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Building Materials for Residential Construction

Published: Thursday, May 12, 2022

Residential construction is finally making a comeback after over two years of seeming to be frozen in space. This is exciting for those who didn’t want to invest in a subpar home and wanted to build their own: but there’s a lot more to this topic than simply putting a home together.

The prices, the materials, and the reliability are the top things everyone should know about residential construction moving forward.

What Modern Residential Building Looks Like

In early 2020 when the pandemic began, the process of creating building materials was slowed to a hiatus, and along with it, home building had slowed to a near stop as well. This created a ripple effect that slowed down the industry and made these products hard for customers and clients to get their hands on.

This, of course, drove up the price.

In 2021, costs were 23% higher for construction than they were in 2019, just two years before. Construction prices are even higher in 2022, even though many had assumed this housing boom was going to erupt before it got this far. Building materials have to be carefully chosen to be worth their current cost.

Building Blocks That Start Out Strong

Every decision you make, from the very first thought, should be carefully chosen. This starts at the very base when deciding on what layout works best, to deciding on what kind of fiber cement soffit you want for your property.

You can, and should, shop around for a great deal: buy quality when you purchase. Seek out products that have almost exclusively good reviews and that you can trust with your property. Although you may be able to find something a little cheaper, it’s more valuable to purchase something of high quality that will last longer.

Siding That Can Handle Anything

Your siding is the final protection your home has from the outside world. Although it’s also aesthetically important since it decides the color and style someone may refer to your home as having, it can also stop a lot of damage from happening to it.

Going for steel siding will ensure your siding lasts for as long as possible, and hardy plank looks great, can be whatever style or color you want, and can also last an incredibly long time. Siding is one of the biggest decisions you can make, so choose carefully.

Insulation To Fight Heating and Cooling Costs

Heating and cooling bills are rising nationally, with some areas that never get above 90 degrees experiencing freak weather days that soar into the 100s. Beyond protecting your wallet, insulation helps protect your property.

Good insulation stops moisture, temperature fluctuations, insect life, noise pollution, and tons of other issues from getting into your home. If you want to make sure that your home is as safe as possible, go for insulated concrete forms from the beginning, and continue to insulate as your property is built.

Details That Make Homes Last Longer

Every home is made of thousands of little details that can build up into a success or a flop of a property. While building yours, make sure to take the time to let the details add good things to the property. These can be activities like painting and switching out your light switch plates, which are inexpensive changes any homeowner can make. By reapplying a good finish or stain to your deck, you can also ensure it looks great for longer and will continue to be a great talking point for the back of your home.

Although construction is extremely expensive right now, it’s better to take care of your property and be prepared than anything else.

Diverting Water Away is Vital

A sixth of properties in the US are at risk of flooding within the next ten years. This is a scary number, especially if you look at how wild weather patterns have been in the last decade. One of the most important things you can do when building a new home is to ensure you take this risk away.

Beyond simply buying a piece of land that’s higher than any surrounding it, you also need to pay attention to things like diverting water away from home by putting in drainage and ensuring there’s no chance the driveway or yard will flood. Set downspouts so they go far away from the home, or consider adding rain barrels to capture extra water.

Storm Windows Are a Must

Speaking of unpredictable weather: if you live in an area that gets tornadoes or heavy storms more than once a year, you should invest in storm windows. These high-quality windows work hard to stop water and debris from getting through while also being thick enough to handle weather fluctuations and keep your heating and cooling bills lower.

These windows are made to handle anything, so they should be an obvious choice when constructing your next property.

Every Project and Property is Different

Whether you’re working on your 100th residential property or your first, there will be some differences that can make or break the project. From how much time and money it takes to the incredible difference in quality out there: take materials and needs into account every time.

Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a
content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow
homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of
construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.