Regular home upgrades are an essential component of homeownership. Not only do they help fortify worn and degraded areas of the property, but they help the home remain aligned with contemporary real estate trends for ongoing value on the real estate market. Despite the myriad innovations that have taken place in the realm of building materials in recent years, one of the tried-and-true classics continues to gain popularity in both commercial and residential projects alike: concrete. Keep reading as we look into the reasons concrete continues to expand its footprint as a go-to material in all types of home improvement projects.
Durability
Durability is one of the most important qualities when choosing a building material. It limits the cost of homeownership through fewer ongoing repairs. In addition, durable products can help occupants feel safe and secure in the face of severe weather or natural disasters. Because of its unique composition, concrete’s hard, crystalline structure makes it resistant to wear and tear, most harsh chemicals, and heavy compressive forces, says Science Direct. This helps guarantee ongoing aesthetics and performance for a wide range of home improvement applications.
One of the most key factors on whether your concrete stands the test of time or crumbles like a cookie is if it is installed correctly. To be sure that your concrete lasts for decades look for local concrete pros, like these Fort Collins concrete contractors, who know the ins and outs of installing concrete the right way.
Versatility
Concrete is one of the world’s most versatile building materials. From sidewalks to countertops, concrete driveways to roofing tiles, it can be found all throughout the property. This versatility can lead to functional and aesthetic harmonization. This is particularly important given the rise of biophilic design principles. Biophilic design is an architectural approach that aims to connect building inhabitants to nature. Concrete is a perfect material in this regard, as it helps create smooth transitions between interior and exterior areas of the home to help occupants feel more at one with their natural surroundings.
Affordability
The rise in building material costs has been well-documented in recent years. Not only has this caused countless families to cancel plans for their dream home construction, but it has even made basic renovations break the budget. Therefore, many homeowners are turning to concrete for its relative affordability, says Yahoo Tech. It does not require any labor-intensive manufacturing in a factory setting to be ready for use. It can often be poured and set on-site in a matter of hours, expediting construction and reducing labor costs. Most concrete will cost around $6.60 per square foot but may cost more or less depending on location and/or if any extra reinforcement or specialized finishing is required.
To further simplify the renovation process, renting a residential dumpster ensures that waste materials like old flooring, concrete debris, or broken fixtures can be removed efficiently, keeping the project on schedule and the worksite clean.
Aesthetics
People want to feel proud of the building they call home. As such, aesthetics are an integral component to consider during a home upgrade. Concrete offers a lot of utility in this regard. It helps cultivate a clean, finished aspect for exterior areas and landscaping. As mentioned, it facilitates transitions to promote the biophilic design concept. In addition, modern polishing techniques allow concrete to be finished in a number attractive designs for countertops and flooring.
Energy Efficiency
Modern homes are increasingly under the microscope for their energy efficiency. Not only do homeowners want to save on monthly utility costs, but they want to do their part to ensure the ongoing health of the planet. Concrete is a wonderful material to help streamline these energy efficiency efforts. Its high thermal mass guarantees that concrete-based areas of the home will not experience rapid temperature fluctuations in the face of extreme temperatures.
This is put on full display with insulated concrete forms (ICF) framing, which is known for its unmatched R-value and airtight building envelope. Another great way to use concrete to improve a home’s energy efficiency is via heated concrete floors. This innovative system uses a series of app-controlled subfloor heating mats to disperse heat up through the flooring in a consistent, stove-like manner. This direct approach to heating can warm an area of a home much more quickly than a traditional forced air system, curbing energy consumption in the process.
Low Maintenance
Modern homeowners are busier than ever. Not only are most households multi-income, but individuals have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet in this era of unprecedented inflation and rising cost of living. One byproduct of this is that people simply do not have the time or energy to devote to household tasks. This makes any home features that streamline the cleaning and maintenance processes a top priority. Not only does concrete’s high durability make it less prone to damage from everyday use than less durable products, but it simply requires the use of concrete cleaner (once per year) and a penetrating sealer (every 2-5 years) for concrete surfaces to maintain their elite aesthetics and performance.
Consider Concrete Options for an Upcoming Home Improvement
Despite being one of the most ubiquitous building materials for decades, concrete continues to be used in new and interesting ways throughout the home. From elite durability to low maintenance properties, consider any of the factors listed above to see why concrete is a top choice for contemporary home upgrades.