An emerging trend: prefabricated concrete houses
As architectural systems evolve, the focus of the world's leading construction companies is to create structures that are sustainable and have excellent energy efficiency. Given this, prefabricated concrete houses are becoming ever-more popular: these are modular structures, made from concrete blocks of standard sizes and "put together" on the home-owner's land.
Prefabricated concrete houses almost always have ultra-modern designs, but costs can vary widely. That said, these structures are always lower in cost than "traditional" buildings. And there is always the possibility of going for a more "luxurious" model or style. Read on to find out more:
It is relatively easy to find companies that specialize in prefabricated concrete homes (there are many in Spain, but you can find them almost everywhere now) - a brief online search should be sufficient to find a few. Check out their catalogs and see if any strike your fancy. You may also notice that these companies also offer similar home solutions in wood (which, obviously, is less durable than concrete).
Durability
Concrete is an extremely robust and durable material, and houses built with this material, can resist the ravages of harsh climate (and even earth temors and fire).
In short, concrete homes are built to last. Additionally, pest (like woodworm) will not "invade" the home and the concrete is not subject to degradation over time - meaning maintenance costs are dramatically reduced.
Energy efficiency
Concrete has excellent thermal stability: it absorbs and retains heat better than many other construction materials, especially in the prefabricated house market. As a result, regulating the temperature inside is simpler, and the costs of heating or cooling the home will be significantly reduced.
Low-cost and quick to construct
Another advantage is the speed with which these houses are built: with pre-formed panels, or even entire pre-made modules, construction times are greatly reduced. Compared to a traditional home, these concrete homes go up very quickly.
And, of course, these convenience and time-saving turns into lower overall costs. Each company has its own price list, of course, but you should be able to make significant savings - depending, of course, on how "luxurious" you want your concrete home to be.
Finally, concrete is a great sound insulator. As a result, concrete homes are quieter and more comfortable to live in.
In short, if you are considering building a home, getting a prefabricated concrete house could be just what you are looking for!