Wherever you’re having a new home built, there are countless advantages to using concrete blocks, and better energy efficiency and structural strength are just two of them.
Many more Americans are choosing to have their homes custom built, giving them the ability to have a greater level of control over the way in which their home is designed, and how it enables them to live their lives. While it may be quicker and easier to simply move into a home that already exists, many homeowners struggle to put their stamp on the property, and still feel as if they’re living in someone else’s space.
The best way to avoid this, of course, is by having your home custom built, but should your new, personalized home be made from wood or concrete? To help you decide, here are a few benefits of concrete block construction:
Lumber shortages
The pandemic continues to wreak havoc all over the world, and building materials are still in short supply in some countries. In the U.S., lumber shortages have given construction companies a new reason to recommend concrete blocks when building a new home.
Lumber mills were forced to close for extended periods during the pandemic, and while they’re slowly recovering, the production of lumber is still suffering. However, low mortgage rates coupled with a lack of available homes created a need that far outweighed the supply, leading to a slowdown in in home construction. As demand for new homes to be built increased, so did the cost of lumber, in turn, raising the cost of construction.
Many people began turning to concrete as an alternative to expensive and not readily available lumber, making it a more popular choice for the construction of homes in the U.S. than ever before.
Energy efficient
Thanks to a thermal building envelope that prevents the loss of cool air within a home, homeowners can conserve energy and save money on their monthly bills. In fact, houses built with concrete walls are able to save homeowners as much as 9% on their energy bills when compared to wood-framed homes; concrete walls having less drafts and helping to maintain a consistent temperature within the building.
Fire resistant
Unlike steel, insulated concrete walls do not burn, bend or soften, helping to significantly limit the spread of flames in the event of a fire.
Noise reducing
Studies have shown that a home built with concrete walls can help to reduce noise emissions by as much as a quarter; now isn’t that something to shout about!
Pest resistant
When compared to wood construction homes, concrete homes rarely find themselves at the mercy of hordes of rodents, termites or ants, thanks to their natural pest resistance.
Healthier
Because concrete blocks are able to minimize toxins, mold, allergens and radon exposure, a home constructed from concrete blocks is actually healthier to live in than a timber framed home. The sheer density of the blocks stops mold and outside allergens from getting into the home and taking root deep within the walls.
Lower maintenance
Concrete homes are a lot less susceptible to wood rot and rust than homes constructed from wood, so they generally require far less maintenance.
As you can see, there are many benefits of having a home constructed from concrete blocks, and if you’d like to discuss the advantages in more detail, reach out to a local construction company for further advice and guidance.