What are the most eco-friendly building materials used in construction?

Traditional building materials such as earth bricks, concrete, and wood are used in construction. These materials have been a staple in everyday construction operations. However, these materials are obtained from the continuous destruction of trees and mining. The process of getting the material is not the best choice if you want to build a better world. Several new processes offer a range of eco-friendly materials to choose from. This means, now contractors, builders, and homeowners will have an option to choose sustainable material for the construction process and contribute towards building a better world. Here we have listed some of the most eco-friendly and green materials that allow you to construct a strong structure without harming the environment. 

Cork

Cork grows very quickly and can be harvested from living trees as well. Living trees continue to grow and reproduce more cork, which is called tree bark. Since this material is resilient, flexible, and can endure sustaining pressure. It can be an ideal element to strengthen your floor tiles. This is one of those building materials in Dubai that can absorb noise. This factor makes it perfect for insulation sheets. Also, owing to its excellent shock absorption qualities, it can also be an ideal material for sun-flooring. Cork is also a good thermal insulator meaning it is fire resistant and will not release toxic gases when it burns. 

Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the best eco-friendly building materials in Dubai. This material has an extremely high self-generation rate and can grow up to three feet within just twenty-four hours. Bamboo will continue to spread and grow without being replanted after a harvest. Since this is perennial grass and not wood, this material can grow on any continent. You can find bamboo everywhere except Antarctica and Europe. It is considered an ideal option for construction due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. Bamboo has greater strength when compared to concrete and brick and is the best choice for flooring. 

Recycled Plastic

Instead of mining or sourcing building materials from trees and mines, builders can use recycled plastic to produce concrete. Choosing plastic as a construction material will allow you to reduce the greenhouse effects and use plastic in a new way. It will also reduce plastic pollution and will provide strong cables, pipes, roofs, floors, and other elements in your building structure. A combination of recycled and virgin plastic is used to make polymeric timbers that can be used to make fences, picnic tables, and other structures. By using plastic as a construction material, you will ensure landfills are not clogged and pollution is reduced. 

Rammed Earth

This technology has been used throughout human civilization for thousands of years and can last a very long time. Rammed earth is considered an affordable and viable solution to build strong and steadfast foundations, walls, and floors. With this alternative, you will be using natural materials such as chalk, earth, lime, and gravel. This material is compared and pressed tightly in wooden forms creating a concrete-like feel. Structures made with these building materials are often fortified with the use of bamboo. The walls and floors can also be used as thermal storage. 

Straw Bales

This is yet another eco-friendly building materials in Dubai that can be used as a framing material. Since this material has good insulation properties, it can be used to build soundproof units. Straw bales can also be used as a fill material between the columns and in the beams framework. Since they do not let the air pass, they offer better fire resistance to the structure. This material is easy to obtain. Straw can be easily harvested and replanted with minimal impact on the environment. Builders can also use this material in walls, attics, and ceilings to allow a cooler experience during the summers and warm temperatures in winter. 

Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood can be found in retired barns, home remodeling contractors and companies, shipping crates and pallets, salvage years, and excavation companies. Using this material is one of the most environmentally friendly decisions you can take to save trees. This is one of the most lightweight and strong building materials. It is primarily used for structural framing, flooring, and cabinetry. Since it is a lightweight solution, it is crucial to assess the integrity before choosing it for your project. 

Timbercrete

Timercerte is among the most interesting and unique building materials in Dubai. This material is made from a blend of concrete and sawdust. Thus, it is lighter than concrete and will also reduce transportation emissions. Also, since part of it is made from sawdust, it means the material uses a waste product and reduces the waste and impact on the environment. Timbercrete can be made into the traditional form of bricks, pavers, and blocks, and can be easily used during the construction of a building. The addition of sawdust replaces some energy-intensive components of concrete and makes this material a fantastic alternative to traditional construction materials. 

Final Words

Traditional building materials offer strength and durability to a structure, but these materials put a strain on the environment and lead to the cutting down of trees and mining resources from the earth. This is why many eco-friendly and sustainable options are introduced to be used instead of traditional materials. These building materials in Dubai offer similar steadfastness and durability without the harmful impact on the environment. Thus, switching to such materials will allow you to reduce your carbon footprint without compromising the integrity of your building.