A trip to IKEA would give you an idea about how you can buy a product disassembled into parts and take them home, only to assemble them back into the actual product, all by yourself. What if you could buy a house from a store and assemble the parts on your plot – just like you do with Lego? Well, with pre-fabricated homes becoming popular, this idea is already a reality to a great degree.

In today’s competitive times when buyers and builders are both stressing on timely delivery, prefabricated homes are preferred for their quick and clean setup. For builders, this means faster completion of projects and more profits. For buyers, it means faster investment in property and in case of renting – faster ROI. Thus, time plays a crucial role for both parties.

EcoPro Fibre cement sheet is a pre-fab alternative to brick and mortar construction. The material is so versatile, it can be used for walls, mezzanines floors, furniture, roofs, shelves, windows, doors, and window & door frames, exterior wall cladding, etc. Fibre cement sheets can be used to build homes quickly and cost-effectively, especially as traditional construction costs continue to rise. As the cost of borrowing is steep and developers are facing a liquidity crunch, time translates to money.

Setting up an Eco-friendly Fibre cement house

The process of setting up a Fibre cement construction is way simpler and quicker than the brick and mortar process. Typically, an architecture software can be used to design the virtual rendition of the house. The Fibre cement boards and planks are then brought to the construction site and the structure is simply assembled on-site. A metal grid frame is first installed on which Fibre cement planks are fastened to the groove, (usually horizontally for a wall structure) with self-fastening screws. A similar process is followed for mezzanine floorings, partition wall, bathrooms, doors, wall claddings, and ceilings as well. These boards can later be painted with contact primer or water-based acrylic. For a more natural texture, EcoPro Fibre cement boards come pre-painted with a unique technology called “stains” wherein there is no need to paint the walls except with a protective coating material if required. The walls with ‘stains’ retain the beautiful grainy texture of a Fibre cement board.

Also Read: Interior Wall Paneling Ideas to Add Character to Your Rooms

Is it economical?

Although prefabricated materials such as Fibre cement boards can get 15-20% expensive than the traditional ones, higher efficiency and less wastage and labor costs can bring down the overall cost substantially for large buildings. The use of ready-made panels also eliminates the need for auxiliary activities such as plastering, slots for electrical wiring, and plumbing as these are done at the casting stage itself.

Prefab material also gives flexibility in terms of expansion and modifications with independent blocks that can be added or removed. Office and commercial buildings have been using EcoPro Fibre cement wall panels, false ceiling board, plasterboard and flooring systems to create interiors of offices and other places such as hospitals.

EcoPro fibre cement boards are built to support an entire structure on their own. However, a hybrid construction with brick & mortar can yield even stronger and better lasting results. If you are looking for features such as easy installation & removal, unparalleled style quotient, reduced labor costs and higher durability, then enquire now at info@ecopro.co.in.

Fibre Cement boards are proving themselves to be a superb & cleaner alternative to traditional brick walls and masonry work. They are quick to install, easy to handle and are far less messy than concrete or POP structures. When used in combination with traditional means, you can create a durable and economical architecture. EcoPro brings to you the key areas where fibre cement boards can provide an unorthodox way to do things much better than before!

False Ceilings

In the case of top floors that are exposed to direct sunlight, false ceilings act as good thermal insulators since they are fitted with a gap with the actual ceiling forming an air passage between the roof and the ceiling. In multi-storied rooms, the false ceiling board acts as a sound insulator absorbing the thumping & foot sounds generated on the floor above. In companies, false ceilings are especially important to fit elements such as fire sprinklers, air conditioning pipes, wires, light fittings, etc. In the least, ceilings conceal the irregularities of the top and form a seamless unobstructed view of the space.

