3. Omitting partitions and fixtures:
When considering low costs, it's important not to divide each floor into many small spaces. Think about using furniture to divide the space or adopt a lifestyle that feels like living in a single room.
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4. Consolidation of Water Facilities:
At the N Residence in Kashiba,
one effective way to reduce the amount of plumbing needed for water supply and drainage is to consolidate the bathroom, toilet, washbasin, kitchen, etc., into one location.
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5.While scaling down is a very effective way to reduce costs, if it's too
small, economies of scale will come into play and the cost per square foot
will increase.
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6. Emphasis on Standard Sizes:
To minimize waste of building materials, we value the standard sizes of industrial products. For example, gypsum boards used for wall underlayment are 1.8m or 2.4m in length. This means that a ceiling height of 2.4m is the most efficient ceiling height.
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7. Garage House Using Substrate and Finishing Materials
This is also true for (3) above. There are structural materials with attractive surface patterns that can be used as finishing materials for floors, walls, and ceilings.
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8. Combination of insulation and finishing materials:
For example, there are exterior wall materials that also serve as insulation. These include insulated exterior siding and insulated mortar.
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9. Standardized Lighting Fixtures: Installing the same lighting fixtures in every room of a
Flügel House significantly reduces costs. It also makes replacing light bulbs easier after moving in. LED bulbs are, of course, available.
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10. Labor-saving measures for concrete formwork of foundations and underground beams:
Use of mesh formwork.
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B. Material Selection Criteria
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11. Leaving the manufacturer selection to the construction company:
Each construction company has its own unique procurement routes for system kitchens, unit baths, etc., and some manufacturers offer higher discounts. In such cases, leaving the manufacturer selection to the construction company will result in lower equipment costs.
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12. A Unique Ceramic Artist's House Utilizing Industrial Building Materials and Mass-Produced Products : Industrial products are generally cheaper the more they are distributed in the market. Let's make good use of such materials in a stylish way. Even using ready-made exterior wall materials, you can create a home with such individuality.
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| C. Methods for reducing labor costs |
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13. Reduce the number of trades.
By using the same materials and trades as much as possible, labor costs can be reduced. For example, when finishing walls, it is important to stick to as few trades as possible rather than mixing various materials such as wallpaper, paint, and plaster.
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14. Shortening the Construction Period
: The longer the construction period, the more various expenses are incurred, and the higher the construction cost. So, how can we shorten the construction period? As mentioned before, a simpler approach is essential. Also, dry construction methods should be emphasized. Painted materials require time to dry.
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15. DIY (Do it yourself): We perform tasks such as painting
the veranda wood deck, plastering, furniture making, and exterior construction (landscaping) ourselves at our workplace
. Exterior construction can be done after you've moved in, so I think it's fine for the homeowner to take their time with the work.
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16. Adoption of pre-cut and metal connector construction methods
: In wooden construction, columns and beams are now all processed in factories. However, for complex structures and shapes, carpenters hand-cut each column and beam, which is extremely expensive. Simple forms that can be processed in a factory are desirable.
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D. Choosing a site
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17. In legally regulated
fire prevention zones and semi-fire prevention zones, the use of materials with higher fire resistance is legally required to prevent fires. Therefore, compared to other areas, it is not possible to easily use low-cost materials, resulting in higher costs.
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18. Climate Conditions:
Insulation and window performance vary considerably depending on winter weather conditions. This, in turn, affects costs. While double-glazed aluminum windows are now considered standard, in colder areas, window specifications using insulated plastic can also be considered.
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19. Utilizing land subject to fixed-term leasehold rights
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20. Purchasing land with an existing property:
Land with an existing property is often cheaper. However, there are some things to be aware of. Specifically, under current laws, it may not be possible to build a new house or rebuild on it, and the total cost may be higher when you include the cost of demolishing the existing house. In such cases, it is a common option to consider renovating the existing house and making use of it.
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E. Adoption of competitive bidding
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21. Competitive Bidding
for Courthouse 07:
Obtaining quotes from around three companies is naturally easier for understanding a fair construction price than obtaining a quote from just one company. Understanding a fair construction price and the standards are crucial for cost reduction. Furthermore, competition can greatly increase the likelihood of price reductions.
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F. How to reduce maintenance costs
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22. Maintenance costs for the building itself:
For example, using tiles on the exterior walls is said to reduce cleaning and repainting costs compared to painted finishes. (However, our company recommends painted finishes when considering the overall construction costs). For the interior, you can also consider incorporating finishes that you can repair yourselves.
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23. Utility Costs: Utilizing
solar
power and a performance hall in an all-electric home, along with high insulation specifications, can significantly reduce utility costs. Additionally, improving ventilation and planting deciduous trees to create shade can help lower air conditioning costs.
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24. Installation of inspection hatches:
It would be very inconvenient to have to remove ceilings and walls every time a problem arises. Install inspection hatches in advance in places where problems are likely to occur.
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25.
Of course, you should have insurance such as fire insurance.
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