by Metal fabrication works contributes nearly 10-15% of the construction cost on an average. Those works usually help in improving the aesthetic appeal of a home. In this article, I have listed the six common metal fabricated elements that are relevant in every form of construction. Also, you will learn about the materials used and the average cost of the elements to be fabricated.
Firstly, these are major materials used for metal fabrication works:
- Mild steel fabrication – This contains a smaller amount of carbon in the steel. So the lesser presence of carbon makes them less hard and easier to use.
- Galvanized iron fabrication – Galvanization is a process in which the substrate is coated with a layer of zinc to protect the material from corrosion and further rusting. The ductility of pure iron is very high and contains no carbon. The zinc coating extends the life span of iron or steel.
- Aluminum fabrication – Aluminium channels and sections that are available in the marketplace is expensive than steel, but is it three times lighter as well. However, aluminum is not recommended for load-bearing sections.
- Stainless steel fabrication – Stainless steel materials have very high corrosion resistance with a surface that does not tarnish or stain because it contains chromium as an alloy. It possess more strength than other forms of steel but is most expensive of the lot.
Now, let’s take a look at the 6 metal fabricated elements!
1. Grills
Grills are major elements in a home fabrication like in window grills, ventilation grills, partition grills, etc. Metal grills are made with different kinds of steel elements because it is durable and have more strength than other metals.
Firstly, let us consider grills for the windows and ventilation. In the case of window grill designs, consider window frames made of concrete or wood. This way, we can avoid the cost of metal fabrication and installation of the outer grill. If you are on a budget, use mild steel and galvanized iron channels for pipes.
If you are placing grills in the wall areas of the building and the compound wall, make sure to make the grill before the partition work starts and to install along with the work of the walls. This will help us reduce the cost of additional metal fabrication and masonry work. The normal grill work costs Rs 150 per kilogram.
2. Handrail
The handrail is commonly made using mild steel, stainless steel, galvanized iron, wood, acrylic-based materials, glass, metal sheets extra. The unit of measurement of handrails is taken in running feet. The common height of handrails is 90 centimeters. The balustrades are provided according to the design and the support needed for the handrail. For budget homes, consider handrails that are made of low size galvanized iron channels with epoxy primer and matt or satin enamel finish. This will cost about 600-800 rupees per running foot. Besides, it provides an elegant look.
3. Stair
Stairs are another major fabricated element in every home. There are two kinds of stairs based on their usage. One is used inside the home to move from one floor to another floor and the other is an external stair that is used as service stair to get to the top of the home. It is at times termed as a fire stair.
The staircase made with concrete is the best option for the main stair in budget houses. Meanwhile, for the external staircase, consider fabricated stairs because that can be made in a day. The cost-effective external stairs can be made by using 3inchX1inch GI channel for the flight and the stair steps. Just need to make sure strength is enough to hold wait for more than a hundred kilograms.
If you’re looking for a designer external staircase, you can use medium-sized channels of galvanized iron. Also, you can create steps by using the same size and square pieces.
Normal staircase will cost nearly Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000.
4. Gate
Gates plays an important role in the external look of a home. Gates are made from mild steel, stainless steel, galvanized iron, and aluminium. Gates come with many kinds of cladding like cement fiberboard based cladding, wood polymer composite based cladding, stainless steel rounds and pipes, high-pressure laminate HPL cladding, solid wooden cladding, and aluminium composite panel cladding.
For budget homes, consider cement fiberboard based cladding, stainless steel rounds, and pipes for the beautification purpose. They will cost nearly Rs 300 to Rs 350 per square feet.
5. Roofing
Roofing is a major kind of fabrication that is used in a house for the purpose of better looks, to reduce the temperature inside the house, waterproofing purposes etc. It protects the roof slab from direct sunlight, rain, and other extreme weather conditions.
Different roofing materials are available in the market according to the purpose and quality. The options are galvanized iron roofing sheet, aluminIum roofing sheet, cement fiber-based roofing sheets, polycarbonate sheets, puff panel, ceramic roofing tiles, clay tiles roofing shingles, and Chinese tiles.
For budget homes, my recommendation is galvanized iron roofing sheets with small sections of galvanized iron (1×1 for purlins and 2×1 for rafters). This will provide long durability. They are available in different varieties of color and different models.
This kind of roofing model will cost an average of Rs 80 to Rs 100 per square feet.
6. Canopy and Pergola
Canopy and pergola can be made up of two components – (1) metal-based frames (2) transparent film. They are mainly used for transferring light into the living area. So the covering material must be transparent in nature.
Small-sized mild steel square tubes with a transparent poly-carbonate sheet will do its best for the budget homes. In this option, poly-carbonate sheets are durable and that won’t get dirty too easily. It is available in different shades and thicknesses. Small-sized sections are enough for the support of the poly-carbonate sheet due to its lesser weight compared to the glass.
The pergolas and canopies made with poly-carbonate sheets will cost nearly Rs 150 to Rs 170 per sqft according to the quality and thickness of the poly-carbonate sheet used.
That’s all about the affordable choices to choose metal fabrication. If you want more budget home tips, check out this article – Dream Home on a Budget – Part 1: Tips to Select Affordable Doors and Windows for Your Home.
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