Known for its rich research and technology background and stunning neighbourhoods, Raleigh is an excellent place to call home. But when you begin to yearn for a change, you may consider remodelling your home. It might even be that your family is growing or your tastes have changed. Whatever the case, some portion of your project will likely involve concrete. After all, we use concrete twice as much as all other building materials combined. But taking the environment and high cost of living, you may want to consider these five concrete alternatives.
Regular Concrete
Many homes for sale in Raleigh and much of the country still feature a significant amount of concrete. You can even call America a civilization built on concrete. The simple fact is that this material is widely available, durable, strong, and efficient. In fact, the first concrete alternative you should consider is a modified form of normal concrete. Concrete makers are conscious of the times and have been working to make their products more sustainable, incorporating waste products into the formula to make them eco-friendly. Many products today also contain natural additives.
Green Concretes
Tinkering with the concrete formula has also seen the industry produce multiple hybrid concretes known as green concretes, where energy-intensive materials are replaced with eco-friendly options. The most popular options available today are fibre, cement and ashcrete. The former is a concrete hybrid made from wood pulp that is resistant to wrapping and cracking and is ideal for coastal homes. Ashcrete, used in road construction, masonry blocks, and more, uses fly ash produced during coal combustion. It often cures faster than regular cement and is stronger.
Hempcrete
As the name suggests, hempcrete is made from hemp hurd or the woody core of the hemp plant. The hurd is usually combined with water, sand, and lime to produce a compound one-eighth the weight of regular concrete that is earthquake, insect, and mould-resistant. While hempcrete will not work for your load-bearing wall, it is cheaper for projects involving interior walls.
Ferrock
Ferrock comprises over 95 per cent recycled materials, making it one of the eco-friendliest concrete alternatives. It combines silica obtained from ground-up glass and industrial steel waste with water at high CO2 concentrations. Formulated properly, Ferrock is five times stronger than regular concrete and has better flexibility and strength – traits that make it ideal for earthquake-prone areas. Ferrock is also carbon-negative and has a smaller footprint.
Compressed Earth Blocks
Compressed earth blocks are available in multiple variations of rammed or compressed natural materials. Like their centuries-old predecessors, modern earth blocks contain materials that add strength, such as rebar, bamboo, or fibres. The final product is a high-insulating, fire-resistant natural building material that can substitute standard concrete in local projects.
Explore Property Options with Chanel Hart D’Aprix
A remodel is a great place to upgrade your lifestyle in Raleigh and raise the value of your property. And if you are doing it to sell your home, there has never been a better time to enter the Raleigh real estate market. Contact North Carolina real estate expert Chanel Hart of the Hart & Olive Team to discuss buying or selling a Raleigh home.
