When building a dream home, it’s about much more than finding that perfect floor plan or selecting finishes that are in line with your Pinterest inspiration. An important (but often overlooked) choice is the building material. The type of material you choose affects all the above – your home’s overall look, feel, and style, the bottom-line costs of construction and long-term maintenance, how well it holds up in new environmental conditions, and how long it will be durable and reliable.
In the U.S., the construction industry uses bricks, wood, and concrete as the core building materials. Each of these has its pros, cons, and best use-case scenarios. For example, a product that is perfect for Arizona may be a complete disaster for first time home buyer loans in Colorado and vice versa. This is particularly true for first-time homebuyer loans in Colorado when you have a tight budget – knowing how these materials impact costs can help you make more educated decisions up-front. This complete guide will shorten the process and enable you to make informed decisions while building a home that truly fits your lifestyle.
Brick: Timeless Looks and Long-Term Strength
People have been using brick for thousands of years — and with good cause. It’s super durable, great for handling extreme temperatures, and provides a home that solid, grounded feel. If you covet a traditional look that reeks of “forever home,” brick may be your best bet.
One of the greatest benefits that brick offers is the power to control temperature. In warm weather, it’s an aid to keep interiors cool. In cooler parts, it retains heat longer. That means smaller energy bills and a more comfortable home throughout the year. It’s also extremely fire-resistant and doesn’t rot, warp, or get eaten by termites the way wood can.
But it’s not perfect. Brick is heavy, and its labor-intensive installation makes it costly, especially if you’re using a lot of it and building an entire structure rather than simply cladding one. And as much as it’s maintenance-free, any relief cracks that do form prove to be fussy and costly to fix.
It’s also important to look at regional availability. Brick is abundant and cheaper in some regions of the U.S. In others, it must be brought in, which has a price. And while brick homes have a classic look, they don’t fit all architectural styles. Brick, if you envision a sleek modern look, may seem out of place.
Wood: Warmth, Flexibility, and Speed
Wood is the oldest and most traditional building material in the U.S., and it’s also still by far the most popular—for good reason. It is lightweight, pocket-friendly (relative to current market conditions), and outrageously versatile in design. Whether you’re constructing a snug cabin or a sleek modern structure, wood can get you there.
Speed is another major win. Wood-frame houses go up fast. And that’s huge if you’re trying to hold down construction costs, or want to move in at all. Plus, wood is easy to modify. Planning on adding a room in a few years? Much easier with wood vs. concrete or brick.
But wood does have trade-offs. It’s less protected from weather damage, fire and pests. Termites, rot, and mold can all reduce the life of a wooden home if not managed properly. Fire risk is higher, too — but today’s treatments and building codes have made those risks much lower. Wood is a pretty good insulating material. It’s not a heat trap like brick or concrete, but it still has decent energy performance, particularly with the right wall systems and insulation.
One underrated benefit? Aesthetics. There’s a sort of gooey natural warmth and texture to wood that’s tough to mimic. There are exposed beams, wood siding, and natural finishes that conspire to give the place a cozy, welcoming cachet that many people understand “home” to mean.
For those for whom sustainability is a priority, wood can be a good choice — particularly if it’s sustainably sourced. Seek out genuine certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to guarantee your lumber is the product of a well-managed forest. Here’s a quick guide that could help you decide wood is the best option:
- Fast construction time – Great if you’re on a schedule or tight budget
- Flexible design options – Easy to expand, remodel, or customize
- Natural charm – Warm, inviting textures and finishes
- Good insulation performance – Especially when paired with modern materials
- Earthquake-friendly – Offers flexibility in seismic zones
- Renewable – When sourced sustainably, it’s one of the greenest options available
Concrete: Tough, Modern, and Disaster-Resistant
When one thinks of a warm, cozy home, concrete isn’t necessarily the first material that springs to mind — but it should be. It is hard and stable, able to withstand a lot of abuse – from fire, hurricane, flood, and even termites. If you are erecting a structure in an area that is known to suffer from Mother Nature, concrete is a safe bet.
Concrete homes for today and tomorrow. These are not the cold, gray boxes of decades past. The architectural possibilities are endless, by incorporating design elements such as Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) and decorative finishes, beautiful and unusual in all of our markets. Concrete is becoming home building material of choice for the design of new modern homes, with long, clean lines and smart design.
Durability is concrete’s calling card. It doesn’t warp or rot or burn, and mold and mildew shrug it off. It also boasts great thermal mass, which can help moderate the temperature indoors, which in turn reduces heating and cooling costs. In spots that have larger temperature swings, that can be a major plus.
On the downside, concrete is relatively slow and expensive to build with at the outset. It is an activity made particularly complex by breastplate manufacture: It requires labor and specialized equipment. Also, once it is set, it is difficult to change. Want to move a wall later? You will need a saw — and a permit.
Noise insulation is another perk. Concrete walls are thick and solid, and so are good at blocking sound. If you’re working along a highway or in a noisy neighborhood, that extra quiet might be a game changer.
In storm- and coastal-prone regions like Florida, the type of concrete home is increasingly common. They hold their integrity in high winds and flying debris better than wood or brick. And in an age of increasing insurance premiums, that added protection can translate to sizable long-term savings.
