Consider eco-friendly alternatives to wood framing before you build your new home.

Different methods of house construction not only impact the cost and design of your
home, but also affect the maintenance requirements and long-term value of your
property. The choice of construction method even impacts your home's energy
efficiency, which can influence both the environment and your monthly energy bills.
When deciding among construction techniques, take the time to balance long-term
sustainability with up-front and lifetime costs to find the best home design for your
needs.
Sponsored Link
Eagle Cement Philippines
Cement trusted by top construction firms and real estate developers
www.eaglecement.com.ph
Wood Framing
Wood framing represents the most common method of house construction. It
consists of wooden beams and lumber components connected using nails or screws
to form walls, floors, roofs and ceilings. Many people choose wood framing because
of its low cost and design versatility, while others choose it simply because it's fairly
easy to construct. One of the drawbacks of wood is its tendency to suffer moisture
damage in the form of rot, swelling or mold. Wood is also a relatively poor insulator
and offers little protection against noise, storms and wind.
Steel Framing
Light-gauge steel framing is similar to wood framing but offers long-term durability
and fewer flaws. According to the LSU Agricultural Center, steel framing costs more
than wood but features a uniform, predictable finish that results in straighter walls
and more tightly constructed homes. Because steel framing is still relatively
uncommon in residential construction, it may be challenging to find a skilled builder
to construct your home using this method.
Masonry
Masonry homes include those built from block, stone or brick. Block often serves as
a basic framing material in areas subject to storms or high winds that would be too
damaging for wood or steel framing. Its heavy weight provides strength and
durability as well as excellent insulation and sound-blocking properties. Block may
be covered with siding or stone veneer, or even clad with stucco for an easy and
cost-effective finish. The concept of a brick or stone home has changed over the
years. A century ago, brick homes consisted of two rows of brick separated by a wall
cavity. The cavity kept water and air out of the home and served as a space for

insulation and waterproofing materials. Today, brick homes are rarely built this way
and typically include an inner wall of block and an outer brick or stone veneer wall.
In some cases, brick or stone veneer is simply adhered to the inner framing wall
using mortar, while in others it's offset by metal brick ties or straps.
Concrete
Concrete homes can be constructed from cast-in-place concrete, precast panels or
insulated-concrete forms that contain integral insulation. No matter which of these
methods you choose, concrete homes provide long-lasting durability and strength
with very little maintenance. They offer a high level of fire and pest resistance and
are heavy enough to withstand high winds and tough storms. Concrete homes tend
to cost more than wood or metal framing and often require experienced builders to
ensure a safe structure.
Green Techniques
While any home can be made more energy-efficient, truly green building techniques
represent a small portion of the home building market. According to the Department
of Energy, straw bale homes represent a sustainable and eco-friendly design with
enormous potential. Earth-mound homes, including those made from adobe and
those sheltered underground, provide another energy-efficient design possibility.
Structural insulated panels, or SIPs, are perhaps one of the most widely used green
construction methods. They consist of sheets of foam insulation sandwiched
between sheets of plywood or fiber cement. These panels form the walls, floor and
ceiling of a home to create a virtually unbeatable level of energy efficiency and
watertight construction.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/methods-house-construction-8755.html

There's an ever growing number of house construction methods available for your
self build, each with their own advantages. We'll have a look at the more popular
options and highlight a few niche techniques that might be of interest to you.

In this section, 'house construction methods' refers to the construction of the main
structural load-bearing shell or 'superstructure' of a house. In most cases, the same
facing materials can be used and the appearance of a completed house is similar,
irrespective of the build method used.
'Traditional' Methods

