Author: Dhrubajyoti Roy

DHRUBAJYOTI ROY, the visionary behind Builtarchi.com, who holds a passion for transforming ideas into tangible and awe-inspiring structures. His multifaceted persona encompasses a love for cars & by profession an Architect.

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Different brick bonds | Types of brick bond

Different brick bonds | Types of brick bond

Brick is an element in masonry construction that is used to make walls, pavements, and other elements.  It is a rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay. Bricks are usually used to manufacture load-bearing walls. An Ideal brick must provide proper insulation against heat, cold, and noise. The heat and sound conductivity of a brick varies highly with its density and porosity. Bricks that are very dense and heavy conduct sound and heat at a greater rate. Bricks must be properly designed for them to be considered ideal and proper for construction purposes. They must be made in such a way that they are strong, light, and give adequate insulation. Bricks are a very durable and low-cost construction material. It also has high compressive strength and is also fire resistant. It can also resist weathering effects to an adequate level and is of low maintenance.

Brick bonds or bonding is the arrangement of bricks in a wall, column, or any structure. The bonds may have a decorative or structural function. The arrangement of bricks on a structure in a systematic way to ensure its stability and strength is called brick bonding. There are different brick bonds that are being used in today’s day and age. Bricks can be laid in a standing upright position, lengthwise along the wall or widthwise along the wall. There are three patterns that a brick bonding type must follow and those are as follows:

A. The load must be distributed throughout the structure to achieve the maximum required strength.

B. Structural stability must be ensured.

C. The desired aesthetic must be achieved.

Different brick bonds

There are so many different brick bonds that are available today. Some of them are used for structural purposes and some only for decorative purposes. Some brick bonds can also be used in both cases as they are aesthetically pleasing as well as has great structural strength. Although the primary purpose of brick bonds is to ensure that the masonry work is strong and stable, it can also have an artistic effect on the walls that the bonds are placed in.  Different brick bonds are as follows:

Header Bond

different brick bonds

This bond has courses of headers only which are offset by half a brick. It is usually used for round walls. It is not used in straight work as this bond is considered to be very weak.

Stretcher Bond

different brick bonds

This bond has courses of stretchers. Usually used in walls that have half brick thickness. As it is constantly used in the last position, it is also referred to as the chimney bond.

English Bond

In this type of bond, the bricks are arranged in the alternate course of headers and stretchers. It is the strongest bond and it requires more facing bricks in comparison to other bonds. However, it is recommended to avoid continuous vertical joints. Queen closers are inserted near quoin headers to produce the overlapping of bricks.

English Garden Wall Bond

This type of bond is similar to an English bond but here for three courses of stretchers, one course of the header is provided. The headers are arranged in such a way that each course of the header is centered on the header in the course below. This bond helps to spread the lateral load and also uses a lot fewer facing bricks in comparison to an English bond.

English Cross Bond

different brick bonds

In this bond, the courses of headers and stretchers are placed alternatively, with the courses being offset by half a brick. The stretchers are arranged in such a way that one course of the stretcher is centered on the joins between the course of stretchers below them. All the alternating courses of the stretcher are aligned with each other.

Flemish Bond

There are two types of Flemish bonds, namely, Double Flemish Bonds and Single Flemish Bonds. 

In a Double Flemish bond, the headers and stretchers are arranged in alternate courses. The queen closer is placed next to the quoin header in every course to produce the lap. This type of bond is weaker than English bonds.

In a Single Flemish Bond, one course of double Flemish bond is placed on the face of the walls. The remaining of the wall is built in English Bond. This bond is used in walls that need high strength and a good appearance. However, this bond is not advisable for walls less than one and a half bricks thick.

Flemish Garden Wall Bond

This bond is arranged in such a way that one header is placed on three stretchers in each course. The headers are centered over the stretchers in the middle.

Monk Bond

This is a type of Flemish bond. This bond has two stretchers between headers in every course. The headers are placed between the joins of two stretchers in the course below.

Stack Bond

In this type of bond, the bricks are directly placed on top of each other with joins aligned together for the entire wall. The bricks used in this bond can be stacked vertically or horizontally. Due to the minimal bonding of the bricks caused by the alignment of joints, this bond is considered to be very weak and also, structurally unsound. This bond is hence used mostly for decorative purposes only.

Sussex Bond

Sussex Bond uses three stretchers and one header in every course.

