March 29, 2024

Thrive Insider

Exclusive stories of successful entrepreneurs

Why You Should Consider The Climate When Building A New Home

If you’re planning to construct a new home, while you will likely have thought about what materials you should build it from, you may not have considered the local climate when doing so. 

If you live in an area that frequently experiences extremely hot or cold weather, you’ll want to have a conversation with your chosen construction company about which material would provide you with an attractive but low-maintenance masonry solution, considering the temperatures it will be exposed to. 

Check out the guide below to get a better idea of what materials your new home should be constructed from according to the local climate:

Cold climate construction materials

If your home is likely to have to withstand some very cold temperatures, it will need to be constructed using materials that are able to expand and contract without causing damage, as the weather and levels of moisture, change. 

  • Brick

Relatively cost-effective and highly durable, brick is a great material to construct a home from in a colder climate, and should it get damaged at any time, is simple to repair. That said, brick is equally as effective a choice for homes built in sunnier climes, too, making it the ultimate all-rounder in terms of weather resistance and durability. 

Absorbing thermal heat and acting as an insulator during colder temperatures, brick can help keep a home warm even after the sun has set. Provided your brickwork has been installed by an experienced masonry contractor and the correct mortar used, it should be able to absorb moisture during cold weather, and hold up to freezing and thaw cycles. 

  • Stone

Stone is an aesthetically pleasing and incredibly durable choice for colder climate construction, too, and similar to brick, it can act as a fantastic insulator. However, stone does tend to last longer than brick when used in construction, and if you live in an area that experiences very cold weather, you might want to use stone that has been quarried, or rough-cut. Sealing the stonework can help it last longer, and annual cleaning can preserve both the mortar and stone. 

  • Concrete

Typically absorbing less moisture than brick, concrete blocks are another sound option for cold weather construction, and thanks to their size, they are easier to work with, and both more efficient and cost-effective. When reinforced with rebar, concrete can be made even more structurally sound and robust. 

Easy to care for – provided you keep it free from debris and vegetation to stop moisture from permeating it – you can also seal your concrete structure to preserve it, and use sand instead of traditional de-icers.  

Warm climate construction materials

Actually, all of the above mentioned materials can be confidently and successfully used for building structures in warm climates, too, but if you’re looking for an alternative to those listed, you can try stucco. 

  • Stucco

Visually appealing and in keeping with certain environments, stucco can easily be painted or stained to help protect it further from the elements, and as with most construction materials, benefits from some light annual cleaning to preserve it. 

While most construction materials have dual benefits that can be enjoyed whatever type of climate your locality endures, it’s still an important consideration to make when planning your new home.