EcoPro Fibre cement false ceilings are easy to install. A metal frame is first coupled to the ceiling and is suspended at a predetermined length from the ceiling. The Fibre cement boards are then securely fastened to the frame from below using screws at regular intervals. EcoPro Fibre cement boards come in various pre-made designs generally with a dimension of 2’ x 2’. They can be easily cut using CNC cutters in order to fit lights and other connections. The finishing work on these boards like paints, laminates, wallpapers and texture finish gives a classy look.

EcoPro Fibre cement boards also play a significant role in curbing the heat island effect. Heat island effect is caused due to the usage of heat-absorbing material such as concrete and is responsible for rising temperatures in the cities.

Interior & Exterior Wall

Fibre cement walls can be used for both internal and external applications. Their weight is almost 1/4th of that of a brick wall making them easy to install. This also reduces a lot of dead weight on the building structure. Also, being more flexible and light, they exhibit great tolerance against calamities like earthquakes and hurricanes and are less harmful even if they were to fall over or fly away, thereby, saving lives.

A high-performance lightweight interior wall system will consist of a GI steel frame, encased in Fibre cement boards on either side attached firmly with metal screws. The joints are then taped and finished with jointing compounds. Fibre cement walls are easy to place and require much less labor & time as compared to masonry construction. Also, electrical wiring is not dependent on the completion of the walls and can be done anytime. Moreover, setting up fibre cement walls is a waterless operation unlike the brick & cement-based walls, thereby saving lots of water, energy, and also, the mess. They can also withhold fire for a long time as compared to wood or concrete walls giving you enough time to evacuate. They prevent sound from reflecting and traveling from one wall to another, thereby securing your private conversations. EcoPro walls can also be used for complete external construction or with a basic foundation of brick walls at the bottom. In fact, Fibre cement boards are fit to form an entire structure on their own. Their design range from an excellent choice for interior and exterior wall cladding as well.

Flooring

Fibre cement boards can be used for various flooring options such as mezzanine, bathroom, balcony, and rooftop apart from regular flooring. As a mezzanine flooring material, they are laid over a framework of heavy metal mesh which forms the core of the flooring and gives it strength.

All these applications make EcoPro Fibre cement boards, a truly adaptable and multifaceted material to work with.

Wall paneling has been in vogue since the colonial days. Back then, it was used to layer the walls that were not plastered, with panels made mostly from wood. These panels served as protection against water and cold winds. Today’s wall panels have come a long way from the mid-century installations. With the availability of eco-friendly materials replacing woods, they now come with a wide range of benefits, including low-maintenance, easy installations, moisture and fire resistance, and durability. They can add an instant old-world charm while retaining a superb contemporary appeal. They are available in a wide range of moldings to suit all your rooms spanning the bathroom, kitchen, dining, a partition wall and of course, the living room. If you are still new to the idea of paneling or are rather contemplating on getting it done in your living space, here are some ideas and tips on how to go about it.

Bathroom tiles are passe, panels are in

Paneling is an artistic way to make your bathroom appear victorian as compared to the glossy tiles. It can help you blend it with the rest of the house and also hide pipework. Panels made from fibre cement sheet can also be used to build secret cupboards, candle bases or even full doors to en suites as they are fire and water-resistant. A subtly painted panel can add peace to your bathroom.

Add charm to your bedroom

Bed boards are a timeless piece of furniture to complement your bed. A bed board made from fibre cement board resembling strips of wood never fails to impress. You can even add fittings and hangers-on your bed boards for hanging bedside wall decors without drilling holes in the actual wall.

Cover it all, top to bottom

There are various ways in which you can add panels to your kitchen walls. One of the most popular ways is to add a ‘floor-to-ceiling’ paneling. You can cover the entire wall with vertical or horizontal accents – bringing outdoors in. Use rustic and pastel colors to retain the old world charm. If your kitchen space is not too wide, you might as well consider paneling the ceiling which looks like a wooden roof and also acts a sound absorbent. You can go one step ahead and use fibre cement sheet as a false ceiling boards too.

