Tilt-up concrete homes offer everything modern homebuyers are looking for

There’s a lot to consider when choosing your next residence. Among the many factors, your home should be durable – this is a place where you plan to live for years. It should be sustainable – you want to minimize your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint. You shouldn’t have to wait for months on end to move in, and your new house should fit your budget. It’s not easy to meet these requirements, but a tilt-up concrete home satisfies all of these criteria and beyond.

More durable than traditionally built homes

Tilt-up construction was invented in the early 1900s, and many of the first tilt-up buildings are still around today. This is largely due to the durability of concrete. It’s not vulnerable to infestation from termites or other insects, it doesn’t rot over time, and it doesn’t shrink, expand, or warp because of moisture or extreme temperatures. Concrete is also very strong and stable, and it requires minimal maintenance. Homes built with traditional building materials have a lot of vulnerabilities that shorten their lifespans. For example, wood frame homes fall prey to termites. They require annual inspections and constant preventive measures, and if an infestation happens, the sustained damage can threaten the structural integrity of the home.

Stay safe against floods, wind, fires and natural disasters

Concrete homes are highly resistant to physical damage from natural disasters and weather events. They have the best fire resistance of any building material – concrete doesn’t burn or emit toxic fumes and smoke. Other materials don’t fare as well. In ICF homes, the Styrofoam blocks are highly flammable. Metal frame homes use exterior cladding that has a low fire rating, and wood frame homes only have a 45-minute fire rating.

Additionally, concrete homes are able to withstand 250-mile-per-hour winds, and they can withstand the force of wind-borne debris. This is especially beneficial for homeowners who live in areas prone to severe weather.

Decrease energy costs by up to 35%

On the front end, tilt-up concrete homes produce roughly 10% more CO2 emissions during construction than wood-framed homes. However, the energy efficiency during the home’s lifespan more than makes up for this. A concrete home can reduce energy use by approximately 30%. This is due to the home’s tight building envelope and concrete’s thermal mass, which makes it easier to maintain the internal temperature without a lot of heating and cooling.

More affordable with reduced construction costs

On average, a tilt-up concrete home will cost $225 per square foot. By comparison, a wood frame home can cost $300 per square foot; ICF homes and steel frame homes can cost $345 and $350 per square foot, respectively. Concrete homes are more affordable because the tilt-up construction process uses significantly fewer materials and labour hours than wood, ICF, or steel.

Steel and wood frame homes require a lot of hand assembly on-site, and ICF construction requires work from several special trades. Tilt-up construction is more streamlined – cranes are used to assemble exterior and interior wall panels (instead of hand assembly), and electrical and plumbing are embedded into the concrete (instead of bringing in special trades afterwards). This shortens the overall process to just 3-4 months, where wood, steel, and ICF homes can take 6-12 months.

Additionally, concrete is produced locally in Ontario, so its price is relatively stable. Other materials are subject to tariffs and market fluctuation.

Minimal maintenance

The three most common causes of exterior wall maintenance are peeling paint, termites, and rotting. Concrete isn’t susceptible to these issues. Concrete homes often feature exterior finishes or form liners, which last longer than paint. Also, concrete doesn’t rot, and it can’t be infested by termites. As mentioned earlier, it’s an incredibly durable material. Because of this, a concrete home doesn’t require the same amount of upkeep as ICF, wood, and steel homes.

Conclusion

Concrete homes are ideal for several reasons – they’re more durable than traditional homes, they can withstand severe weather events, they’re energy efficient, they’re more affordable, and they require little maintenance over time. In short, they have everything modern homebuyers are looking for.

Make your next home a concrete home. Contact JanVeek Concrete Homes today to get started.