Conclusion

It is now clear to us that different arrangement of bricks results in the creation of various different bonds that are used in the construction industry. These bonds are used to create walls, facades, pillars, and a variety of other structures. Brick bonds that provide great strength and are also considered to be aesthetically pleasing are considered to be good brick bonds. Good brick bonds are the most highly used brick bonds. The entire brickwork of a specific structure depends on the bonding of bricks. Thus, it is said that bond in brickwork is of the highest importance. 

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Cement grades list | Different Grades of Cement

Cement grades list | Different Grades of Cement
cement grades list

Cement is a binder substance that sets, hardens, and sticks to other materials to bind them. It is a fine, soft, and powdery substance.  It is the most important material in building construction. The raw materials that are mostly used in the making of cement include lime, silica, alumina, and iron oxide. It is the key ingredient that is used to make concrete. Cement is generally divided into hydraulic and non-hydraulic cement.

Hydraulic cement is the type of cement that hardens when it comes in contact with water. It is composed of limestone, clay, and gypsum. Non-hydraulic is the type of cement that needs to be kept dry for it to attain strength.  It is composed of lime, gypsum plaster, and oxychloride.  It takes a long time to set and hence this cement is becoming redundant and obsolete.

cement grades list

Cement grades list

Cement is found in different grades. The grade of cement indicates how strong the compressive strength of the cement is.  Since cement is the main material to make concrete, we must understand that the strength of cement is directly proportional to the strength of concrete i.e. the higher the grade of cement, the stronger it is. Not only strength, but the higher graded cement is finer than the lower grades. That is the reason it is advised to go through the cement grades list before choosing the type of grade of cement to be used in your structure. The grades of cement are usually a category of OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement.

OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement

Limestone and clay minerals are heated in a kiln and ground. In that mixture, two to three percent of gypsum is added. This mixer is then mixed into a fine powder which forms OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement. No matter what kind of brand it is, OPC is available in three different grades that can be used for three different purposes. The grades are as follows:

cement grades list

OPC 33 Grade

33 Grade of cement means the Compressive Strength of cement after 28 days is 33N/mm2 according to the Indian Standards, IS 269 – 2015. This grade of cement is mainly used for wall plastering, non-RCC structures, pathways, etc. It is rarely used nowadays, as its compressive strength is very low in comparison to other types of concrete available in the market. It is mostly used in the making of low-grade concrete such as below M20 Concrete grade.

OPC43 Grade

The grade 43 of cement means the Compressive when tested under the CTM is 43N/mm2 according to the Indian Standards, IS 8112 – 2013. This grade of cement is mostly used in PCC and RCC work. It is mostly used for plastering, flooring, pathways, stone masonry, brick masonry, etc. It is used in areas where the grade of concrete is up to M30.  This grade of concrete is also used in the finishing of structures, bridges, culverts, roads, etc.

OPC53 Grade

The grade 53 of cement means the Compressive strength when tested under CTM is 53N/mm2. This grade of cement is used in RCC and pre-stressed concrete of higher grades. Instant plugging mortars, cement grouts, etc. It is used for fast-paced construction where the initial strength of the construction is to be achieved quickly. Since it is the grade with the highest compressive strength, the OPC53 grade is costlier in comparison to the OPC33 and OPC43 grades.

Conclusion

These were the various different grades of cement available in the market today. After going through this cement grades list, one can get a small idea of what exactly the different grades of cement represent.

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Which cement is best for House Construction?

Which cement is best for House Construction?

Cement is a binder substance that sets, hardens, and sticks to other materials to bind them. It is a fine, soft, and powdery substance.  It is a very important material in building construction. The raw materials that are mostly used in the making of cement include lime, silica, alumina, and iron oxide.

Although people tend to get confused with the terms cement and concrete, it must be known that cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture that consists of aggregates and pastes. Before learning about “which cement is best for house construction”, let us first understand the types of cement available.

Cement, in general, is usually divided into two kinds:

Hydraulic Cement

Hydraulic cement is the type of cement that hardens when it comes in contact with water. It is composed of limestone, clay, and gypsum. This happens due to a chemical reaction between the anhydrous cement powder and water. This chemical reaction results in the creation of hydrates that are insoluble in water and are very durable. This type of cement hardens under water or when it is constantly exposed to wet weather. It retains its strength and hardness only below water. Due to this, hydraulic cement is suitable to work with during any weather conditions.

which cement is best for house construction

Non-Hydraulic Cement

Non-hydraulic cement is the type of cement that needs to be kept dry for it to attain strength.  It is composed of lime, gypsum plaster, and oxychloride.  It takes a long time to set and hence this cement is becoming redundant and obsolete.

