How to build your dream house

  Part 2 

 Purchasing plot, preparing design and entrusting a contractor

If you do not own a plot of land where you can construct your dream home, you will have to buy a plot of land for this purpose. This is the first task which every person will have to face before fulfilling his dream of owning a house if he does not own a plot.

Before purchasing the land you have to ascertain whether the land is recently filled up one or not. It is always better to buy a plot of land which does not contain any filled up portions because such a land will always cost you too much for constructing the foundation of the building as concrete piling will be necessary in  such cases. Special care should be taken when you buy land in Kochi because most of the lands now available for sale is filled up lands which were marshy in the recent past.

Another aspect which is very important is road access to the land. If the plot is having  at least 8 to 10 feet  wide road access it will be very easy to transport building materials. Otherwise a good sum of money would have to be spent for this purpose.

Another aspect to consider is the shape of the plot. It is always advisable to buy a plot with grater frontage as it will facilitate the architect to design a good  plan with better arrangement of rooms and an aesthetically appealing elevation. In Kerala the area of land is usually mentioned in cents and one cent is equal to 435 sq feet of area.  For small house a plot with around 10 meter frontage will be better and for bigger houses it can go beyond 25 meters also.  For smaller plots a width of 10 meters will be enough where as for bigger plots a width of 20 meter or above is preferred.   It is advisable that the plot with lesser frontage and more depth may not be purchased as this will be a hindrance to the architect to apply your ideas to the fullest extent without losing the charm of the building and convenience of the inhabitants.

When you are buying a plot, a rough knowledge of the building rules prevalent in that area will be beneficial.  Generally you will have to leave 3 meters from the front road and 1 to 1.3 meters form the sides. If there is a passage on any side which ends in a dead end you will have to leave 2 meters on such sides. If you are planning a two storied building, you will have to leave 2 meters on back side also.

Another important aspect which has to be taken care of is to check whether the plot you are going to buy is included in any scheme of acquisition. If you do not check this and confirm,  after buying the plot you will be in trouble. You will not get a building permit and nobody will buy the  plot if you decide to sell it.

Applciability of Vasthu Sasthra

Vasthu Sasthra is an ancient sasthra based on which construction of houses, buildings etc. were controlled in the olden times. Even now it had great influence in the minds of the common people. So it is always better that when you build a house try to abide by the guiding principles of Vasthu Sasthra  as far as possible. Some important aspects of Vasthu Sasthra are detailed below. As per Vasthu Sasthra a plot with a road on the side of the plot is the best one for constructing a house. The sides where road is preferred is listed below in the order of preference.

1.  East

3. North 

3. West

4. South

Vasthu Sasthra also prescribes ideal positions for rooms for house facing in each of the above directions. Even if the house is facing southwards, there will be no problem if you follow the  guidelines provided for  the position of each type of rooms in the Vasthu Sasthra.  As  per Vasthu Sasthra a plot with a side road coming to a dead end is not advisable. Persons living in such huses will be subject to all sorts of miseries. Many other  Vasthu aspects also has to be considered before buying a plot of land. So it is better that you consult a Vasthu expert before purchasing a plot of land for house construction.

Legal aspects

Legal validity of the documents relating to the land you are going to buy is an important aspect which has to be verified by an advocate who is familiar with such matters.  The owner of the land has to give the following documents in original for verification.

1. Original deed

2. Original deed pertaining to the previous transaction if the plot came to the possession of the present 

    owner through a partition deed. 

3. Current land tax receipt issued to the seller by the concerned village officer

4. Ownership and possession certificate issued to the seller by the village officer.

5. Location certificate of the plot issued by the village officer in the name of the seller.

6. Encumbrance certificate for the last 15 years issued by the concerned Sub Treasury Officer.

For this purpose you will have to get the service of a good document writer.

It is always better that you avail the service  of a professional agency like us which will not cost you much and which will help you very  much to face the difficult  and unfamiliar situation without much anxiety and losses.

