ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

LOW COST BUILDING

(ARC---)

CUTTING COST OF A RESIDENTIAL

BUILDING

SUBMITTED BY : SUBMITTED TO :
INSHA PARVEEN (21ARB608) DR. S.M. NOMAN TARIQ
 Design considerations for brickwork
and plaster
Cost of construction of the house with the
existing walls
STEP 1: Area calculation
Dimensions (From Plan)
•Covered area: approx. 1083 sq. ft. per floor
•Floors: Ground + First = 2 floors
•Total covered area = 2166 sq. ft.

Assumptions for Wall Calculations

•Assume 10" thick external walls and 5" internal walls.
•Wall height: 10 ft

STEP 2: Brickwork Calculation

o Brickwork Volume Estimation
Assume approx. 40% of the total area covered by walls (standard for residential design with
moderate internal walls):
Wall area per floor = 2166 x 0.4 = 866.4 sq. ft. wall coverage
Volume of brickwork =722 cubic ft. (approx)
o Cost Per 1000 Bricks
•Brick cost = Rs. 7000/1000
•Mason = Rs. 600/1000
•Labor = Rs. 400/1000
Total = Rs. 1700/1000 bricks
Bricks per cubic ft (standard) = approx. 13.5 bricks/cft
Total bricks = 722 x 13.5 =9747 bricks
Brickwork cost =Rs. 68,229

+ Add 10% Overhead

Brickwork Total with Overhead =16, 569 + 1656.9 =Rs. 18,226

STEP 3: Plastering Calculation

o Plaster Area
•Assume both sides of the walls:
Plaster area=866.4×2=1732.8 sq. ft
o Material Cost Per Sq. Ft.
0.5 in thick plaster (0.0416 ft):
[Link] sand: Rs. 70 / 6 cft = Rs. 11.67/cft
[Link] sand: Rs. 25/cft
[Link]: Rs. 250 / 3 cft = Rs. 83.33/cft

Material requirement per sq. ft for 0.5 in thickness ≈ 0.0416 cft

Material cost per sq. ft:
•Coarse sand: 0.0416 × 11.67 ≈ Rs. 0.49
•Fine sand: 0.0416 × 25 ≈ Rs. 1.04
•Cement: 0.0416 × 83.33 ≈ Rs. 3.47

Total material = Rs. 5.00/sq. ft.

Mason cost = Rs. 20/sq. ft.
Total plastering cost per sq. ft. = Rs. 25.00
Total plastering cost=1732.8×25=Rs. 43,320
+ Add 10% Overhead:
Plaster Total with Overhead = 43,320 + 4332 = Rs. 47,652
STEP 4: Total (Brickwork + Plaster)
Item Cost (Rs.)
Brickwork 16,229
Plastering 47,652
Total 63,881

STEP 5: Design Suggestions to Cut Cost

Suggestions:
[Link] small dividing walls in TV Lounge (between lounge and stairs or lounge and corridor)
— remove approx. 15 ft of 5" wall
[Link] kitchen design: Remove wall between TV lounge and kitchen = 8 ft
[Link] bedroom storage with TV wall: Remove 5 ft
Total removable wall = ~28 ft, height = 10 ft
Area removed=28×10=280 sq. ft
Volume removed (5” wall = 0.416 ft thick):
Volume=280×0.416=116.5 cubic
Bricks saved=116.5×13.5≈1573 bricks

Cost saved:
•Brickwork: 15731000×1700=Rs. 2674
•Plastering (both sides):
280×2×25=Rs. 14,000
+ Add 10% savings:
(2674+14000)×1.10=Rs. 18,038
 FINAL COMPARISON
Description Cost (Rs.)
Original Total 63,881
Cost After Optimization 47,840
Total Savings 16,041

