The cost of constructing a commercial building can add up in a hurry. Therefore, many developers go as cheap as possible when choosing building materials to help their bottom line.
While choosing more affordable building materials can save developers millions of dollars, it is critical to perform a thorough value engineering cost analysis prior to moving forward. Although more durable building materials will likely cause upfront costs to be higher, they can reduce the overall cost of the structure due to improved energy efficiency and less ongoing investment in maintenance and repair.
To help you improve the durability of your structure and lower the lifetime cost of ownership, keep reading to find out more about some innovative building materials that can increase the lifespan of your building.
Continuous Wall Insulation
For years, builders have been stuffing fiberglass batts between wall studs and writing it off as good-enough. While this type of insulation does work, it is replete with thermal breaks and bridges that allow heat energy to transfer to the uninsulated wall studs.
With building codes constantly evolving, modern builders are leveraging the benefits of continuous insulation systems to reduce thermal bridging and protect the structure from the elements.
Using a continuous insulation system, rigid foam board is applied outbound of the wall’s sheathing. In addition to eliminating thermal breaks, this rigid foam layer serves as a weather-resistive barrier and vapor guard, helping ensure the longevity of your framing and improving the building’s indoor environment.
Hurricane-Grade Windows
In an effort to maximize natural light flow to improve energy efficiency, many contemporary commercial buildings are increasing the size and quantity of their windows to fully leverage the sun. While this is a great idea overall, more windows means more transitions in the building envelope that may serve as a point of weakness for adverse conditions to take root.
Whether you are planning a new build or retrofitting an older/historic building to get it up to code, storm windows are a great solution for guaranteeing the airtightness of your structure. Rated to withstand winds up to 250 MPH and projectile impact in excess of 100 MPH, the best hurricane-grade windows are fabricated with durable steel frames, panes, and sashes that will keep the buildings unscathed no matter how intense the weather. These are also useful for coastal buildings where exposure to wind and elements tend to be higher.
Modern Precast Exterior Wall Panels
Throughout the decades, precast concrete panels have been a favorite exterior wall material in commercial buildings. This utilitarian product does come with its share of benefits. When properly installed, concrete panels do a good job of reducing impact, corrosion, weathering, and abrasion, helping building owners keep repair and maintenance expenses to a minimum.
However, there are a number of issues with precast panels that have left contractors searching for other exterior wall options in recent years. Left unsealed, concrete can absorb moisture, resulting in shrinking and swelling as the temperature changes which can cause cracks. The precast panels are also quite heavy, resulting in lofty transportation costs and crane rentals at the construction site.
A more innovative solution is StoPanel prefabricated exterior wall panels. This lightweight, easy-to-handle system combines a continuous thermal insulation system with an elite air and moisture barrier that can greatly reduce transportation and construction costs while providing superior insulation to precast concrete. In addition, it comes with a number of attractive facade surface options, allowing the building to achieve a wider range of aesthetic finishes than simply a drab concrete exterior.
Quality Framing
When it comes to framing, there are two popular options: metal stud/steel framing and timber framing. Steel framing is typically costs much more than timber framing, but has several benefits including durability, high tensile strength, and fire-resistance. Steel framing is often used in large warehouse/distribution center projects, such as Terminal Logistics Center, pictured below. This is the first multi-level warehouse on the east coast; at 5-stories tall, it includes a basement, parking, garage, numerous loading docks, and hundreds of storage units.
Timber is the most commonly used material for framing because it is cost-effective, lightweight, durable, and flexible. Timber allows concrete to shift while it sets without putting strain on the framework. Timber framing is typically used in residential developments such as housing and apartment complexes. Whichever framing option is right for your building project, both steel and timber framing should last your commercial building a lifetime.
Increase Your Building’s Lifespan with These Durable Materials
Choosing durable building materials may cost more upfront, but there is a strong possibility they will lower the lifetime cost of ownership through better energy efficiency and less ongoing maintenance. With this in mind, continuous wall insulation, hurricane-grade windows, modern prefab exterior wall panels, and quality framing are 4 innovative building materials that can increase the lifespan of your building.
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