For further details you can call me in my mobile number 9605933311

How to build your dream house

 - Part 1 -

 Purchasing plot, preparing design and entrusting a contractor

It is the most important  dream of every person to have a suitable and convenient house to live with his wife and children. In this period of atomic families it will be very difficult to get any support t or help form friends or relatives. It will also be very difficult to understand and execute the different processes involved in constructing a house. I am going to give a brief summary of the different kinds of actions to be taken and the different processes involved in constructing a house for personal use. The topics are divided into as detailed below.

1. Building your dream house

2.Buying of a house plot

3.Designing and constructing a house

4.How to obtain a house loan

4. Construction of house on contract basis

5. Construction of house on labour contract basis

Now I will explain all these topics one by one in detail

1. Building your dream house

Different steps you will have to take in fulfilling your dream of owning a house are explained step by step.

Selection of plot

If you do not posses any land which is either inherited or acquired by you, then you will have to buy a plot of land for the purpose of construction of the house. It is advisable that you may seek professional help in this matter as a lot of matters which require expertise are involved in the selection of a plot for the construction of a house. Some of them are given below.

(a) Soil type: The nature and suitability of the soil for the construction of the proposed house is an important matter which needs the advice of a professional or an experienced person.

(b) Applicability of local rules and building rules: Whether the land you are going to purchase is covered by any of the provisions of the related laws which may make it impossible to get a building permit is a matter to be ascertained before purchasing the land.

© Appicabiltiy of Vasthu Sasthra: Vasthu Sasthra is an ancient sasthra which prescribes certain norms to be followed while constructing a house. So it is better that you consult a Vasthu Sasthre expert and ascertain the clearance in that point of view. If you overlook this aspect, it may become an unsolvable and  never ending headache for the persons who will be living in the house to  be constructed.

(d) Whether level land or plain land: This is another important aspect which has to be considered before purchasing a plot of land. Mild slopping is no problem as it can be adjusted in the preparation of the land or when the house is constructed. But a land with steap slop is not recommended for house construction as it will cause hurdles in the design point of view and it will be very uncomfortable for the persons who will be living there.

(e)Shape and dimension of the plot: It is always advisable to buy rectangular or square plots for house construction. But as it is not always possible to get such plots you can also go for other types of plots, but it is always advisable that you show the plot of land you are going to buy to your architect and get his opinion as plot once bought cannot be changed at your will and pleasure.

2. Checking the correctness of the title deed

If you are going to purchase a plot of land for constructing your house you have to scrutunise the validity of the title deed by a practicing lawyer who is conversant with civil laws. Type of deed, whether any encumbrances or attachments are pending, whether the plot you are going to purchase is the same plot mentioned in the title deed itself , previous title deeds through which the property came to the possession and ownership of the present owner etc, has to be examined in details and his concurrence in the mater has to be obtained before giving advance for a plot of land.

Whether the land you are going to purchase is notified for some public purpose such as construction of roads or for other public purpose has also to be taken into account. Another important factor is the document that will be written for registering the land in your name. Any omission or unwanted entry in the document has to be avoided and no important matter should be left out also. This can be taken care of by an honest document writer.

Preparation of a basic plan of your house

Most important part in the construction of a house is the preparation of basic plan of the house. This task has to be completed after discussing with your family members what are the requirements needed in your proposed house. Your wife and children who are going to live in that house has to be given an opportunity to express their ideas and requirements in the new house to be constructed. Of course, you will have to take the final decision in consultation with your architect as the cost that you can afford forms the vital guiding factor in deciding the facilities that have to be provided in the building. Unavoidable requirements have to be met immediately and  provisions may be provided for future development.

Site visit by the architect

It is very important that the architect who is going to design your house has to visit the site and understand the lay out and connectivity and the land condition of the plot so that he can apply this information in designing the house properly.  The knowledge of the roads to the house, the nature of the land like the trees in the plot and whether there is any water logging etc will be beneficial for him to decide how the house should be designed and which will be the apt position for different categories of rooms like dining, drawing, living, sleeping rooms etc. If the architect is having knowledge about the principles of Vasthu Shastra, then it will be an added advantage. Otherwise the owner would have to approach a Vasthu expert with the proposed plan, get his opinion and make necessary corrections in the plan as suggested by him. Even though some young turks may neglect and would not give due importance to this aspect, it is better that you do not under estimate the importance of Vasthu consideration as once the building is completed it will be very difficult to incorporate the Vasthu details in that finished house.

