Our homes are something we take pride in, and if necessary, we want our offspring and their offspring to take a chance to live in the house we happily lived in. For a long time, man has been experimenting with various building materials to ensure that his home is strong and long-lasting. The longevity of a home relies solely on one thing — its materials.
To build taller structures, stronger building materials had to be used at the beginning of human civilization. There was a need for some sort of support framework to bear the weight of high-rise buildings, which have a lot of weight on load-bearing walls. As a cost-effective option for commercial construction, steel is also finding favor with home builders. Depending on how it is used, it can either serve as a support for concrete or serve as a foundation unto itself.
Stone is a naturally occurring building material that does require additional resources to produce, and construction and material costs are two of the most challenging. If your stone house is built with natural stone, you can expect it to last for a hundred years.
Concrete homes are becoming increasingly popular in the housing market. They are renowned for their long-lasting, energy-saving, and cost-saving abilities. Concrete is the most widely used construction material compared to steel or wood, and concrete has only one drawback: the higher initial cost.
The popularity of brick as a home building material is well-known for a good reason. Brick houses are energy-efficient, durable, and low-maintenance all at the same time. However, as with many other house types, they can have structural issues and are expensive to buy or build.
Because wood is a natural insulator, wooden houses are well-known for their energy efficiency. However, biological and abiotic factors contribute to the deterioration and devastation of wood. Carbon and hydrogen are the primary components of wood, so it is not the safest option in a natural disaster. If taken with the proper approach, it can also be long-lasting.
These days, it’s not uncommon to see homes built between the 1950s and 1960s that are still in excellent condition. They need to be maintained, but the high-quality building materials used by homebuilders during those periods have lasted well. How long will today’s low-priced “spec homes” be able to stand the test of time?
Don’t skimp on quality building materials if you’re building a new house or remodeling an existing one. The upfront cost may be a little higher, but you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Make a wise decision!
