Cost-efficient, durable materials in the mart

With the high cost of construction materials, many Filipinos are finding it hard to own a house. Sometimes, even their lifetime savings are not enough to cover the cost of constructing a decent dwelling unit. Thanks to new cost-efficient yet durable materials, housing units have become more affordable.

But we are not speaking merely of construction of basic housing units, shelter-wise, per se. The use of M2 panels open windows to vast potentials and possibilities especially during these times marked by the rapid growth of complex urban communities. Such possibilities include multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, hospitals, schools, hotels, factories, warehouses and such other similar structures.

The material is M2 building panels, a non-conventional building system made of polystyrene sandwich by lightweight, prefabricated galvanize wire mesh of high tensile strength for use in single and multi-storey structures. Reinforced with concrete, the product can be used for external/internal walls, as well as floors, stairs and roofs with high-tensile efficiency and strength.

M2 offers several advantages over conventional housing construction materials, thus a big boon to the government's mass housing program. It cuts down construction and labor cost by as much as 20 percent. This means a lot of savings for the owner. It also reduces completion time by as much as 50 percent and allows for earlier project completion. Installation of M2 is easy because of its simple rough-in installation, thus requiring no specialized skill and lifting equipment.

In addition, M2 has pre-cut panels designed to the owner's specifications, allowing for flexibility and freedom of design. It is lightweight, has superior insulation and is sound-proofed up to six times that of standard materials. Moreover, it is resistant to fire, rust, termites, molds and mildew.

For more information, contact Marathon Building Technologies Inc., tel. nos. 867-2095 or 817-9924, or Ability Design and Construction, tel. nos. 751-5688 or 751-5689. Aside from multi-storey buildings and residential houses, M2 is also best for hospitals, schools, factories and warehouses.