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[Q&A]: What will happen if the clay bricks are soaked in water for too much time?

2026-02-14T23:51:00.001+05:30

BRICKS-n-MORTAR's e-desk replies to a query comment received from a reader on our earlier published post "[Q&A]: Brick Masonry work | "Why bricks be soaked ...":

Query of a reader:

What if bricks are soaked more than required time? How to determine the optimum time of soaking? Please reply

Team BnM's reply :

Like we said in the post itself, normally, about 2 to 6 hours of soaking of bricks in a tank full of potable water is suggested.

Otherwise, in case of paucity of time, a minimum period of one hour prior to bricks being laid must be adhered to.

In case the bricks have been lying in water for substantial part of time, say like one or two days or even more, ensure taking out the bricks and making them skin dry under sun or in the open air so that extra water retained in the pores of the bricks be let off.

One more thing to ensure after prolonged soaking of bricks is to take a visual note whether any white, yellowish or other patches have come up on the surface? Such patches, if they do come up on the surface, indicate presence of un-reacted lime in bricks, which is not desirable in any case (called efflorescence of bricks).

Ask us in case you also have any query relating to civil engg, architecture, building design & construction, interiors, etc.

Related original post: [Q&A]: Brick Masonry work | "Why bricks be soaked in water before placing them?"

Related stuff of interest :

Importance of Planning & Budgeting in Construction Related Works

2026-02-08T22:18:00.002+05:30

Since ages, we all have been practicing making and implementing budgets at our homes and for related occasions, ceremonies, etc. So, what essentially is a budget?

In simpler terms, a budget may be defined as a financial working, which may or may not include quantitative statements to support it; and which is prepared prior to a defined period of time, and which is essentially pursued during that period so as to attain a desired objective of achieving a set target of financial figures, or even preferably to complete the activity well within the planned final figure.

In a nutshell, it includes certain planned income and the foreseen expenditure interwoven with the planning of employment of the capital for a desired work to be completed.

Budgeting Techniques in Construction Practices

A well-prepared budget can become an effective management control technique in more ways than one in any construction front, whether it be a pre-bid working, or a cost plan for an upcoming site, or even a small home renovation job.

The practice of budgeting control is basically the establishment of financial budgets relating to the responsibilities of the personnel who are required to execute the responsibilities up to the requirements of the pre-formulated policy, while maintaining the continuous comparison of the actual figures with those of the previously estimated and budgeted ones. Any major deviation of the former with respect to the latter should prompt for establishing a revision of the previous version of the budget.

Requirements of a Good Budgeting Control System

The following outlines the predominant requirements that a budget must incorporate to be effective and helpful enough for any enterprise, company or an individual:

· The foremost of all requirements is to formulate a policy for a certain pre-defined period with the targets clearly chalked out in terms of the desired financial figures and/or the output over a clear period of time. This is important since unless a specific and target-oriented aim is there, a management or person in-charge will not be in a position to adopt the required preventive and/or corrective measures in case the desired programme is going out of track. This also helps if a programme is going well ahead the desired schedule and/or the cost pattern. The manager, in this case, may re-distribute the surplus of resources to fronts where they may be critically required.

· The other predominant requirement is that of defining and allocating the responsibilities and accountabilities of executives at each important level of hierarchy. This helps in better coordination and the results are more likely to be in resonance with the drafted target policy.

· Continual evaluation of the policy as well as the measured results from time-to-time and at regular intervals is another important requisite of an ideal budget.

· Last, but definitely not the least, analyzing and rectifying the adverse factors, which tend to derail the planned targets is another positive requirement of good budgeting. Such negative factors must be pinpointed, analyzed and solved in no time when they do occur. As such, the divergences between the planned and the actual results should be used not only for control purpose, but also for policy revisions of the future.

Budgeting is an Effective Monitoring Tool

Budgeting is an important monitoring tool to carry out the following functions:

· Conceiving business opportunities

· Planning

· Executing

· Controlling, and

· Coordinating the different functional activities of a construction programme

It not only enhances the grasp of the management over the project, but also helps to find out and correct the shortcomings that a programme might be proceeding to, endangering the profitability and/or timely completeness of a project. After all, which management does not want to complete a project on time, and with almost all financial as well as material targets being on course? A judgment easy to make even for a layman, isn’t it?

Beyond Looks -- Home Design for Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell and Soul -- (The Sensory Secrets of Great Home Designs)

2026-02-07T21:58:00.011+05:30

What readers can expect from this blog post:
Discover how to design homes that engage all five senses — sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste — for comfort and ambiance

When planning and designing their homes on the drawing board, architects and homeowners typically rely on the sense of sight to evaluate how attractive and functional a particular section of the home might appear once constructed and finished.

Yet, many tend to overlook the fact that four other senses — sound, smell, touch, and taste — play equally vital roles in shaping how we experience a space. The most immersive homes engage all five senses, crafting environments that feel as good and function as well as they look.

The best and most comprehensive room designs are those that are able to engage all five senses and create a space that's best experienced and not just seen.

Truly comprehensive residential design is not merely visual — it’s experiential. It invites interaction, evokes emotion, and creates a multisensory dialogue between the space and its occupants.

Each of the five elementary human senses contributes meaningfully to the development of a well-rounded home: from spatial layout and room-by-room functionality, to the selection of building materials, architectural finishes, and interior design elements. Sensory awareness informs not just aesthetics, but also comfort, usability, and emotional resonance.

Let us explore these subtle yet powerful sensory dimensions that help visualize and shape a holistic home design experience — one that resonates with both planners and residents alike:

SIGHT : Visual sense

Sight is invariably the first sense engaged in home design, for it offers the most immediate and intuitive measure of a room’s appeal. Visual impressions are formed in an instant, and they often dictate whether a space feels harmonious or disjointed.

There are two principal avenues through which sight shapes perception: color and form. Solid, neutral tones remain the timeless choice, offering safety and restraint. Yet, it is the interplay of contrasting or complementary hues that lends depth, vibrancy, and character to interiors.

Equally important is the orchestration of shapes and proportions. A deliberate mix of geometric precision with organic softness, or tall verticals balanced against low horizontals, can imbue a room with personality and rhythm.

Individually, color and form are powerful. But when orchestrated in harmony, they transcend mere decoration, creating a visual symphony that defines the essence of a well-designed home.

SOUND : Auditory sense

Sound is the invisible architecture of a home — shaping atmosphere, rhythm, and mood in ways that sight alone cannot. While televisions and stereo systems provide entertainment, they rarely contribute to the identity of a room. True auditory design lies in subtle cues that enrich the ambiance and invite serenity.

The gentle tinkling of wind chimes at a window, the soft gurgle of a tabletop fountain, or the rustle of indoor plants stirred by a breeze can all lend a space its own acoustic character. These sounds are not imposed; they emerge naturally, becoming part of the room’s dialogue with its occupants.

