Precautions for dampness during construction

Dampness creates an unhealthy environment for inhabitants of the house and gradually spoils affected part of the building. To avoid the problem of dampness, you can apply several safety measures during construction of the building. I’ve tried to identify a few precautions for the treatment of dampness.

• Make proper drainage system and fix water supply pipes tightly. The joints of rainy water pipes are fitted tightly and properly to avoid leakages through them.
• Create proper slopes in floors of kitchen, bathroom, roof and “Chhajja” for smooth flow of water.
• Finish the joints of parapet with tile tracing or with rain water pipes and any expansion joints smoothly to avoid stagnant water which could eventually penetrate into the building. Cement concrete gola in corner ensures proper flow of water and protect building from dampness in long run.
• Ensure if rainy water penetrates through the joints of building. If the joints are treated during construction, the water would flow without penetrating into the building.
• Plaster top surface of “Chhaja” and maintain proper drip course to avoid leakage/dampness.

For more pre construction precautions of dampness, click here.

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What are sources of daylighting?

Would you like to enjoy natural light or daylighting in your home? If yes, fix windows, ventilators, skylights etc. while designing building to get the benefit of daylighting. Daylighting creates productive environment for occupants and reduces 30 to 40 % of total energy costs. It depends on color of walls, ceiling and floors such as light color reflects more light than dark color.

Source of Daylight: The Sun is primary source of daylighting and the sunlight comprises following two parts.

• Direct solar light
• Sky radiation

Direct solar light is not taken into consideration during daylighting. Sky radiation is considered while designing daylighting in homes. The value of sky radiation depends on the position of the Sun defined by its altitude which changes with the change in altitude of the area throughout the year.

Daylight Factor: Daylight factor is the quality of daylight in a room. It is the ratio of outside illumination over inside illumination. The intensity of daylight in a room is subject to frequent fluctuations and harshness. It is found more or less constant when the sky is clear or overcast.

To know more about daylighting, its sources and daylight factors, click here.

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How to prepare & utilize ready mix concrete?

Ready Mix Concrete, known as RMX refers to a concrete mix in plastic or unhardened state. It is prepared in a factory or batching plant as per required specification. The concrete is mixed under computer-controlled operations according to quality control norms. At mixing site the ready mix concrete is prepared by mixing Portland cement, water, coarse aggregate comprising gravel or crushed stone and fine aggregate consisting of coarse sand which are procured separately and be mixed in specified proportions.

How to utilize ready mix concrete?
After mixing cement concrete, the mix is carried through trucks mounted with transit mixer on working site and is placed at required component of building/work with the help of sophisticated equipments and methods. Ready mix concrete is preferred to on-site concrete mixing due to non-availability of good raw materials at site, lack of facilities and non-availability of trained technical staff. However, ready mix concrete prepared at sites of longer distances can reduce the flexibility in supply chain and in actual components of the building.

For more info on preparation and utilization of ready mix concrete, click here.

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How to install oak flooring?

Before you begin to install oak flooring, lay base coat and compact earth properly. Level cement concrete in proper slope in ratio of1:2:4. The floor material should be stored at room temperature at least 24 hours before starting installation. The following tips are useful for further installation of oak flooring.

• Clean and level the surface: Keep the surface clean, dry and in proper level before laying oak flooring.
• Start laying oak flooring using wedges: Begin laying engineered oak flooring boards along longest straight wall in the room and use wedges to maintain 10 mm gap between boards and skirting board or wall.
• Ensure proper joints in rows of boards: Make sure that the joints or offsets do not coincide in the rows instead they are staggered. To obtain staggered joints, use full length of board in first row, start with 2/3 length of board in 2nd row and begin with 1/3rd length of board in the 3rd row.
• Fit boards & do finishing: Cut the ends of boards at walls allowing a gap of 10 mm. To fit boards around corners or odd shapes, draw a cardboard template and trace outline of the template on board and use jigsaw to cut out the shape. To fit engineered oak flooring under a doorframe, use handsaw to cut thin slice from the bottom of doorframe allowing boards to slide under it.

Click here to read detailed installation tips.

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Electric Shock – Causes & Preventions

Electric shock is the flow of electrons, electrical current through body. Electric current gives shock depending on the intensity of voltage. Electric shock occurs due to leakage and earth faults in electrical appliances.

What causes electric shock?
Open electric sockets, fallen high voltage line, or any exposure of an electrical energy source cause electrical shock. If you touch electric wire of low voltage, you will get light electric shock but if you get in touch with high voltage electric wire, you would get high electric shock. Electric shock causes pain to our body, generate heat inside body and can damage our tissues leading to permanent disability.

How to prevent electric shock?
Stop electric supply while repairing: Shut electric supply from the mains before taking up electrical repair work. Make sure the power is off using a simple pocket tester, a multi-meter, or lamp, blow dryer or any other appliances after closing power supply.

Make use of good wiring: Utilize good wiring and change any damaged, rusted wiring immediately. Don’t make joints in wiring. All necessary joints should have proper tapes/insulation. Avoid loose connection in wiring and make use of fuse / MCB’s of appropriate. Keep away from overhead lines and do not touch broken wires.

Utilize safety standards: Safety equipments such as masks for dust, safety glasses for eye protection and gloves to preserve your hands should be used at the time of electric works. Keep your face away from the panel at the very moment you turn on or off a breaker.

For more causes and preventive tips on electric shock, click here.
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How to pick textured paint?

Do you want to add stunning effects to the beauty of your home? Opt for textured paint which makes interiors of your home inspiring. They have different looks like gritty look of sand stone or marble stone, wooden appearance. Premixed form of textured paint contains small, grainy appearance. These paints protect walls/ surfaces from weather changes; withstand extremes of heat, cold and rain. They are extremely resistant to Fungs and Algae, peeling, flaking and fading and stay bright. Textured paints can cover minor defects, uneven surface and imperfection in walls. To get more ideas about texture designs, the best way is to look at model houses, go through magazines or pick sample cards showing different finishes available with paint dealers.

For more info selection of textured paint, click here.

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How to design a cottage garden?

GharExpert has found out some guidelines on “How to design cottage garden”. The first step is to plan layout of garden like pathway, seating area, fences etc. A traditional cottage garden has straight pathway whereas a modern cottage garden has curved pathways and the plants are grown along them. Evergreen shrubs are planted in cottage garden. Cottage garden is rich source of a variety of roses. Grow these plants with annuals or perennials of different colors. The plants having soft colors add to the beauty of the garden. A platform of wood or concrete can be provided for seating purposes. Wrought iron furniture and cane furniture can be placed there. A variety of containers such as an old water pitcher, old flower vase and old basket used for planting tree enhance aesthetic sense of the garden.



For more tips on “how to design cottage garden”, click here.

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