Cement is most importantly used in the making of mortar in the construction industry. It is an ingredient in the production of concrete. A combination of cement and other aggregates gives birth to a strong building material.

Which cement is best for house construction?

If you are an architecture or an engineering student, or simply somebody who is curious to learn about the construction industry, the question “Which cement is best for house construction” must have definitely crossed your mind.

Selection of the best type of cement for the construction of a structure is of utmost importance for the making of durable structures. The choice of cement depends on various factors including cost and availability in the local market. It also depends on the purpose of use, the performance quality, and the condition of the environment in which the cement has to be used. Different types of cement are available in different areas with their own unique and specific characteristics.

In India, for the construction of a residential building, generally, two types of cement are widely used which are:

OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement

Limestone and clay minerals are heated in a kiln and ground. In that mixture, two to three percent of gypsum is added. This mixer is then mixed into a fine powder which forms OPC or Ordinary Portland Cement.  This cement is available in three different grades that can be used for three different purposes. These three types are designated for different compressive strengths. The higher the grade of OPC, the more strength it provides. The grades are:

OPC 33 Grade

This grade of cement is mainly used for wall plastering, non-RCC structures, pathways, etc. It is rarely used nowadays, as its compressive strength is very low in comparison to other types of concrete available in the market. It is mostly used in the making of low-grade concrete such as below M20 Concrete grade.

OPC43 Grade

This grade of cement is mostly used in PCC and RCC work. It is mostly used for plastering, flooring, pathways, stone masonry, brick masonry, etc. It is used in areas where the grade of concrete is up to M30.  This grade of concrete is also used in the finishing of structures, bridges, culverts, roads, etc.

OPC53 Grade

This grade of cement is used in RCC and pre-stressed concrete of higher grades. Instant plugging mortars, cement grouts, etc. It is used for fast-paced construction where the initial strength of the construction is to be achieved quickly. Since it is the grade with the highest compressive strength, the OPC53 grade is costlier in comparison to the OPC33 and OPC43 grades.

PPC or Portland Pozzolana Cement

This type of cement is made by a combination of pozzolanic materials. Pozzolanic materials may include volcanic ash, fly ash, calcined clay, etc. and these materials make about 15-35% of the total cement weight. The material pozzolana can be artificial or natural and has silica in it in a reactive form. This cement consists of pozzolanic materials in specific proportions and also consists of OPC clinker and gypsum.

which cement is best for house construction

Portland Pozzolana Cement is said to be a product of the future considering all the variety of purposes it can be used. Unlike OPC, PPC can be used in a hostile working environment. It can be used in the construction of marine structures, masonry mortars and plastering, and hydraulic structures. In today’s world, they are massively used in concrete works such as sewage pipes, dams, etc. PPC is cheaper in comparison to OPC and it also is more environmentally friendly as both industrial and natural wastes are used in the manufacturing of PPC. PPC also releases less heat in comparison to OPC during construction.

Conclusion

Cement, in general, is one of the fundamental elements for the creation of a strong infrastructure. The Indian cement industry has been growing at a rapid rate as India because of the flourishing real estate business, highly growing construction industry, and increased industrial activity. Both, Ordinary Portland Cement and Portland Pozzolana Cement are widely used in the construction industry.  Although nowadays, PPC is being used as a substitute for OPC.

After going through this article, I am sure you have a slight idea that selecting a type of cement cannot depend on weighing the pros and cons between OPC and PPC cement. One can choose the best type of cement by going through the needs and requirements of the project and then picking out the type of cement that will best suit the construction method. 

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Role of contractor in construction?

Role of contractor in construction?

Role of contractor in construction

A contractor is a person who enters into a contract to provide labor and materials to perform a specific job or service. He/she is responsible for providing all the items and services that are necessary for the construction of a project. In short, a contractor is a person who manages the construction of a building or space. Being a good contractor is not everyone’s cup of tea. A person must have the skills, knowledge, experience, and organizational capability to carry out the work that they are hired for in a safe and smooth way.

A building contractor has a large number of responsibilities on the site whether it is a private or public project and without proper experience in the field, he/she cannot carry out their work properly. Once hired, he/she has to be in charge of the planning, development, and other activities that coincide with the construction of the particular structure. The role of contractors in construction is immense and hence a detailed study of these roles will be done in this article.

