1. Let’s talk about Conventional / Traditional Construction…
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2. Conventional / Traditional Construction
Bricks and mortar is a phrase that readily springs to mind when it comes to house building - and with it connotations of a solid, secure structure. From the wooden building blocks and Lego of childhood to talk of 'investing in bricks and mortar', or 'the building blocks of life', there's something very safe and familiar about bricks.
A masonry build is something that lasts, too - you only have to walk down a street in any city to see that. In fact, brick-and-block construction is the cornerstone of the self-build market, with around 70 per cent of self-builders opting for this method.
You only have to look at the Egyptian pyramids or Greek temples still standing to realize the permanence and enduring beauty of masonry construction. Building with concrete is not new—this construction method has been used for residential construction throughout the world, for centuries because of its strength and durability.

3. The Conventional Construction Process
Traditional masonry construction refers to houses built in block and brick. Although brick is used countrywide as an outer skin or 'facing material', it is often substituted with local quarried stone or a reconstituted replica.
Despite the use of the term 'traditional', masonry construction has incorporated many modern developments and has come a long way since the days of solid stone walls. Improvements in technical design, materials and accessory products have enhanced the performance of these structures significantly in terms of structural integrity, thermal efficiency and moisture protection. Progress has led to developments such as thin joint systems with Aircrete blocks.
"Concrete masonry construction offers many advantages in terms of termite resistance, thermal mass, sound attenuation, and fire resistance."
The Conventional Construction Process
Following excavation and installation of foundations, bricklayers erect cavity walls that consist of an inner and outer skin.
The inner skin is the main structural element, which supports internal floors and the roof structure. It is constructed using concrete blocks laid on beds of sand and cement mortar.
The outer skin is the first line of protection against the elements and provides the aesthetic element to the structure. It is constructed using brick, stone or block work, which can take a number of finishes. The two skins are connected by steel wall ties and separated by a cavity that is partially or fully filled with insulation.

4. The Conventional Construction Process Contd…
Internal floors can be constructed using timber joists, composite timber I beams, or one of the precast concrete systems available. The roof is usually traditional cut timber or prefabricated truss construction.
Once the roof is completed and the windows and doors are fitted, the building is watertight the internal trades can get underway. The internal face of the block work can take a range of finishes including 'dot and dab' plasterboard and wet plaster.
Various details are required around openings and other parts of the structure in order to maintain structural integrity and to prevent water penetration and heat loss.
We'll have a look at masonry construction and the advantages and disadvantages of choosing it as the method of construction for your dwelling.

5. What is brick-and-block in Conventional Construction
Brick-and-block involves working entirely on site - unlike build techniques such as timber-frame. The build starts with concrete foundations and finishes with the roof. Walls consist of a block-built inner skin, a cavity, and a brick-built outer skin. The two skins are held together with wall ties to add strength, while the cavity is filled with insulation. Internal load-bearing walls are built in block. All walls are built to first-floor level at which point timber floor joists or pre-cast concrete floors are added before the build is completed to roof height. Once, watertight, internal block walls are finished using board or wet plaster.

6. Conventional Construction – Advantages
It is a flexible system in both design and construction.
Depending on your house design and the materials specified, masonry construction can be one of the most cost effective of all the build methods.
As the most common form of house construction, there are plenty of tradesmen and specialist knowledge available to complete your project.
A proven track record means it is accepted and understood from designers and builders to lenders, insurers & warranty providers.
Materials are readily available from local builders merchants.
Materials are often manufactured and sourced locally (Traditional Housing Bureau).
Easy to modify or extend.
Good levels of sound insulation are achieved, which can be improved by using precast concrete floors.
Masonry provides good fire protection.
Masonry materials are strong, durable and long lasting, spreading their impact (Traditional Housing Bureau).

