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Friday, 11 November 2016

Decorating houses on limited budgets

Decorating houses on limited budgets

People generally think that decorating homes with works of art is a costly exercise. Though it might be true in some cases, it is not so always. It is definitely possible to decorate walls in an eye-catching way with creative ideas and nominal amounts. Budget wall art can give the walls a fashionable look.

There are many ways to glamorize walls with striking artwork and limited budgets. The strategy largely lies in the presentation which can make even an ordinary calendar picture look xclusive. One should not feel boxed in by preconceived ideas. Some ingenious ways of dressing up walls are discussed below.

Printed Paintings

Prints are the universal budget art. There will always be a calendar print of a famous painting that can be put on the wall. A series of prints ofa particular artist can be grouped on a wall. If the print has a traditional theme, then having a fabric matting will give it style and elegance. A collection of souvenir travel postcards can be framed together, and that will inject vibrancy.

Stylish menu cards of restaurants can be displayed in simple frames. That will make guests air their ideas about that, and start an interesting conversation either in the dining room or kitchen. Similarly, maps can be framed and displayed in a study or home office.

Puzzles, Embroidery

Hobbies like puzzles, embroidery, coin or stamp collections can make decorative wall art. While puzzles and embroidered pieces can be framed elegantly with wooden frames,stamps and coins may require a different I kind of presentation.

Stamps can either be framed individually, or hung together in a geometric pattern, or a sheet of stamps could be framed in toto. In both cases, the stamps should be thematically arranged. Coins can also be framed in a similar manner. Things like key chains can be displayed in a customized shadow box with hooks fixed to the rear.

Collections of botanicals like pressed flowers and leaves can be framed after mounting them on handmade paper. Games that have been relegated to the cupboard can be brought out, framed and displayed in the children’s room or in corridors or stairways to give a retro look.

Hobbies like oil or water paintings make stunning artwork. Help and guidance from professional artists should be taken for better presentation. Caricatures are reasonably simple and make interesting display.

Family Photographs

It is best to put photographs offamily vacations as a collage in places like the living room, family room and bed rooms. They should be framed in such a way that they could be updated with recent photographs. Photographs of nature and still life can be framed thematically along a wall in the lobby or verandah. Digital photo art makes it possible to have a photograph in different colour tones, providing an interesting composition. Or you can alter a photograph digitally to give it a different effect.

Tea Pots, Figurines

Collectibles like tea pots or figurines can be displayed as wall hangings with the help of shadow boxes or broad rectangular wooden frames on which the object can be placed without glass or backing. Take out your favourite porcelain bowl plate or brass figurine from cupboards and display them on the walls.

Personal Memorabilia

Certain objects always remain personal favourites like a child’s first dress or shoes. They can be displayed in the bedroom. Favourite posters, trophies, and awards too can be suitably framed and displayed. Old gramophone records that are no longer played can be displayed along with their covers to recreate a bygone era. The matting can be cut to encase the round vinyl record and the square cover to make an interesting presentation. These are ideal birthday resentations for family members.

Wall hangings

Wall hangings of all types can be bought at reasonable prices from markets. Hangings made of terracotta, wrought iron, porcelain, bamboo, and wicker are stylish and affordable. Attractive quilts, regional applique works or carpets can cover the large expanse of a bare wall. Collages could be made with the help of tiles or canvases to create charming wall hangings. Ceramic tiles can be framed to create a pattern or else canvases can be painted and both could be displayed together.

Wall Art

Whatever may be the wall art, when it is presented properly its value multiplies manifold. Even a simple photograph can become the centre of attraction, when displayed suitably. An appropriate location should be allotted for the artwork based on theme, colour and size.

For instance, a picture of colourful fruits will look good in the dining room. Small to medium sized artwork can be displayed as a group. A set of small compositions can be framed together to make one large wall hanging. While framing artwork, innovative ways should be thought over and followed.

Embroidered wall hangings can be framed between two glass sheets bolted together. Present day wood frames are made in straight lines. The carved details in frames are suitable for traditional themes. In the case of frames, clip frames are suitable for 2D pictures. Box frames and shadow boxes can house 3D art.

A box frame can be used for displaying flat objects like photographs to give depth to the artwork. You must choose a suitable matting that will accentuate the colour of the artwork. A simple frame with seashells, sequins, mirror pieces, colourful pasta, or any other eye-catching accessories can be used for decoration. Frames like an old shuttered window can make a strikingly refreshing decor.

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Thursday, 10 November 2016

Protect your house from water

Protect your house from water

Water is one of the greatest enemies of buildings, and if adequate precautions are not taken it can seriously degrade your precious asset.