A contractor has to review all the different process that is involved in the construction site. He/she is the person who has to oversee the entire project from the beginning till the end and also has to make sure that all the duties required to be performed on-site are completed on time. There are a number of qualities that make a contractor good in his field. Some of those traits are as follows:

Can make good decisions

Of all the things that a good contractor must be, he/she must be a quick and good decision-maker. A contractor is somebody who has to deal with the whole project from the planning stage to the completion stage, from the coordination stage to the maintenance stage. Hence, decision-making must be on top of his list of qualities so that he/she knows how to properly manage certain issues. A good contractor is never indecisive and can make good decisions without consulting anybody else.

Experience matters

A person can be a good contractor only if he/she has the established experience required. When an inexperienced contractor single-handedly tries to deal with a project, the results are usually not up to the mark. As they are not an expert in handling such projects, it kind of makes them unproductive. That is why having enough experience in this field is mandatory as it helps the contractor perform his job in a timely and effective manner without any difficulties.

Leadership Skills

A good contractor must always be a good leader. He/she must have leadership skills as they are the head of a project which means the whole project is run by them. Most of the individuals that are linked with the construction project generally count on the contractor if they face any kind of difficulty and so, the contractor must possess good leadership skills to be able to guide the people involved in the project and show them the way to solve their problems and get the work done on time.

role of contractor in construction

Problem Solver

A good contractor must be able to instantly solve problems that arise on the site and provide necessary solutions. Since a time frame is followed on a construction site so that the work is done on time, a little delay in one of the activities might delay the entire construction project. One mistake might be a heavy loss for the client, and so a contractor must be able to provide solutions immediately.

A contractor is responsible for the entire construction project. It is his/her responsibility to meet the expectations of the client and make sure the project is going according to the drawings provided by the architect. The role of a contractor in construction can be described by the following points listed below.

Making a plan

After a contractor is hired, the first and foremost thing he does before the start of a project is to draft a proper plan of the activities and duties that will be required to be done during the construction. The plan includes everything from hiring workers to buying materials to the maintenance of the structure after the completion of the project. This plan is a step-by-step timeline that acts as a guideline for the people involved in the construction from start to finish.

Managing pay rools

A contractor is responsible for hiring people for various works that take place on a construction site. Similarly, he/she is also responsible for firing people who are not good at doing their jobs properly. Since these two aspects are his/her responsibility, it is also his/her duty to pay these people after they are hired since workers need to get paid.

Buying materials

A contractor is responsible for sourcing out the accurate materials provided by the architects or designers in construction. It is their duty to properly coordinate with various vendors and suppliers so that it becomes easy to get the required number of materials listed by the designers.

Acquiring permits

Before the start of construction, a contractor must acquire all the permits and licenses required by the local government authorities for the project to be constructed without any problems on-site. These include building construction permission and zoning permission which are the most important permits required to ensure that the construction of that particular building is safe, is environmentally safe, and shall provide no hazards or problems to the community in general.

Law research

A good contractor must know and have research ready regarding the rules or laws that are relevant in the present day which is related to the construction of his/her site. He/she must be aware of the environmental hazards and must make sure that the construction of the structure is done in a law-abiding manner.

Proper use of budget

The contractor must make sure that the project that he is working on goes according to the budget provided by the client. If the construction does not go according to budget, it becomes very difficult to manage the costs that are involved in the construction of the building. It is his/her duty to convince people to take the budget seriously and work within the budget so that the construction can be completed smoothly.

Implement changes

If any changes occur on-site, it is the duty of the contractor to implement them as they are responsible for monitoring the entire construction. As they are the sole supervisors of the project, they must implement changes necessary for the betterment of the project.

role of contractor in construction

Emergency issues

On a construction site, problems can arise regarding anything or anyone. It is the contractor’s duty to deal with all kinds of problems that might occur on his/her construction site and also come up or consult the client for solutions. Since the contractor is responsible for the entire project, he/she is always accountable for such issues.

After going through this article we all can come to the conclusion that the role of contractor in construction is not an easy one. He/ she is a person who can be demanding and may want perfect results from his workers. The reason for such behavior is his/her responsibilities and duties towards the construction. He/she must have a quick-thinking capacity and must be able to deal with unavoidable situations. A contractor must be determined and strict regarding the completion of duties so that people take him seriously. And to become the best in this field, one must learn and gather experience from other contractors and learn how to manage a site in the smoothest manner.

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What services does an Interior Designer provide?

What services does an Interior Designer provide?

What services does an interior designer provide?

Wikipedia describes interior design as “the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. And an interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such enhancement projects.” So, by the above definition, we get a slight idea about what services does an interior designer provides. He/she is a professional who plans and offers design solutions for both residential and commercial spaces.