Read Also: Tips to Have Soundproof Rooms

Tongue & groove panels

Whitewashed panels remind of seaside beach huts. A series of thin panels crisscrossing over the walls and ceiling give the room a pastoral appeal that can be easily maintained with just a hand of paint. It also disperses the light well scattering it around a room.

Limited wall paneling

When paneling only half the surface, usually from the bottom up, make sure you paint the panels in pale shades such as grey or white keeping them slightly darker, but not contrasting, to the wall color. Make any wirework or pipework blend in by painting in the same shade as the panel. Run the panels only a third of the way up the wall to make a ceiling seem higher.

Make a feature wall

You can make a feature wall in any of your rooms but most preferably the kitchen. You can use this paneling wall as a backdrop to the shelves. You can place decorative crockery and ceramic kitchen items on the shelf such as jars, cups, metal vessels, photo frames or a flower vase – everything looks fantastic!

Impersonate elements of nature

Fibre cement wall panels have an upper hand in paneling as they come with digital printing options where you can mimic various textures using a hyperreal print of the material such as wood, marble, metal, ceramic, etc.

Besides looking fabulous, wall paneling is a great way to fix older walls in a deprived condition and add a profound effect to your interiors. Use EcoPro Fibre Cement Boards to add decorative panels to your interiors today!

While adding home decor is an exciting task, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Your end goal should always be to showcase your ideas in a tasteful way. For that to fulfil, you need to face issues ranging from an interior that lacks natural light to a layout that’s much smaller than you’d like. These common dilemmas might ruin your mood from decorating altogether. If you want to add a quirky & modern touch to your house without the risk of going wrong and frustrating yourself, here are some decor ideas by EcoPro that will make your house from boring to happening in four ways than one!

• Plant a terrarium
  House plants add more character to any room and improve air quality and moisture. They also enhance productivity and cognitive attention. Indoor plants in clay, ceramic and cement pots are done and dusted, Terrarium is the new thing. Create your own mini ecosphere by planting unusual tropical plants inside glass containers. These terrariums are easy to care for and don’t require skillsets better than you would for any other indoor plant. Instead of discarding your old whiskey bottles and aquariums, you can put them to better use as containers. When choosing a container, remember that closed ones provide a humid atmosphere more conducive for exotic plants while open containers provide an atmosphere suitable for succulents. To ensure drainage, fill the pot base with an inch or two of gravels. Cover it with a fibreglass or coir screening to avoid mixing of soil. Then layer it with pre-moistened coco peat or coconut coir or potting soil to hold the plant firmly inside it. Your glass pot is ready to go! Place these glass pots on beautiful table tops made from EcoPro fibre cement board as they are highly resistant to water spillage and moisture.Read Also: Wallpapering Tips & Tricks to Enliven Your Home Decor
• Create a Gallery Wall
  Gallery walls can be a fun way of making a personal statement in your home. It’s an easy way to add style and personality to any room — no need to paint the walls and no wallpapering them. The most inspiring gallery walls are those that mix a variety of artworks representing a range of media, from photographs to drawings, combined with personal mementoes like your kid’s artwork or souvenirs from your travel time. Antique cameras are also the perfect residents for a bookcase. The gallery wall is particularly great for a small apartment, as it can provide a focal point, add depth and make the room feel properly decorated without taking up any extra floor space, thereby minimizing clutter. A minimal bookshelf with a few books and some objects can add instant appeal to any room. Use EcoPro fibre cement sheet for shelves as they are aesthetically pleasing and also act like termite proof plywood exhibiting longer ‘shelf-life’.
• Display antiques and collectibles on a table
  If you are fond of collecting old stuffs, put your vintage finds to good use. Old rusted soda cans, school cookie tins and canisters can be turned into unique display boxes with plants. If you have been to the beach and collected a lot of sand and shells, then fill them in glass mason jars and line them in your table compartments.  Try grouping candles of different sizes and colors in one tray or place flowers in the vase. Collectibles like typewriters, vintage sewing machines, a gramophone etc, make for great display pieces.
• Hang a chandelier
  The glamour and exuberance of a chandelier can transform any space, far exceeding the formal positioning of a dining table decor. From the living room to the kitchen to even the bath, yes the bath, there’s a place made for a chandelier in every room of your home. If you have a tall ceiling which demands a raison d’être, give it a with a playful, sculptural chandelier to hold on to and it will add light to your decor. EcoPro provides the best quality false ceiling board required for the false ceiling for hall, kitchen and other rooms to add lighting solutions to your space.

