Thank you for Subscribing to Construction Business Review Weekly Brief

Many factors have to be considered when designing an architectural project to ensure quality and value.

FREMONT, CA: The construction technique, in most cases, is the first item to be evaluated because it is the one factor that materializes the proposed design and determines the efficiency of the project in terms of time, labor, costs, finishes, and final quality. The construction sector is responsible for the production of a large amount of waste. According to experts, 60 percent of the total waste produced in cities comes from civil construction.

Adding to wasting resources, traditional construction systems, like masonry and concrete, need a more significant amount of time than other industrialized systems that are prefabricated. Thinking about the alternatives capable of adapting to various territories, that are cost-efficient and quick to implement, has become influential among architects and builders.

Leveraging prefabricated materials in an assembly system eliminates cement to use and enables the nail down of the construction in less time. There are two main models here, a Steel Frame and a Wood Frame.

The skeletons made of steel or wood profiles build lightweight frames, which lift the elements that make up the spaces, like the walls. 

Opposite to what happens with ceramic or concrete blocks, the structures are closed from outside by cement boards, and by plasterboards inside, which subsequently receive other coatings like paint, wallpaper, and so on.

The Steel Frame system is prevalent in European countries. It has been mass-produced with specific dimensions and spacing to be paired with industrially produced profiles and joints. It is essential to note that concerning the region in which the project is located, the steel used may differ in thickness and type, derived from the areas. Due to the modular spacing regulated among the uprights, the openings must be strategically arranged and designed together with the project's technical development.

The Timber Frame system is pervasive in the American territory. It has meager energy consumption during processing, is made from renewable sources, and has a high resistance to loads. Most often, structural calculations are prepared to find the wood profiles' correct dimensions and position them to form a square. Subsequently, OSB wood plates are put together with cement board and cladding to create the wall. Internally, membranes are included to reinforce thermal and acoustic insulation.

See Also: Top Construction Tech Companies