Various benefits of modular construction

Modular construction belongs to a method by which a building is developed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, with the use of the equivalent materials and designing based on the similar codes and standards as traditionally built facilities.

The construction can be done very rapidly. Buildings are built up in “modules” and assembled on site retaining the similar design intent and specifications.

Due to the factory-controlled process, fewer wastes are produced with fewer site disturbances and the construction process becomes tighter.

Greater Flexibility and Reuse: Modular buildings are easily detached and the modules are displaced or refurbished for being utilized newly thus curtailing the demand for raw materials and reducing the amount of energy extended to develop a building to fulfill the new requirement.

Less Material Waste: While developing in a factory, waste is reduced by recycling materials, controlling inventory and safeguarding building materials.

Superior Air Quality: Since the modular structure is physically finished in a factory-controlled setting with dry materials, the possibility for high levels of moisture being confined in the new construction is removed.

Compact Construction Schedule: Construction of modular buildings continues all together with site work & foundation work, facilitating the projects for being finished in half the time (30% to 50% faster) of conventional construction.

Removal of Weather Delays: 60 - 90% of the construction is done inside a factory, which alleviates the risk of weather delays. Buildings are captured quicker, facilitating a speedier return on investment.

Built to Code with Quality Materials: Modular buildings are constructed to satisfy or go beyond the identical building codes and standards as site-built structures, and the equivalent architect-specified materials applied in typically constructed buildings are utilized in modular construction projects – wood, concrete and steel.

Modular buildings are constructed with the identical materials and to the similar building codes and architectural specifications as conventional construction. After being assembled, they are physically impossible to differentiate from their site-built counterparts.

Safest Construction: The interior construction environment minimizes the risks of accidents and associated obligations for workers.

Superior Engineered Building & BIM: PMC depends on improved BIM for visualization to evaluate the energy performance and recognize the most money-spinning efficiency measures. PMC is best suited where the construction method is already a collaboration of systems, materials and people.

Unlimited Design Scopes: Modular units are designed to accommodate with external aesthetics of any prevailing building and modular units.




Read more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Different Sorts Of Scaffolding

Definition of scaffolding

The impermanent framework containing platforms at various stages which permits masons to sit and continue their construction work at different height of building is termed as scaffolding. Scaffolding is required for masons to sit and put construction materials when the height of wall, column or any other structural members of a building exceeds 1.5m. It offers a temporary and a safe working platform for different types of work such as construction, maintenance, repair, access, inspection, and so forth.

Divisions of Scaffolding:

There are the following various divisions available:

Standards:

Standards indicate to the vertical member of the frame work that is used to support on the ground.

Ledgers:

Ledgers are the horizontal members which are running equivalent to the wall.

Braces:

Braces are diagonal members running or fixed on the standard to provide stiffness to the scaffolding.

Transoms:

While both the ends of put logs are sustained on ledgers, then they are called transoms.

Boarding:

Boarding is a platform which is horizontal to support workmen and elements which are supported on the put log.

Guard Rail:

Guard rails are supplied at the working level similar to a ledger.

Classification of Scaffolding

Scaffolding can be categorized into various kinds which are described below in a nutshell:

Single Scaffolding

For brick masonry works single scaffolding is widely used. This type of scaffolding contains a single framework of standards, putlogs, ledgers, etc. Standards are placed at a distance of about 1.2m from the wall at 2-2.5 m interval and are attached by ledgers at a vertical interval of 1.2 to 1.5m. One end of putlog is on the ledgers and the other one in the hole left in the wall at an intermission of 1.2 to 1.5m.

Double Scaffolding

Double scaffolding is usually used for stone masonry works. Stipulation of holes to withstand putlogs is tough enough, so double scaffolding is preferred containing two rows of standards segregated by ledgers. The first row of the scaffolding is located at 20-30 cm away from the wall and the next row is kept 1m away from the first row. Transoms are situated on the ledgers and the cross braces in the scaffolding assists to build them more powerful and durable.

Steel Scaffolding

Steel scaffolding is similar to mason scaffolding. It consists of steel tubes instead of wooden members. In such scaffolding, standards are placed at a space of 3m and are connected with the help of steel tube ledgers at a vertical interval of 1.8m.

Continue Reading

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Construction Materials & Quality Control in construction site for Civil Engineering

Countless types of Building materials are used in the construction industry to create buildings and structures. These groupings of materials and products are used by architects and construction project managers to state the materials and techniques used for building projects.

