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New Trends in Residential Construction

07/26/2017

Construction is a rapidly changing field. For that reason, it is vital for construction professionals in New Jersey to keep up with the existing and upcoming changes in the field.Starting from 2016, there is a noticeable shift of attention in the field. Even though according to reports, construction spending did not meet the last year goals, economists have made predictions of growth of at least 5% in the value of starts this year 2017 going by Dodge Data & Analytics.

That being said, it goes without saying that keeping up with the latest trends in residential construction can help you have a complete perspective of the industry and remain competitive. It is also crucial to note that in spite of the positive predictions, a feeling of uncertainty in the industry is present.

Having spoken to various experts from the construction industry just to learn about their vision of residential construction trends, below is an overview of some of the thoughts about the major residential construction trends at the moment. They include:

  1. Prefab Houses

    These refer to built-in components, modules or transportable sections which qualify for use in the construction of homes. For prefabricated houses, it is vital to note that there are usually two level home plans and the custom home plans. This is what makes the considerable difference in the final construction. More specifically modular homes are usually created in sections and then transported to the actual site for installation much like typical homes.

    Prefabricated house

  2. Yurt

    This refers to a portable round tent that is covered on all round to provide a dwelling place. One of the issues which makes it appealing is the fact that its construction design allows for it to be dismantled and the parts carried compactly for rebuilding at an alternative site. Bear in mind the fact that its set up usually takes a short period of time. It becomes apparent, then, yurts can offer notable flexibility and in a cost-efficient way.

    Yurt

  3. Micro Apartments

    They are commonly referred to as micro-flats. They are single roomed self-contained living spaces that are purposefully built to accommodate sitting space, bathroom, kitchen and sleeping space within an average of 4-10 square meters. In certain instances, residents looking forward to occupying these flats may also be given access to communal kitchen, communal showers or roof garden. The only question, in this case, has to do with the functionality of this building structure in the long run. Nevertheless, it still remains as an eye-catching and very interesting option.

    Micro flat

  4. Shipping Container Houses

    Commonly referred to as ISO container homes. They are purposefully created out of any available type of container transporting good across the globe. So what makes it such a super-hot trend? Well, ISO container houses have proven to be an alternative to storage container houses having become one of the much sought after trends by just about anyone.

    Shipping container home

  5. Modular Housing

    They are sectional prefabricated buildings or homes which comprise of multiple sections called modules. Usually, the module sections are constructed offsite and then delivered to the intended site for use. It is vital to note that the modules set for use in the construction are placed either side by side, end to end or stacked to allow for a wide variety of configurations depending on the initially agreed on building layout. An interesting choice that provides significant flexibility in design.

    Modular building

  6. Sustainable / Green Building

    It refers to any structure and construction process which involves the use of environmentally responsible resources. More specifically, it involves the establishment of a perfect balance between home building and maintaining a sustainable environment. Alternative materials with extremely low environmental impact can be used in such cases. One good example could be hempcrete. A material that starts gaining more and more popularity during the last years. In general, green building is expected to offer great help in the industry in the not so distant future, as a need for a more ecological-friendly orientation in construction is emerging.

  7. 3D Printed Homes

    It is by far the most interesting trend expected to take center shape in 2017. You will be happy to learn that the prototype reportedly built an entire house within a period of 20 hours which in comparison to the 7 months for most conventional building process is impressive. This can offer a remarkable boost to the whole industry and unlock magnificent possibilities for the near future.

    3D printed home

 

Everything taken into consideration, focusing on the above-mentioned construction trends serves as a guarantee to clearly have an edge in anything construction related. The construction industry is changing and by catching up on all the latest trends and updates, you can make sure that you get one step closer to success.

 

About the author:
Anastasios Koutsogiannis is working as marketing coordinator in GenieBelt, a construction management software company based in Denmark.