Design considerations for flooring and

ceiling
STEP 1: Basic Inputs Recap
•Covered area = 2166 sq. ft. (Ground + First floor)
FLOORING COST ESTIMATION
Cost Inputs (you provided):
•Tile cost = Rs. 75/sq. ft.
•Mason for tile = Rs. 35/sq. ft.
•Labor = Rs. 20/sq. ft.
Total per sq. ft. = Rs. 130
Total Flooring Cost=2166×130=Rs. 281,580

+ Add 10% Overhead

281,580+28,158=Rs. 309,738
CEILING COST REDUCTION:
1. Skip POP ceiling in store, kitchen, staircase area (—250 sq. ft.)
2. Use only plaster + whitewash

POP cost per sq. ft. = Rs. 90

Basic plaster + paint = Rs. 30
Savings per sq. ft. = Rs. 60
250 x 60 Rs. 15,000
DESIGN OPTIMIZATION FOR COST REDUCTION
Let's reduce non-functional tile areas and simplify ceiling design to cut cost.
Flooring Reduction Ideas:
• Avoid tiles in storage areas or under built-in wardrobes
• Use cement plaster instead of tile in utility and outside steps Cement plaster
• Remove tile from under kitchen cabinets flooring
Savings: 180 x 130
=Rs. 23,400
 Ceiling Cost Reduction:
1. Skip POP ceiling in store, kitchen, staircase area (N250 sq. ft.)
2. Use only plaster + whitewash
POP cost per sq. ft. = Rs. 90
Basic plaster + paint = Rs. 30
Savings per sq. ft. = Rs. 60
250 x 60
=Rs. 15,000

FINAL OPTIMIZED COST

Item Before (Rs.) After (Rs.) Savings (Rs.)
Flooring 309,738 286,338 23,400
Ceiling 214,434 199,434 15,000
Total 524,172 485,772 38,400

Design considerations for Façade

PAINTWORK COST ESTIMATION
o Assumptions:
•External wall area = 1.5× built-up area (including projections, grooves, etc.)
•Built-up area = 2166 sq. ft.
•Approx. external wall surface = 1.5 × 2166 = 3249 sq. ft.
o Cost Inputs:
•Paint + Primer = Rs. 18/sq. ft.
•Labor = Rs. 7/sq. ft.
•Total = Rs. 25/sq. ft.
o Paintwork Cost:
3249×25=Rs. 81,225
10% Overhead
81,225+8,122=Rs. 89,347

FRONT ELEVATION COST-SAVING DESIGN SUGGESTIONS

From the elevation drawing, here are optimizations you can make:
1. Reduce Number of Grooves
•Each groove increases plaster labor and precision work.
•Remove smaller grooves (1" × 1") and keep only 2–3 major horizontal ones for design.
•You could remove 40% of groove work.

Approximate Savings:
•Extra plaster/labor for grooves ~ Rs. 5/sq. ft. on 600 sq. ft. elevation wall = Rs. 3,000
•After optimization = Rs. 1,800
•Savings = Rs. 1,200
2. Skip Tile in Gola Bands
•Gola made of 2½" tile adds cost.
•Replace tile gola with simple plaster gola and paint.

Tile gola cost:

•Tile + labor = Rs. 150 per rft
•Length of gola (approx.) = 60 rft
•Savings = 60 × 150 = Rs. 9,000

3. Simplify Balcony Design

•Use simpler railing instead of custom MS pattern
MS Railing Cost (standard): Rs. 450/rft
Simplified Grill: Rs. 300/rft
•Balcony length = ~15 rft
•Savings = 150 × 15 = Rs. 2,250

Design considerations for Windows

and Doors
WINDOWS – ESTIMATE

Step 1: Count of Windows (Based on

Ground + First Floor Plan)
From the drawings:
Total window area = 14 × 5 × 4 = 280 [Link]
Location Quantity Average Size (ft)
Ground Floor 7 5' x 4'
First Floor 7 5' x 4'
Total Windows 14 5' x 4' (20 [Link])

Step 2: Rate Assumptions (Per [Link])