BTech Engineering has presented an useful information which will assist engineers in construction worksite for determining the quality of construction materials. Construction Materials and Quality Control that used in construction of buildings like First class bricks quality, properties of sand, cements quality much more materials aggregates, stones, steel and so on.

Study the following video attentively:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Building Construction: Principles, Materials and Systems” – An exclusive construction book for civil engineering students

Medan Mehta, Walter Scarborough and Diane Armpriest have published an exclusive construction book alias Building Construction: Principles, Materials and Systems. The book is available in paperback version.

Madan Mehta, B.Arch., M.Bdg.Sc., Ph.D., P.E., is a faculty member at the School of Architecture, University of Texas at Arlington. Walter R. Scarborough, CSI, SCIP, AIA, is Vice President and Regional Manager for Hall Building Information Group, LLC. Diane Armpriest, M.L.A., M. Arch., is Associate Professor and Chair, Faculty of Architecture and Interior Design, College of Art and Architecture, University of Idaho.

The science of building construction and design is changing in a rapid pace than earlier stage. The second edition of this outstanding text is created on the basis of the earlier version. It combines the most recent updates available, highlights numerous new pieces of artwork and is available with full color. The book is published by an author team having several years of experience in architecture, building construction, engineering and teaching, Building Construction: Principles, Materials and Systems 2nd Edition is a wide-ranging and completely demonstrated introduction to construction methods and materials.

Primarily this construction book focuses on principles of construction in part one and materials and systems of construction in part two. This organization promotes a clear-cut understanding of general concepts prior to advancing to more complicated concepts. Point up to a visual approach to learning, it comprises over 1,400 original examples and an additional large trim size (9” x 12”) that offers an open and inviting layout for engineering students.

Buy Now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How To Build A Home In Just 8 Weeks With The Use Of Precast Concrete Panels

This construction video explains the construction processes which are applied to develop Precast Concrete Homes. The video demonstrates how precast concrete panels are used to make the building stronger as well as how a conventional 4 bedroom home can be developed in 8 weeks. This type of construction material is better than brick veneer as it can transform the process 16 weeks more rapidly. By applying this construction material, the owners can get possession of their home quickly and builders will be able to accomplish lots of projects in every year.

The concrete walls are most suitable as these offer superior thermal and acoustic insulation. Besides, they are also enormously durable. They can easily withstand cyclones, floods, earthquakes and ground movements. They are ideal for bushfire prone areas because they outdo the Australian Bushfire Standard (AS3959) for the highest “Flame Zone” category.

Precast concrete wall systems are built with different types of shapes, and wall types. Usually, precast concrete wall systems belong to three basic categories: solid, sandwich and thin-shell. These are panelized and founded in either a horizontal or vertical position and applied in all types of structures ranging from residential to commercial, institutional to industrial. Wall panels are designed as nonloadbearing or loadbearing, sustaining floor and roof loads along with lateral loads.

Advantages of Precast Concrete Wall Panels

A precast concrete panel provides a wide array of advantages. The sandwich construction method applied with the precast concrete walls enhances the strength and sound insulation, as well as superior safeguard against possible hazards like fires. Precast concrete panels also offer energy-saving advantages. As the concrete wall panels are segregated with a layer of thermal insulation, the precast concrete wall panel system leads to increase energy performance, which can in turn assist to reduce complete costs.

For designers, insulated wall panels offer incredible elasticity. The accessibility of various finishes, textures, shapes, and colors provide a plenty of innovative options to execute any design virtually.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to set up stone veneer to the exterior of your home to give it an elegant look

Rae Young briefly shows through this youtube construction video to set up Stone Veneer in exterior of your home to give an elegant look.

Stone veneer is a useful construction material to be applied as a preventive and fancy covering for outward or inward vertical walls and surfaces. The veneer is generally 1 inch thick and its weight should be below 15 pounds per square foot (73 kg/m2)in order to avoid any extra structural supports.

Stone veneer is built with natural stone and manufactured stone.

Natural stone veneer is developed with real stone that belongs to either collected, i.e. fieldstone, or quarried. The stone is sliced to a uniform thickness and weighted to be applied as a veneer. This stone is usually known as thin stone veneer.