Finalising the plan

Architect will prepare a draft plan based on the information received by you. In this plan the position of rooms, its dimensions, position of doors and windows, toilets, car porch etc. will be clearly marked. You can discuss the matter with the architect and he will be able to answer your queries and after this discussion you can show this plan to your family members, their ideas and interests can also be understood. It is always advisable that you may show this plan to another architect or person who is well versed in building of houses. The suggestions and opinion of this person can be discussed with your architect and this will help the consolidation and proper selection of ideas.

Cost estimation

Estimating the cost of construction of the house as per the plan prepared is one of the most important aspects of house construction. Once the plan is finalised, it is advisable that the cost estimation of the structural part of the building may be done in detail as no compromise is possible in this matter . After finishing the structural work, cost estimation of the interior and finishing parts can be taken up, taking to account your present financial capacity as expenditure in this work can be minimised which will affect the look of the house, but the work can be completed immediately and further additions can be done as they become financially viable.

Selecting a contractor

Selecting a good contractor is a very important matter in the construction of a house. A contractor who is well experienced and who follow the quality guidelines prescribed by the architect and who is reliable will be the most suitable person. You should not merely go for the cheapest person in the field.
It is always better that you avail the service  of a professional agency like us which will not cost you much and which will help you very  much to face the difficult  and unfamiliar situation without much anxiety and losses

For further details call me in my mobile number 9605933311

Cement at lowest price, free home delivery for house construction- Cochin Contractors

One of the main characteristics of a developed country is its well developed infrastructure. National Highways, State highways and any kind of road connecting two different parts of a country is the backbone of the development of a country. Cement is the most essential commodity needed for infrastructural development as such as roads, bridges, dams, factories etc. Cement is a complex compound of lime, silica and alumina which when allowed mix with water solidifies and forms a strong substance. Cement mixed with stand is used to join stones bricks etc. to form a monolith.

Cement in the present form was developed in the year 1824 by Joseph Aspdin of England. This cement was called Portland cement as it resembled stones found in Portland which is in England. As cement is the major component in the construction of houses, bridges, roads etc, it plays an important role in the development and prosperity of mankind.
The main reasons for the popularity and universal acceptance of cement are given below:

1)  It can be produced in large quantities in controlled conditions and can be easily transported by
     packing it in bags.

2)  It is very much stronger than lime and clay.

3)  It can be easily mixed with freely available water and can be used at site very easily.

4)  If stored properly in ordinary atmosphere it will not deteriorate easily.

5)  When mixed with water it attains sufficient strength within one or two days.

5)  Compared to quick lime, the heat generated when mixed with water is very less.

6)  It is very good in compression and adding steel increases its capacity in tension or shear.

It has been estimated that 15 % of the total cost of construction of a building is spent for cement.In dams and bridges this ratio increases considerably. So if you want to reduce or minimize the expenditure in construction a house, the first thing to take care of,  is the procurement of best cement t low prices. Ultra cement, Coromandel Cement, Shankar Cement, Ambuja Cement, Birla Cement JK Cement are some of the important cement companies in India.

As we are engaged in the construction of houses and buildings and as we are also functioning as agents for the supply of building materials and other facilities’ needed in a house, we have made arrangements with one of the best cement whole sale dealers in the heart of Ernakulam city. With this arrangement we proudly state that we will be able to provide cement as per your requirement, on your site free of transporting charges and at a rate which will be at least 10 rupees less than the price at which you will get cement from your seller in your locality. It means that you will be getting a benefit of about 30 rupees per bag of cement considering that 20 rupees is needed for transporting one bag of cement from your local dealer to your house.