Equally, thoughtful acoustic planning — from the thickness of walls to the placement of rugs and curtains — ensures that spaces feel calm rather than echoing or harsh. In this way, sound becomes a design element in itself, orchestrating harmony and intimacy within the home.

SMELL : Olfactory sense

Smell is perhaps the most underestimated of the senses in home design, yet it is among the most powerful in shaping memory and emotion. A single fragrance can transport us to another time, evoke comfort, or signal freshness and vitality. Unlike sight or sound, scent works quietly, weaving itself into the subconscious and defining the atmosphere of a space.

Engaging the olfactory sense need not be complex. Scented candles, bowls of potpourri, or diffusers with essential oils can instantly transform a room’s mood. Natural elements — fresh flowers, herbs in the kitchen, or the subtle aroma of polished wood — add authenticity and depth.

Smell also pairs beautifully with other senses. A bowl of ripe citrus on a dining table, for instance, delights the eye with color while simultaneously infusing the air with freshness. In this way, fragrance becomes not merely an accessory but an integral design element, reinforcing ambiance and enhancing the sensory dialogue of the home.

TOUCH : The Textural Sense

Touch is the most intimate of the senses, and in home design it carries a quiet yet profound influence. Our skin perceives subtleties that sight or sound cannot — the warmth of polished wood, the coolness of stone, the softness of fabric. These tactile impressions shape comfort, inviting us to linger and connect with a space.

A well-considered interior should offer a spectrum of textures: the plush embrace of cushions, the crisp drape of linen curtains, the rugged honesty of jute, or the sleek sophistication of leather. Each material tells its own story, and together they create a tactile landscape that encourages exploration.

Surfaces, too, deserve attention. Floors, often treated as mere backdrops, can be transformed through layered rugs, textured tiles, or natural grain patterns. Such variations break monotony, adding dimension and rhythm underfoot.

When thoughtfully orchestrated, touch becomes more than sensation — it becomes memory. Guests may forget the exact color of a wall, but they will remember the feel of a chair’s upholstery or the comforting texture of a rug beneath their feet.

TASTE : The Tactile & Aesthetics Sense

Touch is the silent storyteller of interiors, weaving emotion into every surface we encounter. Unlike sight or sound, which can be absorbed at a distance, touch requires intimacy — a direct connection between body and material. It is through this contact that spaces become personal, memorable, and alive.

Floors, often overlooked as mere functional expanses of wood, tile, or cement, offer a canvas for tactile expression. A rug, whether plush and indulgent or coarse and textured, transforms the floor from backdrop to experience. It breaks monotony, introduces rhythm, and invites the feet to feel rather than simply tread.

Beyond flooring, the tactile palette extends to fabrics and finishes: the crisp fall of linen curtains, the velvety embrace of upholstery, the rugged honesty of jute, or the cool sophistication of polished stone. Each texture contributes to a sensory mosaic, encouraging exploration and layering comfort with intrigue.

When orchestrated thoughtfully, touch becomes more than sensation — it becomes metaphor. A home designed with tactile richness is not only seen and heard, but felt, resonating with its occupants in ways that linger long after the visual impression fades.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS POST (SYNOPSIS)

Designing a home that truly resonates goes far beyond visual aesthetics. It is a multisensory journey — one that engages sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste — to create spaces that are not only seen but deeply experienced.

By weaving these sensory dimensions into architectural planning, material selection, and interior detailing, homeowners and designers can craft environments that are immersive, comforting, and memorable. A well-designed home is not simply a structure; it is a living canvas of sensory impressions, inviting its occupants to see, hear, feel, breathe, and savor the atmosphere it creates.

Ultimately, the secret of great home design lies in harmony — where each sense contributes to a dialogue that transforms ordinary rooms into extraordinary experiences. Such homes transcend geography and culture, offering universal comfort and ambiance to residents across the world
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#DoItYourself #HomeImprovement #HomeDesign #bricksNmortar

Habitats with well-earmarked but shared green spaces -- YES or NO for you?

2026-01-27T14:48:00.000+05:30

Happened to come across this picture of this residential hub in a Reddit post. The visuals look amazing, in terms of green spaces and co-habitation, if not more.

The bush-hedge-boundaries portray the dwellings as if they were of the shape of pie-of-a-circle, each one having a unique identity of its own.

Each of the units are demarcated by green hedges as boundary walls. The respective spaces within each unit are then tastefully designed so to have a simple living space, besides the landscaped individual lawns, interspersed with private gardening or farming arcades.

Who wouldn't like to live in such green and clean spaces after all.. the community living in close-knit residential plots despite having their own respective carved-out private spaces.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DESIGN GREEN & ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY HABITATS

Developing residential spaces with lush green ambience in various environments can be achieved through a combination of traditional passive design strategies and modern sustainable technologies that prioritize water conservation and green building codes of practice.

Architectural Strategies

Courtyards and Atriums: Incorporating a central, open-to-sky courtyard (or aangan) is a traditional method used to create a cooler microclimate. These spaces allow hot air to rise and escape (stack effect), while the surrounding vegetation and sometimes small water features use evaporative cooling to provide cooler air to adjacent rooms.

Thick, High Thermal Mass Walls: Using materials like adobe, rammed earth, or stone helps absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, which regulates indoor temperatures and reduces reliance on air conditioning.

Strategic Shading and Orientation: Homes are often designed with the longest walls facing north/south to minimize direct sun exposure. Roof overhangs, recessed windows, pergolas, and vertical gardens block harsh solar radiation from walls and windows.

Green Roofs and Living Walls: Vegetated roofs and walls act as an extra layer of insulation, reducing heat gain and cooling the surrounding area through the process of evapotranspiration.

Sustainable Landscaping (Xeriscaping)

Native and Drought-Resistant Plants: Utilizing indigenous species (like saguaro cactus, ocotillo, and agave in the Sonoran Desert) is crucial as they are naturally adapted to the climate and require minimal water.

Water Conservation: Implementing systems for rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling (reusing water from showers/basins for irrigation or WCs) significantly reduces the strain on local water resources.

Microclimates: Strategically placed trees and shrubs can create shaded microclimates around the home, further reducing the ambient temperature.

Similar Case Studies

Desert House (Alice Springs, Australia): This home, designed by DunnHillam, is built into an existing ridge to take advantage of the earth's thermal mass, and uses a "fly roof" to create an updraft and remove heat.

Ecolodge (Siwa, Egypt): Paris-based architects designed this holiday home using locally sourced mud, sand, and salt from nearby lakes, integrating it within the landscape and demonstrating effective use of local, sustainable materials.

Desert Pearl Residence (Arizona, USA): Features an innovative curved roof design that provides extensive shade.