Manufactured stone veneer refers to an attractive building material built to reproduce the look of natural stone. Various types of artificial stones, faux stone, stacked stone veneer, manufactured stone, and flexible stone veneer are also utilized for manufactured stone veneer.

Manufactured Stone veneer is formed by pouring a lightweight concrete mix into rubber forms having various styles. It is then colored to make it real stone. Then the produced stone veneer is added to walls through special mortars.

Flexible stone veneer is produced by dragging a thin layer of stone out of a slab of slate, sandstone, or mica schist. It is supported with a blended material.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to analyze rates for Civil Engineering Projects

In order to settle a rate for a specific item, the factors liable for influencing the rate of that item, should be analyzed cautiously. So, the method of finding out the rates of an item is called as analysis of rates or rate analysis and it is dependent on the following elements :-

1.Specifications of works and material concerning their quality, proportion and      constructional operation method.

2. Quantity of materials and their costs.

3. Cost of labours and their wages.

4. Location of site of work and the distances from source and conveyance charges.

5. Overhead and establishment charges

6. Profit

Cost of materials at source and at site of construction: The costs of materials are assumed as supplied at site all-encompassing the transport local taxes and other charges.

The objective of Analysis of rates:

1. To compute the per unit real cost of the items.

2. To calculate the reasonable exercise of materials and processes in accomplishing the specific items.

3. To calculate the cost of additional items which are not presented in the contract bond, but should be executed following the instructions of the department.

4. To modify the schedule of rates because of raising in the cost of material and labor or owing to alteration in technique.

standard schedule of rates: The labor charges is gathered from the standard schedule of rates 30% of the skilled labour submitted in the data may be considered as Ist class, left over 70% as II class. The rates of materials for Government works are predetermined by the superintendent Engineer for his circle annually and accepted by the Board of Chief Engineers. These rates are integrated in the standard schedule of rates.

Lead statement: The “Lead” is defined as the distance among the source of accessibility of material and construction site and it is presented in Km. The cost of conveyance of material relied on lead.

This statement will provide the total cost of materials per unit item. It consists of first cost, conveyance loading, unloading stacking, charges etc.

The rate demonstrated in the lead statement are intended for metalled road and contain loading and staking charges. The environment lead on the metalled roads are obtained by multiplying by a factor.

a) For metal tracks – Lead x 1.0

b) For cartze tracks – Lead x 1.1

c) For Sandy tracks – Lead x 1.4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How cement is used as useful construction materials in all through the globe

In recent time, cement is considered as the one of the most crucial construction materials in building and construction industries that is utilized extensively all through the globe to build up various engineering structures.

Generally cement is applied individually as a material for plastering but it can also be used with mortar as well as concrete by blending it with inert material called aggregate to develop a robust building material. Given below some diversified usages of cement :-

1. The most vital application is to form concrete and mortar.

2. Cement mortar is utilized with masonry work, plaster, pointing, etc.

3. Cement concrete is useful for placing floors, roofs, constructing lintels, beams, weather sheds, stairs, pillars, etc.

4. It is also utilized to build up endurable engineering structures like bridges, culvert, dams, tunnels, storage reservoirs, light houses, docks, etc.

5. It is also applied for structuring of water tanks, tennis courts, septic tanks, lamp posts, roads, telephone cabins, etc.

6. With cement, the joints can be developed for drains, pipes, etc.

7. All the precast pipes, garden seats, aesthetically designed urns, flower pots, dust bins, fencing posts, etc are built up with cement.

8. It is also a vital element for foundations, watertight floors, footpaths, etc.

9. It can also develop fire-resistant structures in the shape of concrete as well as acid-resistance and water-resistant structures.

10. Any color can be mixed with cement and used for beautifying or coloring the structures.

11. It is applied for concreting the tunnel or geological walls to increase the durability of the structure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bubble deck slab system can reduce your building cost significantly

Bubble deck slab belongs to the kind of slab where bubbles or ellipsoid, formed with waste plastic material, are used to replace some portion of the concrete to lessen the self-weight of the structure.

This type of slab is designed by following the Euro and the British codes. In 1990, JORGEN BREUNING had developed a new system where ellipsoids are locked amid the top and bottom reinforcementmeshes and a natural cell structure is formed similar to a solid slab.

The slab is made having the same features of a solid slab, but contains significantly less weight because of the reduction of unnecessary concrete.

Bubble deck slab system was first introduced in The Millennium Tower in Holland.