This offer for free distribution is valid inside Ernakulam city only. To make it little more clear, it can be considered that  North Parur,  Aluva, Tripunithura, Kumblam, Edakochi, Kumbalangi, Chellanam, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Nkarakkal etc. form the outer skirts of the city. If you want cement at other distant places, a nominal transporting charge per kilometer from city limits would have to be borne by you. But if you order for big quantity the possibility of free delivery will be considered.

But there is one small condition for this offer. It is that the quantity of cement you are purchasing at a time should be more than 100 bags. Only then, we can arrange to send you the cement to your site free of cost and at a price less than 10 rupees from your local seller. Another thing is that we will send the cement in a lorry or other suitable vehicle. If your house is at a place where the vehicle won’t reach, we will not be able to take the load to your house. The load will reach upto the place where the vehicle can come and from there you will have to make your own arrangements to move the cement to your house.

If cement price is 350 rupees per bag in your area, we will supply you cement at 340 rupees per bag at your site free of cost, provided the following conditions are satisfied.Ultra tech, Bharathi and Ramco are the  brands of cement that my supplier is dealing with.

For further details you can call me in my mobile number 9605933311

Flooring of houses

Flooring of houses

In these modern times the flooring of an house has become an important aspect in defining the aesthetic value of a house as so many varieties of flooring material has flooded the market and each of these materials can add a special charm to the house. The materials and their colour and texture add an ambiance to the house which reflects the mental fantasies of the persons living there. Let us take a brief look at the type of flooring materials commonly used in Kerala.

Wood

Though wood was a more common flooring material in olden days usually used by aristocrats and well to do people, it was not a commonly used material. Even now common people cannot think about wood flooring as it is very costly and not meant for day to day usage. But recently it has become a fashion of the elite people to do the flooring of drawing rooms or the portions of the house where outsiders generally have a more common access than the insiders. Teak wood planks and veneers are used as flooring material which gives a posh and exquisite look to the r-

Tiles 

These days the most commonly used flooring material by the rich and the poor alike is tiles. There are ceramic tiles and vitrified tiles. Ceramic tiles are very cheap and it is now becoming out dated as the vitrified tiles are coming in many verities and many sizes matching to the different requirements of the customer. The ceramic tiles are coming only in 1ft X 1ft size or sizes less than that. The minimum cost of an average quality ceramic tile is Rs 30/- per square feet.  Cheaper tiles known as Gujarat tiles are also available in the market. As they are of lower quality nobody goes for it. Vitrified tiles are available in 2 ft x 2 ft size or more than that. The usual rate starts from Rs 40 per square or more.

 

We Cochin contractors are well experience and experts in laying floor tiles and wall tiles in houses and in toilets. We charge only Rs 15/- per square feet for laying floor tiles and wall tiles where the area to be laid is more than 500 square feets. When the area is less we do it at daily wages rate which is Rs 1700/- which includes the cost of helper also. We also do it at the rate of Rs 25/- per square meter which includes all costs like labour, cement and sand, when the area included is more than 500 square feet. Cost of tile is not included. If the house owner wishes we can arrange quality tiles at lowest prices in Ernakulum with free home delivery as we have made an agreement with one of the best tile, marble and granite suppliers in Kerala situated at Ernakulum. Even if the flooring work has been entrusted to some other people you can contact us for better tiles, marbles and granites at lowest prices and free home delivery benefit.

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For further enquiries call me at 9605933311

Kitchen Cabinets Cochin Contractors

Kitchen is the most important room in a modern house as the women folk in the house are spending more time there cooking and arranging eatables for the whole of the family. The great olden days of cooking food using wood as fuel has been replaced by kerosene and now only gas is used even in common man’s ordinary houses. As human desire for convenience and ease is the most driving force in this modern world of smart phones and rocket jets, the paraphernalia of the kitchen also evolved in an apparent bid to match the present day scenario. Cooking ranges, modular kitchen, granite kitchen slabs, micro wave ovens and the like became the inevitable ingredients of a modern kitchen.

