The construction industry moves at a fast pace, evolving and innovating all the time, with house builders constantly updating designs to meet the latest trends. When building or renovating your home, you’ll want to be across the best and latest the industry has to offer. Here are some great new construction trends, focusing on energy and environmental footprints, clean, modern looks, and fast, simple construction methods.
House Builders including renderboard cladding
Concrete render is much loved look of the 21st Century – and for good reason. It has a clean, modern look, can be painted to any colour, and can be used for a whole house or just feature walls for unique design. If made and applied well, it can be a strong and weatherproof finish. However a lot of them time, render can crack or peel if not applied with great skill. It can also be a time-consuming process to apply and paint.
Renderboard is a lightweight, low carbon, high strength, pre-made cladding with a rendered exterior. It comes with insulation and multiple coatings for a finish that is guaranteed for up to 20 years. These sheets fit together with a groove-lock system and are simple to put up. This is a great new technical and methodological improvement on the beloved render finish.
Steel framing
The commercial construction industry has used steel frames for a long time but it is becoming more common in building new homes. Traditionally homes are built from timber studs but the benefits of steel frames for city, urban and rural construction are significant. In city areas, steel frames create smaller profiles and conserve space. They are also perfect for modern or unique designs as they lend themselves to non-conventional rooflines, longer spaces and open living areas. Steel frames are precision engineered, stronger, and resistant to warping. Steel is recyclable and some frame producers even use recycled steel in their products. If you’re in regional areas, steel is beneficial because it is termite-proof and non-combustible, giving your new home a better chance in case of bushfires.
Browse steel frame home designs from JG King (VIC Only)
Wood plastic composites
Also known as eco-wood or plastic-wood, wood plastic composites (WPC) looks like wood, and even smells like wood, but is made up of a mix of wood fibres and recycled plastics. Unlike regular timber, WPC doesn’t need any weatherproofing, oiling or other time-consuming maintenance (although over time it will eventually fade) and it’s much hardier when it comes to insects and rot. It also doesn’t splinter, making it a popular choice for decking, flooring and cladding. House builders are incorporating these materials more often in the external areas of new home builds with great effect.
Lighting
LED lighting has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It is favoured for its energy efficiency and the ambient aesthetic its light brings. LED ( Light Emitting Diode) use approximately 85% less energy than halogen or incandescent lighting, and each globe has as estimated lifespan of between 25,000 to 50,000 hours – so they last for years and years before you need to replace them.
Building on the look and functionality of LED lights, there have been some amazing new innovations in lighting this year. Ideaworks in the United Kingdom unveiled a light which looks like a skylight and gives off a perfect imitation of natural daylight, but is in fact just a light fixture. This is a great new option for those who may live in colder climates, city areas or apartment blocks, who can’t access much natural light.
Another step up from traditional LED this year was the tuneable white LED panel from V-TAC which allows the homeowner to adjust the brightness and colour of their LED lights at the touch of a remote. The lights can be changed from white light to warm white, depending on the desired mood and effect.
3D printing is all the rage at the moment, but would you live in a 3D printed house?
Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
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