7. Conventional Construction – Advantages Contd…
Good thermal performance. Masonry materials have a high thermal mass, which is their ability to absorb and store heat. In the summer this keeps the building cool and in the winter the heat stored during the day is slowly released back into the house at night leading to a more constant, comfortable environment. This effect is improved if plaster is applied directly to blockwork in lieu of dot and dab plasterboard.
When the building has reached the end of its useful lifespan, bricks and blocks are 100% recyclable (Traditional Housing Bureau).
Resistance to hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather-related phenomena since the entire structure is tied together from the footings to the roof assembly with steel reinforcement, achieving a a natural strength of 400 pounds per running foot compared to just 80 pounds for wood framing

8. Conventional Construction Disadvantages
On-site construction means that progress and your program of work can be affected by adverse weather conditions.
Materials need to be stored on site and protected from the weather before they are incorporated into the building structure.
New work needs to be protected from the elements.
On site construction is labour intensive.

9. Quality Issues in Conventional Methods & Materials
Conventional designs that compromise beams, columns, brick/block infills & plastering have inherent inefficiencies during construction. Brick/block wall infills are labour- intensive & cement-sand plastering, a wet process, is often messy & requires more preparatory work. There are also constraints in concealing & routing M&E services. Apart from using more intensive manpower & longer construction duration, there are some inherent difficulties in achieving high quality. Please find given below, information on the challenges posed by such conventional design & materials.
Consequences in choice if internal finishes - Choice of methods & material affect workmanship quality

10. Traditional formwork system: More joints & poor surface finish
Traditional formwork system has more connections & joints & it requires more manpower to erect, maintain & dismantle. During erection, close monitoring & supervision is needed to achieve the desired workmanship quality of the finished concrete. If the formwork is not erected properly, the end product would not be satisfactory. Often this means another layer of thick plaster is required to cover the uneven concrete surface.
Traditional formwork system: More housekeeping.
Poor concrete surfaces: Thicker plaster is required

11. Restricted M & E services run
Many services in a building e.g. electrical, ACMV & sanitary plumbing, etc are concealed under slabs or covered by false ceiling. If there are too many beams, especially non-shallow beams, it may be difficult to locate such services under floor slabs. This may restrict the height of false ceilings or the floor storey height may need to be increased to accommodate such services.
More columns & beams: Limit M&E services run Internal beams restrict height of false ceiling

12. More turns & corners
The width of RC column may be different from the width of the brick wall laid against it, especially in internal partitions, e.g. a 200mm wide column & 100mm thick brick wall. In such situations, an offset of 100mm will appear wherever an RC column adjoins brickwork resulting in a non-flush surface with many corners & returns. There will be greater difficulty in completing the architectural finishing works like plastering, skirting, architraves, etc.
The offset of RC & brickwork creates more turns & corners More precise work required for turns & corners

13. Additional treatment to joint between two different materials
At the joint interface between different materials e.g. RC & brickwork, special treatment like metal lathing is required to ensure there is proper bond and to prevent cracking of plaster wall at the joint. The additional number of joints increase the time and cost of construction.
Providing metal lath on each RC & brick joint
Consequences in choice of external finishes
Brick and RC Joints need additional treatment Bulged RC surface requires thick plaster
Scaffolding: More housekeeping & longer construction period Thick plaster: Possible waviness

14. Common issues in conventional methods
Scaffolding tieback holes
To carry out plastering, scaffolding is necessary. The tie back holes used for securing scaffolding can be patched and re-painted only after the scaffold is dismantled. This is to be carried out via gondolas. Due to the different stages of operation, patchiness or uneven finishing on the surface is inevitable on the external wall surfaces.
Scaffolding tie-back holes on façade plastering
Possible cracks & hollow plastering
Depending on the background substrate, plastering operations are usually 2 or 3 coats work & may compromise a spatter-dash, base or scratch coat & final skim-coat. Proper curing is also required between coats. This affects the overall progress. Besides, if the plaster thickness exceeds the allowable thickness, there is possibility of defects like cracks & hollowness appearing on the surface due to shrinkage of mortar.
Surface cracks & hollowness appear when plaster is too thick