Most problems arising out of rain can be tackled with a little forethought and by following precautionary measures.

The world of nature always welcomes rains. The rain rejuvenates flora and fauna. Rain washes clean the environs and external building surfaces. But it's a different story inside. The rains could add to your woes here, causing numerous problems. But these are all solvable, and it is easy to tackle them with proper precautions and corrective measures.

Usual Problems

Rains raise atmospheric humidity. Inadequate sunlight and ventilation affects enclosed areas in buildings. Eventually dampness creeps in, and it is injurious to the people who might already be suffering from respiratory problems.

Dampness leads to the proliferation of algae, discolouring painted walls and resulting in peeling and flaking. Continuous darkness can affect artifacts like oil paintings. Another common problem is the seepage of rain water. Water percolates through minute surface cracks on the roof and creates soggy patches on ceilings and walls. It could even enter hairline cracks in the flooring causing tiles to become uneven.

Water proofing

While constructing a house, water proofing of terraces and toilets is extremely important. Windows and doors facing the exterior must have an overhang or chajja to prevent rainwater from entering the interiors. Water proofing compounds mixed into the plaster give an added layer of protection against water.

The exposed brick, though aesthetically attractive, can become an absorptive surface, in the absence of plastering. Varnishing or painting the brick surface will give partial protection.

Water seepage also occurs through the ground. It is advisable to raise the plinth above ground level, and have flagging concrete or plinth protection along the base of the walls on the exterior.

Interior problems

In bathrooms the dampness caused by steam creates a film on all the surfaces there. A black mould forms on shower curtains and walls, causing the warping of storage cabinets and the plywood backings of mirrors.

In kitchens due to the regular washing of cooking vessels, the splash area above the sink as well as the surrounding floors gets constantly splattered with droplets of soapy water, and this can make the floor a potentially dangerous slippery area.

The wardrobes and carpeting are difficult to maintain areas inside bedrooms. If a damp wall has a wooden wardrobe attached to it, water enters the woodwork and causes it to warp. The subsequent expansion and shrinkage makes the closing of shutters difficult since the alignment is lost. The wet carpets in closed rooms without air movement emit an odour which is very difficult to eradicate.

During rainy days it's the utility areas which are used the most. Semi dry or dripping wet clothes which hang from clothesline or stands, wet umbrellas, rain coats and wet shoes are usually placed here to avoid messing up the rest of the house.

Tips

Some sensible and easy to follow precautions if taken in time can solve most of the above problems.

-Water proofing treatment should be done without fail during construction.

-All rooms should have adequate cross ventilation. This facilitates air movement, and prevents odours.

-Sunlight should be allowed to enter areas that are prone to dampness.

-Areas with dripping water should be periodically mopped to avoid stains on the floor.

-Walls that have constant contact with water should have cladding with glazed tiles or enamel paint. These surfaces then can be wiped dry. Shower curtains have to be wiped dry after a shower since mouldy patches left on the plastic are difficult to clean.

-In rooms where natural ventilation is not possible, air purifiers/ humidifiers, air conditioners, fans and exhaust fans can help maintain optimum humidity.

-The woodwork used for cabinets in wet areas should be raised above floor level if there is water. They should be coated with a melamine layer or should be fabricated from water proof plywood with laminated surfaces.

-The interiors of wardrobes which are dark and damp, are often prone to silverfish and mould. These cause patches on internal walls, wood work and clothes. The use of naphthalene and silica gel desiccant packets helps to alleviate these problems.

-Absorbent floor mats can be used to absorb water from rainy footwear, and avoid muddy patches on clean tiles and carpets.

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Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Maharashtra housing agency to join hands with private developers

Maharashtra housing agency to join hands with private developers

With little available land for ready development, the Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (Mhada) is scouting for partnerships with private developers. Mhada has invited expression of interest (EoI) from realtors, if they would be interested in sharing their land for development of houses for economically weaker sections (EWS) and the lower income group (LIG).

According to MHADA, the government agency has only 25 acres readily available for development. Other land parcels are either encroached or the government of the government has not completed the transfer procedure. The dearth is forcing it to look at the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Builders who would join the state development authority will be rewarded in two ways. They will get money for construction and would also be able to develop more houses on the land parcel. This is possible since Mhada gets a floor space index (FSI, the ratio of permissible build-up area to the size of the land lot) of 2.5. Private developers, on the other hand, are allowed an FSI of only 1 (with some exceptions, in parts of Mumbai). They need to buy transfer of development rights (TDR), if they want to develop more than the permissible limit. A developer generates a TDR by giving his land for public use such as widening of a road or slum rehabilitation. He may sell such rights in the market to another developer. Even after using TDR, developers may only construct up to an FSI of only 2 in Mumbai.