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#townplanning #landscapes #GoGreen #GreenBuildings #Sustainability #bricksNmortar

Commonly Used Definitions & Terminologies in Property Bazaar / Real Estate & Construction Sectors in India

2024-12-15T10:03:00.000+05:30

Since the time this blog (bricks-n-mortar.com) came into existence in April 2008, we keep receiving umpteen queries pertaining to Property Circle Rates; e-Stamping; Stamp duty, Real Estate Registration fee; etc.-- from our subscribers, readers and blog visitors.

Many readers keep asking about the Commonly Used Definitions & Terminologies in Property Bazaar / Real Estate Sector in India. They want to know the meaning of certain commonly used terminologies and jargon in context to the Indian Real Estate Sector and Property Bazaar and related Market Transactions.

Though we keep answering most of the queries raised by our esteemed subscribers and readers individually, we think it would be prudent to summarize the same here in the form of a blog post itself for the benefit of all.

Commonly Used Terminologies in Real Estate Sector in India

"Property"

It can be termed synonymously for all those realty elements which essentially refers to property of any kind, whether movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and includes any right or interest in such property.

As depicted by LegalServicesIndia, some of the prevalent theories that are usually referred to for the purpose of understanding the concept of Real Estate Property in India are:

1. Historical Theory of Property

2. Labour Theory (Spencer)

3. Psychological Theory (Bentham)

4. Functional Theory ( Jenks, Laski)

5. Philosophical Theories–

(i) Property as a means to Ethnical Ends

(ii) Property as an End in itself

"Immovable Property"

It can be termed synonymously for all those realty elements which include land, buildings, hereditary allowances, rights to ways, lights, ferries, fisheries or any other benefit to arise out of land, and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything which is attached to the earth, but not standing timber, growing crops nor grass. [as per Indian Property Registration Act -1908, mentioned in Part-I (Preliminary section) of the same]

In simple words, Immovable Property is the property that has a fixed location and cannot be moved or transferred elsewhere. It can be built upon or affixed to the ground. Immovable property has a fixed address, determined by the jurisdiction where it is located.

By definition, immovable property is permanent, and it may include buildings, improvements and natural features. Immovable property does not normally include livestock, crops or botanical species including trees or hedges. [as adopted from California Civil Code Section 658]

"Movable Property"

It includes those properties the final product or shape of which are not fixed, and can be moved to other geographical location(s).

Examples: standing timber, growing crops and grass, fruit upon and juice in trees, and property of every other description, except immovable property. [as per Indian Property Registration Act -1908, mentioned in Part-I (Preliminary section) of the same]

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Team bricksNmortar 's End Note to this log post:

Click here to send us a query

Should you have any other query or doubt regarding these or other similar terminologies used in real estate jargon, do shoot your query to us. We would be glad to provide you the answers. :)

Wanted! Crowdsourced Ideas & Suggestions for Online & Offline Services of #bricksNmortar platforms

2024-12-13T09:38:00.000+05:30

The editorial desk at BRICKS-n-MORTAR (#bricksNmortar) is seeking crowdsourced ideas and suggestions from its patrons and readers.

Brainstorming worthy points being:

1) What is the easiest, simplest, cleanest and of course FREE of cost platform to rechristen our blog/website into a neat & tech-savvy outlook?

2) We had shaped this domain as a non-profit, happy-go-lucky-hobby-blog on Google's Blogspot platform (which it is still continuing on) as we found this simpler than Wordpress being novices in web technologies and allied stuff. We were a couple of young professionals from the fields of civil engineering and architecture, who wanted to share our field know-how and subject knowledge with the normal junta who had 'how-to-do' and 'which/why/what' kind of queries about their homes and offices, etc.

3) Over a period of a decade of its existence, the blog adopted a handful of freely available Blogger HTML scripts, which were amateurishly (but relatively artistically) customized in look and feel. Being novices, all the cumulative customizations and adhoc HTML code additions till date have resulted in a relatively messed up CSS besides other unknown glitches, which result in increased page loading time and what not! Time to clean up, as Google Analytics tool suggests!

4) We ventured into a separate small scale eCommerce vertical too, which during course of time, perished largely due to lack of time (and interest of ours). We wish to integrate an eCommerce sub-domain into this primary domain of ours, if it be technically possible; and subject to it being not incurring huge capital investment in setting it up for sure (We are non-profit hobby guys after all!)

5) Team #bricksNmortar still yearn to write meaningful and less commercial articles and posts for our readers. Accordingly, the main landing portion of the upgraded website (or the first fold of it) must cater to the blogposts and articles.

Should any of our readers and patrons can help/assist us to attain our aforementioned year 2020 objectives, please feel free to pour-in your ideas and suggestions either in the comments section of this post, or simply email us. We would be thankful for the time and energy put into writing back to us. We may mutually discuss to compensate your efforts in terms of advertisement placement of yours on our Page(s), if that makes sense (and money) to you :)

Hoping to hear back from many of you!

On offer-- "Building Design Services (BDS) and Allied Consulting Services" across India

2024-12-13T09:34:00.000+05:30

Team Bricks-n-Mortar is elated to announce their very economical & affordable SERVICES in the following fields relating to Civil Engineering, Building & Structure Design & Architectural Detailing:

Building Design Services (BDS)

Civil & Structural Design (CSD)

Architectural Services & Assistance (ASA)

Project Management Consultancy (PMC)

Construction Supervision Services (CSS)

Procurement Assistance Services (PAS)

Owner-Builder Collaborative Services (OBCS)

Interior Design Services (IDS)

Renovation and Remodeling Services (RRS)

Allied Technical & Skilled-Manpower Services (ATSS)

BnM's eStore (Online Shopping experience) -- Under Development

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People intending to seek aforecited SERVICES may contact and consult with our Design Cell (via our Email: team@bricks-n-mortar.com).

Our team comprises of accomplished and well experienced freelance and consulting/collaborating members (civil engineers, structural engineers, architects, interior designers, building & space planners, and other allied fields of engineering who stand strong on academics & principles of their respective streams)

The Services (some of which are elaborated herein below) are offered to the common households on freelance basis at extremely reasonable, affordable and transparently worked-out costs as compared to what the usual professional agencies charge. This because #bricksNMortar believes in providing affordable and quality services to the patrons, and having some meaningful symbiotic relationship with them.

A few of the services offered include (but not just limited to) the following:

# Civil & Structural Design, Planning & Analysis
# Architecture & overall interiors solutions
# Home improvement, renovation & beautification services
# Project management & allied services
# Basic as well as advanced 3-D modelling services
# Cost estimation & allied services like cost optimization
# Checking & verification of Contractors' works
# Products & material procurement advisory
# Overall design and project execution inputs
# Professional guidance services, etc. etc.

