New technology makes it easier for home builders to create more efficient, functional, and stylish homes. Some new techniques also increase the sustainability of a home.
Some of these new methods are aimed at speeding up construction. Others address specific design challenges. These include overcoming barriers like zoning regulations, lot size restrictions, and valuation requirements.
Prefabrication
When planning your dream home, understanding the various construction techniques will help determine what suits you and your property. From modular to prefab, there are many options to consider.
Prefabricated homes are constructed in a factory, transported to the site, and assembled on the foundation. Prefabrication is a great way to build affordable homes with your desired designs and floor plans.
Three types of prefabricated homes are modular, manufactured, and panelized. Modular and manufactured homes are expertly crafted in sections and skillfully transported to the building site for seamless reassembly. Pre-cut panels are shipped with precision and easily assembled using a powerful crane. Many companies use a panelized construction system to provide customers with the quality and flexibility of a traditional stick-built home while reducing costs like a prefabricated house.
Manufactured/Modular
Modular homes are constructed offsite in climate-controlled facilities and then delivered to your building site for final assembly. It allows for shorter construction times and a lower cost than traditional brick-and-mortar homes.
As the labor shortage persists, builders need innovative home-building techniques that accelerate project delivery times and reduce costs. These methods include Fox Blocks ICFs, a single-wall system that eliminates the need for coordination between different trades and significantly quickens construction time.
Another solution is to build a community of 3D-printed homes. This innovative construction method uses ICON’s Vulcan robotic construction systems and a concrete mixture called Lavacrete to print the house’s exterior and interior walls.
While prefab houses are often cheaper and faster to construct than conventional builds, it’s essential to do a thorough cost analysis before choosing this type of building. Also, some communities may require special permits or extended consultations for modular homes.
Traditional
Home builders are looking for ways to improve their home-building process. Whether that means reducing costs, speeding up construction, or creating homes with new materials, they are always looking for the next innovation to make their job easier.
One of the latest home-building innovations is 3D printing. This technique allows homebuyers to personalize their homes in the blueprint stage and build them onsite at an accelerated pace without needing to wait for deliveries, stores having the correct materials on hand, or having drivers available to deliver the suitable material at the right time.
Another innovative home-building method is structural insulated panels or SIPs. These solutions are all-in-one wall systems that reduce labour needs and speed up construction. They also offer many energy-efficiency benefits and can be used instead of traditional studs. In addition, they are often constructed with areas for plumbing and electrical wiring, which is a huge time saver.
Timber-Framed
Timber framing combines the beauty of large, exposed wood beams with the structural integrity of a heavy-duty building. In addition, timber frames are more resistant to fire damage than stick-built homes. They can also accommodate wide-open floor plans because they do not require interior load-bearing walls. Some of the best examples of these outstanding structures can be found (and acquired from) Frontier Log Homes.
Timber-framed buildings use a joinery system, with mortises and tenons, to connect the timbers. These connections allow a timber framer to create various shapes and designs in the wall structure. The result is a highly customizable design, which can create a casual mountain home, an ornate Victorian style, or even a restrained New England-style home.
Timber frame construction is also more environmentally friendly than other forms of building. Because of the cellular nature of timber, it provides excellent insulation and reduces energy usage. Additionally, a timber-framed house uses less material than a conventional build, and it is made with wood sourced from a renewable resource, meaning more trees are planted than are harvested.
