Renting a house has become the most expensive thing today, and people are opting to build their own houses.

While cost has, over the years been the biggest hindrance to home ownership, new technologies and practices are making construction less expensive and faster than ever before.

Some of the tricks builders are employing to keep costs low include the use of hidden roofs and precast panels instead of brick walls.  This article focuses on the cost breakdown of a 4-bedroom house built in Nairobi.

According to Business This Day, the total cost of the bungalow is Ksh2.6 million. The owner used a flat roof saving on timber costs.

His total construction cost was estimated at Ksh 2.9 million, but he used Ksh 2.6 million, saving Ksh355,597. The house took 3 months to complete.

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Below is how he spent the Ksh 2.6 million to build the house:

Foundation

Estimated cost           =Sh743,630

Actual Cost              =Sh790,290

Walling

Estimated cost          =Sh280,178

Actual cost              =Sh269,209

Decking 

Estimated cost=          =Sh636,400

Actual cost              =Sh685,745

First floor walling 2

Estimated cost           = Sh310, 178

Actual cost              = Sh296, 400

Slab

Estimated cost cost      = Sh636,400

Actual cost              = Sh558,545

Stair roof and Parapet wall

Estimated cost           = Sh180,000

Windows and doors

Estimated cost           = Sh226,000

Total Estimated cost     = 2,982,786

Total Actual cost  = 2,627,189

Deviation                 =355,597