TABLE OF CONTENTS

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A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S ..............................................................................................................4

ABSTRAC T ............................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION .............. .... ..........................................

2 L IT E R A TU R E R E V IE W ............................................................................... ......................10

3 M E T H O D O L O G Y ........................................ ............................................................. .. 13

4 BUILDING PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES.......................................................................16

 H o u s e s ..................................................................................................................................... 1 7
 E stim a te ............................................................................1 8
 P lan s an d Sp ecification s ............................................................................... ..................... 18
 B u ild in g S ch ed u le s .......................................................................................................2 0
 Preparation in the Field............. ...... .. .. .................... ........... 23
 Building Components ................................................ .. ... .................. 24
 Plum bing .................................................. 24
 The Foundation ............................................. 24
 F lo o rin g ................................................................2 5
 Cornerstones and Cap-stones .................................................25
 Celebrating after laying the foundation ...................................... ........... 26
 W a lls ................................................................................2 7
 Windows ........................................... .. 29
 W in din g Stairs ...................................... ................................................... 3 0
 D o o rs .............. .... ............................................................... 3 1
 L in te l ................... ...................3...................2..........
 R o o f ................ ............ .... .......................................................................................... 3 3
 H eating and A ir C conditioning .................................................................................... 34
 M ild ew ................... ................... ...................5..........
 M ainten an ce ................... ...................3...................6..........
 Integrity in Construction............................................................37

5 BU ILD IN G M A TERIA L S ................................................................40

 T a r ..............................................................................4 0
 B ric k .............. ...................................................................4 2
 C la y ............................................................................4 4
 W o o d ............ ....................................................................................4 5
 S to n e .............................................................................4 8
 M e ta l .............................................................................5 0