While some interior designers only provide the design idea and planned layouts to the client along with working drawings and 3D renders, others not only provide the designs but also help source out the furnishings and the materials to be used on the project. Some designers even handle the plumbing and electrical services and supervise the entire process till the work is fully completed.

When we talk about designing interiors, people tend to get confused between hiring an interior designer or an interior decorator as they think these two professions are exactly the same. But that isn’t the case. An interior designer is a trained professional who has studied the art of designing and planning functional spaces while an interior decorator is a person who helps furnish or adorn a space with nice things. A professional interior designer can also decorate, but an interior decorator cannot or does not have the expertise to design or plan spaces.

An interior designer works with plans or blueprints to design a certain space. They feature a college education and most of them also have a post-graduate degree in interior design as well. They help to plan the interior part of a building from a structural point of view. A designer plans the layout of the space inside the building in a way that benefits the client to the maximum. Interior designers not only plan residential spaces but also, spaces such as banks, offices, museums, malls, shops, etc. This is why interior designers must have a formal education because they must know the details regarding building codes, material studies, taking out blueprints, and other parts of designing. He/she must identify the client’s needs. and their aesthetical view An interior decorator, however, does not necessarily require a college education or any such training as a decorator does not in any way plan the structure of a building. They provide their opinions on color schemes, types of furniture, or any other ornamental setting inside the space.

Now, since we have a brief idea of what an interior designer actually does, let’s go into a little detail about what services an interior designer provides. Since he/she is a trained professional, there are a variety of services that they have to offer and some of them are as follows:

Planning/ Layout

The first thing an interior designer does after getting a project is to plan and make layouts of the space keeping in view the client’s needs and demands. Making a layout means arranging the space inside a building in the best way possible which is beneficial to the client. Floor plans, Elevations, and Sections are made for the building which gives the client a proper idea of how his/her place would turn out. These layouts are at first done in 2D formats and later developed into 3D formats with proper renderings.

Furniture Layout

Furniture planning is done after the floor plans are ready. An interior designer comes up with the best possible furniture layout for the client’s space which maximizes the usability of the room space.

What services does an interior designer provide

Custom Designing

When a certain piece of furniture does not do justice to space, an interior designer sometimes designs the said furniture for the client. The furniture could be anything, a sofa, cabinets, or a simple chair. The designer helps the client to see their space differently, which wouldn’t be possible if the client had designed the space himself.

What services does an interior designer provide

Kitchen Design

A kitchen is something that is the most tricky part of a building. An interior designer makes sure all the elements in their client’s kitchen are in perfect position and comes up with the most useful kitchen layout. A kitchen layout includes every detail including the cabinets, the chimney position to the plumbing detail.

Bathroom Layout

Similar to the kitchen, an interior designer helps to plan the bathroom in a way that does not hamper the water flow and helps to keep the dry area separated from the wet area. The plumbing and the fixtures used in the bathroom are also looked over by the designer.

What services does an interior designer provide

Renovation

An interior designer not only helps plan spaces that are newly being made but also helps in redesigning old spaces and giving them a completely new and improved look if the client demands it. There are certain clients who want to renovate their houses but want to restore the old essence of the space. This can be done by hiring an Interior designer as well, as their job is to deliver what the client wants to build or create.

Lighting

Interior designers also look into the lighting of a space. They help to develop a layout that suits a building to the maximum while keeping energy conservation in mind. A designer can properly calculate how much lighting a certain room requires and hence can decide what kind of lighting would suit the building.

What services does an interior designer provide

Designs for the Physically Challenged: Interior designers also come up with designs that can cater to the needs of physically challenged people. As the needs of such people are very different from ours, the designers help to come up with the best possible layout for the ease of such people.

The list goes on and on regarding the services that an interior designer provides. Some designers manage entire projects from start to finish which includes working closely with vendors and installers just to make sure that the design is done properly without any delay. They also, sometimes, go to the markets themselves to fish out certain products that they think would suit the aesthetic of the client and in turn would complement the space even more.

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What does an Interior Designer cost?

What does an Interior Designer cost?
what does an interior designer cost

Interior Design is the field that helps to make the space of a building achieve a much healthier and aesthetically pleasing environment. When we think about hiring an interior designer to design our space, the first thing that usually comes to our mind is how much money he or she will charge. Wanting to get your space designed by a professional is something we all want to do, but people have very little to no knowledge on what basis a designer charges their fee.

This is where we come in to make your lives a little easier. In today’s day and age where we can find any information with the click of a button, we might think that figuring out the ways an interior designer comes up with their design cost/fee is easy. But this fee is calculated and decided taking several factors into account which will be discussed thoroughly in this article.

