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Most concrete buildings are designed to last at least 30 years in service, although many last longer before deteriorating to the point of repair or replacement. Concrete is so durable and long-lasting that buildings made from it are rarely demolished due to deterioration. Instead, they become obsolete and suitable for repurposing or demolition for new construction.
Concrete is highly resistant to damage and abrasion from high humidity and rain. It has hardly any organic content that can rust or rot, so moisture can only attack at joints. Annual joint maintenance ensures a concrete building remains impermeable to moisture. Concrete makes the best material for house construction in areas susceptible to extreme weather. One particular home provides a shining example of concrete’s durability. The Sundbergs were a family determined to build their home in the hurricane-prone coast of Mississippi. After studying a variety of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps and building codes, they decided to build with concrete. They designed their home with Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls and used concrete for beams, columns, roof and floors in the home. At only 85 percent of the completion of the house, Hurricane Katrina tore through the area. Aside from a good number of shattered windows, the home was completely intact. Concrete construction allowed the house to withstand 180 to 220 mph winds and 28-foot flood waters.
Water and wind aren’t the only elements concrete defies. Concrete is fireproof, and even if the interior of the home suffers fire damage, the concrete shell will escape unscathed. Home structure fires are an inherent hazard with most building materials. Each year, United States fire departments respond to more than 355,000 house fires that cause an average of $6.5 billion in property damage.
While fire is a risk in any geographic location, those who live in areas with notable wildfire risk should give even more consideration to concrete when building a home. The devastating Carr wildfire in Northern California destroyed 1564 homes and claimed several lives in the process. In the aftermath, many residents are considering how to fireproof new homes — and concrete makes an attractive option.
The up-front cost to build a new concrete home is higher than that of wood or steel frame homes. The difference in cost tends to fluctuate as the price of steel moves up and down, while the price of concrete stays relatively stable. At the national average, a concrete house will cost between 4 and 8 percent more than a steel or wood frame home.
When you’re already talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars, that small percentage can add up to a significant price tag. However, concrete homeowners enjoy a substantial reduction in energy costs over time. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), concrete construction saves homeowners 20 and 25 percent monthly on their energy costs. In other words, the upgrade to concrete pays for itself.
Insurance costs for concrete homes are notably lower, as well, since the houses are significantly less susceptible to damage of all varieties.
The speed of construction for a concrete building depends on the type of concrete, but it’s generally comparable to wood frame construction and markedly faster than structural steel. Because steel must be fabricated off-site and transported, the process takes longer than pouring and erecting a concrete slab.
When using a cast-in-place concrete plan, builders can implement a two-day cycle. This intensive cycle allows workers to complete up to 20,000 square feet of floor in 48 hours.
Concrete is a good insulator, making it a great choice for regulating temperatures in both hot and cold environments. Since it has fewer spaces for air to move through, less energy is needed to keep a building warm or cool. This low permeability means that concrete can help maintain temperatures even during long periods without heat or power, so it’s often used for shelters.
With these qualities, many home and business owners can reduce their energy bills by building with concrete. Using ICFs can offer additional insulation for better performance. Producing concrete is also more energy-efficient than making other types of building materials, like steel and aluminum.
Concrete is highly malleable when mixed and can take on various additives, appearances, surface textures and shapes. We see new types of concrete being made every year, including blends with high-performing characteristics to suit specific applications. Concrete can be used in specialty projects and adapted to fit even the most unique projects. Plus, it doesn’t need special conditions to set, so it can harden at ambient temperatures.
Characteristics like moisture and high-temperature resistance make concrete a good fit for settings with these demands, like underwater construction and high-heat factories.
The maintenance costs of properly installed concrete are little to none, with many applications lasting for decades. While you might choose to coat or repaint concrete for aesthetic reasons, doing so isn’t required to maintain its structural performance.
Building owners may find that concrete construction lowers maintenance demands due to reduced risks for poor air quality, moisture damage, fading or wear from sunlight, pests and structural problems. As a result, homeowners and building managers may need to spend less on replacing components, setting up costly ventilation systems or spraying for vermin.
Despite being the material of choice today, wood construction comes with a host of pitfalls concrete avoids. When weighing a concrete vs. wood house, consider these factors:
Concrete generally wins out when it comes to strength, versatility, durability, soundproofing and energy efficiency. It can even offer cost savings for the initial build as well as maintenance and efficiency savings later on. Wood is lightweight and easy to work with, but those advantages fade with time and result in constructions that are more likely to fail or have problems, which adds to the overall costs. At first, wood might seem like the greener choice since it’s renewable, but the topic is more complex than that. Longer-lasting buildings, increased energy efficiency, reduced energy demands and less waste all play into the carbon footprints of concrete and wood. Green concrete technologies are becoming more widely available, reducing carbon emissions during the production process. Plus, many types of concrete can be broken down and recycled, and some industrial waste is used as aggregate.
In every way except cost, steel is a better option for construction than wood. The contest is much closer when it comes to concrete vs. steel construction. Here are some of the ways steel is at a disadvantage to concrete:
Concrete outperforms steel in these areas without much additional work. Steel is often faster to work with and has a high strength-to-weight ratio, but it doesn’t have the same safety profile or design flexibility as concrete. You can also get concrete from local sources, which keeps supply chains closer and uses less energy for transporting the material.
