Five innovative building trends and materials
The pandemic of 2020 affected the livelihoods of many industries across the globe over the past year, construction included. China, a large supplier of the world’s building materials, was hit particularly hard in the first quarter, resulting in skyrocketing prices and delayed delivery times. As a result, many builders are looking to make the move toward more sustainable and cost-effective building materials in 2021.
The eco-movement has been a feature of the construction industry for some time now, but as resources are harder to come by and more expensive, natural and inexpensive building materials like bamboo plywood and stained concrete floors are becoming more and more popular. Here are some of the top building material trends to look for on the horizon this year.
For ease of installation, noise reduction, and an attractive price tag, many builders are turning to acoustic ceiling tiles when designing and constructing commercial and residential properties. Acoustic ceilings are made of tiles sectioned off within metal grids, intended to reduce noise by absorbing and deflecting sound. However, sound control isn’t the only feature that makes this building material appealing to use in a wide variety of projects.
Acoustic ceiling tiles are an effective way to add an extra layer of insulation to any room, helping to increase energy efficiency and reduce electricity costs. This building material is easy to install and is fast becoming the primary ceiling of choice for locations like offices, hospitals, schools, stores, and more.
In the past, hardwood was the material of choice for plywood and making furniture. However, hardwood is expensive to purchase and in limited supply. As an eco-friendly, green alternative to hardwood, bamboo plywood offers all of the beauty and appeal of hardwood, without the high price tag or toll on natural resources. Bamboo grows quickly and abundantly, making it the ideal building material of choice for flooring.
An additional advantage to bamboo over its hardwood counterpart is that bamboo is a greater density material, able to withstand the wear and tear that other materials like maple, oak, and ebony cannot. This means that property owners will not need to repair or replace floors for decades to come, making bamboo plywood one of the most sustainable building materials of 2021.
When it comes to aesthetics and functionality, many builders have taken a turn away from brick and wood buildings and embraced a more modern, sleek look using metal lap siding. As part of the new industrial movement, more and more designers are opting for durable, long-lasting materials that weather well with time, giving buildings a distinct and unique quality.
Metal lap siding is most frequently made from steel which has many benefits. First and foremost, it's a recyclable material, which means it can be sourced easily, cheaply, and sustainably. Second, metal lap siding can play an important role when it comes to protecting your buildings. The metal is resistant to wind and weather damage like hail, which chips away at traditional siding. It’s also impervious to fire, helping to protect the structure as well as inhabitants and possessions in the event of a fire.
In decades past, concrete was viewed as an unsightly, purely functional building material. However, in the past few years, concrete has emerged on the scene as an upscale, affordable alternative to traditional hardwood, tile, carpet, stone, and linoleum flooring. Instead of being hidden under other materials, stained concrete floors have taken the construction world by storm for their versatility and long list of advantages.
Whether you’re stripping materials back to the concrete or laying down new concrete flooring, one of the main benefits of using this material is the fact that you have almost unlimited creative options when it comes to color and style. The cost of installation or polishing and applying a coat of overlay is as affordable as lower-priced options like linoleum and carpet, but with a much longer lifetime and more refined image.
Once a thing of science fiction dreams, 3-D printing has become a viable method of producing materials and it’s been gaining traction in the construction industry. While these machines mainly use concrete to create walls and other structural components, the most appealing feature is the automation that does away with human error and other potential inaccuracies. Additionally, 3-D printing makes it easy to create custom builds quickly and efficiently on a budget.
Max Shafer is a contributor to the Innovative Building Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Max is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.