Plants are perfect to fill the empty spaces left on bookshelves, accent tables, and the cubical slots in a drywall partition. They add layers to your home’s personality and create a stress-free soothing environment. Plants cleanse the air inside your home and increase the aesthetics of your indoors. They are also a good way to grow your organic food. Even though you can’t always find an expansive space or a backyard to greenify, you can still make optimum usage of whatever space you have. Here are some places in your house which you can utilize to create a green oasis inside your home.

1. Walls

Vertical gardens are a highly constructive approach to add a green wall to your home without compromising much space at all – minimum space maximum impact! They have the potency to bring mundane walls to life. As space cities become increasingly premium, vertical gardens provide a welcome oasis. Plants are also good sound absorbents. So if your neighbours frequently complain of your TV volume, adding a layer of green will act as sound absorbing panels for your room.

Pro Tip:

Plants require drainage, so if not present already, it’s recommended to punch a small hole in your plant container using a drill and placing a lava rock to obstruct the hole and soak excess water, before you pour soil into the container.

2. Window Sills

Window sills are often built and neglected not considering their utility as a strong base for the plant. You can put this space to use and make your window look attractive by dotting it with colourful plants. To add zest, you can use glass jars, empty liquor bottles or steel containers to plant herbs and other foliages. Choose easy to maintain plants like ferns and ivy that grow at a slow pace and accept abundant sunlight.

Pro Tip:

Plants require a few hours of light to perform photosynthesis, i.e. the food they need. Without enough light, plants shrink and do not grow to their full capacity. When placing an indoor plant, try to place them beneath a source of light such as an incandescent light, a bulb or a window.

3. Bookshelves

Whoever said bookshelves were meant only for books haven’t met plants yet. Of course, books are beautiful too, but plants add life and animate the bookshelves. The sight of a money plant stem hanging from one shelf and extending to the one below is quite artistic.

Pro Tip:

Construct bookshelves using water-resistant materials such as EcoPro fibre cement sheet. These sheets are water-resistant and termite-proof. Plus, they do not catch fire, so you can also add a couple of decorative candles without the fear of torching up your books!

4. Balcony

Most of the apartments come with a balcony and if you are lucky, the balcony receives abundant sunlight too. Such ideal spaces should never go waste by not planting a plant. It’s like your floating backyard where you can place pots, lay a lawn (true or faux), add a vertical garden or even install a mini pond. Put some furniture in your balcony, install some lights and your little cafe green is good to go.

Pro Tip:

To avoid spilling dirt through the drainage hole, place small squares of netting on the inside of the pot. You can also use cheesecloth, old window screening, or something that will allow water to pass through.

5. Bathroom

Bathrooms may seem like an unlikely space for plants but they are, in fact, a good ecosphere for plants that thrive in humidity. Spider plants, bamboos, succulents like aloe vera and orchids are just some of the names that can make your bathroom their home. Plus, these little ones will make sure to supply you with a whiff of fresh oxygen, now and then.

Pro Tip:

If the humidity is low, the tips of leaves start becoming brown and plants appear puckered or withered

EcoPro is a manufacturer of multi-use fibre cement board that can be used for various applications such as walls, ceilings, partitions, facades, and so on. To get EcoPro for your interiors call us on 020-26444625/26/27 or 9762228070 right away!

