Bricks vs CLC Blocks - Comparison of House Construction Cost

With the rising cost of everything around and with living expenses going higher and higher, if you head towards constructing a house of your own, then you will have to go deep into details for the material you will use and the structure that will be of your choice. The major issue is that it should fit into your budget, and you will aim to lower as much cost as possible, but keeping the safety and long-lasting ingredients.

What are the CLC Blocks?

When it comes to the choice of structure of the house that you will utilize in the construction, CLC blocks, and bricks grey structure are two major options. CLC Blocks are a cement-bonded material that is made with the blend of the slurry of the cement.

What is Bricks Grey Structure?

On the other hand, bricks grey structure is whatever looks grey when the structure is built, it can be walls, foundation, roof, underground water tank, cement plaster to a wall, septic tank, and the roof water tank.

CLC Blocks vs Brick Grey Structure

If we compare them both, then CLC Blocks are very light in weight as compared to the bricks grey structure, and it ranges from 300 to 1800 Kg/m3, which is three times less than even the olay or fly ash blocks. Also, CLC Blocks are eco-friendly as compared to the other blocks because it does not harm the environment.

Moreover, CLC Blocks keep the house cool in summers and warm in winters because they are excellent sound insulators. The thicker the block, the more will be advantages to it. The CLC Blocks have lower water absorption properties as compared to the other blocks as ordinary bricks absorb about 50% to 80% of water. The lower water-absorbing quality of these bricks leads to no cracks in walls.

Along with the advantages, CLC Blocks offers grate fire protection and offers fire endurance for transmitting head for 4 hours with no release of any toxic fumes during the fire. These blocks are easy to handle and install right away and cost much less than the brick grey structure.

Frame Structure Vs Brick Construction

In Lahore, brick construction structure is mostly preferred, and it is suggested to go for frame structure because there are many advantages to it: as we do not have good material of mud available for the bricks. After all, with the increased construction, the demand for bricks is increasing. With the increased demand for the bricks, the quality of bricks is badly falling. While frame structure gives strength to your structure and if you use CLC Blocks in it then as they are waterproof and heatproof, you will enjoy both advantages.

Per Square Feet Cost of CLC Blocks

Regular Brick Structure

There are two options in construction, that are with a basement or without a basement. The per square feet cost of the regular brick structure without basement ranges from 1400 to 1450 Rs., while the per square feet cost of regular brick structure with basement ranges from 1750 to 1800 Rs.

Frame Structure with Bricks

If we talk about frame structure per square feet cost of frame structure with bricks, without a basement, then it ranges from 1600 to 1650 Rs., while the per square feet cost of frame structure with bricks, with basement, is between 2000 to 2050 Rs.

Frame Structure with CLC Blocks

Heading towards the Frame Structure with CLC Blocks, the cost per square feet of frame structure with CLC blocks, without a basement, will range from 1800 to 1900 Rs., while with basement, the cost per square feet of the frames structure with CLC Blocks will fall between Rs. 2150 to 2250.

Calculating Total Cost in Terms of 10 Marla & 1 Kanal

To calculate the total cost of the expenses, let us take an example of 10 Marla and 1 Kanal. The covered area of 10 Kanal will be 3400 sq. ft without basement while with the basement it will be 4400 sq. ft. The covered area of 1 Kanal without a basement will be 5400 Sq.ft, while with the basement it will be 8100 sq. ft.

Calculating Total Brick Cost 

Regular Brick Structure

In a regular brick structure, without a basement, the total cost of 10 marlas will be Rs.4,930,000, for 1 Kanal, the total cost will be Rs.7,830,000. While with basement, regular structure brick`s total cost of 10 Marla will be Rs.7,700,000, and for 1 Kanal, the total cost with the basement will be Rs. 14,1017,500.

Frame Structure with Bricks

The total cost of Frame Structure with Bricks, without a basement. Within 10 marla covered area will be Rs.5,610,000, while for 1 Kanal, the total cost will be Rs.8,910,000. While with the basement, the 10 marla`s total cost will be Rs.8,800,000, and for 1 Kanal, the total cost will be Rs.16,200,000.

Frame Structure with CLC Blocks

Frame Structure with CLC Blocks, without a basement, in 10 Marla will make a total cost of Rs.6,290,000and for 1 Kanal, the total cost will be Rs.9,990,000. While with the basement, for 10 marlas, the total cost will be Rs.9,680,000, while the total cost of 1 Kanal will be Rs.17,820,000.

From this cost analysis, we can see that the cost of frame structure with bricks is 15% costly than regular brick structure, and frame structure with CLC blocks are 25% expensive than regular brick structure. It might be a drawback for some people because of the 15% to 25% higher cost of the CLC Blocks, but if we look into its advantages, then they are more in number and last for a longer period.

You build a house for once in life and when you build a house you consider it getting built for about 25 to 30 years. If you do not use capable enough material, then you will already be at lost, and the house will not last long in its best shape.