Queries and replies -House construction

ROOF CRACKING AFTER TWO YEARS

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Dear Mr Thomas,
 
I am Col.Ganapathy retired from the Indian Army and recently got a old house in a village called Aylur next to Nemmara. I got the roof done and this is my second year and it has developed two cracks. Can you suggest the best method by which I can seal this leakage. This is a independent house, not attached with any village houses.
 
Thanking you
 
Col.A.R.Ganapathy

My reply

Concreted roof developing crack after two year  can only be due to improper reinforcement work and improper laying of  reinforcement and concrete.Nothing much can be done to improve structural stability of concrete roof at this stage.As a temporary solution,injecting of chemicals to seal gap can be tried.Check whether agencies doing similar work available near your place

To comment on exact nature of the problem,I will have to visit site.What I have written above is based on my assumptions on problem faced by you and it cannot be a proper professional reply to your problem

CHECKING UP PLAN PREPARED BY LOCAL MAN

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  I will introduce myself and my dreams. I am a computer hardware and software business man in UAE, having very nominal profits. I believe the concept of Nalukettu and the landscape will always provide positive energy. Because of that reason I finalized with this concept.

I am staying in a village known as Karikodu around 30 km away from Ernakulum town and I have 1.5 acre property lying in 4 cuts.  From the main road, one panchayath road towards down. If we come through that my plot is on our right side along with the panchayath road. This road is from north to south. I am planning to built my home facing towards the road (east) and it should be little far away from the road.

There is a local designer done the site visit and made a plan according to that. But its much expensive and not come up to my  views.

I like one economic plan similar to below mentioned which I am sending just  for your reference.

Checkout below mentioned plan, which I created with my ideas. According to this plan there is 2 car Porch. And in the upstairs I need 2 bedroom and balcony on top of the side car porch. 

SHIJU

My reply

Your local person may not be quite qualified and experienced.Preparing best plan of the house is the most critical part of house building

Builders prepare plan of the house mainly considering profitability and such a plan also may not be suitable or the best possible for you

In the plan sent by you there is a bed room at South East.As per Vasthu it is not good.Stair case is provided with old fashioned arrangement of U shape which creates wastage of space and it also avoid stair case becoming a show piece in the house.Positioning of stair inside also will cause darkness in the area, As per Vasthu there cannot be toilet at south West.Considering all these a revised plan is required for you.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR AFTER STRUCTURE WORK

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I am a NRI, working in Saudi Arabia.

Currently I am constructing a 2500 Square Feet, two storied residential house at Changanacherry Town near Railway Station. I had given a contract to construct the structure only, and the work is progressing well and is expected to be completed by the 1st week of March 2011.

I am looking for a professional (architect/designer) who can assist me to accomplish the remaining work which are listed below.

How can you help me? are you interested? please let me know by return email as soon as possible explaining clearly your terms and conditions.

Shaji Rawother

Saudi Arabia

My reply

I can act as consultant for the works indicated by you and also provide our workmen if you require our direct involvement for the work

It will be good if I can visit the site and assess work already done and suggest improvements/modifications possible at this stage.
I will guide you on work to be done and will give you options based on latest trends and technology at minimum cost

House renovation in Kerala for US based NRI

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Hi Mr.Thomas, accidentally saw your website and was impressed. I  have a question for you. I have a house in Mavelikara that belonged to my father and the house is  in good condition. However there is some work needed on the house. We are settled in U.S. and do not have reliable relatives in Kerala to guide us. So your website seemed like a Godsend. If we proceed with you are you able to see and estimate the amount of work and budget needed to upgrade the house. This house sits on a very small plot and my only goal is to make it livable for vacations without much upkeep. Do you have regional subcontractors or branches that can help you complete the work  in Mavelikara? Hoping for a reply,

Elizabeth

My reply

I cater to mostly NRIs who have practically no one to take care of their building related affairs and I keep them posted with info and pictures through blogs specifically created for a particular client and site

I will have to visit your house at Mavelikkara, take measurements,study in detail.Then I will advise you how we can go about it.I can send workers and experts from Cochin if required for doing the work

Queries and reply-House Design and Construction

NEW HOUSE DESIGN

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I’m looking for a four bedroom (2+2 up&down) home plans & elevations:
 
-          All b/rooms are with attached bathroom+dressing area.
-          Kitchen + W/A
-          Family living with Dining area
-          Between 2200 to 2500 Sq.ft
-          Budget Rs. 30 to 35 lakh.
-          Location: at Tirur – Malappuram dist.
 