Mhada’s model will work like this. Assume a developer has a 10,000 sq mt (or 2.47 acres) plot. Legally, he may build only up to 10,000 sq mt of living space. If Mhada comes into the picture, he gets to develop housing space of 25,000 sq mt. Of this, Mhada will take between 6,250 sq mt and 10,000 sq mt, depending on the scheme. The realtor will get the rest. Mhada will also pay the developer the cost of construction. In this case, the builder gets 5,000-8,750 sq mt extra. Mhada is also looking at making use of the subsidy the government provides if 40 per cent of the project is used for housing EWS and LIG. The subsidy is between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1 lakh for each flat so built, depending on the house size.

Developers are worried that the rates at which Mhada will sell the flat can impact prices of their flats. The prices can dampen around 10-15 per cent. But the extra FSI should compensate it,” said one of the leading property developers.

But he also cautioned that this project can be affected if builders are allowed extra FSI. The earlier, Vilasrao Deshmukh government had raised FSI in the city’s suburbs to 1.33 from 1. Before it could be implemented a public interest suit was filed against this. If the court rules in favour of the government, builders will get FSI up to 2.66 in the suburbs if they would use TDR.

Mohan Deshmukh, president of the Maharashtra Chambers of Housing Industry (MCHI), a builders’ association, feels this partnership is only feasible if the land is outside Mumbai city’s municipal limits. Within the city limits, developers can make more money if they construct and sell the house on their own, he said.

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Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Supreme Court expresses anguish against

violation of regulatory laws by property developers

The Supreme Court has come down heavily on State governments and politicians for giving support to builders for construction of illegal and unauthorized structures and later extending protection from demolition in the name of compassion and hardship.

It was observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court that despite repeated judgments by the Supreme Court and the High Courts, the builders and other affluent people engaged in construction activities, who have over the years have shown scant respect for the regulatory mechanism envisaged in municipal and similar laws, as also the master plans, zonal development plans, sanctioned plans, etc, have received encouragement and support from the state apparatus. Whenever orders are passed by courts, those in power have come forward to protect the wrong doer either by issuing administrative orders or enacting laws for regularization of illegal and unauthorized constructions in the name of compassion and hardship.

Expressing its anguish, the Bench observed that the economically affluent people and those having support of the political and executive apparatus of the state have constructed buildings, commercial complexes, multiplexes, malls, etc, in blatant violation of the municipal and town planning laws, master plans, zonal development plans, and even sanctioned building plans. In most of the cases of illegal or unauthorized constructions, the officers of the municipal and other regulatory bodies turn a blind eye either due to the influence of higher authorities of the state or for other extraneous reasons.

The Hon’ble court further held that no compromise should be made with the town planning scheme and no relief given to the violator on grounds that they have spent a substantial amount on construction of the buildings.

The Hon’ble court while permitting the authorities to demolish the unauthorized Shanti Sports Club of India at Masudpur in Delhi, observed that it is high time that the executive and political apparatus of the State took a serious view of the menace of illegal and unauthorized constructions and stop their support to the lobbies of affluent class of builders and others, else even the rural areas of the country will soon witness similar chaotic conditions.

The Bench dismissed the petition filed by the club challenging the decision by the authorities to demolish the premises, as it was constructed on land acquired by the government in 1965.

The Hon’ble court observed that in the last four decades, almost all cities, big or small, have seen unplanned growth. In the 21st century, the menace of illegal and unauthorized constructions and encroachments has acquired monstrous proportions and everyone has been paying a heavy price for the same.

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Vaastu Fengshui and missing corners

Vaastu Fengshui and missing corners

When a house's energies match our body's energy, it lets us feel comfortable--there's a sense of security and confidence. Very often when we look for a house, we tend to settle in houses that have similar energies. However, this does not necessary mean that the house is good for us. As a study of how living spaces affect ones life, we can be certain that a child's behavior and responses are greatly influenced by its surroundings.

Our body responds and contains energy or "chi" that is sensitive to our surroundings. Likewise, a building's form, structure and interior layout reflect the energies that it embodies. As we continually interact with our personal space it has a profound influence on the quality of our lives both on a conscious and subconscious level. It is a mirror reflection of who you are and your life circumstances.

The internal environment that we live in plays an integral part in creating the external aspects of our lives. You regenerate yourself if your internal environment is a place of balance and harmony that nurtures your feelings of inspiration, security and peace. As with our human bodies the healthier the bodies of our buildings are, the more they empower and support us in living a rich, creative, and joyful existence.

