3 Reasons That Make Patio a Must

Getting a house built isn’t the easiest of tasks to undertake.  Well, if you are a fan of spacious houses, then you must have seen a number of patios. Now, patios are preferred by a large number of house owners because they allow people to spend some time with family and friends. If you already have a patio, then you will be well aware of the joys of having a hearty cup of tea with family and friends on a rainy evening while sitting in the patio area. 

Here is why you need to go for a patio:

The Perfect Outdoor Entertainment Venue

If you are an outdoorsy kind of a guy, then patios are tailor-made for you. Spending time outside the house is loved by just about everybody. If you love embracing nature while having a hearty cup of tea with friends and relatives, then don’t think twice before going for a patio. Not a lot of cement will be used to lay down the foundation of the patio, which means the cost of cement used won’t witness a significant surge. 

Lends an Element of Design

If design is your thing, then having a patio is definitely going to excite you.  Also, they make your property look ‘spacious’ and lavish. The good thing about the patio is: it can be developed anywhere (in the backyard or in the front) and you do not require too much space to set up a patio. Furthermore, its ‘ornamental’ aspect cannot be undermined as it helps make your house sleek and elegant.

Has an Impact on the House’s Resale Value

The cost of cement incurred in order to get a patio set up won’t require you to break the bank. Also, since a number of people are warming up to patios, it means that a lot of them will be willing to pay you a slight premium in order to acquire a house with a patio. 

MP Birla Cement is best suited for you if you are planning to get a patio built in the backyard. The good thing is: you do not need to go for a specialized type of cement in order to get the patio built. The best cement for roofing can also be used for laying down the patio’s foundation. MP Birla Cement brings you the best cement in town to lay down your patio.  Go for MP Birla cement and you will stay covered for the rest of your life.

Choosing the Right Cement that Make all the Difference During Construction

The foundation defines the durability of any structure whether a building, bride, or roadways. The materials we choose has an impact on the outcome of the construction. Cement is one of the most important material used in construction. Construction of reservoirs, marine structures, cooling towers, railway sleepers, industrial buildings, dams, bridges, flyovers, runways, or metro line, requires different grades of cement. You can check samples before buying cement online from any website.

The major categories of cement are Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), Portland Slag Cement (PSC). The quality of cement determines the durability and makes it weather-proof from hazardous conditions like storms, snow, rain, etc. OPC is the most widely used cement used for high-strength pre-cast concrete and plaster. It is available in OPC-43 Grade and OPC-53 Grade. OPC is ideally applied for high- rise buildings, commercial structures, roadways & runways, flyovers. PPC is cement made of gypsum and pozzolanic materials like fly ash and silica-rich earth. It is used for brick masonry, plastering, tiling & waterproofing. PPC is ideally applied for plaster & brickwork, marine work, mass concrete work, RCC work & residential construction. It is one of the largest producers of PPC cement. MP Birla is the best cement for RCC, roofs, slabs, pillars, and plastering. Some of their flagship products are MP Birla Cement Perfect, MP Birla Unique, Chetak, etc. They also manufacture premium quality white cement and slag cement.

PSC is a blended cement, comprising 90% glass with silicates and alumino-silicates of lime. It is created with a combination of 45-50% slag, 45-50 % clinker, and 3-5 % Gypsum. It is majorly used for a pre-cast concrete product, foundations and piles construction, water retaining structures and to add a superior finish. Slag cement is ideally applied for mass concrete works, dams, concrete road, flyovers and marine construction. MP Birla cement unique is one of the top-selling PSC cements with fewer cracks and gives an excellent finish to a structure. OPC cement sets faster than other brands of cement and makes the construction stronger. This type of cement provides a denser concrete paste matrix by reducing the pore size. Denser cement creates a protective shield from the air, water, harmful chemicals, and CO2. To keep the construction timelines intact, fast setting cement is advisable. Weather is a big determinant in the finishing of any construction project

Having a good understanding of cement types and other materials will help you to be more involved in the construction project. 

Here’s Why you Need to go for Reliable Cement Suppliers

It goes without saying that cement is the heart and soul of a construction project. Take cement out of the building material and you will be left with nothing more than piles of bricks and iron rods.  In all fairness, cement is the first thing that is bound to come to mind the moment you think of kickstarting a construction project.  