Team Bricks-n-Mortar endeavors to sort out the doubts & queries from the everyday life of the common people who plan to carry out a Civil related work (be it construction or upgradation or maintenance or the likes of their homes/ offices/ etc.), or who simply are inquisitive of the basic Civil Engineering related things.

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PRICING :
Estimated pricing on project/assignment specific request and/or after a site visit/meeting

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SERVICE AVAILABILITY :
All over India (as of now).

International services also being planned shortly.

Do you know what is #DadoWork in context of wall tiling?

2024-12-13T09:25:00.000+05:30

Isn't it a beautiful artist-like work of wall finishing?

The wall cladding (finishing) work is technically known as DADO WORK

📐🔨🪚🔩🏘️👌🏻

The walls and floor of a washroom (toilet / bathroom / utility area) are usually finished by the following building materials:

🔅 Cement plaster or Lime putty plaster

🔅 Ceramic tiles

🔅 Vitrified tiles

🔅 Stones (marble/ quartzite/ artificial stone)

🔅 PVC panels

🔅 Engineering wood panels, etc.

While the overall look & feel of the finished bathroom shall surely depend on which material is utilized, but the overall finesse ultimately depends on the aesthetics, design sense, finishing quality and the workmanship of the workers, engineers & architects.

If you have something more to add to this post of ours, feel free to add your comment or review here to this blog post, or even to our twitter post on this topic (https://twitter.com/bricksNmortar/status/1769757639393636547?t=gVL7ioHessG7YtL1ULcwiA&s=19)

Hope you liked to read this small article. Subscribe to our feed to keep getting new posts to your mailbox or RSS feed reader

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If you may, please rate this wall tile cladding #dado work on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being excellent) that was witnessed in one of the hotel's washroom in the city of Surat in Gujarat, India

Want to reach out to us? Our 'Contact Us' pointers stand updated, so please take note 🙏🏻

2024-12-13T09:19:00.000+05:30

Some of our readers pointed out that the "Contact Us" tab at the top of the page was not connecting rightly.

Email us at: team@bricks-n-mortar.com

If you haven't been a part of our community yet and would like to patronize this weblog, or would like to get regular updates, join us by subscribing to our Feeds (SUBSCRIBE NOW).

We thank all those readers who regularly pour in their comments/ suggestions/feedback etc. from time to time, which truly help us improve and pull our socks up to meet our readers' expectations and this very community's best of quality standards.

We love to hear from you.

Yours truly

Team BnM

Our Social Media handles:

hashtag : #bricksNmortar

website : https://www.bricks-n-mortar.com

facebook : https://www.facebook.com/bricksNmortar/

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We, bricksNortar edesk, seek your feedback

2024-08-23T19:34:00.000+05:30

We, bricksNortar edesk✍🏻, seek your feedback

- A recent sample study of around 800 college going kids and working adults has revealed that people have started ignoring/ disliking reading anything that is composed of more than 140-char microtweet texts

- Some even responded that they don't have attention span for anything written in more than 1 or 2 liners. For them, even 280-characters Twitter allowance is too much, as compared to earlier limit of 140-characters max, in a single post

- It now seems that very few are reading blog posts or long articles or longer discussion threads, or even newspaper editorials & articles

- People have become short of patience, thereby loosing interest on deeper discussions of anything which is not in their compulsory & active syllabus or work profile

- People aren't even appearing ready to take good advice, if its in the form of longer posts

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So, in such circumstances, what should a blog like ours do? Its but natural that without active participation from the community & patrons & readers, a blog can feel like static.

We also become static, therefore, not posting much on the website. Our participation become restricted to one-to-one consultation/ discussion based on queries received from our readers & associates.

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DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON SUCH SITUATIONS, AS WHAT SHOULD PUBLISHERS & BLOGS DO IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES?

Should we log out, and draw the curtains on this website & blog forever, by selling it to some commercial interest? Or, could there be any other solution(s)?

How to calculate the Net Carpet Aarea of an apartment / residential dwelling at actual building site?

2023-09-01T19:18:00.002+05:30

In context to one of our earlier blog posts: "Super built-up area is how many times the total floor area in percentage?", it is natural for a commoner to come up with the following question:

How do I calculate the net carpet area on the site of the flat so as to know how much actual space I will get when I eventually move in?
Do the sellers generally allow such measurement during or after booking?

Take measurements and write them down on floor layout

Bricksnmortar Edesk replies to this follow-up question of yours:

Foremost, we believe you are already aware of the difference between the super built up area, floor area and the carpet area. In case you are not yet, do go through the related article clicking on the link of our previous posts mentioned above in the opening paragraph of this post.

Frankly speaking, the builders, realtors, property developers, etc. keep camouflaging the actual carpet area figures for obvious reasons as if the potential buyers calculate the ratio of purchase price to carpet area, it would be substantially more than what the sellers are usually marketing and advertising.

The usual practice of telling the selling rate in terms of selling price in money per square feet super area is unfortunately not governed by a single thumb rule and/or government law. It is after all a potential buyer's own judgment and analysis that might help in the end.

Follow these basic key steps to know the total actual carpet area of the shortlisted flat/ apartment/ villa/ duplex, whichever you are about to decide on purchasing for yourself:

Always carry along a measuring tape, a handy notebook, pen, calculator, etc. whenever you plan to visit a shortlisted property.
Insist the seller to grant you permission for taking the measurements, which in fact, is your right in all sense.
Make a rough floor plan of the dwelling so that you can fill-in the dimensions according to the orientation and layout of rooms, corridors, lobbies, verandahs (balconies), toilets, kitchen and other miscellaneous areas. A good idea, otherwise, would be to take the floor layout handout/ brochure from the seller of the property in which entire layout of the property is usually already marked (but which is without actual internal dimensions for obvious reasons from builders' perspective, you may understand well!)
Start taking internal wall face to wall face measurements in meters or feet & inches, and write them down in respective rooms and areas on the floor plan. A small tip here... Take help of an accomplice in holding the measurement tape at the other end as taking measurements alone would be a daunting task.
Remember one thing.. since the dimensions are required of all internal rooms, areas and spaces besides the well chalked out rooms too, it would be wiser to divide the open spaces into trigonometric shapes and write in the respective measurements.
ONE MORE IMPORTANT TIP.. the measurements are to be taken of internal units only, that is, within the outer periphery of the housing unit. Other common areas are thereafter factored and added to the basic Carpet area/ Floor area, which is then termed as the 'Super built-up area'.
After jotting down all the inside to inside (room wall face to wall face) measurements, its now time to do some simple calculations so as to know the actual Carpet Area. Use your arithmetic skills to calculate unit areas of the rooms and spaces, and finally add all of them.
The final addition of smaller areas would sum up to the TOTAL ACTUALLY USABLE AREA OF THE HOUSE, also termed as the ACTUALLY USABLE CARPET AREA OF THE HOUSE.

