He huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the house down! We all learned at an early age that it’s not a good idea to build a house out of straw or sticks. But what are the best building materials and which is right for you?
We can look at history and see what our ancestors did in order to build the oldest buildings in the world. Of course, a lot has changed in the world of architecture since the Megalithic Temples of Malta went up. So if you’re interested in modern house building materials, read on to learn the differences and why you should take them into consideration.
1. Wood Is Good
Wood is a very friendly building material as it is lightweight, easily cut to length, and can be used structurally or decoratively. It can be quite strong when treated to resist moisture and lasts a long time.
However, wood is susceptible to damage from moisture, insects, and fire, all of which can leave your building uninhabitable.
2. Solid Stone
Humans have been building with stone for ages and value it for its strength, load-bearing properties, ability to withstand fire and the elements, and natural beauty.
While modern-day contractors rarely build entire stone structures, it is popular to use it as a veneer or for the facade of a building. Stone is heavy, difficult to lift, and expensive to extract from the earth. Unfortunately, there are more modern materials that are preferred over a stone structure which makes this option look like it’s from the stone age.
3. You Can Count on Concrete
Concrete is an aggregate material made from a combination of sand, small stones, cement, and water. Reinforcing it with steel increases its tensile strength and makes it more flexible and able to support heavier loads.
Concrete is best used for foundations, walls, beams, and slabs. It is a relatively inexpensive building material and can be formed into any shape to create a strong, reliable structure.
4. The Best Building Materials Are Made of Steel
Steel became a popular building material for skyscrapers because of its ability to create a strong framework for load-bearing walls. While steel is common for commercial construction, you should also consider steel for residential construction.
Steel is a strong and versatile building medium that is easy to produce and less taxing on natural resources. Its eco-friendly quality is due to mass production from recycled steel material.
Steel is also a top performer when it comes to withstanding earthquakes and other natural disasters. Its fire-resistant and impervious to the elements when treated properly.
5. From Clay to Brick
Man discovered that clay becomes a lot stronger when it was formed into blocks and dried in the sun. Many ancient structures such as the Great Wall of China, The Pantheon, and the Roman Aqueducts are made of brick and are still standing strong today.
Brick can be an excellent building material. However, it can be very expensive to build entirely of brick. Most brick structures you see today are made of wood or concrete with a brick veneer out the outer wall.
Brick offers fire resistance and insulation but requires maintenance if you live in a wet climate.
Breaking Ground
When considering materials to build a house, don’t overlook alternative options to your typical wood frame and drywall. After all, you’ll want to build a strong structure out of the best building materials that will outlast you.
For more ideas on building your dream home that will last a lifetime check out some of our other posts!
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