Moment you hit the market to procure raw materials, you’ll come across a large number of cement suppliers. It won’t be wrong to say that no all cement suppliers you come across will provide you with high-quality cement.

Here are a few reasons to go for reliable cement suppliers:

Cement is a Long-term Investment

Those in the construction business will readily agree with this statement. See, the thing is: you don’t get a house built every 2 years, do you? It is a long-term investment that goes past your lifetime and is often passed over to your children. Therefore, it is important on your part to get a house built that can withstand the rigours and vigours of time. In order to ensure the same, you need to put only the best-quality cement to use. If you are searching for the best-quality cement, then get in touch with some of the experienced folks as they’ll be able to guide you well.

Poor-quality Cement is a Waste of Money and Effort

Well, that’s quite obvious, but a lot of us, especially the first-time buyers, tend to make this mistake. The thing is: a lot of us go for poor-quality cement for the sake of saving a few bucks, which is a bad practice. If you are looking for the “best cement shop near me” on Google, then go for the once that are well known in and around the area.  Word of mouth has an important role to play in the choices we make.

Using Poor-quality Cement can be Fatal

What if a wall made using poor-quality cement ends up collapsing? Not only would it result in monetary loss but can also cause a severe injury. To keep things safe for everybody, make sure you do not go for something that isn’t meant to give you long-term benefit. Get the house inspectors to undertake a comprehensive inspection before you plan on getting anything renovated.

Go for MP Birla cement if you are looking to buy bags of cement for kickstarting your new construction/renovation project.  MP Birla Cement is here to put to rest all of your needs pertaining to cement procurement.

Structures that Adhere to Safe Architectural Standards

As we entered a new millennium, we are witnessing more natural catastrophic incidences than ever. The year started with wildfires, earthquakes and everything else. The consequences of global warming are manifold. These events can wreak havoc on human life, wildlife and the environment. Together we can make a difference in combating the disastrous effects of these unforeseen events. However, prevention is also the best way to go about it.

Earthquakes have become a regular occurrence causing massive damages. While no structure can be fully earthquake proof, engineers are using innovative techniques and designs to safeguard new structures. These construction techniques help to reduce destruction and save precious lives. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6 Richter scale and above can damage any building. Lack of habitable land and increasing human population are leading to the construction of high-rise buildings that stand at a higher risk of being destroyed by earthquakes. It is also easier to evacuate people through stairs in a low-rise building compared to a high-rise building. However, modern evacuation techniques are often inbuilt in tall buildings. A popular example would be the World trade centre tragedy in 2011, many people could not make it to the ground floor because of the height of the building. Engineers are striving to create partially earthquake-resistant structures. Unreinforced bricks plastered with mortar are dangerous structures and can be reduced to rubble in case of any seismic shock waves. MP Birla is one of the best cement companies in India. The major types of cement manufactured by MP Birla are OPC, PSC, and PPC.

Portland Slag cement is used to create strong and durable structures. If you are constructing your building, get the best durable Portland cement for general construction work.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest mega-structure in the world standing at a height of 2722 feet. This massive skyscraper can withstand earthquakes up to 7 Richter scale. It is built on a 52-foot-deep steel and concrete foundation. The vertical and horizontal loadings are supported by a unique truss system, making it resistant to torsional movements. Shanghai tower with a height of 2000 feet, is the second tallest building in the world. The site is primarily filled with soft, clay-based soil. To make this structure earthquake resistant, engineers incorporated 980 piles and secured 2.15 million cubic feet of reinforced concrete. It also consists of a tuned mass damper to control swaying during earthquake or high winds. A series of shock absorbers helps in optimal counterbalancing. Taipei 101 located in Taiwan is one of the tallest structures in the world. It has a massive internal damper to control swaying and minimize the possibility of structural damage, in case of an earthquake. Recently a few Earthquakes occurred in Northern Indian region.

The foundation of any building is the most important of any other part. Stay updated with the latest architectural innovations in the construction industry.