Advantages of Bubble Deck Slab System:

• Preserves 30 to 50 % weight than a equivalent solid slab – equal stiffness.

• 20% concrete lessening in other components.

• The decreased weight of the slab will lead to a modification in design to longer spans and/or condensed deck thickness.

• It can be easily used with seismic as it minimizes the total weight of the building.

• Minimize concrete usage – 1 kg recycled plastic substitutes 100 kg of concrete.

• With this system the cost of the building is decreased by 8 to 10 %.

Image Courtesy: blog.archpaper.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An effective road paving method to construction a long-lasting road or walkway

This construction video focuses on some exclusive process for efficient road paving. Road pavement belongs to the long lasting surface material set on an area projected for defending sustain vehicular or foot traffic, like road or walkway.

Now-a-days asphalt or concrete become very popular to set on a compacted base course. Permeable paving methods are also undertaken in recent times toward low-impact roadways and walkways.

There are various types of road pavements which range from Asphalt, Concrete, Composite Pavement, Recycling, Bituminous surface, Gravel Surface, Other Surfaces like Brick, cobblestone, sett, wood plank, and wood block.

Asphalt pavement is most popular all through the globe. Under this method a paving team is formed. The trucker driver is considered as the first person in the paving team who fulfils the asphalt into the paver's hopper.

Two individual conveyors together transmit the material via the machine to the backside, where it is allocated consistently amid paver and screed through two separately controlled rotating screw conveyors. While paving a standard mix, the temperature must be over 110 °C to arrange adequate time for compaction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Materials for low cost house construction

Low Cost Housing is a concept of reducing the construction cost in the construction Industry through the use of locally available materials with new technology and upgraded skills. In low cost housing building material cost is less but it does not mean that these buildings are constructed with cheap building materials of low quality. However low cost housing is done by efficient planning and proper management of resources. Low cost housing helps the low income group peoples to accommodate themselves into the buildings with minimal cost. This low cost housing can be developed with low cost building materials and low budget.

How to choose materials for Low Cost Housing:-

A few steps are taken at the time of choosing materials for low cost housing. The life cycle of building or housing is going through by three steps, i.e. pre-building stage, building stage, and pro-building stage. These three stages signify flow of building materials via diversified phases of a building. Pre-building includes processing, packing and transportation which are part of manufacturing process. Building stage consist of construction, operation and maintenance. And, in the pro-building stage the materials are recycled or further used.

Each stage of building is formed in such a manner so that the energy can be preserved for the building.

Pollution Prevention: Raw materials for housing are extracted from the ground or harvested from forests to reduce less pollution to the environment. Materials may emit additional pollutants during their production, installation or use. So at the time of manufacturing, building materials should be suitable and acceptable to the environment.

Biodegradable: When a material is disposed, it is dissolved naturally. Natural as well as organic materials are very easily dissolved. So while choosing a material, the precaution should be taken regarding whether a material decomposes naturally or generates some venomous gases.

Low embodied energy: Embodied energy is to define that energy required to construction materials, the process of building and after-effect on the environment. The reduction of the building industry’s energy consumption is of great importance and low embodied energy provides great solution in solving the issue of energy consumption.

Reuse and Recycling: Reuse and recycle of building materials effect the housing process, the circulation of materials or used materials. The roles of waste products within local and geographical boundaries become important deliberation for architects. Basically, scraps from plastic materials, steel are used to recycle for producing new materials.

Consistency of Building Materials: The consistent building material can provide a great impact on longevity and stability of the building as well as reduces the cost of maintenance. The reduced maintenance costs lead to saving huge operating cost of a building.

Building construction material - Download

Image Courtesy: relegalize.info

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Formwork for Concrete Structures - An exclusive e-book for construction engineers

Garold (Gary) Oberlender and Robert Peurifoy have jointly published an exclusive e-book alias Formwork for Concrete Structures. The book contains total 544 pages and available in kindle edition. This construction book is very useful for construction engineers, civil and structural engineers, architects, and contractors as it briefly explains the formwork design concept, materials and methods for concrete structures.

Formwork for Concrete Structures (Fourth Edition) presents most up-to-date information on designing and producing formwork and temporary structures while the construction progression is going on. The book is specifically created with the newest structural design proposed by the National Design Specification (NDS 2005). The book highlights the latest improvements toward materials, money- and energy-saving policies, safety standards, OSHA regulations, and dimensional tolerances. The latest sample problems demonstrate realistic applications for working out loads and stresses. This book also contains most updated summary tables and equations as well as a directory of suppliers.