Going green is the need of the hour. Helping create a sustainable world is imminent for each and every individual on the planet, and more so for those with power and authority. With global warming becoming a reality every passing second, we are just trying to buy ourselves time before we wake up to a dreadful day when there will be no more time to correct things. As cities grow and develop, more buildings and people are added. The process of urban development is leading to heat island effect. As if climate change is not already wreaking havoc on the planet, there was a ravaging fire that lit the amazon forest and destroyed practically 30% of the oxygen giving lungs of our planet! With a rapidly declining green cover and an ever-increasing human populace, we cannot stop the imminent but at least slow the pace of destruction.

With the growing urbanization and the rise in buildings, the construction industry has a lion’s share when it comes to influencing and affecting the environment. With this idea in mind, we at EcoPro, produce and promote fibre cement boards which are excellent for a majority of construction needs while causing minimum damage to the environment. Fibre cement board is truly a revolutionary product as it can replace many of the traditional resources like wood and cement. Fibre cement boards are made of fiber and cement which is organically produced and is much less harmful to nature. All this makes EcoPro Fibre cement sheets an ideal nominee for the GreenPro Certification.

What does it mean by having a GreenPro Certification?

It is an assertion that the product is eco-friendly and at par with the world standard. A green product poses minimal risk to the environment throughout its life cycle. The GreenPro or Green Product certification ensures that product manufacturers implement eco-friendly measures in all phases of the product such as Product Design, Raw Materials, Manufacturing Process, and Product Performance during use right up to Recycling/Disposal of the product.

Benefits of Green Product

• It leaves fewer carbon footprints and potentially helps control issues such as climate change, toxic pollution, and global warming.
• A sustainable product finds more acceptability and greater value in the market.
• A green product is always preferred by educated and aware customers.
• They are easy to dispose of.
• Improves brand credibility and potentially helps garner more customer loyalty.

 Recently, the GreenPro certification was conferred on EcoPro by CII-Godrej GBC and shall be awarded at the Green building congress on the 26th of Sep, 2019. EcoPro Fibre Cement Boards manufactured by Sahyadri Industries Ltd. has always been an advocate of environmentally friendly manufacturing. We at Sahyadri have always held to the belief of working in unison with nature and not against it, a thought which is more relevant today than ever before. EcoPro is now honoured to hold an esteemed certificate attesting the same. This certification will be made visible in the form of a label on all the Sahyadri EcoPro products.

If you are looking to build a drywall partition, want exterior cladding panels for your building or need soundproof wall panels for your cabin, contact EcoPro. EcoPro fibre cement sheets are highly versatile products that can be used for a number of purposes. To get the GreenPro certified EcoPro product for all your architectural needs, call on 020-26444625/26/27 or 9404965654 right away!

We are living in a time where working from home has become a common scene. It provides benefits to the employer and even more for the employee, giving them the flexibility of setting their own schedule. Not having to travel far distances especially when the traffic woes in the cities are far from getting solved, is a big big plus. However, working efficiently from home requires an office like the setup to bring more productivity. Here’s how you can make the most of your ‘work from home’ time and become a pro at it.

Make a list of your office essentials

Working from home, as comfortable as it might sound, does not come without a lot of prepwork. The more time you invest in planning, the less time you will waste struggling. Before claiming a particular space as yours, first identify what all things you require around you while you are working at home and make a list of them with a pen and paper. The typical things include a Power Supply with an inverter backup, Reachable power points, a computer or a laptop, internet connection, a printer, a connected telephone, a desk, furniture and a chair or two. The needs may vary according to your profession. For example, if you are an online content writer, your priority would be a laptop, a desk, a chair and preferably soundproof wall panels for solace. But if you are a consultant, you may require an additional cabinet with locks, preferably made of a fire resistant board, to store your important papers and files. In this way, you can identify your requirements and plan accordingly.

