Building a new home is challenging, as there is much to explore when constructing a new one. You have to figure out how to keep costs down, plan the layout, keep heating and cooling costs down, and the cosmetics of the home.
Another thing you need to decide is what you will use to construct your home. For example, will you use concrete, traditional stick framing, or go the cheaper route of building a modular home?
There are many options for constructing a home, so it can take time to decide which one is right for you. To help you out, we’ll discuss the best construction options for building a new home in this article.
Pole Barn
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Construction workers will use post-frame construction when building a pole barn home and drive poles into the ground. The best thing about pole barn homes is that they don’t require a foundation like most other homes.
Additionally, the poles secure the roof, unlike traditional construction, in which the walls secure the roof. This helps create an open space within the home, as you don’t have to worry about any load-bearing walls.
On the inside, you’re given a clean slate on how you want to design your home. For example, if you want openness to flow from the kitchen to the living and dining rooms, it will be easier to do this with a pole barn home. Lastly, building these types of homes takes less time than it will for most other construction options, such as the traditional stick frame.
Stick Frame
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When building a new home, most people use the traditional stick frame for construction. This method uses lumber cuts connecting to floor and ceiling joists, wall studs, and roof trusses.
Also, the homes are built onsite with a foundation underneath. Once the foundation is completed, the first story is made, and sometimes a second house story is built. After the walls and levels of the home are built, the next involves building the roof.
Once the home is built, the mechanical work begins. This includes adding pipes, wires, and ducts, routed in the home’s walls and floors.
Next, insulation is put into the walls, and after inspection, the drywall is put on to cover the insulation. The last step involves covering the exterior walls with weather-resistant cladding such as brick or siding.
The traditional stick frame method has been used in America since the 19th century, and over 90% of homes are built this way. However, the downside of using this method is it can be costly for construction.
Manufactured Homes
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Manufactured homes are built in factories and finished on the owner’s land. It is sometimes called a modular home and uses the same methods as traditional stick framing. Also, when building a manufactured home, the construction workers must follow the same codes as building a home entirely on-site.
Most people need clarification on manufactured homes with mobile homes, but it is different due to the different building codes. Often, manufactured homes allow you to build the home of your dreams, use different architectural designs, include luxury features at a low price, and create a floor plan that matches your lifestyle. However, financing a manufactured home can become pricey depending on the features and add-ons you want to include in your home.
Light-Gauge Steel Framing
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As there can be downsides to using the stick method to building a home, another option is using light-gauge steel. The process of creating the house is the same, except builders use steel as the frame. When using steel, you won’t have to worry about termites utilizing the structure for food, burning steel during a fire, or rotting while living in the home.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about drywall cracking because steel doesn’t shrink or warp. However, there are some downsides when using steel for the frame of a home. For one, it costs more to use steel than to use lumberjack.
Also, plumbers and electricians may need help with installing their materials. Lastly, due to the ability of steel to conduct heat, an insulator will have to wrap the home with rigid foam insulation to isolate the frame from the sheathing. So, when choosing to use steel for the frame of a home, keep these downsides in mind.
Concrete
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Usually, concrete is used for the foundation of a home, but it can also be used to construct single-family homes. Before builders use concrete for the house, they use wood framing for the interior walls, floors, ceilings, and roof. Next, the exterior walls will be filled with special concrete known as insulated concrete forms (ICFs) or concrete masonry units (CMUs).
Concrete Masonry Units are hollow concrete blocks covered with foam insulation inside or outside of the building on site. With this type of concrete, a building’s interior stays cooler on hot days because the thermal mass of the blocks reduces heat transfer.
With an ICF, a rigid foam block form is assembled on-site with steel rod reinforcement in between. Once done, concrete is filled into the block form, serving as the home’s insulation.
Compared to most wood-framed walls, ICF walls provide thermal mass and insulation values of up to R-25. One of the things that makes an ICF home stand out is its large size. In hurricane-prone areas, ICF manufacturers and builders promote the system as a good choice for high winds.
Which Construction Option Will You Choose for Your New Home?
Each construction option has pros and cons, so you must review your options before choosing. Discuss the possibility with your builder if you decide to select a method besides the traditional stick method. You will want to ensure the builder has the experience of building a home with a different method.
Lastly, the same will go for the architect designing your new home. Again, you want to ensure they have the experience of building a home other than using traditional stick framing.
