Wood Isnt Your Only Option: Building Materials Outside the Box
Wood Isn’t Your Only Option: Building Materials Outside the Box
Non-Lumber Construction Materials
Lumber is probably the most well-known material that’s used for framing construction and building out projects, but it isn’t the only option out there. When it comes to creating frames for rooms and buildings, steel and other metals are not only an option but they’re actually becoming an increasingly popular one because of the added strength that they provide. Metal framing is used in everything from sheds to exterior garages to whole homes and creates very sturdy structures that can stand up well against severe weather and other events.
Metal isn’t the only wood alternative that you can use in construction around the home, either. Plastics such as composite decking and fencing are increasingly popular for use around the home, creating a look that is often reminiscent of wood while providing superior resistance to fading and weather damage. Bamboo products are also seeing an increase in use as a building material, as they have similar capabilities to wood but often come at a lower cost than wood lumber because of the fast rate at which bamboo grows. Even concrete and fiber cement are seeing a growing popularity as materials, especially given their relative strengths and the ability to mold both to a variety of shapes to better match the project at hand.
Minimizing Wood in Your Projects
Even with a variety of materials as options, you may still need to (or want to!) use some wood in your construction projects. You may simply prefer the look of wood, or have specific idea in mind that does require wood. This doesn’t mean that you have to commit to wood for the entire project, however, and you can use alternative materials in places where they aren’t visible or won’t affect the project in substantial ways as a means of reducing your overall project cost.
A great way to do this is to use alternative materials for framing and then attach wood to that frame. You can also use wood in areas where it’s strictly necessary for the project that you have in mind and then supplement that with paintable composites or fiber cement siding so that the end product can get a coat or two of paint to make it all mesh. There are a number of ways that you can be creative and keep your costs low while still giving you the look and functionality that you want in the end.
Working Without Wood
Of course, being able to use a material other than wood in your construction projects only works out if you’ve got contractors or other pros who are used to working with these alternative materials. HomeKeepr can help you in this regard. Using our app you can connect with pros in your area and find professionals that have experience working with metals, composites, and other alternative materials to help you get the job done with the materials you want. Best of all, creating a HomeKeepr account is free. Sign up for your free account today to get started.
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