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Concrete Can Help Builders Carve a Niche in Down Market
Residential concrete products can help builders differentiate themselves in a down market by expanding builders’ product offerings and, in many cases, reducing consumers’ operating costs.
It is well documented that concrete walls can dramatically increase the energy efficiency of a home. Laboratory studies have shown that homes with concrete and foam walls can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 40%. The energy efficiency of a concrete home often means that HVAC systems can be downsized, and a number of software programs are available to assist contractors with this process.
Several Concrete Systems Are Available
Builders can use a number of methods ― insulating concrete forms (ICFs), concrete masonry, removable concrete forms (RCFs), precast panels or autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) ― to build above-grade concrete walls.
Many of these concrete systems also can be used in roofing and decking applications, further enhancing the energy efficiency and structural integrity of the building envelope.
Many Systems Can Reduce Time, Labor and Costs
In many instances, concrete walls and floors reduce construction time and labor. Some concrete builders are able to use the same crew for below-grade and above-grade walls, reducing their total number of crews.
The use of precast concrete systems also can mean less time spent at the actual job site, while ICFs can lengthen a builder’s construction season because their insulating qualities allow them to be poured at lower temperatures than traditional concrete.
Concrete Systems Stand Up to Natural Disasters
Concrete products also provide superior resistance to natural disasters.
Concrete wall and roof systems have performed very well in high wind areas, particularly in coastal regions vulnerable to hurricanes. And a home with concrete exterior and concrete roof tiles is better protected from wildfires.
Finally, building with concrete walls and floors, and the lifelong energy savings these systems provide, justify including concrete construction methods in sustainable development projects.
Residential Concrete Is Aesthetically Pleasing
New concrete can be stained, stamped, stenciled and integrally colored to produce a variety of patterns and textures, adding to its growing popularity in homes. Concrete also can be made to resemble brick, stone and slate — in many cases at reduced cost and a higher degree of durability.
Existing concrete can be covered with a micro topping, stamped overlay or polished. Concrete countertops, both cast-in-place and precast, offer a unique, customized look for kitchens and bathrooms, often less expensively than competing materials, although additional reinforcement to allow for the greater weight may be required.
The durability and low maintenance of fiber-cement siding has led many builders to specify it for their home projects. Concrete roof tiles continue to expand their market share as well. Genuine Portland-cement stucco and manufactured stone are other examples of cement-based products that provide superior quality as well as pleasing aesthetics for homeowners.
‘Connect With Concrete’ at IBS
NAHB’s Concrete Home Building Council will be holding a free “Connect With Concrete” lunch at the International Builders Show in Orlando on Feb. 15 to give builders and contractors and opportunity to learn more about residential concrete products. To attend, e-mail Kate Driscoll at NAHB.
For more information about residential concrete products, visit www.concretehomes.com, www.concretethinker.com or www.nahb.org/concrete.
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