Concrete homes have been around for decades, but they’re becoming an increasingly popular construction choice due to factors such as their energy efficiency, fire resistance and new technologies like 3D concrete printing. Globally, the use of insulated concrete forms (ICF) is the most popular way to build concrete homes. Around $815 million was spent on ICF products in 2020, and the industry is expected to grow by 4.7% annually through 2028. Here’s why concrete may be the future of home building.
Concrete Efficiency
Concrete housing is both cost efficient and energy efficient. Traditional ICF is manufactured in block systems, panel systems and plank systems, making it easy to install with a smaller crew — while cutting down on many traditional building and insulation costs. The layers of foam and concrete in ICF systems don’t require insulation, yet reduce drafts by as much as 75% compared to traditionally built homes. By some estimates, this equates to a 20-25% savings on annual heating and cooling bills.
Concrete Home Durability
Concrete can withstand extreme weather conditions, including Category 4 hurricanes, making them a durable, long-lasting housing solution. A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development cost and benefits report identified fire resistance, structural safety, durability, energy efficiency and noise control as the top benefits of concrete home construction.
New Technology
Concrete also lends itself to 3D-printed housing. While 3D printing technology has been used for many applications since the early aughts, using concrete in 3D printing applications is still relatively new. Using a special concrete mix, it’s now possible to 3D print entire homes, and the technology could be used to build energy-efficient homes easily and efficiently around the world.
Will concrete home construction be on your company’s horizon? We’re always excited to see innovative new uses for concrete. When it’s time for chipping and maintenance, give us a call. General Chipping has been working with concrete for decades, and we’ll be here help in the future.