Ways to Shortlist Real Estate Projects Before Buying (2nd Edition)

In edition 1, we discussed about the ways that will help you shortlist real estate projects before buying. In a market full of real estate builders and projects, it’s difficult and overwhelming to choose the best out of the lot.

However, choosing the best white cement manufacturer and other construction materials isn’t a big task as MP Birla Cement is the frontrunner in concrete game. When it comes to the durability of concrete and endurance of their construction materials, MP Birla Cement is unbeatable.

Let’s resume detailing the important parameters to help you in quick shortlisting of projects:

·         Comparison of Master & Floor Plans

Going at the higher level, analyse the detailed master plan and floor plan of the building. Take into account the number and height of towers, number of floors, apartments at each floor, and then shortlist the project if it suits your preference and needs.

Check and compare the super-built area against the carpet area and see what’s available for consumption. Higher the better! The number of rooms, balconies, utility area, servant rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms available in each flat should match with what your preferences are.

·         Building & Nearby Amenities

Whether you’re single sharing the flat with your mates or a family with kids or without kids, make sure you make a detailed list of must-have amenities to be surrounded with, at all times. For families with/without kids, it is great if the building has sports and fitness-related amenities like Gym, Jogging Track, Courts (Badminton, Basketball etc), Toddler Swimming Pool, Kids Play Area, Creche etc

For families living with elderly, it’s good to have a lawn, small park, yoga/meditation area, medical store, in-house doctor’s clinic, and a reading lounge or library. Another crucial prerequisite to look for is the provision of ample parking space for every flat owner with ideal 2 spots for each a 4-wheeler and 2-wheeler.

·         Compare Bank Loans & Payment Schemes

Always make sure you check and compare the list of associated banks with the project offering home loans. Prefer the one that has tie-up with PSU banks like SBI, PNB, or Allahabad Bank as these banks have a more diligent process of checking documents and the builder’s history where private banks are lacking. PSU banks also carry lower rate of interest and easy payment schemes.

·         Mandatory Clearances

Yet another important criterion for shortlisting a project is the necessary clearances. Check whether your builder has acquired necessary clearances in order to operate as a provider and if these clearances are available to check on request.

Some of the important clearances to check are:

o   Land Registration or Title Deed of the property (in the name of Builder)

o   Encumbrance Certificate (certifies property is free from legal dues)

o   No Objection Certificate (given to Builder from land Seller)

o   Fire Department NOC (to be obtained during pre-construction phase)

o   Environmental clearance (to be obtained from state Pollution Control Boards)

o   Commencement Certificate (certifies commencement of construction)

·         Completion Timeline

Check carefully for the project completion date and never believe on the verbal dates told by the sales person in their pitch. Usually the verbal dates committed always exceed the actual completion time. Check and believe the time mentioned in the sales agreement and the grace period beyond which the builder is made to compensate you.

Apart from above, make sure you check for the quality of construction materials used, durability of concrete, and others because these factors ultimately decide the endurance of the building. Make sure you look for the tag of trusted white cement manufacturers to never regret your decision.

How to Test Quality of Cement at Construction Site?

How to Know Which is the Best Cement Brand in India

Quality test of cement at construction site is also called the cement field test and are essentially carried out to ascertain the quality of the cement received while construction process is going on. Although you may have procured cement from the best cementmanufacturers in India, it’s critical you do a field test to be sure of the quality of the cement as concrete is one of the most pivotal building construction materials that leads to a strong foundation.

Carrying out this field test on cement quality based on colour, touch and feel and other tests can be done in the following manner:

Cement Test at Construction Site

1.   Colour Test

If you ever get confused as to which is the best cement brand in India, just try out this simple cement colour test to get the answer. Quality of the best cement can be easily ascertained by its colour. If you procured the cement from a leading cement manufacturer in India like M P Birla Cement, their cement’s colour is always uniform grey with a light greenish shade.

2.   Lump Test

The best quality cement should be free of any hard lumps and should have a coarse but smooth texture. Cement forms lumps when it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and such cement is unfit for construction.

3.   Adulteration Test

The cement has to be checked for adulteration too before taking it up for construction. The best quality cement should feel smooth on rubbing between fingers and if it feels coarse, it signals adulteration with sand.

