The "real work" in house building

The `real work' in house building Many believe that flooring, plumbing and so on make up the most important part of construction Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup LAST MILE: Finishing touches being given at a newly constructed house. Architects and civil engineers say that works such as concreting, masonry, plastering and curing give a strong foundation to the building. But most people believe that the "real work" — flooring, woodwork, plumbing, painting, electrical work and so on — begins after these works. K. Mohammood, Assistant Engineer, Central Public Works Division, is of the opinion that every component of the work must be given equal importance. Finishing work gives the house an aesthetic look. And it also brings in additional expenditure if one is not careful in choosing materials, he says. Before starting plastering works, pipes for wiring as well as plumbing should be laid. These works should go in tandem. Plumbers and electricians can come to an agreement on installing water heaters as well as choosing a suitable place for washing machines. Woodwork should be started along with flooring work. But electrical work such as laying of wires and fitting of switches and boards should be completed prior to giving the wall a coat of white cement or primer. "Otherwise, it will create additional masonry works," says P. Sunil, a mason in Kozhikode.   Design work Design work, including construction of parapets, can also be started after plastering. But these need to be finished before the flooring work. "Flooring work should not be disturbed with incomplete plastering," says Babu Karuvassery, a floor-covering expert. Decide on the type of tiles available in the market such as ceramic, vitrified, semi-vitrified and rustic. The prices are quoted on a per square foot basis and vary as per size and quality. Mr. Karuvassery says that flooring tiles are different from wall tiles, which are usually laid inside bathrooms. So are the floor titles laid in bathrooms. Vitrified and semi-vitrified tiles are available in the market in the price range of Rs. 35 to Rs. 100, while ceramic titles are available at prices ranging from Rs. 25 to Rs. 35. Anti-skid tiles can be preferred in bathrooms, he says. Architects attached to Associated Cement Companies Help Desk say that there are a few things to keep in mind while purchasing tiles. Tiles should not have broken edges and ends twisted on the surface or cracked anywhere. To know the strength of the tiles, find out their group number. Tiles are available in three groups according to strength 3, 4 and 5, in increasing order of strength. Before fitting of tiles, soak them in water for at least six hours. Begin mounting the tiles from one side. Cut tiles should be replaced on the sides of doors. After placing tiles, the joints should be filled with white cement or matching pigments and cement. The cement struck on the tile surfaces should be wiped immediately with a wet cloth. After tiles have been laid, the surface needs curing for a week continuously. After three or four days of laying tiles, check if they have been properly placed by knocking on them with a wooden mallet. There should not be any hollow sound, he says.   Use of pipes Use of PVC pipes for sewage discharge is durable and convenient. Joints of pipes and fittings must be leak-proof, which must be counterchecked before mounting tiles. Make provisions for switchboards at the beginning of construction to avoid a possible clash with the decor of the house later. Make proper arrangements for earthing in your house and have it checked from time to time. Do not take several temporary connections from a single point. Avoid providing too many joints in the electrical wiring. Use a fuse on every power board to ensure safety of your electric equipment. Get your electrical work done by a registered electric contractor only.   Painting Painting can be classified into three categories: pre-painting work, surface preparing and painting. The right way of painting the interior walls of the house is to begin by cleaning the surface with sand paper. Apply one or two coats of quality primer. A coat of putty (acrylic-based putty) can then be applied. Go for another coat of primer and finally apply two coats of paint. Find out in detail the entire product range of the paint company. Choose light colours for outer walls. This will keep interior temperature low, experts say. BIJU GOVIND Courtesy: Property Plus, The Hindu http://www.hindu.com/pp/2007/04/14/stories/2007041400410400.htm