I would appreciate if you could send me a reply immediately in detail, since I’m planning to start the works from April/May 2011.
 
Shameer Babu

My reply

House design and construction require professional assistance and guidance.Plan will have to be designed specifically suiting your plot,requirements and Vasthu factors related to your plot.Just any House plan and Elevation will not suit your requirements and plot dimensions and other parameters peculiar to your plot

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION AT KOLLAM

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Dear Mr. Thomas,
Myself, Lal, accidently come to your website. Can you please tell me about your office location and address in Kollam if available. Dou you construct home in Kollam district for 15 lakhs budget home?
Regards
Lal

My reply

We do not have office at Kollam.In fact such an office is not required as our Cochin office can handle work at Kollam
We can do design of house and if you can get local contractor we can give complete details and monitoring of work.At present cost level you can probably construct a two bed room house with Rs.15 lakhs

BUILDING A HOUSE AS PER PICTURE SEEN

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Dear Thomas,

My name is Jose Rathappillil, residing in Florida, US. I am thinking of building a home in my ancestral property, which is located at Kalloorkad, Kerala. The kind of house I have in mind is a two storied, traditional with modern amenities, with 8-10 bed rooms & about 5-6000 sft. This house will be situated at the north - eastern corner of a 5 acre property. The home site will have about .75 acres & facing north. This site has road frontage on its northern & eastern sides.

I will be visiting Kerala in early May & would like to meet you & discuss about this project. If you are interested please let me know. I am also attaching a picture of a house which I have found in the news paper. I very much like the design of this house.

My reply

Trying to build a house similar to picture of house you have seen in a website is fine.But what if you can bet a still better design and better house?

Your requirements,budget and plot conditions need not necessarily match with the picture of house you have seen.Even Vasthu factors will change from place to place

Hence it is always better to design your house from beginning after a site visit by me

CHECKING PLAN PREPARED

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Dear Mr. Thomas,
 
I am constructing a house in Kannur Dt.  The drawings are attached.  Plot 1 is our land in the sketch.  Your kind advise on the plan will be highly appreciated.
 
Saleem P K

My reply

On a quick check,I can make following comments
1.Car porch at South East is not good as per Vasthu
2.Bed room at North east not good
3.Stair case are light is covered with that outside toilet
4.One bed room alone at Ground Floor is not good.Keep the bed room at south west side
5.Spiral stair case and court yard will add to cost
6.Court yard open only to Sit out portion.It should be visible to living and Dining
7.Toilet near bed too small with 150 cm width
8.Ladies room is too narrow.Make it bigger convert to Family Living area
9.With that large sit out you do not have to waste space in front of drawing room.Merge it with living
10.With modern modular Kitchen you do not need Store.Add it to Kitchen
11.Bed room size too small for such a house
12.Dining room is far away from Kitchen.It will create difficulty
Over all I think the plan is highly improper and will lead to wastage of your money if house constructed like this.

I can give you a revised plan which will reduce cost and increase utility

CHECKING UP PLAN AGAIN

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Dear Thomas,
Please see the attached drawing and the plot details.
 
I want to keep the house under 3000Sqft , so there is no car porch ,
The porch is planned to be built later beside the house.
Also, I had wanted all rooms to have good sunlight and air flow.
 
Do you think, the plan is a good one or require changes ?
 
Aji Kumar

My reply

Plan require not simply few changes but total revision
Even though drawing quality is good professional design and Vasthu compliance are missing.For a three bed room house,you do not require 3000 sft.By properly redesigning the plan,you can get better design with lesser cost of construction

COST INDICATION REQUIRED

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As i emailed u before we  need a 2000 sq feet house , includes  car porch , veranda , lounge, dining area , prayer room (small), modern kitchen, working kitchen, store room, veranda out side kitchen , 4 attached bed rooms -2 in each floor

Upstairs 2 bed  room , a family space, balcony  , could u please tell me how much is the cost if u will design and build a house for us, waiting for your reply

Resmi

My reply

All that requirement cannot be made within 2000 sft plinth area.You will have to go for at least 2500 sft
Cost can be worked out only after preparation of plan of the house
Where do you intend to construct house?
First step in construction of house  is preparation of Basic Plan of the house
Site visit  before preparing plan will be better though plan can be prepared if you can give complete measurements of all four sides of plot, directions of each side and positions of roads near plot.
If you are interested, I can give you charges for site visit and Basic Plan preparation fees