15. More housekeeping is required for scaffolding & wet trades.
Additional waterproofing treatment on joints
For external surface at RC & brick joints, besides laying metal lath, a layer of waterproofing treatment is required to ensure water tightness. Failure to execute these measures properly may result in defects such as cracks & seepages. All these measures are needed to ensure quality in construction & will add to construction time & cost.
External joints require waterproofing treatment Potential water seepage if joints are not treated properly
Housekeeping & longer construction period
Scaffolding & wet trades like brickwork & plastering evidently require more housekeeping effort. More time is required to erect & dismantle scaffolding. This may hinder other concurrent activities & lead to longer construction period.
More housekeeping is required for scaffolding & wet trades.
Although adopting conventional methods and materials may lead to lower construction costs in some cases, the majority of wet trades pose inherent difficulties in achieving quality construction compared to buildable dry construction. In its place, good buildable design systems that facilitate ease of construction, depend less on-site labour, improve productivity & quality should be considered.

16. Conventional Eco-Friendly Material
Bamboo, Bamboo Based Particle Board & Ply Board, Bamboo Matting.
Bricks Sun dried.
Precast cement concrete blocks, lintels, slab. Structural & non-structural modular elements.
Calcined Phospho Gypsum Wall Panels
Calcium silicate boards & tiles.
Cellular Light Weight Concrete Blocks.
Cement Paint
Clay roofing tiles
Water, polyurethane & acrylic based chemical admixtures for corrosion removal, rust prevention, water proofing
Epoxy Resin System, Flooring, sealants, adhesives & admixtures
Ferro-cement boards for door & window shutters
Ferro-cement Roofing Channels
Fly-ash Sand Lime Bricks & Paver Blocks
Gypsum Board, Tiles, Plaster Blocks, Gypsum plaster fibre, jute / sisal & glass fibre composites
Laminated Wood Plastic Components
Marble Concrete Roofing Tiles
MDF Boards & Mouldings
Micro Concrete Roofing Tiles
Partical Boards
Polymerised water proof compound
Portland Pozzolana Cement Flyash / Calcined Clay Based
Portland Slag Cement
RCC Door Frames
Ready Mix Cement Concrete
Rubber Wood Finger Joint Board
Stone Dust
Water proof compound, adhesive, Polymer Powder.

17. How is it beneficial?
The environment friendly building materials are composed of renewable, rather than non-renewable resources. These materials are environmentally viable as their impacts are considered over the life of the material. Use of these materials provides the following benefits.
Resource Efficiency - benefits like high recycled content, naturally available, efficient manufacturing processes, locally available, high salvage potential, reusable and highly durable.
2. Indoor Air Quality - Selection of the materials with benefits like low/ non-toxic, minimum emissions, low VOC content, moisture resistant and healthfully maintained.
3. Energy Efficiency - Selection of the materials with benefits like reduction in energy consumption in buildings and facilities etc. Further elaborated in Energy related EBGH.
4. Water conservation - Selection of materials with benefits like reduction in water use in buildings and conserve water in landscape areas. Further elaborated in Water related EBGH.
5. Affordability - Is considered to compare the eco-friendly building materials to conventional materials within a defined percentage of the overall budget of the building.
Apart from the above benefits, using these materials have the following advantages
 Have similar or low price compared to conventional building materials when total life cycle cost is assessed
 Do not exhaust the existing supplies of finite materials
 Save energy and reduce harmful emissions
 Helps in reducing environmental degradation
 Encouraged by building promotion council, so planning/ building permissions are easy to get
 Since they are less harmful to occupants, they make healthier and safer buildings

18. Sustainable material options for conventional Building Materials
Sr.No
Conventional Material
Sustainable Alternative Material 01
Cement / Concrete
Fly ash lightweight aerated concrete blocks
Pre-cast hollow concrete blocks
Pre-cast concrete blocks
Precise aerated cellular concrete walling blocks & roofing slabs 02
Metals
Steel with verified recycled content
Aluminum with verified recycled content
Scrap / salvaged steel & aluminum sections
Antique iron & brass fixtures 03
Masonry Units
Fly ash lime gypsum products (bricks, aerated concrete blocks, stabilized mud blocks)
Pre-cast materials (stone blocks, concrete blocks, hollow concrete blocks, cellular concrete units)
Stabilized compressed earth blocks 04
Mortar & plasters
Lime, pozzolanic materials, rice husk ash to replace part of cement inn cement based mortars
Fly ash (replacing 25% of cement) 05
Wood
Medium density fiber boards
Particle boards
Rice husk boards
Cement bounded composite panels 06
Plastics
Recycled plastic panels

