The results of the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) last 2019 declared that two in every three families in the Philippines owned both the house and lot they occupied. The same study revealed that the majority of the Filipino houses built had roofs and outer walls made of strong construction materials such as galvanized iron or aluminum, tile, concrete, and brick stone. It is evident that a vast majority of Filipinos give much thought in having their own houses and pay significant attention as well with the construction materials used to build them.
The importance for a family to have a shelter that they can call theirs plays a big part in claiming independence. For a starting family, however, there is this factor that plays a key role in determining the type of house that can be built – BUDGET. Not only does it affect the design to be applied, type of building, materials to be used, but more so answer the question of being able to build a house at all. It is then enlightening to know that there are indeed houses that were built not with the most expensive materials but are equally sustainable and aesthetically competitive as those made of high-cost materials.
Will budget constraints hinder one from building a dream house? No. Be smart in choosing your house construction materials and you will have a home you can be proud of without breaking the bank.
Below are some examples of cost-effective building materials you can choose from:
- Prefabricated panels. Apart from saving on construction time, labor, and cost, using prefabricated materials minimizes the carbon footprints normally left by the housing sector from the use of steel and concrete. Using pre-made materials reduces the transport time and cost from the construction site as well. Prefabricated panel designs nowadays are flexible enough to fit into customized house designs, so the final look will not look it came from mass-produced materials at all.
- Concrete sheets. Working the same as prefabricated panels, concrete sheets are made in advance thus minimizing labor and time costs. Its advantages include durability, sound suppression, insulation, and being weather and fireproof.
- Stone cladding. Cladding works like a veneer applied externally. Being lighter than the standard stone exterior, using them as house construction material gives extra savings on labor and resources.
- Salvaged materials. Reclaimed timber and used brick are just some of the materials that can be recycled without losing visual quality. Both house construction materials have become trendy because of their cost-effectivity, contemporary appeal, and environmental benefits.
- Shipping containers. Along with the trend of building tiny houses came along the option for using shipping containers. These are not limited to building for a tiny space though as they can be combined to create more space. Just be cautious about the insulation, shipping, and pre-existing dents associated with these materials, and you will reap its environmental and cost-effective advantages.
Having one’s own home is comfort on its own but building it smartly will make it more uplifting. Keep in mind that house construction materials need not be the most expensive in the market if you are looking at building a high-quality home. You have a lot of options to choose from to make the most out of your budget.
Life Today 