STAIR CASE HAND RAIL
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Dear Mr.Thomas,
Introducing myself Sunil from Trichur working in Qatar.
Regarding Stair case handrail for my new home, requesting your help and valuable suggestion.
Which will be economic wood (Jack fruit) or Stainless steel work.
Could you give me few photos of handrail work, (wood and steel) and some info regarding this matter.
Expecting your valuable reply.
My Reply
Stair case hand rails can be made with teak wood,Mahogany wood,poopparuthy wood and may not be with Anjily or Jack fruit wood.
Basically no commercial supplier will use Jack fruit as the wood only after cutting and sawing will reveal what is inside.Some times there will be huge gaps causing heart burn for the wood working seller.If you have own jack fruit tree you can cut it and use it for door window frames using labour may be on daily wages basis.
Steel hand rails with glass is another option.It may look good.But wooden hand rails possibly with hand carving can be more aesthetic looking with traditional Kerala elements
Our blogs and Facebook pictures,websites have quite a lot of stair hand rail pictures.But just trying to copy them will not help.You need professional guidance and help
Remodeling existing house
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Menon has left a new comment on your post "Queries and replies-House design,construction ,rem...":
I am a retiree in Cochin residing in Chittoor Road. I have two houses separated hardly by 5-10 ft. I am interested in joining the terraces together and have a terrace garden and retreat with a small bed room, bath and kitchen on one so that It can be self contained also. I need someone to conceptualize the idea so that I can look at the possibilities. Can you do it please? or can you recommend someone please?
My reply
There is something funny about all remodeling/renovation attempts of old houses.
People who think of such work consider it as a way to beat higher cost in building a new house.Some modification here and there appears to be costing very little.In reality,it is the other way and in my opinion never try to remodel old buildings which has outlived its life and style.No one can predict how much remodeling/renovation may cost.
Look at these unpredictable aspects related to an old building
1.No one knows from outside about structural stability of the building which might not have been built with professional design and monitoring.Some illiterate contractor might have acted as Architect and Structural consultant for the building.
2.When you start breaking building parts,then only you get to know how they actually constructed those building parts and then your Consultant has to decide how to move about
3.How can any one estimate or predict cost of unknown work involved?So all your estimates for cost are simple guesses not worth much.
So you attempt renovation/remodeling only if the building has enormous sentimental values for you and you simply do not bother about cost in retaining the old building with a new face lift.
I need a site visit to comment on what can be done on the building.Careful sketches has to be made on existing and modified building.All these involve more desk work than in the case of a new building
RUBBLE WORK FOR FOUNDATION
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Rubble work for Foundation of House construction":
As you mentioned above about the DR Masonry,If design having Columns in Sit out area in between rubble masonry wall, how will make the foundation
My reply
First of all such Anonymous posting of comments in my blogs will delay or in some cases avoid reply to you
I will reply to any one who writes to me to my email id
That is the better fastest way to get my response to your queries.
When it comes to building construction at least people in Kerala think that they know everything.All that they have is some doubts which can be cleared by asking such questions.
Right person to answer your queries on Foundation of your building is that professional who has studied your site conditions well and who have drawings of your building.I have never visited your site.I have not seen design of your building.Then how can I give proper answers on what should be done for foundation of your building?
MY NEGETIVE REPLIES
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "#Kerala House Construction-Replies to your queries...":
Why are you so negative in responding to normal inquiries
My reply
That is a good question!
What do we gain by being positive always?.When there is something to be criticised,I believe that it should be criticised without any hesitation.Without such criticism,we will never grow or improve.Apple was falling on heads of every one even before it hit head of Mr.Newton.
For the first time he thought differently and questioned it:”Why should apple fall down only? Why not up?”That made history
So we should not be hesitant in criticising wrong habits,procedures,thinking.I am not being negative for the sake of negative.I try to correct common beliefs which are incorrect by being little negative.
