.Lot of people have a mistaken notion that modifying is cheaper.It is not so.