Generally, an interior designer will charge around 2000$ to 5000$ excluding furniture bills which get calculated separately. There are other designers that run their business online and their costs range from 75$ to 1600$ this kind of designer does not allow bargaining of any sort, their prices are usually flat.

After the pandemic, we have witnessed the world go into more of an online environment and that has affected the area of interior design as well. People prefer to hire a designer online rather than going out to meet them in their offices. Meetings taking place online is also a quick and easy way as it saves time and energy for both the designer and the client. Even the work schedules can be adjusted accordingly when the work is done in an online mode.

If you think interior design is only about picking the right kind of furniture or a shade of color for your wall, then you are in for a surprise. The role an interior designer plays in changing the overall environment of space is huge. After the drawings are finalized, it is the duty of a designer to make renderings for the particular space so that the client can visualize the space before it’s made. An interior designer also has the job of managing electricians, plumbers, painters, contractors, and more. It is also their duty to purchase and arrange all the products that will be used or installed in the space designed by them. The benefits of hiring an interior designer are immense, but before doing so it is necessary for people to know on what basis they decide the cost.

How are the prices calculated?

Whoever told you that an interior designer charges some percentage of money for the overall cost of the project, that’s not always the case. There are many other ways a designer calculates his price.

A Percentage of the total cost

This is the most common type of way a designer calculates his price. He calculates the overall price of the project which includes furniture and takes around 5% to 10% of the total cost as a design fee. This percentage goes up to 20% to 25% based on the experience of the designer and also the size of the project.

Per square feet

This type of pricing is calculated based on the area of the home. A designer usually charges around rupees 10 per square feet which can go up to rupees 100 based on the type of design and the experience of the designer. Sometimes, when the workload is high and a designer has to look after every detail including kitchen, closets, etc. the price may shoot up to rupees 1000 per square feet as well.

A fixed amount

This is completely based on the designer on how much they want to charge you. This amount may be a percentage of the total budget or per square foot or something the designer charges as a flat rate. The designers term this amount as their fee and there is not very much knowledge on what basis they charge it.

Now that we have a slight idea of how an interior designer comes up with his/her cost, we need to go deep into the other sectors of pricing that a designer considers as well. Without the proper knowledge, it is very difficult to figure out how much money does an interior designer charges.

Site Supervision: If the client wants the designer to be present at the site at all times to see if the work is done smoothly or not, to supervise the installation of certain furniture, etc. the designer has the right to charge an extra fee for it. This fee is taken mostly in some percentage of the overall cost.

Design Revision Charges

When a client is not completely satisfied with a certain design, a designer shares revised drawings and makes changes without charging the client a maximum of 3 times. After that, if the client still keeps making changes to the design, the designers charge a certain fee mainly because the time frame of the projects keeps getting stretched and the designer has to make adjustments to his/her schedule.

Site Visits

The first three site visits are usually not charged by any designer but anything after that is charged on an average of rupees 1000 to 1500 per site visit.

Cost of Design

A designer can charge rupees 10000 to 50000 for just an idea and some furniture placements. For a three-dimensional view, an average designer charges around rupees 70000 to 100000. For huge buildings, some designers charge their fee per room taking into consideration the size of the building and the number of rooms.

Picking the best designer that matches your vibe

It’s okay if you are confused between two themes or how to choose the best style for the interior of your place. But if you cannot decide on a variety of things, relying on your designer completely will be a waste of their time and your money. Having a sense of direction for your design and primarily deciding on what type of aura you want to create in your space will not only help your designer swiftly do their thing and organize your space but will also help lower your design cost.

Listing down things that you would like to keep as it is, or throw out is also a major help for your designer. That way, the designer has a slight idea of what to do with the things that already exist inside of your space, and what new pieces could be added which in turn helps to keep your budget in check.

Doing some research before hiring a designer is also a way to pick the designer that exactly matches the requirements that you are looking for. Looking at portfolios online, customer reviews, experience in the field of design, professional training, etc. are a few things to learn about a designer before hiring them.

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Spanish Ancient, Romanesque, and Gothic Architecture features

Spanish Ancient, Romanesque, and Gothic Architecture features
spanish ancient architecture

Spanish Ancient Architecture

If you ever get stuck to decoding the proverb “ Rome can’t be built in a day”, then say thanks to the Spanish as being one major part of the roman empire, Rome is famous for their art and the architecture which they presented to the world, the wider architecture made it to form the proverb later.

