Building a house is expensive. Between labour and materials, constructing a house is not cheap. One way to reduce the construction cost of your home is by using cheap building materials.
Typical building construction materials and finishes are pricey. Often, the more attractive and durable the material, the more expensive it is.
It is understandable that when you are building the house of your dreams, you want it to look good. You also want it to hold up under the wear and tear of daily living.
However, not all materials fit our budget. Hence, we sometimes need to find creative ways of reducing the cost of construction while maintaining the look, quality and durability of your home.
This is not always as easy as you think. Issues, as it relates to culture and construction practices, can add more challenges to the mix. For those of us in the tropics, concerns regarding climate and resilience also need to be considered.
We also get caught up in trying to recreate the ideal aesthetic that we see in the expensive villas on television or on the internet.
There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with this. If this is the dream you have for your home and your budget allows for it, then I think it is a great idea to go for it.
However, you may be looking for a way to fit all the functionality and space you require into a tight budget. Perhaps you also want to ensure that you have some money left over to spend on nice fixtures and furnishings for you and your family to enjoy.
As such, you can consider looking at inexpensive materials and finishes to save on construction costs.
Here are three commonly used materials in the tropics that are inexpensive but can be used in new, contemporary ways.
1. Concrete or Cement Board
Concrete or cement board is made with cement and fibres. It can generally give the appearance of concrete for a lot less money.
When done properly, you can get the contemporary look of concrete in a lightweight framed construction.
You do not have to worry about the wet work or the time it takes for concrete to dry. It also does not require steel reinforcement like actually poured concrete.
It is strong and durable, providing waterproofing qualities. However, they do not provide the same level of resilience to natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes as concrete would. Lightweight walls can, however, be engineered to be resilient.
2. Corrugated Metal
Corrugated metal sheets are a lightweight, durable material. It is strong and long-lasting. Because they are light, they are easily transported cheaply.
Very often, we see it being used as a roof covering but can also be used as a wall material.
In the Caribbean, corrugated metal is often used as a cheap, lower-class fencing material. Whether it is called paling to zinc fence, corrugated sheets are culturally associated with the poorest form of construction.
It is for that reason I wonder why it would not make a great low-cost wall material.
Corrugated metal is not in itself an unattractive material. Culturally we associate it with something ugly because of the traditional applications. However, I have seen several applications where, when used properly, it can create a stunning industrial, contemporary look.
3. Raw Concrete and Fair-faced Blocks
Industrial style residential architecture has become more popular across the world. As a result, raw concrete walls, floors and ceilings as well as fair-faced blocks walls, are being seen more often.
This eliminates the need for the additional material and labour required for plastering and painting these elements. Hence reducing the cost of construction….right? Well, not always.
In Barbados and other countries, fair-faced concrete blocks and raw concrete is more expensive.
Though it is less material and labour, this can become more expensive because more care must be taken to do it properly.
That is because when they are covered up with sand cement render, little care is taken to lay blocks or install and brace formwork properly. This often produces surfaces that are uneven, and skewed.
If you are willing to see these imperfections as part of the characteristics of the materials, as is often done in industrial, residential architecture, this could be a good way to shave a few dollars off your project.
Conclusion
The cost of constructing a home can be overwhelming. Choosing cheaper wall materials and finishes can be one way to help reduce the overall cost of your home construction project.
Cement or concrete board is a good alternative to concrete. It is lightweight but durable.
Corrugated metal, though not always culturally appropriate, is also a durable, inexpensive material that can produce beautiful buildings. This, along with raw concrete and fair-faced block walls, can create an industrial style home that is attractive and cost-effective.
We need to seriously think about innovative ways of decreasing the cost of construction in our region. Apart from reducing the size of the project, we should consider more options for how we can make housing more affordable. This should be done while maintaining the quality, beauty and comfort of the home.
Featured image by Rodolfo Quirós from Pexels