Identify the right space to set up your cabin

Once you have jotted down your requirements in writing, it is time to identify the right corner of your house which will become your potential office. It could be a space in your drawing room, or your living room or whatever space is available. To carve a separate identity for your office space, consider building partitions using fibre cement boards. Why fibre cement board you may ask, well that’s because they are easy to install, light in weight, fire-resistant, moisture resistant and also act as soundproof wall panels. Fibre cement boards are highly multipurpose and their application extends from mezzanine flooring material and drywall partition to being used as a false ceiling for hall. Plus, they are light on your pocket too. You may also consider using MDF or particle boards with a combination of glass. Of course, you can take help of a professional like a carpenter to set it up for you.

Decorate your office

Now that you have done all the important and fundamental part, it’s time to add some fun to your room. You can add more complexity to your office by bringing in typical office things such as a paper holder, a desk calendar, a smart digital/analogue clock, a motivational quote hanging on your wall, a notice board, a pen holder, sticky notes, pins, fancy notepads etc. You can basically add whatever makes you feel good about your work. And voila, your home office is all ready and fully functional! Now go and bask in the glory of that little space you just created for yourself!

As kids, we always drew houses with sloping roofs even though we seldom lived in one. Our romance with those red-tiled roofed houses, which is reminiscent of peace, harmony and a coconut tree by the side, continues. When deciding the roof of their homes in rural areas or for farmhouses by urban plot owners, homeowners in India mainly consider standard options like galvanized sheets, corrugated sheets or clay tiles. While all these have advantages and disadvantages of their own, there is one more option which imbibes the best qualities from all types and yet minimizes the shortcomings – a Fibre cement roofing sheet.

A roof is an essential component of a house and is expected to last for decades if not forever. Apart from the utilitarian aspect of being a house covering, a roof is also the first thing people notice from afar. Hence, they ought to be aesthetically pleasing. With that in mind, a fibre cement sheet comes up as a viable roofing option. The growing popularity of using Fibre cement sheets among architects is for a number of reasons, a few are listed below.

• Resistant to Natural Elements

  The fibre cement compound is a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose fibres, all of which are resilient to natural elements such as water, fire, and insects. Fibre cement tackles weather changes even as it ages. The materials involved in the making of fibre cement are resistant to salt and moisture making it an ideal roofing material for rainy geographies. Also, the material is able to resist formation of molds and mildews, and even termite attacks.

• Lasts Long

  A roof is either required for a brand new structure, as a replacement roof, or when an additional room is added to a home. Since a roof is usually a mandatory fix instead of a luxury renovation, the common approach is to have a new surface installed as infrequently as possible. A fibre cement sheet perfectly goes with the sentiment as they provide both durability and visual appeal. Given the right conditions, Fibre cement roofs can last up to 50 years or more.

• Weighs light

  One big advantage of Fibre cement, especially over concrete tiles is that they are much lighter in weight, around 4 to 6 times.  A home that has concrete, clay, slate, etc. as tiles, are required to have extra structural support in the joists to provide a base for the added weight, which the fibre cement boards do not require. Also its easier on the workmen for installation, and transportation.

• Wide Gamut of Options

  It is possible to play around Fibre cement sheets as it offers a range of workability similar to working with natural wood. The sheets can either be purchased pre-painted or only primed if you want to paint them yourself. The fibre cement compound is efficient in accepting of colors and can be repainted with ease. Fibre cement siding are also available in various options such as lap siding, architectural panels, or shingles and can imitate a stucco, wood, cedar, or smooth finish. This makes them an ideal roofing choice for residential or commercial projects. Fibre cement roofs are faster to install as they come in the form of sheets as compared to clay or concrete tiles which have to be fit one at a time.

The fibre cement sheets from Ecopro provides bundled benefits of durability, style, workability, and cost in an eco-friendly and energy-efficient package. A list which ranks fibre cement roofs as one of the best overall investments a homeowner can make for their property.