Concrete & RCC
20 guidesMix ratios, M20 and M25, slabs, beams, columns, footings, curing and how concrete fails.
Concrete Admixtures: Plasticisers, Retarders and More
What concrete admixtures do — plasticisers, superplasticisers, retarders, accelerators, waterproofers — when a house needs them, and how to dose them safely.
Beam Size for a House: Depth by Span, Width and Steel
Typical RCC beam sizes in houses, the span-to-depth rule of thumb, why beam width matches the wall, IS 456 minimum steel, and checks before a beam is poured.
Column Size for a House: G, G+1 and G+2 Typical Sizes
Typical RCC column sizes and bars for single-storey, G+1 and G+2 houses, what decides column size, IS 456 limits, and why columns must not be shrunk on site.
Concrete Compaction With a Needle Vibrator: Doing It Right
Why compaction matters, how to use a needle vibrator — insertion spacing, depth, duration — signs of under- and over-vibration, and common mistakes on site.
Cracks in Concrete: Types, Causes and Which to Worry About
Plastic shrinkage, drying shrinkage, thermal, settlement, corrosion and structural cracks in houses — how to recognise each, what causes it, and what to do.
Concrete Cube Test: How Many Samples and What Results Mean
How concrete cubes are cast, cured and tested, how many samples IS 456 asks for by volume, typical 7-day vs 28-day strength, and what to do if cubes fail.
Curing of Concrete: How Many Days and Which Method
How long to cure concrete under IS 456, why curing decides strength and cracking, ponding vs wet hessian vs membrane, and curing in Hyderabad's summer heat.
Honeycombing in Concrete: Causes, Prevention and Repair
Why honeycombing happens in columns and beams, how to prevent it with mix, compaction and formwork, and how small and deep voids are repaired.
Lintel Beam: Size, Steel, Bearing and Sunshade
What a lintel does, typical lintel sizes and steel over doors and windows, bearing on each side, continuous lintel bands, and casting a sunshade with it.
M15 Concrete Mix Ratio: Uses and Quantity per m³
M15 concrete is 1:2:4. Cement, sand and aggregate per cubic metre, where M15 is used in a house, and why it is not suitable for reinforced concrete.
M20 Concrete Mix Ratio: Cement, Sand and Aggregate per m³
M20 concrete is 1:1.5:3. How much cement, sand, aggregate and water go into one cubic metre, where M20 is allowed under IS 456, and how to mix it right.
M25 Concrete Mix Ratio and Quantities per m³
M25 concrete explained: the 1:1:2 nominal mix, why IS 456 prefers a design mix, cement bags per cubic metre, water-cement ratio, and where M25 is required.
One-Way vs Two-Way Slab: How to Tell and Why It Matters
The 2:1 rule for one-way and two-way slabs, how each carries load, where main bars go, typical thickness, and what it means for steel quantity.
PCC vs RCC: Difference, Uses and Mix Ratios
Plain vs reinforced cement concrete: how they differ, where each is used in a house, typical grades and mixes, and why the steel changes everything.
Shuttering Removal Time for Slabs, Beams and Columns
When to remove formwork under IS 456: columns, beam sides, slab soffits and props by span, adjustments for PPC and cold weather, and the risks of early removal.
Slab Thickness for a House: 4, 5 or 6 Inches?
Typical RCC slab thickness for Indian houses, the IS 456 span-to-depth rules behind it, how it changes cement and steel quantities, and when to go thicker.
Slump Test for Concrete: How to Do It and What It Means
How to perform a slump test on site, typical slump values for different work under IS 456, what a slump that's too high tells you, and how to fix it.
Staircase Design for a House: Riser, Tread and Width
Comfortable riser and tread sizes, the 2R + T rule, width and headroom, dog-legged vs straight stairs, waist slab and steel, and planning the stair early.
Types of Footing for a House: Isolated, Combined, Raft
Isolated, combined, strip, raft and pile foundations explained for Indian houses, which suits which soil, and what Hyderabad's rock and black cotton soils mean.
Water-Cement Ratio: What It Is and Why It Decides Strength
The water-cement ratio explained: how it controls strength and durability, IS 456 limits by exposure, litres per bag, and workability without extra water.
Get the lowest price in Hyderabad
Cement, TMT steel and AAC blocks are three-quarters of a house's material bill. See today's Hyderabad prices before you ask for quotes.