The majority of new homes in England and Wales are built using traditional masonry
construction. Most of us are familiar with this method and, along with a number of
advantages, there is a deep historical and psychological attachment to masonry
construction that has contributed to its continuation as the main house building
method in the UK. A national survey by MORI found that 61% of respondents would
prefer to buy a newly built property of traditional block construction.
Timber frame covers a number of build systems and in essence it is a traditional
method of construction, however manufacturing developments have moved many
of these methods into the classification of modern methods of construction
discussed below. It is the second most popular technique for new home construction
in the UK and, according to the UK Timber Frame Association, is the fastest growing
method of construction in the UK. Traditionally used in areas rich in timber resources
such as North America and Scandinavia, it comes with some good environmental
credentials.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
As technology, manufacturing processes and construction knowledge increase so do
the number of house construction methods available to house builders.
The term 'Modern Methods of Construction' refers to a collection of relatively new
construction techniques that aim to offer advantages over traditional methods.
Although referred to as Modern Methods of Construction, some of these have been
used for some time.
Conventionally this is an area where self builders pioneer, particularly in terms of
sustainable construction. Where developers were happy to stick with proven
methods of construction that suited buyer demand, many self builders were and still
are, willing to research, invest and try something a little different in order to achieve
an individual home that meets their needs. You only have to watch a couple of
episodes of 'Grand Designs' before you come across an unusual build method.
In light of increasing housing demand, skills shortages and the targets set by The
Code for Sustainable Homes, the Government is encouraging the house-building
sector to use and develop MMC in an attempt to meet these challenges.
Most of these modern house construction methods have evolved to some degree
from their traditional predecessors. Methods such as thin joint systems with Aircrete
blocks and structural insulated panels (SIPS) are part of the ongoing evolution of
masonry and timber frame construction.
Other techniques more familiar in larger scale commercial construction have
developed, bringing alternatives with some interesting qualities to house
building.Steel frame systems have developed and in-situ concrete techniques have
led to the development of insulated concrete forms (ICF).

Another unlikely material to make its way into the modern methods of construction
is straw. A company called Modcell have developed a timber, straw and hemp panel
system that can be produced in 'flying factories' then delivered and erected on-site.
Facit Homes have taken things a step further and deliver a 'mobile production
facility' to the plot where the components of the superstructure are manufactured
on-site!
A common denominator of the modern methods is a reduction in construction time
on site and an increase in the amount of manufacture that takes place in a
controlled factory environment.
This brings prefabrication to mind but contrary to the images that 'prefab' conjures
up, many of the kit houses that are available break new ground in terms of design
and construction.
These modern methods and the increase in offsite construction offer the following
perceived advantages:

Reducing the effect that weather has on production.

Reduced impact on residents.

Fewer materials deliveries and so reduced disruption and fuel consumption.

Controlled manufacture.

Reduced construction times.

Fewer defects.

Higher quality.

Reduced energy use.

Reduced wastage.

Meeting demand during skills shortages.

Reduced labour requirements.

Improved safety.

More accurate cost forecasts.

Use of better materials.

Improved manufacture times.

Other Methods

In addition to the traditional and the modern there are a number of other, 'niche'
house construction methods available and anyone interested in something
alternative, natural or more sustainable might be interested in the following:

Earthship Homes

Straw Bales

Cannabricks - Hemp based products.

Cordwood - Logs and masonry mortar.

Adobe - Sand, clay, water and sticks or straw are mixed and formed into
blocks for building.

Cob - Similar to Adobe in constitution but applied wet rather than forming
blocks.

Rammed Earth - Another earth construction method but this one uses
formwork.

Log Cabin Homes

Dome Houses
o

Geodesic Dome Homes

Monolithic Dome Homes

Comparing the Methods

Each house construction method has its own advantages and due to the complex
nature of the processes involved and the unique requirements of different projects it
is very difficult to directly compare them in terms of cost, time and sustainability.
When assessing the environmental impact of a system, the whole lifecycle of the
products involved needs to be considered including acquisition of raw materials,
transportation, processing, manufacture, waste generation, operating efficiency,
specification, lifespan and recyclability at the end of its life.
Time comparisons also require further investigation and although site times may be
reduced by offsite prefabrication, lead and manufacture times must also be
considered to give accurate schedule predictions.
To compare costs accurately, the best way is to build up a set of costs for each
method and compare them directly for your specific project. Have a look at
ourMoney section for tips and techniques.
Making a Choice

The links from this page provide more information on the various house construction
methods. Weigh up the pros and cons and compare them to what you want from
your self-build home.
Before proceeding too far with your plans, check your position in relation to:

Mortgage Lenders.

Insurers.

Warranty Providers.

Building Control.

Most of the modern methods are gaining acceptance and shouldn't be a problem
but now is the time check.
Despite many methods laying claim to being the 'future of construction', there is no
definitive solution to choosing one of the house construction methods, it really
comes down to feasibility and which one suits your personal requirements the best.