The total selling price of the dwelling divided by the total carpet area would give you an indication of the factor equaling 'money per square feet actual carpet area'.

On the other hand, the figure/ factor that the builders, realtors, property developers, etc. tell you usually is 'money per square feet of the super built-up area'. And, obviously, the later factor is always a lesser value than the former value since the money in the numerator remains a constant factor, while the figure against the super built-up area is higher in the denominator than the actual usable carpet area.

Thats why, you will henceforth understand why the builders, realtors, property developers, etc. always talk in terms of the super built-up area, and not in terms of the actually usable carpet area.

Share, send, forward, talk/ blog about the information presented in this post to your friends, relatives, colleagues and associates. The more the people are informed, the lesser the chances that they can be duped by the builders, realtors & property developers.

Would you be okay with photoshopped architectural images, you are bombarded with, on the social media? We are not!

2023-07-08T13:38:00.001+05:30

There was a time, when crisp pictures of building interiors, scyscrapers, landscapes, architectural 3D models, etc. used to bring gleam and feelings of 'wanting those' things

Internet, and interiors based portals are still brimful with such photoshopped, filtered & highly postprocessed images. Short clips & AI videos have only added to the agony

Think deep within for a second--

DO YOU ALSO FEEL BORED & UNENTHUSED SEEING SUCH PHOTOSHOPPED & FILTERED PICTURES & IMAGES ON YOUR TIMELINE??

What do you think should be changed to that narrative? :)

#bricksNmortar | #OpinionMatters | #Poll | #Discuss | #ReadersViews

Pepping up the Powerhouse of your Home -- The Kitchen

2023-07-02T17:47:00.002+05:30

A kitchen is not just the place for cooking and preparing meals. It is essentially the powerhouse of the entire house, which in turn, powers the 'cooked-up gastronomic energy' needs of the people staying in that house.

Gone are the days, when one of the naturally ventilated corner places of the house were selected as logical place for constructing a kitchen. With modern lifestyles, cheesy architectural designs, changing real estate patterns, high percentage of multistoreyed apartment systems as against independent houses, etc. etc., the kitchen spaces have taken the centre stage of sorts.

Kitchen are now also being widely accepted as open or semi-open modular kitchen spaces. People have started opting for open and door-less kitchens, which are located right into, or right next to, the living rooms. This is being preferred by home owners and young generation dwellers, who-- 1) have relatively smaller square footage of available carpet area; or 2) have been wanting to keep the people working in the kitchen not feeling secluded while cooking.

With changing times, and altering lifestyles, kitchens have literally become those parts of home where one spends a lot of his/her time, whether it be cooking; or videocalling and chatting with family and friends; or making TikTok / Reel / YouTube shorts; or simply sitting down on a side table for a cup of beverage. Kitchen spaces have become the hub of activity in modern households.

Having a kitchen space in one's home that feels elegant, chique, modern, user friendly, as well as comfortable to work at, has become a very important design element not just for the home owners, but also for the architects, space planners, real estate developers, interior designers, modular kitchen contractors, etc.

Settling for open or semi-open, modern and minimalistic kitchen is more popular with the young-at-heart and millennials, the typical families still opt for kitchens that are spacious, corner-tucked, and having some degree of warmth and character by way of choosing for finished surfaces that are a mix of granite or composite stones working slabs, modular compartments that are closed-shuttered with wooden, laminated plyboard, stainless steel, painted composite panels, etc.

It is also obviously important for one's kitchen to be intelligently functional and environment-friendly as well. Many a people, who though initially prefer the idea of using the real wood for making the kitchen utilities and storage elements, ultimately decide to use the modern kitchen doors made out of environment friendly engineered wood which not only maintain a plush wood effect but are also easier to clean besides being long lasting in terms of looks and age.

To sum it up-- To make it feel as workable, aesthetic, modern or rustic, homely and most of all-- 'a special place in the home', the best way of designing the kitchens, is to have meaningful dialogue amongst the home owners and architects and interior designers, whereby kitchen designs and finishes should be decided and then built.

One definitely would prefer spending their precious time cooking, cooking+watching television, socializing with family or via internet, etc. in a tranquil cozy warmth-oozing modern kitchen space, rather than in a mere set of four walls and few storages and a working platform. One must plan and design a kitchen space with all-heart, thereby pepping up the powerhouse of the home-- The Kitchen :)

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Related posts of similar interest:

Understanding guidelines for Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) for all construction practices and building sites

2023-06-26T01:03:00.003+05:30

Construction safety is one aspect, which like quality, is most of the times given minimal attention by the management as well as the personnel at any construction site.

Most of the times at construction sites, the policies are often well drafted on papers and reports, but seldom put in practice at work sites. The construction firms may give ‘quality’ a serious thought a few times, but the irony is that ‘safety’ is most of the times ignored very easily.

One of the main reasons behind this behavior of the managements and the personnel of the executing agencies could be attributed by the fact that they fear being penalized for neglecting quality in monetary terms, since quality is somewhat which can be very visible at least in the finished products.

On the other hand, safety aspects are put on the back burner easily assuming that nothing adverse can happen at work-site.

The other adverse factor supplementing this attitude is the fact that even in case of some mishaps taking place, it is the insurance companies, which make up for the loss up to the insured value. As such, the contracting firms almost lose nothing more than a meager penalty and/or compensation to the affected.

Understanding the Importance of Occupational Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)

It is a general misnomer among the industry personnel and managements that occupational safety practices are more or less designed to save the losses to a life, or a process set-up, or the likes. This certainly is a very narrow view of the overall requirement.

The safety and the safety management as a whole must include not only an accident and the resulting injury or loss of limbs/life/etc., but also the socio-economic effects of such instances, which by any means have larger impact to all concerned.

In this context, it must be imperative to adopt a holistic approach towards any and all practical factors that may affect the good health as well as the well being of the work force, establishments, and other material assets.

Important Measures To Implement

With the continual rising awareness and requisites put in place by the regulatory bodies worldwide, there has been an endeavor to follow safety guidelines by some of the Managements, Construction firms, Project Owners and the workforce alike.

A few of the important measures that are now the requisites for projects, and which are also becoming a part of the signed Contracts are:

Imparting safety awareness to the workforce of all levels, be it the managers or the ordinary labour
Promotion of an active safety culture on site
Ensuring the provision of adequate time and content with regard to health and safety
Ensuring that hazard identification and risk assessment are carried out throughout the various stages of the project
Ensuring that first aid and the health & safety monitoring procedures are developed and maintained by quality staffs on a continual basis at work places
Ensuring the consideration of health and safety issues within the preparation of design and carrying out of the works on site
Ensuring that staffs at all levels are aware of their responsibilities for health and safety, and who advise and assist others in executing of such responsibilities
Ensuring that all those working on site have taken part in site safety induction drills
Ensure that emergency procedures are developed, are in place, and are understood by all parties
Ensuring that a positive health and safety culture is promoted at all areas of the workplace
Ensuring that accidents/incidents are adequately investigated and recorded so as not to get repeated
Conduct frequent health and safety inspections and safety management audits, and following up on actions framed thereafter

Practicing Safety: A Must For All

Observing and practicing safety policies and measures can save numerous lives and enormous amounts of capital that go wasted mostly due to negligence and carelessness.

