Many houses are constructed as a framed structure due to its strength, rapid construction, and possibility of future modification and extension. In this article, we are going to discuss how to construct an RCC residential house in India. Understanding the various processes and steps involved in building a house in India can be very helpful for entry level engineers.
Requirements and specifications
First, the customer approaches the engineer and presents his needs and expectations in the building. The engineer will then suggest ideas and discuss the possibilities of bringing the customer’s needs to reality.
After determining the type of house, built-up area, number of rooms and other utilities, the engineer will estimate the cost and time to complete the project.
Site Visit
- The engineer and client will visit the site to study the site.
- Site clearance will be performed to remove the stones, plants etc..,
- The site will be levelled and compacted. Now the site is ready for construction.
Preparation of Plan to construct house in India
- The engineer (or architect) will prepare the plan and decides the specifications to meet the needs of the client.
- The blueprint plan will include house plan, area and height, site plan, septic tank details, area details, dimensions of items such as doors, windows and ventilators, and area details such as plot area, built-up area.
Also Read: How to get a building permit in India? – Required Documents, Plans and application fees
Load transfer Mechanism in Framed stucture
In the framed structure floors slab transfers the live loads, such as furniture load, appliances load and other loads, to the beams which in turn transfers the load to the columns. The columns will carry the total load of the structure to the foundations and, finally, the load will be distributed to the soil through the foundations. In a framed structure, walls carry only the self-weight. The load from the beam is not transferred to the walls.
Design of Building
- The engineer will design the building following the National Building Code (NBC) and IS456 code book. Experienced engineers use empirical methods if the building is small.
- The dimensions of the various members will be designed such as beams, columns, depth of foundation, thickness of bases.
- Reinforcement details such as number of bars, size of bars and spacing of bars will be designed. Reinforcement design is very important because improper design can cause collapse or increase the cost of the building.
- Then, the plumbing plan and electrical plan will be prepared. Preparing a plumbing and electrical plan before building can save a lot of time and money.
Model Structural Beam Layout – Click on the image to get a better view
Construction of the foundation
- Engineers will mark the places to be excavated for column footings, grade beams (column belt) with threads, white powder and pegs.
- The minimum depth of the column foundation is 5 feet (1.5 m), and the minimum footing dimension is 3 feet long (1 m) and 3 feet wide.
- After excavation, at least 6 inches will be filled with sand and at least 6 inches of normal cement concrete pc will be applied at a ratio of 1: 5: 10.
- Above the PCC concrete mat, the column reinforcement will be fixed with the help of wooden posts.
- Footing will be cast around the reinforcement.
- The column will be cast around the column reinforcement up to grade beam level (column belt).
Construction of the Grade Beam and Column
- The grade beam is built at ground level, connecting all the columns and acting as a column belt.
- The thickness of the grade beam is usually 9 inches to support the wall and the depth is usually 9 inches or 1 foot.
- Column shoe will be cast and the column will be constructed up to the beam bottom level.
Construction of the Wall
- Main walls should be constructed with a thickness of of 9 inches above grade beam.
- Provisions for windows, doors, ventilators etc., will be given in the form of opening will be provided in the walls.
- Walls will be constructed up to the beam bottom level with 6 inches gab to avoid the transfer of a load of the beam to the wall.
- Parapet wall will be constructed over the roof for a minimum height of 1m for smaller buildings and 1.6m for taller buildings.
Construction of Beam and Slab
- Shuttering/Centering will be constructed with the help of Planks and posts.
- Since beams and slabs are cast on the shuttering, they should be in precise size according to dimension mentioned in the plan.
- The required steel rebar is procured, cut into the required shape and bent to the desired shape by the bar bender according to the bar bending schedule.
- Steel reinforcement will be placed on the top of the shuttering.
- Provisions for electrical conduit and pipe conduit will be provided.
- Steel reinforcement will be thoroughly checked by the experts for the size, spacing, fixing, cover spacing etc.
- Concrete of appropriate grade will be poured over the shuttering and slab and beam will be cast.
Construction of Floor
- The ground will be filled with sand to the required height.
- PCC with a thickness of 3 inches is usually provided in compacted sand / earth.
- Concrete flooring with a thickness of 1 inch, or the tile flooring, will be provided above PCC.
- For Roof flooring, PCC jelly with waterproof materials will be provided to avoid the seepage of water into the building
- Roofing tiles will be provided over the roof.
Painting, Doors, Windows, Electrical Conduits, Plumbing and sanitary fixings
- Doors and windows will be fixed before the painting
- Piping will be fixed before the tilling
- Sanitary fixers will be fixed after painting
- Interior painting and exterior painting will be done after all important works
- Wiring will be provided
- Electrical equipment, furniture will be provided
YOUR BUILDING IS READY. Comment for questions.
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