Built in a day

Wooden construction is considered expensive and difficult. However, what if a cottage could be built in a day, and a home in a month?

Prefabricated wooden planks are light and easy to maintain in the long run

It was while building a house in Kodaikanal that Murugesan Durai, proprietor, Prakruti Construction, realised the futility of adopting traditional construction methods there. He says, “Building a small cottage using brick and mortar would take close to two years in hill stations. Apart from the difficulty in sourcing labour, I had to procure raw materials from towns such as Salem and then transport them at a high cost. Not just that, the erratic climate would further delay construction. This got me thinking about faster and more affordable methods of completing projects.” It is at this point that he noticed the extensive use of wood in some of the older schools in Kodaikanal. Despite being over a hundred years old, these wooden structures had withstood the test of time.

“A friend told me about prefabricated wooden planks that can be sourced from countries such as Canada and Finland. The wood comes from 50-year-old pine trees and these companies are actively replanting trees as well. So I brought a few planks down to a factory here and learnt how to use them effectively. After a bit of planning, we were able to build a 300-sq.ft. house in Kodaikanal in just one day,” says Murugesan.

After designing, the planks are put together like Lego blocks, and the wooden structure is ready to be moved to the construction site. “Wood is lighter than steel so it requires a basic foundation, making it faster to construct. Also, wood doesn't rust, making maintenance easier as well,” he says.

With the efficiency the material promises, Murugesan says even two and three bedroom homes can be completed within a month. Also, as wood is an effective thermal insulator (almost 14-15 times better than concrete), use of the material in tropical cities such as Chennai is ideal. “It is energy-efficient too. For instance, one needs to keep the air-conditioner on for long to maintain coolness. With wood, it takes a much shorter time to cool and the effect lasts longer. Moreover, it absorbs carbon dioxide.”

But doesn’t wood involve risks of leakage and termite damage? “Not if you source it from a reputed company. We get ours from Canada where temperatures dip well below zero. A leak or breakage in construction there could have severe consequences,” he points out.

Prakruti is currently building wooden cottages in Yercaud starting at Rs. 37 lakh. For details, contact 09444334689.