We know that you would have numerous questions in your mind related to the construction
practices. We are aware this could be anything to do from the materials that are
used to the final finishing jobs.
Given below are some major headings wherein we have attempted to answer most of
your queries.
Questions:Cement | |||
̊ What is Portland cement? |
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Questions:Concrete | |||
̊ What is concrete? | |||
̊ What is RCC? | |||
̊ What is mortar? | |||
̊ How much water should be added in a concrete mix of one bag of cement for normal construction work? |
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̊ How does color affect the quality of cement & its concrete? |
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̊ What precautions should one take for water to be used in concrete construction? |
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̊ What is the minimum recommended concrete mix proportion for RCC works? |
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̊ What are the common mistakes, which affect the quality of concrete? |
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̊ What are the factors responsible for governing the compressive strength of concrete? |
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̊ Within how much time the freshly prepared mortar / concrete should be consumed? |
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̊ Why is compaction essential? | |||
Questions:Curing | |||
̊ What is ‘curing’ and why is it so important? |
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̊ What is the correct method of curing? | |||
̊ What methods are commonly employed to ensure sufficient moisture for curing? |
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̊ When should curing be started and when is it complete? |
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Questions:Reinforcement | |||
̊ What is steel reinforcement? Why is it required in a concrete structure? |
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̊ What is bar-bending-schedule? | |||
̊ What are the different types of steel reinforcements being used in a reinforced concrete structure? |
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̊ Why cover blocks are required to be placed before concreting? What are their sizes? |
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̊ How important are transverse reinforcements like links and stirrups? What precautions should be taken while tying them? |
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̊ What is a lap or development length? Where and |
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̊ What is anchorage length? | |||
̊ What is the checklist for steel reinforcement before the placement/pour of concrete? |
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̊ For a given diameter, how do we calculate the weight of steel per meter length of the steel bar and vice versa? |
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̊ Can we receive the quality test certificate of steel from the supplier? |
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Questions:Plastering | |||
̊ Why plastering is required? | |||
̊ What precautions should be taken during plaster works? |
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Questions:Planning & Estimation | |||
̊ What are carpet area, built-up area & super built-up area? |
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̊ What are the things one should keep in mind before finalizing a land deal? |
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̊ What are the important considerations before selecting a piece of land? |
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̊ What are the points, one should pay attention to while awarding the contracts for house construction? |
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̊ What would be an approximate cost per sq.ft of my house construction? |
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̊ What is the ratio of material, labour and other expenditures for house construction? |
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̊ What would be the approximate cost break up for various works in terms of percentage of construction cost of house? |
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̊ Give me break up of stage wise construction cost to plan my financial requirement. |
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̊ What is the EMI in house loans? | |||
CEMENT | |||
Q. What is portland cement? |
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Q. Is there any shelf life of cement? |
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Q. Does fineness of cement affect strength gain? |
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Q. What is initial and final setting time of cement? |
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Q. What are the reasons for slow or fast setting of concrete |
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Q. What are the different grades of Ordinary Portland Cement
The grades are: The grade number indicates the minimum compressive strength of cement sand mortar |
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Q. What is Portland Pozzolana Cement? |
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Q. What are the advantages of using Portland Pozzolana |
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Q. Does the shade of cement affect quality? |
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Q. What is the effect of long storage periods on cement?
Cement bagged in woven polythene bags or paper bags are not likely to deteriorate |
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Q. How should cement be stored?
(i)Do not store bags in a building or a godown in which the walls, roof and floor
(ii)Do not store bags in a new warehouse until the interior has thoroughly dried
(iii)Do not be content with badly fitting windowsand doors, make sure they fit properly
(iv)Do not stack bags against the wall. Similarly, don’t pile them on the (v)Do not forget to pile the bags close together.
(vi)Do not pile more than 15 bags high and arrange the bags in a header-and-stretcher (vii)Do not disturb the stored cement until it is to be taken out for use. (viii)Do not take out bags from one tier only. Step back two or three tiers.
(ix)Do not keep dead storage. The principle of first-in first-out should be followed
(x)Do not stack bags on the ground for temporary storage at work site. Pile them |
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Q. How to identify the time for which the cement was stored before use? On the cement bag, week number, month and year of manufacturing are being mentioned and this can be checked before use. |
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CONCRETE | |||
Q. What is concrete? |
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Q. What is RCC? |
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Q. Why is compaction essential? |
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–Back to Questions– | |||
CURING | |||
Q. What is ‘curing’ and why is it so important? |
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Q. What is the correct method of curing?
Walls
Slab
Beams and columns :The beams and columns can be maintained |
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Q. What methods are commonly employed to ensure sufficient |
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Q. When should curing be started and when is it complete? |
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–Back to Questions– | |||
Reinforcement | |||
Q. What is steel reinforcement? Why is it required in a |
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Q. What is bar-bending-schedule? |
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Q. What are the different types of steel reinforcements |
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Q. Why cover blocks are required to be placed before concreting?
Shape of the cover blocks could be cubical or cylindrical. However, cover indicates |
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Q. How important are transverse reinforcements like links |
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Q. What is a lap or development length? Where and how should they |
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Q. What is anchorage length? |
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Q. What is the checklist for steel reinforcement before |
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Q. For a given diameter, how do we calculate the weight |
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Q. Can we receive the quality test certificate of steel |
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–Back to Questions– | |||
Plastering | |||
Q. Why plastering is required? |
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Q. What precautions should be taken during plaster works? a) Use optimum water at the time of mixing. b) Do not use dry cement on the plaster surface.
c) At the junction of Brickwork & RCC, chicken d) Wet the surface before plastering. e) Cure the surface for at least 10 to 12 days. |
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–Back to Questions– | |||
Planning & Estimation | |||
Q. What are carpet area, built-up area & super built-up |
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Q. What are the things one should keep in mind before finalizing
a) House plot should not be under any acquisition proceedings |
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Q. What are the important considerations before selecting
a) Required size of plot and construction area |
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Q. What are the points, one should pay attention to while
a) Type of materials |
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Q. What would be an approximate cost per sq.ft of my house
Type of finish in the construction |
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Q. What is the ratio of material, labor and other expenditures |
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Sl.No. | Materials/Activities |
Expenditure in terms of percentage of construction cost of the building |
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01 | Design & fee for engineer/architect | 3-5 | |
02 | Labour Contractor for concrete | 6-10 | |
03 | Lay out & Excavation | 2-4 | |
04 | Water | 0-2 | |
05 | Soil/Mooram | 1-3 | |
06 | Cement | 10-14 | |
07 | Sand | 3-5 | |
08 | Bricks | 8-10 | |
09 | Stone aggregates | 4-6 | |
10 | Steel rods (Sariya) | 3-5 | |
11 | Doors & Windows | 6-8 | |
12 | Shuttering/ Formwork | 2-4 | |
13 | Bore Well | 2-4 | |
14 | Plumbing & Sanitation | 6-8 | |
15 | Electrical works | 4-6 | |
16 | Flooring | 3-7 | |
17 | Painting | 6-12 | |
18 | Boundary walls & Main gate | 1-3 | |
19 | Others | 6-8 | |
Q. Give me break up of stage wise construction cost to |
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Stage | Cost of Total Construction (%) | ||
Excavation, Concrete for foundation & plinth | 15 | ||
Superstructure concrete & brick work | 25 | ||
Roof Slab | 15 | ||
Flooring | 5 | ||
Plastering & Painting | 10 | ||
Doors, Windows & Woodwork | 13 | ||
Water Supply, Sanitary & Fittings, Electrification and other special items | 17 | ||
Total | 100 | ||