When buying or constructing an individual house, understanding construction quality is crucial to ensure safety, durability, and long-term savings. Here’s a detailed explanation of key components:
🧱 1. Sand vs Robo Sand vs Quarry Dust
🏖️ Natural River Sand
- Pros:
- Good particle shape and texture.
- Excellent workability with cement.
- Cons:
- Expensive and scarce in many regions.
- Illegal mining/environmental issues.
⚙️ Robo Sand (Manufactured Sand or M-Sand)
- Made by crushing granite rocks.
- Pros:
- Consistent quality, no impurities.
- Better for concrete strength.
- Economical and sustainable.
- Cons:
- Slightly rougher texture — less workability in plaster (can be mixed with river sand).
👉 Recommended use:
- Robo Sand for concrete (slabs, beams, columns).
- River Sand for plastering.
- Some builders mix 70% Robo + 30% River Sand for plaster to balance cost and finish.
🌫️ Quarry Dust
- Waste product from crushers.
- Not ideal for major concrete work.
- Can be used in:
- Flooring base fill, roads, paver blocks.
- Not preferred for plaster or structural work due to poor binding and high fines.
🧱 2. Cement Types & Grades
Common Types Used in Residential Construction:
- OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement):
- Grade 53: High early strength, used in RCC, slabs.
- Grade 43: Used in masonry, plaster, and non-load-bearing works.
- PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement):
- More durable, slow setting — used for walls, plaster, brickwork.
- Better for long-term strength & waterproofing.
📝 Tip:
- For structural work (columns, beams, slab) → OPC 53 is preferred.
- For plaster, masonry → PPC is economical and better for finish.
Popular Brands in India: Ultratech, ACC, Dalmia, Ramco, Bharathi, JK Cement
💦 3. Curing (Post-Construction Watering)
✅ Why it’s critical
- Prevents cracks.
- Helps cement hydrate and gain full strength.
- Increases long-term durability.
⏳ Curing Time (Minimum)
- Slabs & Beams: 14–21 days.
- Walls / Plastering: 7–10 days.
- Columns & Footing: 7–10 days.
🚫 Poor Curing Results In:
- Surface cracks, reduced strength, shrinkage.
- Higher maintenance in long run.
Pro Tip: Ask your builder about curing methods. Ensure regular water spraying or wet covering is done daily after concrete work.
🔍 4. Quick On-Site Checks for Construction Quality
| Feature | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Brick Quality | Tap a brick — should produce ringing sound. Should not absorb water >15%. |
| Concrete | Check slab for honeycombing (holes), cracks, proper formwork. |
| Sand | Rub in hand — should not be too fine or too muddy. |
| Steel Reinforcement | Ensure proper coverage (minimum 25mm concrete cover). Rust-free steel. |
| Cement Storage | Stored away from moisture, raised from ground. Bags should be recent (within 3 months). |
| Curing | Ensure slab and wall curing is visibly done daily. |