4.   Temperature Test

If you insert a hand inside the cement bag, it should feel cold and not at all warm. This indicates your cement bag is from a leading cement manufacturer in India like MP Birla Cement.

5.   Float Test

Float test is yet another cement field test to know which is the best cement brand in India that offers quality cement. This is carried out by throwing small amount of cement in a bucket of water and see if they settle at the bottom or float above. If they float above for sometime before settling at the bottom, it’s the sign of a premium quality cement.

6.   Setting Test

Setting test is another solid test to know the cement quality at the construction site. Make a thick paste of cement with water on a glass plate and keep it under water for 24 hours. The best quality cement, from a leading cement manufacturer in India like MP Birla cement, wouldn’t crack and stay put after 24 hours.

7.   Strength Test

A block of cement 25 mm × 25 mm and 200 mm long is prepared and it is immersed for 7 days in water. It is then placed on supports 15cm apart and loaded with a weight of about 34 kg. if you’ve bought the cement from a reputed cement manufacturer in India like MP Birla Cement then the block should not show signs of failure.

8.   Packaging Date

It’s no brainer to figure out that the strength of cement reduces over time and thus it gets all the more important to always look for the packaging date on the cement bag. Generally, a bag of cement with less than 90 days of manufacturing date is fit to use.

Why You Should Put Rajasthan in Your Travel Bucket List

India is an incredible country filled with beautiful places to visit. This country has so much to offer in respect of nature, culture, food, values, etc. Some of the amazing destinations in India are Kerala, Himachal, Rajasthan, North-East. Rajasthan has a rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine, and astounding natural beauty.

If you are looking for a beautiful place filled with serenity and calm, visit Udaipur. The city of lakes attracts visitors from all over the world. The picturesque lakes, medieval forts, and delicious Rajasthani food, all contribute to the charm and beauty of this place. Every tourist visiting the city of lakes wants to stay in the best accommodations. Apart from the mainstream luxury hotels, there are many lesser-known boutique hotels that will surprise you with royal hospitality, mouthwatering food and a closer view of Rajasthani culture. If you like traveling on a budget and looking for a boutique place, check out our recommendations:

Lake Pichola Hotel is a heritage hotel is one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Udaipur overlooking the pristine lake Pichola. The architecture of this hotel transports you to a fascinating era of Rajasthani culture and tradition. Enjoy a meal under the starlit sky in their al-fresco restaurant, Upre by 1559 A.D. Hotel Fateh Garh is one of the finest luxury hotels in Udaipur offering world-class accommodation experience. This hotel offers interesting activities like zip-lining, jeep safari, or a vintage car sight-seeing.  As most of the hotels in Udaipur are surrounded by water, the cement used for the construction is strong and resilient. Mostly OPC cement is best cement in India for general construction work. Hotel Udai Kothi is rated as one of the best boutique hotels in India. This beautiful property has restaurants, pool, spa, and a concierge service. Enjoy the sunset across the Udaipur skyline with a cup of tea from your room. It is also a popular venue for destination weddings in Rajasthan. The pristine exteriors of this hotel are painted with white cement, that easily blends with the surroundings. Hotel Swaroop Vilas is a haveli style boutique hotel in Udaipur offers a peaceful getaway surrounding the Lake Swaroop Sagar. It is tucked in greenery, offering stunning views of the lake. Indulge in authentic Rajasthani food at the terrace bar while soaking in the serene ambiance. Madri Haveli is a 300-year old property belonged to King of Madri. It has only 14 rooms, which are renovated while restoring the authenticity of the property. The renovation was undertaken by a French designer that took over 6 years to complete. Every corner of this room has a rich heritage, history, and character. Get your camera to capture some captivating moments if you are staying in this magnificent hotel. Jaiwana Haveli is a haveli-style hotel which has 24 rooms with all modern amenities. You can book a lake view room at this hotel. It features a rooftop restaurant that offers delicious Rajasthani cuisine and breathtaking views of Lake Pichola.

There are daily flights to Udaipur that operates from all over the country. Plan your visit today to this beautiful city.