When we adapt Feng shui analysis for a space the Feng Shui master does not confine the space to the eight compass directions alone but actually to twenty four directions of the compass dial and the observations of the landform, surroundings and the shape of the plot and the building decides the type of energy in that place.

Each sector of the house has a specific relationship to the occupants and in turn it has been observed that it does affect the health of the person over a period of time. Look at your house in relation to your body: -

• East and Southeast sectors signify energy relating to liver and the four limbs

• South relates to heart, blood circulation and head

• Northeast and Southwest represent Stomach

• West signifies lungs, nose and throat

• Northwest represents the organs as in West sector and in addition it also signifies throat and intestine.

• North, which also represents element Water, signifies kidneys, ears and intestine.

A building with a missing corner in one of the above referred sectors or even a cluttered corner with garbage pollutes the sector of the house and the specific energy and organs over a period of time.

Organizing your space properly and choosing the right property reduces the possibility of having buildings with missing corners and defective sectors.

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Monday, 7 November 2016

Structural stability

Structural stability

All buildings have to serve two important functions. They have to carry the loads (structural requirement) and provide livable environment to the occupants to enable them to be comfortable in the use of the building (functional requirement).

The building has to carry its own weight and external occupancy loads and those caused by the environment such as those caused due to wind or earthquake. The elements that bear these loads and transmit them to the foundation are termed as “structural elements”. A good performance of the structural elements such as beams and columns is of vital importance from the safety and stability points of view. Hence, they are designed and constructed with prescribed safety margins as per requirements specified in the Bureau of Indian Standard specifications. Their failure will cause cracking, yielding of steel and even ultimate collapse of the building.

The serviceability of a building depends on the good performance of the structural and the functional elements such as flooring, doors and windows, glass panels and partition walls. The functional elements are generally not intended to carry structural loads. Their failure to perform will only affect the use of the building and not its strength or stability. Their good performance is also equally important.

In a metropolitan city such as Chennai, most apartment buildings are made of reinforced concrete frames. In this type of construction, the structural elements comprise beams and columns which carry the loads. The partition walls and infill walls in these buildings are treated as non-structural and hence are not generally designed and constructed to carry structural loads. In such buildings, for good performance it is necessary to detail the junction structural and non-structural members with proper care. The deformation of the structural members under load should not be restricted by non-structural partitions or in-fills.

For good performance of both beams and partitions, a proper sequence of construction is essential. First building the infill or partition and that casting the concrete beam on top will make the dead weight of the concrete beam load the partition which is not correct. The partition is not supposed to carry the weight of the beam. Moreover, when the additional live load comes on the floor the deflection of the beam will crack the brick infill or partition.

To avoid this problem, first the frame should be completed. This should be followed by the erection of partitions and in-fills. Care should be taken to see that a structural gap exists between the frame and the in-fill. For functional convenience this gap can be filled by inert flexible material such as thermocol or pith.

Under no circumstance a structural member should be cut or chased or damaged in any way for any purpose including for taking services like electrical conduits, concealed wiring etc. This will weaken the element and may cause its collapse leading to the collapse of the whole building. However the services may be taken through the non-structural partitions or infills.

Bearing walls

This type of construction is undertaken in semi-urban and rural areas. All the main walls carry loads and also serve to provide functional requirement. In these buildings, though the partition walls do not carry structural loads, they cannot be either built or demolished without due consideration for overall stability of the building. Some times their weight may be required to provide stability against overturning failure. The main walls invariably provide the structural stability and carry loads. Hence, they cannot be damaged or dismantled for carrying conduits for electricity, etc.

Bearing wall buildings though safe for vertical loads are weak under lateral loads. They are vulnerable for failure under out of plane bending during lateral loading. Therefore, to make the building act as one integral unit, they should be constructed with continuous plinth and continuous lintel beams. No brick pillar should be less than 600 mm in width. All openings should be reinforced on all sides. These simple precautions will ensure good performance of bearing wall buildings under lateral loads caused by wind or earthquakes.

Construction defects

In many sites the brick wall is first raised and then used as shuttering to cast the column or beam adjoining it. This will make the column or beam weak because the pores in brickwork will absorb the moisture from wet concrete making the w/c ration in the beam and column uncertain. The weakness will manifest in the cover concrete of the beam or column, leading to early onset of corrosion in the rebars.

The cracking in the walls of the buildings are many times attributed to following wrong constructions practices. It is important to pay attention to the details at the site of construction to ensure long and trouble free service of the infrastructure created. A conscious distinction should be made between the structural and non-structural items in a building and their requirements and performance. These defects when permitted during construction are difficult and costly to rectify later.

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