There’s a new breed of building products that are changing the face of the building industry. They’re called engineered building materials, and as conventional building materials become more expensive and harder to get, more homebuilders are using these new materials.
Engineered Wood
New building products from The Charlotte Remodeling Company include items like engineered wood that gives homeowners better performance for the cost while reducing natural resources.One class of these products that is becoming widely used is “engineered” wood. Wood that once laid on the mill floor and was thrown away is now part of a new age of building materials. But are engineered wood products weaker or inferior to solid pieces of lumber ? No, they are designed by licensed structural engineers to do their job well, and have withstood rigorous testing at national labs. The advantages of engineered wood are better performance for the cost, a reduced use of natural resources, and less waste on the job site. One of the most common uses of engineered wood are roof and floor trusses. Engineered studs are another wood product gaining acceptance among builders and homeowners. These studs are made of short pieces of wood that have finger-like joints cut in each end that are glued together end to end. Wood that was once considered too short to be used for structural purposes, and often just went to the landfill, is now made into finger-jointed studs. Engineered studs are strong, straight and less likely to warp after installation like many solid lumber studs.
Bamboo Flooring
In a world increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the things we use, bamboo flooring is like a breath of fresh air. Environmentally sound, yet resilient and durable, bamboo flooring is the hardwood flooring solution for those who are looking for a beautiful floor without having to sacrifice quality, cost, or the environment. While bamboo flooring is one of the hardest, most durable types of wood flooring out there it is also one of the kindest to Mother Nature. Technically, bamboo is classified as a grass, which means that it grows at a rapid rate. The reason that the harvesting of trees is so devastating to the environment is because they take anywhere from 15 to 100 years to become fully mature. Bamboo can be harvested every five to seven years, making it a more economically and environmentally sound solution for beautiful hardwood flooring. Contrary to popular belief, bamboo flooring is available in just as many colors, grains and styles as traditional hardwood floors, if not more. Bamboo flooring can give your décor any of the looks you are going for, from the classic down-home feel to the contemporary, chic look that so many are looking for today.
On-Demand Hot Water System (Tankless)
The Charlotte Remodeling Company is a proponent of introducing new building materials and products like the tankless hot water system because it is good for the environment and lowers the overall operating costs for homeowners. Currently, the most popular energy-efficient option for water heating is a tankless water heater, also known as an on-demand system. Unlike a traditional tank that heats a reservoir of water 24 hours a day, a tankless unit activates only as needed. When there is a demand for heated water, cold water travels through the tankless unit, where a gas burner quickly heats it to the preset temperature. Alabama-based Rheem Manufacturing says the average annual operating cost for a conventional storage is between $230 and $285, nearly twice the cost for a tankless system, estimated at $165 to $170 annually to operate.