Safety measures should not be seen as mere formalities, but an integral part of any and every work routine.

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Few weblinks for additional perusal and reference:

1) International Labour Standards on Occupational Safety and Health - (Link-1 from ILO website)

2) Occupational Health & Safety - Overview of Deliverables - (Link-2 from United Nations website)

Haryana's DTCP in process of updating the guidelines on Structural Safety of Buildings & Structures

2022-04-21T18:53:00.004+05:30

After the unfortunate recent incident of building collapse in Gurugram (Gurgaon) on February 10, 2022 in which couple of precious lives were lost, Haryana's Directorate of Town & Country Planning (DTCP) has put forth Draft version of Guidelines on Structural Safety of Buildings in Haryana.

The unfortunate incident had witnessed caving-in of part of the multi-storeyed residential complex Chintels Paradiso located in Sector-109 in Haryana's Gurugram. The main allegation during the interim fact-finding exercise has been noted as irregularities in the structural design of the building besides shoddy construction practices and approving checks and balances by principle architect(s) and structural consultant(s).

Typically in most of the states of India, the regulatory and approving authorities issue an Occupancy Certificate (OC) to the promoters of a construction project towards the end of the project. By this time, all other statutory approvals, permissions, construction, utility connections, structural/architectural checks and balances, etc. must ideally stand completed in all means.

The regulatory and approving authorities then appoint a single or multi member inspection team, who carry out a site inspection along with cursorily checking the typical approving paperwork. The Occupancy Certificate (OC) is thereafter issued to the builder/promoter, who thereafter can legally ask their customers to take the physical possession of the constructed units (apartments/ flats/ commercial/ semi-commercial dwellings, etc.)

DTCP has invited comments and suggestions from public and professional bodies by April 28, 2022 whereafter the guidelines shall be notified as compulsory rules in the State of Haryana.

Download the 'Structural Safety Guidelines' document from here:
https://tcpharyana.gov.in/public_notice/StructuralSafetyGuidelines15042022.pdf

The document runs into 10 pages of suggested guidelines, encompassing the following 8 points of consideration:

Background (Need of seeking updation to existing procedure)
Existing procedure
Identification of Gaps in existing procedure and remedial measures
Empanelment of Structural Engineer, Proof Consultant, Supervising Engineer and Geo Technical Engineer
Third party inspection during Construction
Action against complaints on quality of construction
Post construction Structural Audit
Alteration in building by allottees after Occupation Certificate

Hopefully, the updated "Structural Safety Guidelines" shall bridge the gaps of the existing approving process, which shall bring the much awaited sense of relief to the end-users of the constructed projects, who put in their hard earned life savings for owning a piece of residential dwelling and/or a commercial unit.

They shall, to a certain extent, have peace of mind that the regulatory authorities are making the builders and real estate projects' promoters to take more onus towards adhering to the rules, and thereby, the quality and soundness of the constructed projects.

Compiled by:
Team #bricksNmortar

An IIT-Bombay curated App to measure the 'bumpiness index' of the Indian Roads

2020-12-04T20:18:00.001+05:30

The referred recent post from Ministry of Education of India cites the news report of TOI elaborating that an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) team of researchers have developed a mobile application that shall gauge and measure the "bumpiness index" of a particular road (in parts of Mumbai for the moment).

It shall alert the App users about the probability of the expected bumpiness and the severity of the dis-maintenance or potholedness, by way of which the user may choose to opt a different path & road network.

One may ponder as what then makes this IIT-Bombay App different from what the already in use Navigation Maps/Apps/Tools of Google, Apple, Here, etc. are offering?!!

Not much, actually. But, this IIT-B App endeavours to provide that extra-mile end-user utility information layered over the existing navigational tools that are already there in the e-markets.

This App under development envisages to utilise the cloud-sourced and cloud-shared road-specific information on designated road stretches, and put it to use after detailed prognosis and algorithm-driven user interface.

Team #bricksNmortar shall try to establish a contact with the developers & researchers of this new application, and would try to bring more information on board.

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Source URL:

https://www.facebook.com/816797071666133/posts/3849817165030760/?sfnsn=wiwspmo

Wall lights versus Ceiling or Floor lights-- What is your choice?

2020-12-03T17:14:00.001+05:30

While the ultra-urban & modern school of architecture abhors the provision of wall lights on the wall surfaces, a lot many households still prefer to have wall light provisioning at around 7.5 to 8 feet height with respect to the finished floor level.

If you were to design/ construct/ finish a place, what all standards or rules of fixing the wall lights you shall follow?

Example:

a) What height from finished floor level?

b) Will the placement be in context to the door frames' height, or irrespective of it?

c) Would you centre the wall point with respect to the overall dimension of the room's side, or would like to provide two equidistant ones?

d) Would you provision wall points on all opposite wall surface of all the rooms (any two surfaces in a given room, that is)?

e) .....

f) .....

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD TO THE LIST FURTHERMORE? Post in comments section, if you would like to 👍

Wikipedia | A viewpoint on its current appeal for monetary help to Indian diaspora

2020-08-01T19:49:00.001+05:30

Since the advent of popular internet access and surfing in India in late 1990s and early 2000, Wikipedia(dot)org has been like a vast encyclopedia to many of us apart from the ubiquitous Google Search Engine.

Though, technically, Google was founded in 1998 and Wikipedia was founded in 2001, the respective outreach and popularity of both the entities incrementally skyrocketed almost hand in hand in the general period of year 2000 to 2005, in case of Indian end users at least.

Wikipedia has remained one of the most popular 'go-to places on the web search pages' alike Google SearchEngine results. In fact, for umpteen search strings on Google Search, Wikipedia's entry is either the primary/highlighted one, or the top search result.

In recent times when someone is accessing Wikipedia for some topic or search result in India, an appeal to donate is flashing on the very first fold of the Page.

The appeal to donate used to flash for some point of time last year and few previous years too, but those appeals were "soft appeals for donation" unlike the current one, which is like a "real cryout for help towards survival (of the entity & its functioning)".

The wordings of the appeal sound like genuinely asking for monetary help. Any functioning entity, no matter if its a 'not-for-profit' or charity kinds, needs monetary support for its existence, functioning and day to day being there for use by its clientele. "No money, No existence" is the basic rule of any business model of an entity.

We, at #bricksNmortar, have been using the platform now & then to source information and get updated about know-hows. We have donated. How about you.. Will you??

