In these tough economic times, every property developer is looking for ways to lower construction costs.
Here are a few tips to help you minimise building costs without compromising on safety, comfort and beauty.
1.) Size – Select a relatively standard size for your house and round this up to a percentage of two feet. It is advisable to use even numbers to minimise wasted resources.
A large house can seem a bargain when you compare costs per square foot. However, if you look at the bottom line a small house is more affordable to build and more economical to maintain. Reducing the size and number of windows can also help minimise construction expenditure.
2.) Roofing – The roof is easily the ultimate design highlight that draws the most attention but you should avoid complicated roofing designs. Compared to hipped roofs, gable roofs are less expensive as they don’t require additional framing.
3.) Materials – Consider using building materials that are common and have a high rate of supply. These materials usually cost less and they also help avoid holdups and interruptions. In addition, you should consider removing unnecessary features or those that are too expensive for you.
4.) Floor plans – Complex shapes are difficult and expensive to construct. To cut costs, choose simple – rectangular or square – house plans. Buildings with these shapes cost less to build because you don’t have to put in extra work and equipment for curved walls. Its important to note that you can utilize your building materials more efficiently with fewer angles and corners.
5.) Build tall – Instead of building a single storey house that spans across the lot, consider building a two or three storey house. The taller house will have the same amount of living space, but the foundation and roof will be smaller. Ventilation and plumbing are also cheaper in multi-storey homes.
But even as you seek to lower construction costs, you should never cut corners when it comes to features that are not easily changeable. Be sure to spend your money on building materials that will stand the test of time.