Before deciding what are the best utensils that can be added to a kitchen to fulfill the dreams of the owner, let us first consider how the inside of a kitchen can be made very convenient, how the daily usage of different grocery items and spices can be easily done and their storage method can be used to  beauty and appearance to the kitchen. Modular kitchen is the best solution to this problem. Different standard types of racks, shelves and arranging them in a most economical and convenient way matching to the mindsets of the people who live there is a very delicate and a very creative job which well  experienced persons only can achieve.

We, Cochin Contractors have joined hands with a well experienced and full blown kitchen Cabinet manufacturer, who has been doing business in the heart of Ernakulum city for the last 30 years, with a group of expert and experienced employees who are capable of understanding and fulfilling the dreams and requirements of the house owners, without making any extra burden on them. While the cost of modern day kitchen cabinets are sky rocketing without any increase in efficiency and performance, our kitchen cabinet manufacturer tries to stick to the original style which he was already practicing for the last 30 years. He does  not show ugly hast to enter into new avenues which are only meant for persons who don’t care for money or who only wants something new which is  uncommon in this area. The details of kitchen cabinets such as price and the wood used with photographs of samples are furnished below. It may be noted that our company will take orders of kitchen cabinets which has a minimum area of 75 to 80 square feet. If you intent to place an order he will sent his men, who will inspect the kitchen and decide the best plan suitable for your kitchen and with your approval will finish the work in a most beautiful and marvelous manner.

Rates for our kitchen cabinets:

For kitchen cabinets made of teak wood the rate per square feet is                      INR 2100.

For kitchen cabinets made of MDF the rate per square feet is                              INR 1100.

For kitchen cabinets made of duco painted MDF the rate per square feet is        I NR 1250.

For kitchen cabinets made of uv coated panel the rate per square feet is             INR 1300.

For kitchen cabinets made of cheruthekku the rate per square feet is                  INR 1300.

The specified rates are for work at Ernakulum city. There may be a slight change in the rate depending upon the place and the area of the work that has to be done.

The kitchen cabinet shown above is an example of kitchen cabinets made of teak wood. The price for cabinets made of teak wood be Rs2200/- per square feet. If you order a cabinet of this type, we promise to visit your house and design the arrangement of the shelves and other facilities according to your choice and complete the work within 7 days as my

contractor is having a very big workshop at Ernakulam in a sprawling compound of about 50 cents in the nearby location and has a good workforce comprising of many north Indians.

The kitchen cabinet shown above is an example of kitchen cabinets made of duco painted mdf.. The price for cabinets of similar type will be at the rate of Rs 1350/- per square feet.

we promise to visit your house and design the arrangement of the shelves and other facilities according to your choice and complete the work within 7 days as my

contractor is having a very big workshop at Ernakulam in a sprawling compound of about 50 cents in the nearby location and has a good workforce comprising of many north Indians.

The kitchen cabinet shown above is an example of kitchen cabinets made of cheruthekku wood. The price for cabinets of similar type will be at the rate of Rs 1400/- per square feet.

we promise to visit your house and design the arrangement of the shelves and other facilities according to your choice and complete the work within 7 days as my

contractor is having a very big workshop at Ernakulam in a sprawling compound of about 50 cents in the nearby location and has a good workforce comprising of many north Indians.

For further details call me at 9605933311

Sheet covering to prevent water leakage in the concrete rioof slabs - Cochin contractors

In this post,  I intent to describe the  methods used for preventing leakage of water through roof slab. It is a great problem faced by many house owners who have constructed concrete houses with roof slabs. After a few years these slabs start leaking and  the house owners find it as a big problem affecting their peace of mind. Some of them try to use different types of cement and other chemical compounds in liquid form and apply it on the leaking surface. Others use some sort of plastic sheet which is affixed above the slab in the leaking area. All these efforts produce some kind of relief for some days and after that period the situation  becomes worse. Due to continuous leaking the iron rods inside the concrete get wet and they start corroding. Then it becomes impossible to prevent leakage, if water is allowed to fall on them.

