Despite the tough economic times, the construction industry seems to be holding on well. Part of the resilience has been due to the innovation that is happening in the industry.
The construction industry in Kenya is a huge market. The market was estimated at $17.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow by more than five percent between 2024 and 2027.
Despite the tough economic times, the construction industry seems to be holding on well. Part of the resilience has been due to the innovation that is happening in the industry.
This innovative culture in the industry has brought forth construction technologies that make construction affordable and efficient.
This article will look into five technologies that can reduce construction costs and save time.
Precast Concrete Slabs
Precast concrete slabs have become a staple in the construction industry. These are concrete elements that are manufactured off-site and transported to the construction site for installation. They have gained notoriety because of their affordability, efficiency, versatility, and durability.
These concrete slabs allow for design flexibility, which enhances customization to meet specific project demands. Customization helps save on cost by reducing material usage or the need for additional structural elements.
Image of a concrete slab. /FILE
In addition, while constructing using these concrete slabs, you have minimal site disruption since they are manufactured off-site. The minimal disruption increases construction efficiency and reduces downtime on site.
Precast concrete slabs also enable you to save on labour costs. Since they are not being constructed on site, they allow you to have only installation labour which can be significantly less compared to if the slabs were to be made on site.
You also save on labour costs by reducing the time needed to install the precast slabs. Since they can be customised according to specifications, the amount of time needed to install them is significantly reduced too.
These slabs also save on rework and repair services. It is easy to conduct quality control on each slab to ensure everything is high quality. This reduces wear and tear and unaccounted-for repairs.
Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) Panels
Expanded polystyrene panels are a thick foam made from polystyrene balls similar to the material used in packaging to prevent items from moving in boxes.
Typically, these panes are about 1.2m by 3m by 3 inches but they can be manufactured to different specifications upon request. During construction, these panels are sandwiched between welded mesh and screed on each side. The screed-sprayed polystyrene is what serves as a wall.
The EPS panels serve as the structural wall and as insulation to the house. With EPS walls, you do not need to invest in other insulation technologies, such as fibreglass or rigid foam boards. The insulation also saves on power costs in the long run that would be used for heating and cooling the building.
They are also efficient to install due to their lightweight. They require significantly less labour and can easily be cut to size or shape to fit the construction needs, eliminating the need for big machinery and heavy equipment.
These panels are durable since they are resistant to moisture, moulds and pests translating to less maintenance costs.
They are also easy to customise, and transport, not to mention their environmental benefits since they are recyclable.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
Insulated concrete forms are forms used to provide structural support to concrete and are left in place to form part of the wall. ICF forms are placed on the outside and then concrete is poured in between them. This forms the wall of a house or building.
Constructing with ICF is easy and efficient. It required less labour as the panels assembly is simple and straightforward requiring fewer skilled workers and less construction time.
Using ICF also has long-term cost advantages as the forms offer additional insulation which helps you save on energy costs. ICF structures are also low maintenance and require less repair over time, which is a significant saving.
Shipping Container
Shipping container constructions are gaining popularity from constructing business parks, homes and other premises such as lodges and tiny homes. The popularity of shipping container construction is largely due to the savings that such construction affords the builder.
To begin with, shipping containers save on material costs. They are relatively cheaper to acquire compared to traditional construction materials like concrete, steel beams and bricks.
In addition, this form of construction saves on construction time. These containers can be prefabricated and then assembled on site, significantly reducing construction time which can translate into savings on labour.
Furthermore, they require a simplified foundation compared to traditional buildings. Foundation is one of the significant costs in construction projects as it requires excavation, and building which takes up material and labour. Being able to save on the foundation’s costs is a huge save.
Photo of a container home. /ISM CONTAINERS
Moreover, shipping container construction offers flexibility and scalability. The design of the project can be adapted and modified relatively easily compared to traditional construction projects. They are also easy to scale and expand the project. Nonetheless, these containers are reusable. Being able to repurpose these containers eliminated the need to acquire new material, hence saving on cost.
Offsite Construction
Offsite construction refers to the process of manufacturing and assembling building elements at a different location than the final installation location. This decoupling of building processes comes with an array of advantages, including savings on cost.
Offsite construction optimises labour usage. Construction elements can be manufactured in factories that are highly optimised for productivity, hence the usage of less labour. This also reduced the time spent on site because, onsite, only installation happens.
This way of building allows for more streamlined building processes. Reducing snarls and downtime during construction. The streamlined processes also lead to fewer errors, less rework, and eventually a lower cost.
Offsite construction also ensures there is minimal site disruption during construction. This not only saves costs on downtime onsite but also buys you goodwill with the surrounding community as construction is faster with less disruption to their lives.
The quality control is much better with offsite construction. The elements are manufactured by specialised labour and technology and the installation is also done by specialised machinery and labour. This results in fewer defects, reworks, and overall higher-quality construction, ultimately translating to cost savings.
Wrapping Up
There are many technologies used in the construction industry. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, hence why it is preferred by different people for different projects. However, some technologies significantly help in saving on costs, both in the immediate and in the long term. These technologies, as highlighted above, include precast concrete slabs, and EPS.
ICF, shipping containers, and offsite construction. Before choosing a technology to go by, ensure you conduct thorough research and understand the suitability of the technology for your construction project.