Back in 2014 when IIT-M did a prototype of the GFRG buildings for the first time in India improvising the age old gypsum reinforcement methodology, it was pretty good leap for mankind.

How to build a 2000sq.ft building in just ₹6 Lakhs using GFRG?

Internet has never stopped amazing us with the box of lies and “fake facts” be it with how Facebook will give ₹50 to the poor when you “LIKE” a post or the whatsapp message that threatens to hack your phone. The list does not just end with cellphones or health facts, they also take a toll on the construction industry.

In recent days people are often carried away by a false claim by a YouTube video that claims you could construct a 2000 sq.ft building with just ₹ 6 Lakh ($ 8500) with GFRG technology. Sadly this YouTube video did no better research than the people who fall for the hoax, they just skim on the topic.

Back in 2014 when IIT-M did a prototype of the GFRG buildings for the first time in India improvising the age old gypsum reinforcement methodology, it was pretty good leap for mankind. They could finally achieve costs that were marginally cheaper than commercial buildings and saved lot of time. An area of about 1900 sq.ft was constructed at a cost of ₹ 24 Lakhs ($ 35,000) within their campus. Like how every scientist believes their innovation had broken stereotype and bettered life of mankind, this was a breakthrough. However they came with their own set of shortcomings that existed in countries like India – SPACE!

GFRG technology though a very fool proof and scientific one, has its own drawbacks. The roads leading to the building plots should be wide enough to allow a full size crane to operate along the building and there should be no overhead electric cables barring the access of crane boom to the plot. This removes the potential of the technology being used in over 70% construction plots in India. SO, if you think is it still worth building using GFRG and would it actually save money?! YES, but hardly a 15% of the cost of the structure given the current price of the prefab panels (in DEC 2018). Yet, in a building of 2000sq.ft you could save about 4.5 lakhs by choosing GFRG over traditional construction. That is still a GREAT SAVING to begin with!

For any technology or an industry practise, we should give it some cooling off time so the technology would mature and construction and material costs could eventually go down.

But it is simply ignorance if one believes that some technology would cut the construction costs drastically by a whopping 75 percent overnight!

Do you have the drive to adapt a greener, cheaper, and highly efficient technology to build your dream home? Are you willing to be the change you like to see around you?