We all have heard the history of Rome and it is one of the ancient civilization along with the Indians and Africans, but where Rome stands out is for its artwork, but unfortunately, most of the Spanish ancient architecture are not standing today but only in photographs and in theories to read and to get amused.

Celtic was one of the earliest architecture we can find in Spain, the Castros in Galicia stand as proof of their ancient architectural styles.

Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque is one of the oldest architectural styles not only for Spanish architecture but for the entire world out there, it is believed that Romanesque architecture began in the 6th century and the thing it still stands today, though it is a religious architecture even today some classic architectures influence its style to build churches somewhere in the countrysides.

Semicircular arches were commonly used for windows and doors, and groin vaults were placed to stand along with the roof and also to add a bit of classic style to the buildings, thick walls and lack of sculptures were the core characteristics of Romanesque architecture, the 10th-century architecture is one of those fancy kind we can find in a game of thrones.

Basilica de San Isidoro in Leon is one fine example of Romanesque architecture in the Spain region, the thousand-year-old building is more of a museum to adore Romanesque architecture today, classical Roman architecture is being influenced by architecture and architects even today.

spanish ancient architecture

Spanish Gothic Architecture

Gothic Spanish architecture spread to various parts of the world like wildfire in summer, it created a great impact in the book of Spanish architecture too, from using the rib vaults to pointed arches and flying buttresses gothic architecture stands out from all of its fellow architecture styles, the arrival of Gothic architecture replaced most of the Romanesque buildings by replacing the semi-circular arches to pointed arches. Glass also used as a major element in Gothic architecture which made the structures look stylish and created a uniformity.

Burgos Cathedral is a fine Gothic building, the tall tower made it look a bit odd but beautiful, it represents point arches (one of the core elements of Gothic architecture) and lighter walls with cross-ribbed vaults it is a glory that never fades even by time.

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Indo Islamic Architecture and Indo-Saracenic Architecture

Indo Islamic Architecture and Indo-Saracenic Architecture

Indo Islamic Architecture

With the Mughal invasion of India Islamic architecture invaded India, as the people and Mughal empires grew large the Islamic architecture spread along with it, from the Taj Mahal to Qutb Minar India had more Islamic architecture to be amused at.

The usage of arches, domes, and vaults are core characteristics of Islamic architecture and it influenced Indo-Islamic architecture too, bricks, limestones, and tiles or mosaics are used as the major materials in Indo-Islamic architecture.

Taj Mahal is one of beautiful Indian architecture in India for its astonishing white marble color and peaceful structure, with more than twenty thousand workers and imported decorations from Turkey, Persia, and the Ottoman it is a hell of art, and it is also considered the most beautiful architecture of the nation and most popular for its romantic story, though it is influenced from Persian, Turkish architecture it is whole of an Indo Islamic architecture, the entire construction used red sandstone and white marble as its core material.

indo islamic architecture
Taj Mahal, India

Jama Masjid and Charminar are other fine works of Indo-Islamic architecture and stand as proof to enjoy ancient Indian architecture.

Indo Saracenic Architecture

We all have heard of the British invasion of India, The British made a lot of changes in India, including architecture too, British created a lot of architectures more official buildings, if we look deeper into British-made architecture in India it followed a pattern, it is called as Indo Saracenic architecture which is a revival architecture influenced by the gothic architecture style.

The usage of more than one dome and larger halls with a high structure of architecture made it look different from other Indian architecture at the time, The British had a royal taste and it is reflected in their architecture.

indo islamic architecture
Humayun’s Tomb, India

The influence of the Arabic architectural style is seen largely in the Indo-Saracenic architecture, the British used even European, Victorian styles mixed with the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, madras high court, Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, and Sivaji terminus in Mumbai are some of Indo Saracenic architecture buildings.

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Indian Ancient Architecture and Cave Architecture

Indian Ancient Architecture and Cave Architecture

Ancient Architecture

India is widely known for many things but architecture is also one among them, it is one of the earliest countries of the world with the earliest form of culture and many such things, Indian architecture is one thing to consider, The Mauryan empire created the first imprint of grand architecture in India in the way of temples, as you can see temples in every five kilometers at least.

indian ancient architecture
Kailasa Temple

Temple architecture is one of the hardest things to do than modern architecture or traditional architecture as it involves a lot of decorations and cravings, even the temple architecture varies according to place, if you look deeper into India different styles according to the states.

Woods were used as the primary architectural material in India from temples to forts until the 8th to 9th century, stones were rarely used but at the end of the 9th century, India had more architecture like forts, palaces, and temples of stones.