The readers will get current information on forms for footings, walls, columns, beams and floor slabs, concrete floor sytems, thinshell roof slabs, architectural concrete, concrete bridge decks, flying decks, and much more.

The book covers the following topics :-

• Economy of formwork
• Pressure of concrete on formwork
• Properties of form material
• Form design
• Shores and scaffolding
• Failures of formwork
• Forms for footings, walls, and columns
• Forms for beams and floor slabs
• Patented forms for concrete floor systems
• Forms for thin-shell roof slabs
• Forms for architectural concrete
• Slipforms
• Forms for concrete bridge decks
• Flying deck forms

The book is available in Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Electrical Estimating Methods (RSMeans) - an exclusive estimating book for electrical estimators & contractors

Wayne J. Del Pico has written an exclusive book alias Electrical Estimating Methods (RSMeans) 4th edition. This construction estimating book contains an extensive database of electrical costs and electrical materials which are based RS Means Database.

This estimating book facilitates the electric estimators as well as electrical contractors to apply superior electrical estimating processes through most updated electrical cost data, materials and practices.

With this book the electrical contractors will be able to provide the total cost for materials, labor, overhead and profit precisely.

The book focuses on the following aspects:-

• Analysis of up-to-date equipment, materials, and processes

• RS Means data for both residential and commercial projects

• Case studies that demonstrate greatest practices

• Avail the current RS Means data online for quick access on the job

Electrical Estimating Methods, Fourth Edition consists of 120+ topics in 26 chapters for exhaustive guideline on offering estimates for virtually any electrical task or project. This edition is aimed at revealing recent labor–hour productivities and practices for procuring material prices compliant with legitimate industry standards and most excellent practices.

The following features are included in this estimating book:-

• Tables for calculating labor–hours for a series of tasks and conditions

• Directives for procuring the most synchronized material prices

• Fresh chapters on electrical demolition, change orders, and project closeout offer a in-depth system to estimating

• Industry standards and greatest practices from document review with bidding strategies

• Analysis on bidding strategies, pre–bid scheduling for time sensitive costs, and computer estimating

The contains 288 pages and available in Kindle edition.

Buy the book from Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classic Job Estimate Sheet for Contractors

Different types of business houses,contractor, painter or person can utilize the Classic Job Estimate Form for producing a brief estimate to a client for the services these companies offered.

The job estimate is segregated into three diverse sections to get an overview formaterials applied, labor charges, and other expenses. This form combines all three costs collectively for finding out the total on one form, and serves as a job estimate for the client before proceeding to the work.

The contractor can customize the Classic Job Estimate with their business name, address, phone number and website address if required.

Download this form and it is available in Microsoft Excel format.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steel Surface Area Estimation Spreadsheet

While preparing this estimating spreadsheet, suggestions was taken from the American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., AISC Marketing, LLC, and the Steel Solutions Center, LLC. Thisconstruction estimating sheet is not intended for conventional usages the same as an engineering or construction document.

Before specific application, the correctness, aptness and suitability should be judged through a proficient professional assessment and authentication by a licensed engineer, architect or other professional.

This cost estimation sheet is very useful for estimating the surface area of structural steel members like beam, grider, column, bolts and welds as well as drawing, fabrication, delivery, welding, painting, erection etc.

The spreadsheet is ideal for all types of steel framing systems ranging from Steel beam construction,Steel beams and open web joists construction, Steel beam and truss construction and Rigid Frame construction.

With this spreadsheet, the structural engineers can gather knowledge on each phase of the steel estimating progression which varies from scoping out the project and assigning material and finish requirements during takeoff and bidding.

Download Steel Surface Sheet in Excel

More information about Steel Surface Area Estimation Spreadsheet : www.civilax.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Offsite modular construction are considered as the useful construction technology globally

Go through the following video to get an exclusive interview with Mark Taylor, the vice president of permanent modular construction for PCL Construction. In the interview Mark has briefly described his insights about the significance of off-site construction to the industry with modular work extensively utilized by the European construction industry.

Taylor also focused on the rising demand of wood as a useful construction material and how it is widely used in constructing off-site and modular projects.

Image Courtesy: constructionglobal.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~