The best building materials for cold climates are not always the most durable. If you live in a cold environment, then you know that it’s important to build with durable materials.
You can’t afford for your roof to leak or your pipes to freeze. Building materials are the foundation of any building project – so what are some of the best options out there?
Here is a list of six excellent building materials that will help keep you warm while staying on budget!
Building Materials
When choosing materials for your home in a cold climate, you’ll want to consider the following:
1- Brick
Bricks are a solid and durable building material that is also affordable. In colder climates, bricks can absorb heat during the day and stay warm at night. In this way, they are an excellent insulator for your home or structure.
2- Stone
Like brick, stone is also good building material. It is also a good insulator. Stone can be more expensive than brick, but it often lasts longer.
In cold climates, make sure to use quarried or rough-cut stone instead of polished or honed varieties. The latter will lose heat faster.
Polished or honed construction materials are better for warm climates (southern US), whereas quarried/rough-cut stones are better suited for colder weather conditions.
3- Concrete
Concrete is an incredibly durable building material. It can even withstand extreme conditions like fire and flood damage.
It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing construction material, but it certainly gets the job done.
The drawbacks of concrete are that it’s heavy (which can lead to foundation problems) and more expensive than brick or stone on its own.
When it is mixed with aggregate for a stucco finish, it becomes less expensive due to volume savings during transport/application – which means you could probably pick up some bargains there if you live near one of their depots!
4- Plastic
While not a “true” building material, we couldn’t leave out the incredible advancements made in the field of plastic as an element to incorporate into construction.
The use of polycarbonate and acrylic makes for incredibly sturdy and durable materials which can even be completely transparent (great for greenhouse applications!) or come with frosted finishes to diffuse light. They’re also great at insulating heat!
Polycarbonate is used as an alternative to glass because it possesses several properties that make it more practical than traditional glass, such as impact resistance, high tensile strength, excellent transparency, and low thermal conductivity.
5- Wood
Wood is a versatile and affordable building material. In cold climates, it is essential to use woods that are resistant to rot and decay. Wood can be used for both the framing and finish of a structure.
Many types of wood can be used in construction. For example, Cedar and redwood are two good choices because they are resistant to rot and decay.
Pine is another option, but it is not as durable as cedar or redwood. Framing with wood is a common practice in cold climate regions because it helps to insulate the structure from cold weather.
There are also many finishes that can be applied to wooden structures to help them resist the elements.
6- Metal
Metal is a durable and robust building material. Like wood, metal can be used for both the framing and finish of a structure. In cold climates, it is vital to use a metal that is resistant to rust and corrosion.
Many types of metal can be used in construction, but some varieties are better suited for colder weather than others. Steel is a good choice because it is resistant to rust and corrosion.
Aluminum is another option, but it is not as durable as steel. Framing with metal is a common practice in cold climate regions because it helps to insulate the structure from cold weather.
There are also many finishes that can be applied to metallic structures to help them resist the elements.
The following are key areas of a building’s structure that also need special consideration in colder climates:
Insulation
The most important thing to consider for a home in cold climates is insulation. A well-insulated building will be more comfortable and cost less money on your energy bill.
You can use many types of insulation, but the best options would include expanding spray foam, fiberglass batts, or dense-packed cellulose (made from recycled newspaper).
Foundation
Make sure your foundation is strong enough to handle heavy snow or ice buildup on it.
If you have a house with an unfinished basement, consider finishing it so that the room is more insulated and better protected from cold weather.
A dirt crawl space can also offer insulation but may be difficult to heat in winter. You might want to consider building a concrete pad on top of your crawl space or adding exterior walls if possible.
Foundation vents
Foundation vents are an essential part of any building in a cold climate. Foundation vents help circulate air and prevent moisture build-up around the structure’s foundation.
Foundation vents are an essential component of any building in a cold climate. They help to circulate air and prevent moisture build-up around the structure’s foundation.
Without this, moisture and frost can penetrate your walls and cause damage to interior components such as insulation or framing materials.
A foundation vent also prevents the heated air from escaping. The oil furnace heater should be installed in an area that is protected from the wind. The best place to install the furnace is on the north side of the house.
The heater will help keep the oil furnace from freezing, and the foundation vents will prevent the heated air from escaping.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Some of the best building materials for cold climates and advice on which structural aspects to consider. This list is just what I believe are the top contenders! These are some examples of the best materials for cold climate regions, but it’s important to note that many other construction materials can also be used in these areas.