But, to discuss the topic a bit more, our donation shall get accounted for as "another small drop in the ocean-- which is relatively small, but shall count in the overall picture. But, is it enough for a giant like Wikipedia to survive, and function for long?

Lets do a little number crunching based on certain wild guesses and assumptions...

Say, 1.35 crore (that is, 13.5 million people out of the total population of about 135 crore, that is, 1350 million people in India; which is like 1% of the total Indian populace) netizens in India actually donates an average of INR (₹) 150 per person.

So, average ₹150 per netizen x 13.5 million netizens = ₹202.5 crores (which is, roughly, US$27 million)

Point is-- Is US Twenty Seven million dollars (US$27 million) a big enough amount that can help sustain a bigwig like Wikipedia to manage its survival for long?? Although, this notionally estimated amount shall be a part of fundraising from other sources as well, but still, is it big enough corpus for an entity to run, especially when the entity is (almost) advertisement-free?

Well, we don't know the answer.

May be, the corporate sponsorships/patronage from India, and from other sources around the world, shall all add up to a larger corpus, that shall help Wikipedia stay alive, and running.

But, in case the situation is really grim on finanial turf, the world might witness this source of free & abundate information & knowledgebase breathe its last in near future.

Fingers shall stay crossed, with a prayer in our hearts, that Wikipedia survives. Moreover, then only it shall be able to improve many of its pages from the so-called leftist narrative hijacking too!

Maintaining your home and surroundings in the times of Covid19 lockdown

2020-04-10T19:24:00.001+05:30

In these unfortunate times of home quarantine and prolonged lockdowns due to the unfortunate ongoing corona virus pandemic worldwidetechnically termed as #Covid2019 or simply as #Covid19the practical problem of maintaining one's home and surrounding areas become a big challenge apart from saving oneself from getting infected from the dangerous virus.

Image source: Open web (Unknown original creator)

Apart from restricted personnel movement, the basic services and amenities have also got affected in many ways.

Although professional and domestic maintenance services have varied a lot in terms of availability, cost, liability, etc. depending on which part of the world you are putting up, yet the common denominator worldwide has been the factor that everybody do need a helping hand once a while towards home maintenance and home improvement jobs.

And, we are not talking about the new constructions here. The common households require assistance from the gentry of the likes of plumbers, electricians, gardeners, painters, upholsters, home cleaners, audio-visual equipment up keepers, electronic gadget technicians, etc. etc. etc. The list would simply go on and on and on.

So, in the current lockdown conditions, what can homeowners and residents do if they require something to get mend which has gone wrong or berserk at their respective homes? In such situations, organized society type colonies and gated communities are still better as most of such establishments have had their own service and maintenance staffs, who are still available at the beck and call. The only problem to them is that replacement and add-on material is not easily available from the stores due to shutdowns and non-supply issues.

But, there is large proportion of common residents who used to rely upon their local support system of technicians for sundry works. And, now when things have come to almost a standstill, with people instructed/ asked to remain indoors to negate community infection of the virus, getting broken or gone-bad utilities back to work has become a herculean task in its own.

A few of common suggestion and best practices to tide over these testing times of Covid19 are listed hereunder as general guidelines and for safer implementation:

It would be wise for households to keep a few checks that their utilities and fixtures DO NOT GO BAD as far as possible during these difficult times.
As far as possible, maintain your households with utmost care that things remain functional on their own.
Look out for your inventory of replacements and repair stuff, and keep them in ready-to-utilize locations. Things like spare light fixtures, sanitary fixtures, tools and tackles, stepping ladders, safety kit (PPE stuff), etc. must be located well in time, and kept at a location which is easy to fathom at time of need.
Try putting on just one or max two lighting fixtures in any one area or room so that chances of things going bad are less; and that even if one circuit goes bad, another is still functional.
Do not allow members of the house, especially the kids, to mishandle utilities (sanitary fixtures, electrical switches and sockets, gadgetry, tools, etc., which may help negating chances of their going bad, as far as possible.
Search for a list of service providers that the local government or authority might have put up in place in times of emergency. Some of these services may be tagged under essential services as well.

In case you come up with more of such important dos and don'ts for locked down times, share them by way of email or comments.

Lets all try to stay indoors, and stay safe for everyone.

As the age old adage goes:

This (difficult time) too shall pass! Take care. Stay well. Stay prepared.

What is the ideal height of the Kitchen Counter in modern modular Kitchens?

2020-04-05T00:00:00.000+05:30

Query we answered on our Quora string---

What is the (ideal) finished height of kitchen platform in India for modular kitchen?

BricksnMortar Edesk Answered---

We’ll try answering this query the most simple way so that a commoner can also understand.

Foremost, the very basic fundamental--- Kitchen design has not much to do whether it is for Indian use, or European use, etc etc. The essential guiding factors being:

Typical Granite Counter Top Over Modular Kitchen Cabinetry

Size of the kitchen (length, width, height, geometry)
Average height of the households in the region where the kitchen is being designed (and Indian women average out at around 5 feet 2 inches)
Cooking practices (We are not pointing to style of cooking. What we mean is whether the gas burner is low height, mid height or flattish like hot plates, or even pre-built cooking ranges)

Now, coming back to the question…
If a 3 to 4 inch concrete slab is preferred by the households, over which a granite stone finish is to be put, the top of the slab goes onto become about 34 inches (equivalent to 864mm) measured from the top of the kitchen’s finished floor.

With about 1 inch concrete or tiled base provided underneath for the modular cabinetry to be placed upon, the remaining effective height for the modular cabinetry remains close to 30 inches (equivalent to 762mm).

Typical Modular Kitchen Concept Layout (Source: JCT-Renovations.com)

This brings about the crux... The modular cabinetry supplier (or carpenter) has 30 inches of height to plan the various baskets and drawers under the kitchen counter.

One last point—
There is another modern day practice of some builders and architects who shall tell the house owners there is no need of providing a concrete slab for the counter; and that the granite stone slab can be put and fixed directly above the modular cabinetry. This practice, though not that conventionally rigid, is also alright. This provides two sub-aspects— Case-1, either an additional height of 3 to 4 inches gets available for the modular cabinet, Or Case-2, the final height of the stone counter top may be reduced to about 32 inches, which shall be more practical to people with relative short height.

Modular Kitchen - Indicative Arrangement of UnderCounter Drawer Units (Source: blokdesigns.co.uk)

To conclude this post, we would like to reiterate the basic purpose of designing— the kitchen slab and the kitchen modular cabinetry— is ERGONOMIC WORKING MEANS, which simply put is nothing else but meaningful and comfortable infrastructure for the END USER.