The only real solution applicable to this problem is to cover the leaking area with another covering  roof so that rain water does not fall on the concrete slab. With G.I pipes a truss work is made above the concrete slab and G.I sheet or Aluminum sheets are paved over them which acts as a roof over the roof.
Though this is very costly, it has the additional benefit of reducing the severe heat that is felt inside the house due to the direct heating of the roof slab in summer season. Almost 60 % of the concrete houses with flat roof slabs are now already protected by these roofs. When hot season arrives the people who have concrete houses with flat roof rush to workshop people for getting their roof covered with false roofs as stated above. But they really have a tough time as  the workshop people who are doing this work are very rough people and at this busy season they go on accepting jobs one after another and this makes the house owners wait for a long time and they get irritated.

But Cochin Contractors who are having some good workshop people under their control, are undertaking this work at a reasonable rate and get the work completed within 7 days of accepting the work. If we can complete the work within the above said period, then only we will accept the contract.

Sri Janson, Kurisinkal is one of our best workshop owners whose picture is published here. We undertake to do the work at a rate of  100/-  per square feet for plain work  where there is four side slanting and top corners of the roof are in  the traditional Kerala style. For covering the roof with galvanized iron sheets we charge Rs 140/- per square feet.  This rate is applicable only for the work he gets from this page subject to the condition that there should be a minimum of 1000 square feet and the site is located within the geographical area covered by postal pin code numbers Kochi 1 to 8. For distant places reasonable  extra rate will be charged based on the distance involved ed and considering other relevant aspects. Anybody who wants to know more please contact in phone no: 9605933311. 

Construction of house, building on contract and construction of house on labour contract

Food accommodation and dress are the basic requirements of human life.Before the dawn of civilization man used to live in caves, covering his body with leaves and eating wild fruits and vegetables.  As man discovered new metals, farming and started family life, he slowly shifted from caves and started to live with his wife and children in mud houses and thatched houses. As time passed he found out various tools and utensils, and shifted from rudimentary huts of tribes to  well formed houses made of wood, brick,  mortar and metal  which has changed his homes to superior structures costing crores of rupees.

Every man in his life time will be required to construct at least one or two houses. The first one for his use and the second one may be for betterment of the house he already had or may be for his children. In this age of separate   group of labourers for each item of work such as carpenter, mason, tile worker, electrician, plumber, white washer, polisher, aluminium fabricate, scaffolding provider, roof truss worker etc, it has become very difficult and cumbersome to construct a house by oneself. The appearance of a house and the facilities provided in it became a measure of the net worth of the persons living in that house and it also  indicates the social status of the residents. 

People also find it very difficult to find time to procure  different materials and facilities needed for house construction and supervise their implementation, because they do not have time and expertise to all those matters in this fast moving modern world. 

Best solution to this multi faceted problem is to get the construction of a house entrusted with an experienced and genuine contractor, so that he can control and have a full knowledge of the processes that are going on without having to know every details of the various work that are going on now and will be carried out shortly. As you keep your head cool, you easily look after your family, carry on your profession and make substantial gain by way of reduced expenditure.

The existing rate for construction of a house on contract is Rs150/- per square feet in the ground floor and Rs 160 per square feet in the second floor. At this rate only materials and utensils with lowest price available in the market will be used. For example in case of flooring ceramic tiles with a market rate on Rs 25/- per square meter will be used. If the owner wants to use better tiles he can do so by paying the difference of amount in this regard. Similarly in this case of bathroom fillings and closets and wash basin only the cheapest available things only will be purchased. But if the owner wants he can by better things by paying the difference of the prices.

The above said rate was for the construction of an house. Similar rates are available for the construction of buildings of more than one floor.

Another way for constructing a house is to procure all the materials and utensils by the owner himself and get the construction work carried out by workers on labour contract. In this method the person who agrees to do the work on labour contract will give a list of rates for different category of work and the work will be carried out by him collecting some weakly advance from the owner and at the completion of every item of work measurements will be taken and the payments will be finalised. This system has the benefit that as the owner is buying the materials by himself he can ensure good quality and sufficient quantity of the material.

Please see further details call me  in my mobile number 9605933311