Top 5 Mistakes in Building a House in Nepal

“Ghar ta sapana ho, tara thulo bhul le sapana sapana nai bancha.”

Introduction

In Nepal, building a house is more than just a construction project. It’s an emotional journey. For many families, it's a once-in-a-lifetime investment made with years of hard work or foreign employment savings. But sadly, many dreams turn into regret due to avoidable mistakes during construction.

This article explains the top 5 mistakes that people commonly make while building a house in Nepal — and how to avoid them. Whether you're a house owner, engineer, or contractor, knowing these will help you build a safe, affordable, and future-ready home.

✅ Why It Matters?

“Nepal ma ghar banaune bhanda ghar bachaaune jhan garo chha.”

Many houses in Nepal are built without proper planning, which results in:

Water leakage
Cracks in walls and beams
Unsafe structures during earthquakes
High maintenance costs
Uncomfortable living

⚠️ Mistake #1: No Proper Planning or Design

🔍 What Happens:

Many people start construction without consulting engineers or architects. They either follow neighbors or masons' advice, thinking it's cheaper. But this leads to poor space usage, ventilation issues, and weak structure.

🧱 Example:

Ramesh from Chitwan started building his G+1 house without a proper map. Later, the municipality rejected his building permit. He had to stop construction and spend more money to redesign everything.

📉 Consequences:

Wastage of money in redesign
Legal issues with local government
Difficult future expansion
Structural imbalances

✅ Solution:

Consult a licensed civil engineer and architect before starting.
Make a proper site plan, structural design, and 3D visualization.
Follow NBC 205:2024 for safe and standard house design.

⚠️ Mistake #2: Ignoring Soil Test and Foundation Design

🔍 What Happens:

Most people skip soil tests, especially in rural areas or small towns. They use the same foundation for all plots — which is dangerous. Soil condition affects how much weight your house can carry.

🧱 Example:

In Bhaktapur, a house collapsed partially after an earthquake because it was built on soft clay soil with a shallow foundation. A simple soil test could have prevented the loss.

📉 Consequences:

Foundation settlement or cracks
Leaning buildings
Expensive retrofitting or demolition

✅ Solution:

Do a basic soil bearing capacity (SBC) test (can be manual or lab test).
Get a structural foundation design based on soil type: sandy, clayey, filled, or rocky.
Use raft foundation or pile foundation if required.

⚠️ Mistake #3: Blind Trust on Contractors or Masons

🔍 What Happens:

Owners often leave everything to masons (Rajmistri) without checking quality. Some masons cut corners to save material or finish early. They may use less cement, poor compaction, or skip curing.

🧱 Example:

Sita from Biratnagar hired a contractor who used low-grade steel and didn’t maintain cover during column casting. Now her house has visible corrosion and cracks within 3 years.

📉 Consequences:

Weak structural strength
Water seepage
Short life of house

✅ Solution:

Hire qualified site supervisor or engineer (even part-time).
Use proper materials and follow standard ratios (1:2:4 for concrete, etc.).
Regularly inspect work — especially during column, beam, slab casting.

“Thulo ghar bhanda majboot ghar jati ho.”

⚠️ Mistake #4: Poor Electrical, Plumbing, and Waterproofing Works

🔍 What Happens:

These works are done without planning. Electric wires cross water pipes. There’s no proper slope for bathroom drainage. Waterproofing is skipped. People realize the mistake after plastering is done.

🧱 Example:

In Pokhara, a newly built house had to break tiles and slabs after just 6 months because of leakage from the bathroom floor into bedrooms below.

📉 Consequences:

Water leakage, fungus, and bad smell
Extra cost in repair
Short life of interiors

✅ Solution:

Do MEP planning (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) before slab casting.
Use approved pipes, proper joints, and drainage slope.
Waterproof bathrooms, roofs, and water tanks using modern materials.

⚠️ Mistake #5: Underestimating Cost and Time

🔍 What Happens:

Many owners start construction thinking they’ll “adjust” later. But cost rises due to price hikes in cement, steel, or labor. They run out of budget halfway.

🧱 Example:

A family in Butwal had to stop construction at beam level for 6 months due to budget shortage. By then, steel started rusting and concrete got exposed.

📉 Consequences:

Delayed completion
Material wastage and damage
Financial stress

✅ Solution:

Prepare a realistic estimate with some buffer (10–15%).
Track expenses during each phase.
Don’t compromise on structure even if you delay finishing works (tiles, paint, etc.).

🧠 Bonus Mistakes You Should Avoid

❌ Using Wrong Column or Beam Sizes

Follow NBC 205 or consult a structural engineer. Don’t copy neighbors’ house size blindly.

❌ No Expansion Joints in Large Buildings

For buildings longer than 30 meters or 3+ storeys, expansion joints are a must for earthquake resistance.

❌ Not Thinking About Future Use

Design your stairs, columns, and slab in a way that it’s easier to add more floors in future.

🔍 Summary Table

Mistake No.	Common Mistake	Main Problem	Simple Solution
1	No Planning or Design	Wasted money, unsafe layout	Consult engineer, follow NBC
2	Ignoring Soil & Foundation Design	Cracks, leaning house	Do soil test, proper foundation
3	Blind Trust on Masons/Contractor	Poor quality, unsafe house	Monitor work, follow standards
4	Poor MEP and Waterproofing	Leakage, short life	Pre-plan pipes, use waterproof materials
5	Underestimating Cost and Time	Delay, incomplete house	Estimate with buffer, track expenses

🏠 Real Advice from an Engineer

“Building a house is like raising a child. You need proper care, planning, and love. Don't leave everything to others — stay involved.”

🧾 Final Words

In Nepal, ghar banau is a huge responsibility. Don't let your dream home become a house of mistakes. Plan well, build safe, and think long term. Mistakes during construction are costlier than taking advice from experts.

🔨 Tools That Can Help:

House Estimation Calculator (online tools for cost)
NBC-based Column Size Suggestion Tool
Foundation Type Recommender

📣 Call to Action

If you're planning to build a house, share this article with your family, engineer, or contractor. Awareness is the first step toward safe homes in Nepal.

“Ek patak sochera banako ghar dashak samma chalcha.”