Should someone have similar more queries, or doubts, or seek suggestions, please feel free to ask us :-)

Poll on #Covid19India crisis for construction sector workers (March 2020)

2020-03-27T15:00:00.002+05:30

Team BricksnMortar seeks a poll/survey on #Covid19India crisis to assist the government and authorities in knowing what is the best way to help the affected low income workers and labourers across the nation. Please help to understand your learned viewpoint. Thanks!

It is widely felt the #construction workers (labour) may not get their dues under govt announced contingent #welfare scheme in the current lockdown situation.

What do you think is the best alternative to mitigate their hardships? #bricksNmortar
— team@bricks-n-mortar (@bricksNmortar) March 26, 2020

One million pageviews milestone for bricksNmortar :)

2020-03-14T23:29:00.001+05:30

A quick short post to share with our patrons and viewers...

Your favorite home & interior blog website #bricksNmortar has earned the milestone of achieving 1 million pageviews

Here's a thumbs up to everyone who is connected to us

Source: Google Stats

Hope our posts and services keep our viewers and patrons well informed and updated. Thankyou everyone for making this possible

[Tips-n-Bits]: Remodeling fixing of wash basins (Common dos & don'ts)

2019-03-08T19:02:00.001+05:30

We had discussed in an earlier post how people even in very ordinary households in today's world are preferring to have wash basins in their utility areas instead of the age-old practice of washing hands in open.

Even-more so, the usual means of fixing the wash basins was to fix them upon two numbers of simple angle iron rods is not the preferred fixing method adopted now.

The urban as well as semi-urban households comprising the modern homes, offices, restaurants, commercial places, etc., prefer to have the wash basins finished and very visible on the outer surface, thereby upping the interiors quotient.

All of you would already be knowing that Wash Basins are made in different design (model), materials and size according to the application and requirement.

This post brings to you one current project that Team BRICKS-n-MORTAR is remodeling (renovating) out of an otherwise old-style office building with erstwhile sanitaryware and finishes.

Have a look at the pictures of the on-going project, and suggest us if the look and feel of the still-being-finished washrooms is looking better or not. (Please do note that the budget for this renovation project is very very tight, and therefore, the selection of material and the finishing items is done keeping well in mind that not much is available for spending)

We would love to hear (read) your feedback and suggestions.

Post your comments and let us know :)

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Note: BRICKS-n-MORTAR provides interior design and allied modeling/ remodeling related services in Delhi-NCR. Feel free to ask should you need any commercial and/or non-commercial query.

GoGreen | Repairing Bituminous Roads and Potholes Using Waste & Recycled Thermoplastics

2019-03-05T19:37:00.003+05:30

A vast set of world population living in developing and under-developed countries would need no introduction to the ill-upkeep and dilapidated condition of the infrastructural roads around their respective vicinity. The vicinity could be in a rural setup, or perhaps very well in the urban setup as well unfortunately. The prime reason for such bad condition of the roads is lack of funds necessary for the upkeep of the roads and other paved areas (..and lack of funds can be attributed to multitudinous reasons world over-- a domain where we would not fathom deliberately.. LoL!)

Since quite sometime now, effective and scientific use of cheaper thermoplastics is letting the municipalities and government/ semi-government bodies to reduce their bills in the upkeep of the infrastructural setup.

Such process include use of the waste products like plastic carry bags, plastic utensils, PET bottles, and the likes that are collected from garbage dumps and junk yards accumulating disposed off things.

Plastics-- which typically are polymers of high molecular mass in the form of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic amorphous solids -- have a generic tendency to melt and wrap around things when subjected to high but controlled heating conditions. Calibrated quantum of segregated plastic waste is mixed to requisite amounts of bitumen and stone aggregates in a heating chamber, whereby the plastics melt to form an oily coat over the aggregate and the mixture is laid on the road surface somewhat like a normal tar (bituminous) road.

[Pic source(s): Various, from open web-- for quick reference purpose of our readers only]

Worldover, the authorities have been promoting the use of plastic waste to construct asphalt roads to reduce cost of road construction and their upkeep as well as to mitigate the ever increasing nuisance value of discarded plastic waste.

Based upon the data available with The Indian Center for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE) as well as Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), about 1 ton of plastic (equivalent to about 1 million plastic carry bags of 1 to 2 square feet plan area each) is utilized for laying of approximately 3,750 square meter of road surface, i.e., 1 kilometer of road surface having an average width of 3.75 meter, which makes a single way single carriage road. This results in a saving of highly costing about 1 ton of asphaltic bitumen.

The few detrimental effects of using plastic waste, viz., possible leaching, toxicity, etc. may well be mitigated using proper technology and appropriate segregation of waste at source.

To conclude, use of waste plastics for pavement making and their repairs is one of the best methods for cost-effective construction as well as easy disposal of the nuisance waste plastics.

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Note: In case any of our Readers has a real-life experience of utilizing plastic waste in such road making/repairing process, may share their story with us, and we shall be happy to share it with all.

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Related reference stuff from the web:

# The Use of Plastics Waste in the Construction of ASPHALT ROAD (YouTube Video)

Why Running to a Washroom is the Best Way to Confirm if an Earthquake is Happening or Not?

2017-07-10T16:22:00.002+05:30

The query, one Mr. James Phiray from Indonesian capital city sent to us yesterday, was:

QUERY:

"Normally when an earthquake strikes during the day time and in relatively higher intensity than 4 on Richter scale, and we get to know about it having felt its tremors, we get out of our building and go out in open spaces. However, if the intensity is not too much and the buildings are not shaking too much, how to be doubly sure (especially during night time) that an earthquake has really struck?"

(Query's sentence structuring has been changed/ updated a bit with due permission from James to make it look a bit formal and better structured in English)
BnM's REPLY:

At times, certain queries that we receive from our readers and visitors alike, make us ponder and look for an apt answer that is more of practical humdrum based rather than just a theoretical rhetoric.

As we discussed the topic amongst us-- the Team Bricksnmortar -- we could fathom that the best and easiest way to ensure visually whether an earthquake has really struck or not IS TO HEAD TO THE WASHROOM.

Seriously, no kidding on that!

In normal circumstances, one can look at the lighting fixtures hung onto the ceiling or walls; or watch the free hanging furnishings like curtains, tall standing furniture, etc. to catch the visual signs of shaking objects. However still, such shaking may though be very gentle, and could be missed by the naked eyes. In such an instance, it would always be wise to run to the washroom and watch the water surface either in some open vessel (if the vessel is having water), or furtherstill, look into the water seal (standing water in the syphon) of the Water Closet (WC).

The logic behind to the washroom to cross check whether the earth is shaking or not is that standing water in normal situation remains flat (still). However, if there is an earthquake happening, the water closet (WC) mounted either onto the wall or on the floor, would shake, and thereby the water seal visible in its syphon would also be shaking, giving one enough indication if the earth is shaking gently or enough to run down the stairs and go to some open space for safety.

Makes sense, isn't it :-)