Benefits to modern construction techniques; build better together

Construction is a fast paced industry. You might not believe this if you’re waiting for your home to be built or if you’re waiting on materials to be delivered (especially post covid/Brexit 2021) but actually, in terms of technology and techniques, this industry is one of the fastest around. 

From ‘self-healing concrete’ to ‘3D modelling', we’re in a position now where we have many options; too many maybe. 

So how will these help us? 

They’re here to make our lives easier, take the workload off of us, and provide us with security in our products and craftsmanship. 

Whether residential or commercial, buildings are in demand. The speed in which construction is required doesn’t always marry with what can be offered. Hence, why we’re always looking for ways to improve.

Many of the construction techniques we use have been around for years. They may have had a revamp, or some improvements, but their general workings are the same. Others, we are slowly getting to grips with. 

Modular buildings are an excellent example of how to speed up the construction process. This is where the build is actually constructed off site. The build is then brought to the site and ‘put together’. Yes, it can still take time to manufacture, but it can save much wasted time on site. It is also more exact, so assuming you have the correct measurements (and you should), this will be manufactured to your precise design. 

Some other techniques starting to come out of the woodwork are:

Assisted Building Technology Including Augmented Reality and BIM 

Through the above techniques, construction workers can now appreciate what their designs will look like, way before completion. This is a fantastic way to ensure your design is exactly what you want, and it will also highlight any potential issues. You can use this technology to reduce the energy efficiency of your build and become more eco-friendly. 

Raised Access Flooring 

As buildings use more technology, there is a need for a raised floor. This is where there is a floor built above a solid floor below. This leaves a gap between the two and allows building services to be installed. There are two main points here, the first being that this is an excellent way to ensure the space for all new building technologies, as well as allowing access if there are any problems or fixes needed in time. These floors have been around for a while, but due to the ever-changing nature of buildings these days, they have never been more popular. 

 

Thin Joint Masonry 

This technique allows builders to put up walls much faster on the construction site, without negatively affecting the thermal performance of the build. The thermal performance stays the same as if you were using the standard methods. Time is precious, anything which can help improve the speed of construction without compromising the quality will be a massive hit in our industry.

Kinetic Footfall Energy Harvesting 

Kinetic harvesting can be used to essentially ‘harvest’ or ‘collect’ energy, which can be used to help power things including signage and lights. This technology is best used where there is high footfall, so ideally on public walkways etc. The idea is to build and store power with each step. This is produced using kinetic energy from sensors placed in the ground. 

Self-Healing Concrete

This is another one which sounds completely mad. What does self-healing concrete actually mean? This is where the concrete automatically rectifies any cracks. These cracks usually appear over time, but with this new technology, this isn’t something you’d have to worry about. 

Speed and accuracy have never been more prominent on a construction site. Often you can find that you don’t get one with the other and it’s a constant battle. With the offerings of today’s society, we have reached a point where we have options, and can use new technology for security. 

With all this new tech on hand, it should make life easier and help us push forward to that deadline of 2050. Energy efficient builds are our future, and anything that can help get us there must be a good thing, right?