By Kaushal Mehta, Managing Director, Walplast Products
Scale has always been used to measure construction in India. Today, people are judging it more and more by how fast, how well, and how responsible it is. As projects get bigger and deadlines get shorter, the materials used to build buildings are changing the way construction sites work. Faster execution and better performance are no longer goals that compete with each other. Changes in material science and manufacturing are making it possible for them to be delivered together.
NextMSC says that the Indian construction market was worth $1.04 trillion in 2024 and is expected to be worth $1.21 trillion by 2025. The market is expected to grow to USD 2.13 trillion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.1% from 2025 to 2030. This rate of growth does not provide much room for oversights. Materials that slow projects down, waste resources, or require repeated repairs are becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
From Volume to Performance
For many years, the main factors in choosing building materials were cost and how easy they were to procure. That perception is changing. Contractors and developers are paying more attention to how materials work on site and over time. Now, important factors include faster curing, less water use, less shrinkage, and consistent quality.
This change includes using materials that are good for the environment. Products that are made with recycled materials and have low emissions are helping to cut down on waste and make sites more efficient. For example, wall putties that contain recycled materials and can be recycled themselves help resources be used in a circular way while also providing smoother finishes and faster application. Self-curing plasters that use less water also make work easier on busy sites where managing water is often a problem. These are useful benefits, not abstract environmental goals.
Waste as a Design Issue
When waste comes up, it’s easier to see why we need better materials. The Building Material Promotion Council says that India makes about 150 million tons of construction and demolition waste every year but only recycles about one percent of it. This imbalance shows a bigger problem: people still think of materials as disposable instead of long-lasting.
That way of thinking is challenged by high-performance materials. Demolition cycles slow down when surfaces last longer, crack less, and don’t let moisture or mold grow. Fewer repairs mean that fewer things need to be replaced. Over time, that means less trash and more value from each tonne of material used.
Material Science in Action
The most obvious changes are happening in the day-to-day work of building. Ready-mix plasters cut down on mistakes and waste of materials that happen when mixing on site. Tile adhesives that make stronger bonds need thinner layers to work, which means they cover more area while using less. Gypsum-based internal finishes speed up the time it takes to move from one stage to the next, which helps projects stay on schedule without sacrificing surface quality.
Chemicals used in construction are also changing how people act on the job site. Waterproofing systems, repair mortars, and performance admixtures are making structures more stable in tough situations. Concrete that has the right amount of strength with less cement lowers both costs and emissions. AAC blocks are lightweight and make it easier to move things around. They also provide thermal insulation, which helps save energy later in the life of a building.
Speed Without Shortcuts
People often think that building things faster means lower quality. That assumption is no longer true. Materials are now designed to speed up timelines and make things more consistent. For instance, self-healing concrete fixes micro-cracks before they turn into structural damage. Plasters that don’t soak up water cut down on the number of times you have to repaint. These features let buildings get older without having to be fixed up all the time.
This makes people think differently, from finishing things quickly to doing well over time. For contractors, fewer call-backs and repairs mean they get a better reputation. For people who live there and own the property, it means less money spent on upkeep and better living conditions.
Technology Embedded in Materials
More and more, materials are working with technology. Coatings that change color with light and temperature help keep the heat in the house at a comfortable level. Sensors built into buildings can keep an eye on the humidity or stress levels inside, which can help find problems before they get worse. These tools may look high-tech, but their real value is in stopping problems before they happen.
When used with low-VOC paints, water-efficient plasters, and eco-friendly finishes, these systems cut down on the need for mechanical solutions and make things last longer. Over time, buildings become easier to take care of and use fewer resources.
Precision Through 3D Printing
Three-dimensional printing is starting to change how parts are made and put together. Building in layers cuts down on waste and lets you control the shape and strength of the structure very precisely. This means fewer mistakes and faster assembly on construction sites.
3D printing helps make custom panels and modular parts that are ready to be installed inside. When used with eco-friendly composites or recycled aggregates, the process works well without wasting anything. Slowly, trial-and-error methods that waste time and materials are being replaced by precision manufacturing.
Manufacturing with Care
Factories now play a decisive role in determining speed and quality on construction sites. Manufacturers of plasters, adhesives, blocks, and finishes are refining their processes to include recycled raw materials, renewable energy, and water-saving methods. Fly ash and other industrial byproducts, once treated as waste, are being converted into dependable construction inputs.
This approach improves material consistency while reducing environmental impact. When products arrive on site with predictable performance, work progresses with fewer disruptions, less rework, and tighter control over time and resources.
Prefabrication Gains Momentum
High-performance materials are becoming more important because of prefabricated and modular construction methods. Making parts in a factory makes things more accurate and speeds up the process. Lightweight blocks, engineered mortars, and high-bond adhesives are all necessary for these systems to work well.
Prefabrication makes construction sites less crowded and disruptive in cities with a lot of people. It also makes it easier to reuse and move things, which lowers the need for new raw materials. The quality gets better because the materials are tested and put together in a controlled setting.
Building materials now shape how efficiently construction sites operate, how consistently quality is maintained, and how responsibly projects are delivered. As India’s construction market expands, efficiency is being redefined through materials that reduce waste, improve durability, and deliver reliable performance. When speed aligns with sustainability and long-term quality, construction moves beyond meeting deadlines and focuses on building with intent and responsibility.