19. Sustainable material options for conventional Building Materials Contd…07
Glass
Recycled content glass (fiber glass, glass wool)
High performance glazing 08
Finishes (Walls & ceilings)
Gypsum plaster boards
Ceramic tiles 09
Finishes (Flooring)
Terrazzo (crushed stone, glass, flinters, etc) 10
Finishes (Paints)
Water based paints & acrylics (Low VOC) 11
Finishes (Sealants & adhesives)
Sealants: Acrylics / Silicones / Siliconized acrylics
Adhesives: Acrylics / phenol resins 12
Finishes (Furnishings)
Recycled content materials (steel, glass, solid wood)
Powder coated finishes for metals
Water based finishes like EOC varnishes for wooden components 13
Doors & Windows
Natural fiber reinforced polymer composite panels
UPVC / PVC panels

20. Advantages of Sustainable building materials used in various construction phases
Sr.No
Alternative Material
Advantages
Structural Materials 01
Pozzolanic materials
Upto 35% of flyash can directly be substituted for cement as blending material
Saves energy upto 20%
Superior microstructure leading to lower permeability
Higher electrical resistance leading to lesser chances of reinforcement corrosion 02
Flyash for concrete & mortar
Substitutes stone chips in concrete reducing dead weight
Promotes fuel efficiency & carbon in ash provides sufficient heat
Possess 28-day comprehensive strengths of the order of 40 MN/m2 & densities 1100 to 1800 kg/m3
Better thermal & acoustic insulation & high fire resistance 03
Ferro cement & precast components
Are 85% recyclable & energy efficient
No plastering required on inner side & no curing required
Saves reinforcement & stronger than cast-in-citu structures
High fire resistance & better insulation 04
Precast RCC & Ferro cement frames
Are 1/3rd in cost compared to 2nd grade timber
Higher strength to weight ration than RCC
20% saving on material cost
Suitable for precasting, flexible in cutting, drilling & jointing 05
Recycled steel sections
Can be made entirely of recycled scrap iron
High strength & non combustible
Available forms permit efficient & uniform application
Resistant to weathering, erosion & termite infestation 06
Ready Mix concrete
Water reducer & workability enhancer
High strength, resistance to thermal cracking & durable
Quantities & ratios of mix managed better
Little wastage & less man power required

21. Advantages of Sustainable building materials used in various construction phases Contd…
Sr.No
Alternative Material
Advantages
Bricks & Blocks 01
Flyash sand-lime bricks / blocks
Available in several load bearing grades
Saves in mortar plastering
Low water absorption, only sprinkling of water sufficient
20-30% less thermal conductivity than concrete blocks
High compressive strength than clay bricks 02
Flyash lime gypsum bricks
Give highest strength among various bricks
Most suitable for mechanized operations
Fine finish & energy efficient
Lower requirement of mortar in construction 03
Aerated light weight concrete blocks
Reduces dead loads on super structure
Raw material contains 70% recycled power plant waste
Good thermal insulation (upto 26% power savings)
Requires very less water in construction
Manufacturing process is 100% recyclable 04
Flyash cellular lightweight concrete blocks
Substitutes stone chips in concrete, reduces dead weight
Has a density of app. 1/5th of concrete
Are substitutes for conventional bricks & concrete blocks with densities from 800 kg/m3 to 1800 kg/m3 05
Building blocks from mine & industrial waste
Utilizes waste from mining (iron ore) industries
Reduces air, water & land pollution
Is energy efficient & cost effective 06
Stabilized compressed earth blocks
Highly suitable for speedy & mortar less construction
Can be used for all application of burnt clay bricks
Are sun dried & use cement for gaining required strength

