New Technologies in Residential Construction You Should Know About

New home construction building has changed a lot over the years. At one time, most homes were made from simple brick and wood, and other traditional materials. Today, many homes are made from modern materials, using new technologies. If you're a home buyer who is thinking about building a home, here's what you need to know about the materials available to residential contractors.

3D Printed Homes

3D printers have been making headlines for years, and now they're becoming so useful that they're actually able to construct entire homes. To do this, 3D printers set layers of concrete in the shape of a house. Using 3D printer technology, home construction is fast and simple.

At this time, most builders talk of using 3D printed homes to construct quick housing for disaster victims. However, as the technology advances, 3D printed homes may become more common for use in everyday residential construction.

Pollution Absorbing Bricks

Imagine building your home from a brick that sucks in polluted air, and then releases filtered air into the world. Pollution-absorbing bricks could make a big difference for homeowners seeking better indoor air quality, and could also have a big impact on the cleanliness of the air around us.

Aerogel Insulation

Aerogel insulation is a product created from dehydrated gel. The product is lightweight and airy, and is said to be about four times more effective than standard fiberglass insulation. For homeowners seeking ways to keep their home as efficient as possible, aerogel insulation is an excellent product.

Green Materials

Recycled and green products are an important feature of modern buildings and homes. For example, insulation made from denim or wool, flooring made from bamboo, and walls made from rammed earth are beginning to make an appearance in homes all over the country. These green technologies are efficient, good for the environment and attractive. Green materials also boost resale value, because many home buyers seek out green materials when they're buying a home.

Home buyers seeking to build a new home can get the best bang for their buck by talking to their contractor about installing as many green features as they can. In addition to recycled and sustainable building materials, modern low-flow and energy-saving fixtures are another form of modern technology that are helping homeowners save money and improve quality of life.

Self-Healing Concrete

Concrete cracks over time, especially under poor conditions. When this happens, the concrete must be repaired or it will continue to deteriorate. Cracks allow moisture to seep into the concrete and surface underneath the concrete. Freeze thaw cycles can widen the cracks, causing the concrete to crumble. The only way to prevent this from happening is to repair the concrete with crack filler.

Self-healing concrete is a product that contains special bacteria. When it gets wet, the bacteria produces calcite, which fills the crack and makes the concrete less penetrable. Over the course of a few weeks, the crack may fully disappear. Self-healing concrete has big implications for homes with concrete foundations, but is also useful for outdoor pavers and sidewalks.

Construction Apps and Technologies

The most up-to-date home builders have the option of using apps to do their bidding and estimating, communicating with clients, contract writing and so on. New technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality can even be used to improve safety on the job site.

Although your contractor doesn't have to use these technologies, they can help make your contractor a more efficient builder, a better business person and a better employer. Look for these technologies when you're interviewing contractors. Contractors who use modern tools may feel more comfortable working with the other modern building materials that many Sunset Ridge home buyers seek.

Hire the Right Contractor

When the time comes to hire a contractor, look for a professional who feels comfortable using a variety of new materials and technologies. With these advancements you can live in a more efficient, more functional home. Working with the right contractor will help ensure that you have access to these new technologies.

To find the right contractor, ask each candidate about new materials or methods that they've adopted in the last few years. Pay attention to the ways that each contractor communicates with you. Contractors who are savvy with technologies, who respond to emails quickly, and who are able to manage projects by using apps on their phone or computer are likely to be the kind of contractors you should hire. For more information about building a new home, contact a contractor or real estate professional in your area.