It was my long and cherished dream to build a house as per my own design, specifications, layout and furnishing. We moved into our Home before Diwali 2012. I decided to share my experience with friends who may find it useful.
Making it Green: Some of the measures you must incorporate in your building, to make it environmental friendly, are discussed below:
(a) ater Harvesting is mandatory in Haryana, in larger size plots. In addition, you may also like to go in for Grey-water Harvesting (for bath water treatment), but at a smaller scale. It is very difficult to find experts for this.
(b) olar Gysers are again mandatory in 500 square yards and above plots, in Haryana. Unfortunately, most suppliers are conducting this business for just taking care of the mandatory clause and not to provide effective service. You need a certification for this, to get your (House) Completion Certificate. The back up service or advice is lacking in most cases.
(c) he Solar Geyser supplier does not deal with Solar lights - perhaps because it is not mandatory. When you go for Solar lighting, they ask you how many buildings/blocks you have; and if the answer is only a house, most of them do not want to deal with you. There is no agency that can help you or direct you to a genuine supplier.
(d) ater-softening equipment may be installed in case the supply of water is hard. Put this just before your Overhead Tank. It requires a change of the charcoal every 5 to 6 months. A Pressure Pump, where required, is put at the outlet of the Tank. It gets activated every time the pressure in the pipeline goes down, and this happens when you open any of the taps/water outlets. Think seriously on whether you really want this Pump.
Atrium: An open space in the house was always been a part of the Indian household. By having an Atrium, you don’t lose expensive space but gain by having bright light inside the house at all times - which bring in more positive energy and saves on your electricity bill.
Grills and Railings: Grills on your boundary walls should be such that they restrict entry from the outside. An angular outside slope is advisable to a straight grill. Use of Concertina Coils (round wire mesh) is becoming very common, but it is seldom employed correctly. Placing it on a Y-shaped angle, above straight barbed wires, is common, but with this anybody can enter the premises by cutting one wire from underneath the coils. The Army uses the Concertina Coils to broaden the base or width. So use it on the side of the wall, or set up a barbed wire fence, so that no one can jump across it. Railings can be of concrete, with Mild Steel strips on top (as a cheaper option) or of Stainless Steel (SS) with Glass (which is expensive). Be careful about the quality of the SS; it comes in different varieties and you can have it tested for its purity. The height of the railing should be at least a meter, for safety reasons. The gap between the horizontal strands should not be more than 6 to 8 inches, so that a small child cannot pass through it. Partition walls inside the house make it look smaller and restrict light, and air circulation. Use of glass, where possible, without compromising on your privacy, can be exhilarating. This can be safely used for the Study, Kitchen, Atrium and lounge walls. The resultant effect is the ‘feel’ of large space, and of course better visual contact.
Interiors: Good interiors do not necessarily mean more expense. First make a list of what you already have and where you believe you can fit those items aesthetically. Old sofas and furniture items can be refurbished and polished. Remember, the quality of wood used in your old furniture may be far better than what you see in the market today. Most modern furniture items use good polish or veneer to hide the poor quality of wood. Your bedside tables can be made to look broader by putting a glass or stone top of a bigger size. The Dining Table can be made to look modern with a thick glass top. A nice marble top on your sideboard can enhance its looks. An old lampshade can be given a new look by replacing its cloth. Existing curtains can be turned into blinds.
False Ceiling: It is very much fashionable to have a false ceiling with concealed lighting - and it looks good too. However, if you don’t have a very high ceiling, then a false ceiling will make it look even lower, and can interfere with your other fitments – like wall lights or fans (low fans can be dangerous). The overall size of the room also gets affected.
Paint & Polish: Leave your final coat of paint for the last, once all the other workers have left, leaving behind their prints on all your walls! After the plastering, the walls are made smooth with a coat of putty and all unevenness is removed - before the final paint is applied. Any POP work has to be completed before the base paint is put. Remember, POP has a tendency to absorb moisture and will come off or fall off when moist. So, avoid it in toilets and such areas.
Security Systems: A lot of home security gadgets are in the market these days. The Video-phone system helps in access control. It has a call bell, camera and video display screen, in sizes ranging from 3 inches to 7 inches. You can have the Bell at your entrance or at the outside gate, or at both places. When visitors ring the Bell, you can see them and speak to them. In case you have incorporated an electronic lock to your gate or front door, it can be opened – remotely - through a switch provided on to the Video panel. The entire system, for a floor, costs at least Rs 15000. A CCTV comes in a set, comprising the camera, wires, display screen (or your computer screen), a DVR for recording and the control panel. While buying the system, first decide the camera range you require, whether you want a daylight camera or a day & night one, any requirement of recording, and where you want to place the control panel and the display screen. A dedicated 24 hours power back up may also be required. The entire System can cost at least Rs 25000 (excluding the DVR). A lot of cheap Cameras and accessories from China are available in the market. Choose a Vendor who will stand guarantee and provide good back up service .
Finally, before you move into your house or flat, check all electric plugs and switches, water faucets and WCs; let the water run for some time, and check for any leakages/blockages. Dust can create problems with your Kitchen sliding racks and drawers, so have them cleaned before you start using them.
Now that you have a Home, sit back, relax and enjoy!
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