Low Cost Houses: why are They so Cheap?

29 de November de 2021

Low cost houses are increasingly in fashion as an option to live in the countryside as a second residence. These cheaper houses are also in fashion for those who, fortunately, can telework and do so from anywhere.

Because if the coronavirus pandemic has revealed anything to us, it is that there are many jobs that can be done from your own home anywhere. And this is a trend that will increase. That is why perhaps the time has come for you to consider having a low cost home where you can go in the future and live a life to your liking. I will tell you all the details about these low cost houses.

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But What is a Low Cost House?

Well, nowadays we all understand the concept of low cost, a house that offers you the same features and amenities as any other home but with a cheaper and more affordable price. But how can that be? Don't worry, I'll tell you.

One of the options to have a low cost home is to basically buy a prefabricated house. It allows you to save a lot on labor and with the ease that they can be installed almost anywhere. I say almost because obviously it must be located in a place where it is legal to live, where you have the corresponding supplies, etc.

But its cost is much cheaper than a built house. To give you an idea, a normal house usually costs about a thousand euros per square meter. Although this price usually drops in the case of houses with more square meters. We are talking about the construction price of the house itself, the question of the land where it is located is separate.

And you can also design your own low cost house, which is what I want to talk to you about in more detail in this article.

With a low cost house, that price can be easily lowered. In addition, this type of low cost housing can be more easily adapted to the current building requirements of the European Union.

These European guidelines already require the reduction of energy consumption of homes, the installation of renewable energies or greater insulation to prevent leaks.

A low cost house to your liking

Another advantage of low cost homes is that they can be designed to your liking, making the project from scratch.

This allows the house to adapt to your family, your needs, your tastes, and only by paying attention to the construction materials and energy consumption can you make a house cheaper than a traditional new construction home.

The important thing when designing this house is that you keep a few things in mind:

Take advantage of the space. Sometimes the designs of the houses are not well done, you can make a house with a more efficient space with fewer meters of facade. This will reduce energy consumption and also the cost. Keep in mind that the roof and the facade are usually the two most expensive elements of any house or home. They are the elements that face the outside and therefore their construction requires more materials and of better quality. Reducing the meters of facade will be an important saving measure.
Do not exceed in rooms. The more rooms and rooms, the more expensive a home will be, I do not mean that your house has to be "a loft" but that you design only the rooms that you are going to need and really use.
Always choose ground floors. When designing your home, it is better to have a ground floor. Adding basements, stairs or second floors will always require more space to build and higher costs in addition to higher energy consumption. Even if you need a parking space, you can make an addition to the ground floor of your house rather than making a basement, for example, as it will be much cheaper.
Adapt to the environment and the light. Many homes are designed with their backs to the site on which they are to be built, this is a mistake and involves an expense in construction and also in energy consumption. You have to adapt to the environment and the conditions of the land and the weather.

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What materials to build with?

If the design has been done well you will be able to save several thousand euros, but if you use the right materials you will get another good saving.

Use materials that are easily found in the area where you build your house. Not only because having them nearby will save you money, but also because in the area it is easy to have more specialized installers in the area and it will be cheaper to hire them and the finish will be much better.

Use good insulating materials, although it involves a somewhat higher investment of money in the long run you will save a lot of money both in repairs and damage as in energy consumption. In this sense, the most efficient system today is the SATE (Thermal Insulation System for the Exterior).

There are other systems that you can use such as the flat gravel cover, something that has become very fashionable lately. Of course it gives good results if it is installed well, although it moves away from the typical shape of a roof inclined to the sides.

Using PVC in the windows is the most economical. In addition, you have to try to balance the entry of natural light and the amount and surface of the windows. Keep in mind that windows can be an energy leak and also windows are usually expensive elements. If you abuse their installation in your home, the price will increase.

For the walls, the cheapest thing today is to use laminated plaster, more modern, easy to install and cheaper than the traditional brick partition. If the insulation of the house is adequate, these walls will not reduce the interior heat in cold seasons.

Another of the points that you should take into account to design your home are the supplies. Both heating and air conditioning or supplies in general can be a big black hole of money or an important saving measure. There are many options to use cheaper, natural and adapted to the environment heating systems that involve a great energy saving.