The four basic materials of your house, cement, steel, sand and walling blocks, are hidden once the house is finished. Their quality decides how strong and long-lasting it will be. Here is what to know when choosing them.
Cement
The two types you will hear about most are:
- OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement): available in grades 43 and 53. It gains strength faster, and is often preferred for structural concrete.
- PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement): blended with fly ash. It gains strength more slowly but gives good long-term durability, and is widely used for plastering and masonry.
Tips: buy from established brands, check the manufacturing date on the bag (fresh cement performs best), and store bags off the ground, away from moisture.
Steel (TMT bars)
- Residential construction commonly uses Fe500 or Fe500D TMT bars. The “D” grade has higher ductility, which helps the structure bend rather than break under stress.
- Use the bar sizes and grade specified by your structural engineer, not what is convenient on site.
- Check that bars carry the brand and grade markings, and avoid heavily rusted stock.
Sand
- M-sand (manufactured sand): crushed from rock and widely used in Bangalore. Good M-sand is consistent in size and free of dust.
- River sand: increasingly scarce and expensive, and quality varies.
Many builders use concrete-grade M-sand for RCC and finer plastering-grade sand for plaster. Avoid sand with excessive silt or clay.
Walling blocks
| Type | Strengths | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| Red clay bricks | Traditional, good for small repairs and detailing | Quality varies; more joints and mortar |
| Solid concrete blocks | Strong, consistent sizes, faster to lay | Heavier than AAC |
| AAC blocks | Lightweight, good thermal insulation, fast to build | Need suitable adhesive or mortar and careful fixing for heavy fittings |
General buying tips
- Write the brand and grade of every material into your contract.
- Check deliveries against what was agreed.
- Ask for test certificates for steel and cement where available.
- Store materials properly on site; good material can be spoiled by poor storage.
Materials chosen for your home
For residential construction along Mysore Road, in Kengeri, RR Nagar and nearby areas, we specify materials in writing for every package. See our residential construction service or ask for a detailed specification.