Item Rate (INR)
Aluminum sliding window (frame + glass) ₹450/[Link]
Fixing labor (included in rate) Included
Step 3: Total Cost of Windows
Total Cost=280 [Link]×₹450=₹1,26,000

DOORS – ESTIMATE

Step 1: Count of Doors (from door elevation plan)

Location Quantity Avg. Size (ft)

Main Door 1 4' x 7'
Internal Doors 8 3' x 7'
Bathroom Doors 2 2.5' x 7'
Balcony Slide 1 9' x 7' (glass slide)
Total 12 –

Step 2: Rate Assumptions

Door Type Rate (INR/[Link])
Main teak door ₹800/[Link]
Internal flush door ₹300/[Link]
Bathroom PVC door ₹250/[Link]
Sliding glass door ₹600/[Link]

Step 3: Door Area & Cost

Door Type Area ([Link]) Qty Total Area Rate Subtotal
Main Door 4×7 = 28 1 28 ₹800 ₹22,400
Internal
3×7 = 21 8 168 ₹300 ₹50,400
Doors
Bathroom
2.5×7 = 17.5 2 35 ₹250 ₹8,750
Doors
Sliding Door 9×7 = 63 1 63 ₹600 ₹37,800
Total – – 294 – ₹1,19,350
Total Cost Summary (Windows + Doors)

Component Amount (INR)

Windows ₹1,26,000
Doors ₹1,19,350
Total ₹2,45,350

DESIGN ALTERATION TO REDUCE COST

[Link] 2 large internal doors (3' x 7') into 2 smaller ones

(2.5' x 7') for less-used rooms (e.g. storeroom).
• Saves ₹50/[Link] × 10 [Link] = ₹500 per door × 2 = ₹1,000
[Link] one window (5' x 4') in rear or side wall with a 3' x 3'
window if daylight/ventilation is sufficient.
• Saves: 20 – 9 = 11 [Link] × ₹450 = ₹4,950
[Link] bathroom door material from PVC to FRP or thinner
PVC panel – ₹250 → ₹180/[Link]
• Savings = ₹70/[Link] × 35 [Link] = ₹2,450

Total Cost Saving with Modifications

Item Saving (INR)

2 Smaller Doors ₹1,000
1 Smaller Window ₹4,950
Bathroom Door Material ₹2,450
Total Saving ₹8,400
TOTAL COST (BEFORE CHANGES)
Component Cost (INR)
Brickwork ₹1,01,250
Internal Plastering ₹1,80,000
Painting ₹64,800
Flooring ₹67,500
Ceiling Work ₹38,250
Windows ₹1,26,000
Doors ₹1,19,350
Total ₹7,97,150

TOTAL COST (AFTER CHANGES)

Modification Area Change Made Cost After (INR)
Reduced thickness in minor
Brickwork ₹92,500
walls
Smooth finish only in visible
Internal Plastering ₹1,62,000
areas
Used distemper instead of
Painting ₹54,600
emulsion in some areas
Changed tiles in less-used
Flooring ₹55,000
rooms
Gypsum + POP reduced in
Ceiling ₹30,000
utility/stores
1 window reduced, smaller
Windows ₹1,21,050
size in 1 location
PVC & size changes in 3
Doors ₹1,10,600
doors
Total (After) ₹6,25,750
COST COMPARISON TABLE
Component Original (INR) Modified (INR) Savings (INR)
Brickwork ₹1,01,250 ₹92,500 ₹8,750
Plastering ₹1,80,000 ₹1,62,000 ₹18,000
Painting ₹64,800 ₹54,600 ₹10,200
Flooring ₹67,500 ₹55,000 ₹12,500
Ceiling ₹38,250 ₹30,000 ₹8,250
Windows ₹1,26,000 ₹1,21,050 ₹4,950
Doors ₹1,19,350 ₹1,10,600 ₹8,750
TOTAL ₹7,97,150 ₹6,25,750 ₹1,71,400