22. Advantages of Sustainable building materials used in various construction phases Contd…
Sr.No
Alternative Material
Advantages
Plasters 01
Fibre reinforced clay plaster
Reduce plastic shrinkage & permeability
Plant fibres act as reinforcement & controls cracking
Provide increased impact & abrasion resistance 02
Phospho gypsum plaster
Waste utilization prevents water & soil pollution
Is energy efficient & cost effective
Has a very high setting time & comprehensive strength 03
Calcium silicate plaster
Are economic, produces less waste
Smart finish & less energy consuming
Non-emission of VOC & other toxic fumes
No skilled manpower required, durable & less water consumption
Roofing
Micro concrete roofing tiles
Highly cost effective, durable & lighter than other tiles
Validated & certified by BMTPC (Building Materials & Technology Promotion council0
Easily installed, colored to interest & reduce heat gain
Clay tiles
Uniform in size & more durable
Cost effective, fire resistant & energy efficient
Low self weight, reduces loading on super structure
Bamboo matt corrugated sheets
Resistant to water, fire, decay, termites etc
Light, possess high resilience & better thermal comfort
Bearing strength comparable with GI sheet, ACCS etc.

23. Advantages of Sustainable building materials used in various construction phases Contd…
Sr.No
Alternative Material
Advantages
Flooring 01
Terrazzo / Marble mosaic flooring
Made using waste & recycled material
Forms a good waterproofing layer on exposed surfaces
Is very cost effective 02
Phospho gypsum tiles
Manufactured from waste gypsum
Light, fire resistant & good acoustic effects 03
Bamboo board flooring
Good alternative to wooden flooring
Is tough, easy to install & water resistant
Cost effective
Wood Substitutes
Salvaged wood
Use of waste / recyclable timber
Can be reused by converting into chips / particles for particle boards
Recycled laminated boards
Use of recycled waste (toothpaste containers)
Sound proof, termite resistant & expansion resistant
Bamboo matt boards & veneer composites
Economical compared to bamboo matt board for thickness more than 6mm
Higher strength than veneer plywood
Superior physical, mechanical properties compared to bamboo matt board 04
Fibre reinforced polymer boards
Made from plastic components, low installed & maintenance costs
Light in weight, high strength
Good resistance to weathering & fire 05
Flyash jute polymer composites
Cost effective as compared to conventional materials
Stronger, more durable & resistant to corrosion
Developed using Flyash as filler & jute cloth as reinforcement

24. Advantages of Sustainable building materials used in various construction phases Contd…
Sr.No
Alternative Material
Advantages
Boards & Panels 01
Calcinated Phospho gypsum wall panels
Durable, cost effective, water & pest resistant
Smooth, easy installation & no need of plastering
Ability to take add-on’s like wall paper, decorative laminates, painting etc…
Take paint directly, is fire resistant & easy laying of electrical conduits 02
Fibre Flyash cement boards
Made of recyclable materials like Flyash, agro waste etc
Are stronger & more cost effective
Used for roofing, partitions & panels 03
Gypsum Plaster boards
Light weight, fire resistant & good thermal & sound properties
Used as lightweight partition panels, false ceiling lining, decoration paneling, boxing, cladding etc… 04
Composite door shutters
Low water absorption value (6-7%)
Density nearly 50% of timber shutters
Easy installation & maintenance
Can be painted, polished or laminated
Paints
Cement Paints
Has very low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Easy to apply & highly economic
Has good water resistant properties
Has good covering capacity, easy mixing character, better resistance to crazing & microbial growth
Water based compounds
Have same performance and durability as conventional solvent based paints
Has very low VOC
Have no cost variations compared to conventional ones
Sealants & Adhesives
Waste based compounds
Epoxy resins
Are eco-friendly, consume lower energies during their life cycles
Easily disposable or recyclable
Lower occupational hazards & emission levels
Initial cost high but justified by overall life cycle performance