India saw its earliest architecture made of stones in the Mauryan empire, buildings like stupas, viharas, and chaityas are the earliest architectures in India, played a very important role in ancient India by making wider stupas which can be even found today but in a collapsed state.

indian ancient architecture
Ruins Ancient Mountain

Cave Architectures

Indian architecture is famous for its cave architecture too it is also called rock-cut architecture as rocks are cut to make a construction, cave architecture is made out of a single rock by caving it with decorations and rooms, Buddhists and Jains played an important role in making the cave architectures possible one, it is one of specialized architecture concept which can mostly found in India and it is a rare architecture concept in the entire world too.

Ajanta caves are one of the famous cave architecture found in India and it is believed to have been built in the 2nd century and 4th century again, Ajanta caves are made out of a single large cave, that served for monastery purposes in the early days, now it is a tourist place in Maharashtra.

Ajanta Cave

Shore temple in Mahabalipuram is another fantastic ancient architecture found in India and it is believed that the temple was planned and built for about 200 years, it is made out of single caves and more than seven similar architecture found in Mahabalipuram, lord Vishnu, and Shiva worshipped as main gods in the shrine.

Ellora caves are another amazing cave architecture in India, with 12 rock-cut viharas it is a gigantic rock-cut architecture that is related to Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus at various times, with cut off made from rock plateaus constructed in the 800th century and is amazing even today but a bit old but still it is gold.

Badami Rock Hill
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10 Amazing Facts about Chinese Dragons

10 Amazing Facts about Chinese Dragons

Chinese Dragons

Dragon is one of the most amazing creatures that is believed to have existed in the ancient world regardless of proof, from movies to books and mythological stories dragons found their way to present and amazing human beings, china is one of the nations that has its tradition rooted with the dragon, the people of china worshipping dragon even today with strong beliefs.

Shape of the Dragon

Chinese Dragons

In science still, the dragon is an unproven creature but 2000 years ago wang fu the Chinese philosopher described the shape of a dragon which is still believed as true among the people of China, the shape of the dragon is made of nine different parts of animals like cow, snake, turtles, fish and so on. The Chinese dragon is of a different shape when compared with the world, all over the globe dragon is believed to be shaped like a snake but in China, it is believed that the dragon is of either a turtle or fish-like shape.

The Dragon Year

Chinese Dragons

In China, some years are considered dragon years and people believe that babies born in the dragon year contain the ability of a dragon or the praise of a dragon which is considered to be their ancestor.

Dragons or Gods?

Chinese Dragons

In China, it is believed that the dragon is the first creature that created humans, and some historical documents state that the god itself is the shape of a dragon and snake mixed with a fish-like structure, it is also believed that some emperors of China are from the dragon.

No 9 and Dragon

In Chinese tribal history, it Is believed that dragon is of nine different kinds and each one has a specific ability to protect the world, the number nine and the yellow color “ which is believed to be the color of the dragon” can be seen widely in Chinese Architecture and art widely.

The Dragon symbol and the number 9

In China’s ancient days’s number nine and the dragon symbol along with the yellow color were reserved for the emperors and common people were not allowed to use all the mentioned, to show the mighty of emperors the symbol, color, and number were reserved for emperors.

Dragon and weather

The Chinese dragon is believed to protect the weather of the nation and agriculture along with it, in ancient days farmers used to pray to the dragon before and after harvest, we can even witness that China is the country with most temples to honor the dragon.

Dragon dance in the New Year

Chinese Dragons

Dragon dance in the New Year is one of the most famous traditions followed by the Chinese every year, in china even boats are decorated like a dragon and they conduct a dragon boat race every year, people used to form dragon-like shapes and dance at the New Year eve every year, this tradition is followed to ward off the evil spirit and to protect them throughout the year.

Historical leader as Dragons?

Chinese Dragons

Legendary leaders like Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King, Deng Xiaoping, and Vladimir Putin were all born in Dragon Year and it is believed that because of that they became superior and celebrated by many people.

Dragon suite

Only the emperors are allowed to wear dresses with dragon symbols designed in them and it is also believed that the emperor wears the dragon symbol because they are the descendants of the dragon.

Types of Dragons and their powers

Chinese Dragons are considered of nine different types and colors and each color has a specific superpower to protect the people of China and its emperors, blue and green dragons are to protect nature and agriculture, black and white dragons are to protect the various seasons of the country, yellow and gold dragon are believed to give royal status and superior power to the emperors, finally red dragons are believed to spread and give happiness along with good fortunes to people.