- In 2022, spray foam insulation is trending to be the most popular form of insulation for homes & commercial buildings.
- A popular home building trend in 2022 will be to build Dome style homes.
- 3D printed buildings will continue to improve during 2022 and more homes will be built using this method.
Adapting to the needs and demands of consumers, the building trends around the construction industry are constantly evolving and changing. As time goes on, the materials and technology used in construction change and evolve as well. One material that has gained popularity in the past few years– and is only expected to grow – is spray foam, an efficient alternative to traditional insulation.
The Building Trends For Spray Foam
The future of spray foam is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 6% from 2019 to 2024, according to ReportLinker, the future of spray foam looks quite promising.
With increasing building and construction activities, stringent government regulations towards energy efficiency, and increasing demand for green building insulation, the demand for efficient construction grows. Because the world continues to emphasize sustainability and conservation, spray foam is becoming a game changer in construction, and its future looks promising.
The analysis from ReportLinker predicts that wall insulation will continue to be the largest application over the forecast period due to the better acoustic and moisture resistant properties of spray foam insulation.
Within the market, spray foam for residential construction will remain the largest end use industry and is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period due to increasing use of green technologies that are incorporated into residential constructions to reduce energy consumption.
Building Trends #1 – Dome Homes
Recently, the construction of domed homes has become popular in the home building industry. While a dome might sound a bit off-the-wall, they are extremely satisfactory to those looking for efficient and unique structures– especially when spray foam insulation is used.
The Pros of a Dome Home:
Natural Element Resistant:
Shockingly, dome homes prove to be very resistant to the forces of nature. The dome shape is very efficient at shedding elements such as wind and snow. As a matter of fact, evidence points to these structures being able to withstand hurricane-force wind. Domes are resistant to this type of force due to the fact that they have fewer flat surfaces, allowing wind to move around the home. Furthermore, these buildings can hold up better to earthquakes than a square home. Domes made from concrete have even been known to survive flying debris as large as cars.
Energy Efficient and Cost Effective:
Domes are extremely energy efficient. Because they promote more efficient air circulation and keep temperatures even throughout the building, dome homes can be two to four times more energy-efficient than traditional homes. The structures also insulate efficiently due to their unique shape. Additionally, since light refracts and stays inside the dome, these buildings are able to take complete advantage of solar gain: reducing the need for artificial lighting. Spray foam only increases the efficiency of these structures by providing better insulation and temperature regulation.
Strong:
From an engineering perspective, domes are above traditional, square homes. Domes are actually the only man-made structure that actually gets stronger as they increase in size. The structures are also lighter, more structurally sound, and require fewer materials.
While the aesthetic of a monolithic dome home may not be for everyone, they are growing in number for a reason. The efficiency and strength of dome homes are extremely impressive, and the insides are surprisingly quite spacious.
Finally, as the market and interests in monolithic dome structures increases, so will the market for spray foam. Commonly used in these buildings, spray foam is the building material of the future – promoting efficiency, comfort, and temperature regulation.
Building Trends #2 – 3D Printed Walls
3D printed concrete (3DCP), or 3D concrete printed structures, combined with assistance from materials such as spray foam, are set to revolutionize the construction industry. Even more so, buildings made from these elements are structurally sound and energy efficient too.
Created for large-scale manufacturing, Print-in-Place (PiP) fabrication involves building up spray foam in layers to create a three-dimensional mold for a structure. After this, a structural material, for instance concrete, is poured into the mold to create a finished structure. Print-in-Place is naturally adapted to be used by automated systems like robot arms or 3D printers, and allows more advanced, complex structures to be created.
The development of this process also gave rise to the creation of the first prototype of a Digital Construction Platform (DCP), a robotic arm system large enough to create grand-scale structures. When the second prototype, DCPV2, was created, Steven Keating (creator) and his team carried out a full-scale printing demonstration in July 2017. The group printed a when the team printed a 47-foot diameter, 12-foot tall section of a dome structure using Dow’s FROTHPAK low-pressure spray foam. The dome continues to be “one of the largest monolithically-fabricated 3D printed structures ever built.”
Thus, the idea of 3D printing for construction is not just a dream anymore, it is reality– and it brings extreme benefits!
The Pros of 3D Printing:
Reduced Injury
If a robot has a good layout of the building, it can work with little to no human involvement. With the introduction of 3D printing and robots, construction work becomes a lot less dangerous and difficult.
Quicker Design and Construction
While the design and planning of a structure usually takes weeks, or even months to complete, the 3D printer can finish a project within days, sometimes even hours. A whole entire house was created in a day through this technology! This allows contractors to take on new projects and finish them even faster, reigning even more income.
New Markets
A company utilizing a 3D printer can set itself apart from competitors or remain relevant in the field. Additionally, 3D printing allows for easy customization. Traditionally, hiring an architect for house construction has been too expensive for the majority; not because of the architect cost, but because of the need for adapting construction methods. With 3D printing, the actual shape that is printed is irrelevant to the costs, meaning more people will be able to afford customized houses.
Better Durability
Although more testing will need to be done, 3D printers have been found to contribute to the durability of the structural elements. This can be partly credited to how the materials are made and how they are assembled. More sturdy structures mean fewer repairs, so construction companies can focus their efforts elsewhere to drive profit. This is also beneficial to clients, as they will prefer long-lasting buildings.
3D printing’s future popularity seems almost inevitable. And, lucky for us, spray foam is necessary to complete this process. We expect to see more consumers interested in spray foam and 3D printing within the next few years and predict that, with even more research, it will make waves in the construction industry.
Eagle Insulation Is On The Forefront of Building Trends
If you have any questions about spray foam, want to learn more, or are interested in joining the team, don’t hesitate to contact us at Eagle Insulation! Our team members are all experts in residential spray foam insulation as well as in commercial spray foam insulation. We want to make sure you have the best experience possible with us, and receive all the information you may need.
If you’d like to speak to a professional, please call us at (405) 714-4331, if an email is more your style, we’re available at robert@eagleinsulationco.com. Finally, if you’d rather speak in person, we’re located at 278 Sawyer Drive #1, Durango, CO 81303.
We look forward to hearing from you!