Comparative Cost Optimization in Residential Construction Using Alternative Building Materials: A Detailed Estimation Approach

The escalating price hike of traditional construction materials and the demand for energy-efficient tactics has led to the need for research on cost-effective alternatives in construction. This study is a comparative cost estimation of a building a residential building G+1 using conventional materials and some alternative materials that are Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA), Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks and IPS flooring. Detailed estimates were prepared based on identical drawings, specifications and quantity take-offs in order to ensure consistency in comparison. The most important findings show that the use of alternative materials contributes to the saving of the total cost of construction: from ₹ 34,53,184 to ₹ 31,51,788 (a saving of ₹ 3,01,396 or 8,72%). The strongest savings were realized in masonry and flooring elements, which exhibit the wide swing of material choice in overall project cost. The study pinpoints a research need in the limited use of the component-wise comparative estimation of alternative materials with the same design conditions because most current practice involves studying only conventional materials or aspects of lifecycles without consideration of the practical cost estimations. In terms of future direction, the study suggests the incorporation of life cycle cost analysis, performance evaluation and the inclusion of other alternative materials and modern construction techniques for better decision making relating to sustainable construction. Overall, the results confirm that strategic substitution of material is a suitable method of achieving economical and environmentally responsible construction.