5 Innovative and Trending Building Materials for Custom Homes

Insulated Concrete Framing

Since the 1970s, most homes have been framed with some sort of oriented strand board. This composite mixture of wood shards and epoxy offers an affordable price tag and some basic insulative benefits, but after decades of observation, the flaws with oriented strand board have come to light.

In addition to being susceptible to fire and insect damage, oriented strand board tends to absorb water, leading to mold and rot concerns. As a result, it becomes difficult to perform some home renovations after oriented strand board framing reaches a certain age.

A better alternative that is increasingly being used to rebuild communities struck by natural disasters is insulated concrete forms (ICF). ICF is poured in a solid, single-piece design that makes it airtight and impervious. In addition to being completely fire and insect-resistant, ICF has an extremely high thermal mass. This allows the framing to absorb and slowly radiate heat, which, when paired with a quality polyiso insulation, can go a long way toward regulating interior temperatures with little assistance needed from the HVAC system.

Composite Roofing Tiles

Most custom homes have traditionally been roofed with asphalt shingles or wood shakes. While these products provide solid protection and curb appeal for the home in the early years, they tend to lose their efficacy around 20 years of age. 

Therefore, to avoid having to perform a shake roof replacement before you are ready, consider the advantages of composite roofing shakes. Despite giving the appearance of natural wood, modern synthetic roofing shakes are fabricated from recycled materials that have up to 50 years of useful life. Synthetic shakes provide elite hail and fire protection and can be manufactured in a variety of shades to match the color scheme of your custom home.  

Smart Glass Windows

Large windows are a prominent aspect of contemporary custom homes, as homeowners value the flow of natural sunlight as a means of controlling electricity consumption. While some may be concerned about large windows presenting challenges in terms of insulation, innovative smart glass or smart glass film can help put your troubles to rest. Smart glass can change its light-transmitting properties based on temperature, allowing light, but no heat, into the home’s interior during the summer and both light and heat inside during the year’s colder months. 

Industrial Bathroom Fixtures

The industrial bathroom is a favorite of homeowners in 2021, with the sparse, unfinished aspect providing a rugged elegance that speaks to a wide array of people. To attain this look in your custom home, ditch the vanity and expose the sink’s drainage pipes, using wire baskets and metal shelving to help meet your storage needs. Oversized stainless steel sink fixtures and black handrails help provide the finishing touches to this bold look. 

Door and Window Trim

Door and window trim is increasingly being used in custom homes to provide a contrast that helps the home’s siding stand out. To further accentuate the trim’s decorative value, be sure to match it with the trim on your custom garage doors. In addition to these aesthetic benefits, quality trim can also improve the insulative value of the door and window casing.

Choose Innovative Building Materials for Custom Homes

Building a custom home gives you a unique opportunity to create a home in your own vision. To ensure that the end result doesn’t leave you disappointed, choose any of the aforementioned innovative building materials for your custom home in 2021.