Concrete homes are a rising trend in every state out there and are progressively being employed to improve the visual appeal of our residential areas. This is not just owing to prominent short and long term economic benefits, but also due to the massive and ever growing appealing choices it offers. You may not be aware a house is a concrete one by looking at it, but once you step into it, you will be fascinated by the experience you get. In disparity to our conventional notion of wooden homes, it is currently becoming the go-to substitute to the mind-numbing ancient construction decisions we have been fixed on for quite some time.
Apart from offering a modernized view of house constructions, concrete homes are economical in that they lower energy bills as well. Below we are going to look at the different ways in which concrete homes lower energy bills.
Ways that concrete homes lower energy costs.
- Concrete has a thermal mass that conserves five to eight percent in yearly energy
costs equated to wood. In this reference link, you can see Houston Ready Mix Trucks filled with the highly-absorbant material. In my view, this is the best benefit of concrete homes. Its ability to absorb, accumulate and later discharge substantial heat amounts is a significant cost saving feature.
- Concrete is fire resistant.
A safe house is an economical home since the worry of repairs in case of a fire breakout is behind you. The malleable foams used in concrete homes can never add the intensity of burning in case there is a fire breakout in your home. This is because they are treated with flame retardants to preclude them from scorching or catching any unnecessary flames. This material would be perfect for an outdoor stepping path. In firewall checks, ICF and concrete walls endured incessant contact with powerful fires and high temperatures of up to two thousand degrees F for around four hours short of a physical catastrophe, likened to wooden walls that malformed in not more than an hour or so.
- Concrete homes save on heating and air-conditioning costs.
They offer radiant heating which is an excellent heating feature. On cold winter days, concrete homes can have warm floors for your enjoyment. Warm heat is conveyed to your feet not forgetting the air around you gets heated up as well. This is a heating system that is reliable, cost-reducing and energy efficient to top it all up. Furthermore, there is circulation of warm water through robust plastic pipes which are fixed in concrete. This ensures more warmth is dispersed throughout your home.
- Concrete has high insulation properties.
There are various insulation varieties of concrete homes ranging from polystyrene panels to foiled backed batts.
Other benefits of concrete homes.
Aside from saving energy bills, concrete homes have many other important qualities that will benefit the homeowner. These include;
- Concrete is safe from elevated gusts of winds.
If your home is erected in areas susceptible to tornados or hurricanes, concrete is the best choice for you. Wooden homes will be completely destroyed by storms while concrete will stay erect and strong; since they can endure flying wreckage from whirlwinds and hurricanes with great wind speeds.
- Concrete homes ensure you pay less insurance.
This is owed to the fact that concrete homes are less likely to catch fire, get infested with pests or get knocked over by strong winds unlike wooden homes; therefore, insurance payments will definitely be less. Paying less on insurance covers will ensure you save more money to use on other bills that may arise.
- Concrete provides a healthier interior environment.
Concrete material only contains inorganic material that is non-toxic. This ensures that mold growth or any other harmful microorganisms will not be supported. Air infiltration is also reduced meaning less exposure to allergens. This ensures a less likely visit to the hospital hence saving on costs as well. Furthermore, concrete homes are environment- friendly in that trees are not cut down so as to build wooden homes and there is less building waste. This ensures conserving of forests for future generations.
- Concrete homes provide comfort and privacy.
The everyday noise of the outside will be impervious to you in a concrete home. No more nuisance of the neighbor’s barking dog, the noisy car honks or the noisy downpours. Peace and quiet is all that someone looks for when you go home and that is what a concrete home offers.
- Concrete does not entail much maintenance.
This benefits constructors and contractors while not forgetting the homeowners.
- Concrete is a renowned building material.
This quality allows you to save on total development costs since the home will last an extended amount of time.
When allowing for all of this, it is not tough to envision concrete homes becoming a usual in houses and other constructions around the realm within the subsequent generations to come. The expenses are minimal, the reimbursements plentiful and the prospective of a unique style is immeasurable.
Bio: Katrina Manning is a published author and content marketing writer for Dirtwirx, a Houston land clearing company. Over the past eight years, she has written thousands of articles in the business, tech and lifestyle genres.