When adding an extension to your home, you will likely want to know what material options you have for this project. So, today we are going to share with you some of the most commonly used building materials for home extension projects.

Bricks and Cement
Bricks and cement are the most commonly used materials for home extension projects. With them being fairly simple to lay, as well as sturdy once they are laid. Most extensions will be made with two layers of bricks all the way around to ensure for extra insulation, helping to keep your home warm.

Glass
Another commonly used material during home extension projects is glass. This is a material that is most commonly used when a home extension wants natural light to be added as this allows you to add windows to your extension. You may also wish to build your entire extension from glass by investing in a conservatory, allowing optimal natural light input to your home.

Timber
Timber wood is another common material that you can find being used in home extensions. This is the material that will be used to create the frame for your extension. Helping to ensure everything is kept in line and will be sturdy. It helps to add extra strength to your build. Your bricks will be built on either side of it, with your insulations going in line with it.

These are just three of the most commonly used materials in home building projects. If you are having an extension added to your home, these are the materials that you can likely see being used, and that you will likely be charged for on your invoice.

Cladding for a commercial or domestic building is a popular way to finish it off. You can choose timber cladding if you want a contemporary, on-trend look that will also age well. There are many types of timber you can use, including oak, beech, redwood and heat treated timber. Heat treated options can be good if you want added resilience without having to pay sky high prices.

It’s important you choose quality timber if you want a premium finish. The most important thing is choosing your supplier. They should be an experienced timber merchant with lots of different options for you. If you need to get your timber cladding cut down to size, look for a timber merchant who can custom mill timber for you as well. It can be a good idea to get custom milled timber anyway, as it tends to have a higher quality structure and finish.

Timber merchants now often sell their products online and have their own website to sell their goods. If you want to buy timber online, you need to make sure it is going to meet your expectations. Here are some of the things to look out for that will indicate quality:

• Custom milling services. Cutting the timber down to size for you indicates that they have their own timber mill and can offer bespoke services.
• Wooden sleepers. Sleepers are versatile pieces of wood that can be used for anything around the home. From furniture to ceiling beams, sleepers can do it all. Check what the sleepers are made out of and where they have been sourced.
• Wood that has been sourced sustainably. Read about their sustainability policies and find out where the wood being sold has come from. If the timber merchant has their own timber growing supplies, this is even better.

Renewable energy and materials is a big issue within modern society, and the pursuit of each of these certainly has some involvement in the construction industry. Studies have shown that the construction of buildings is one of the biggest global contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Changing this situation is a responsibility for both the construction companies and those looking specifying what materials they want to use in their buildings.

There are three reasons for why the construction industry has such a large carbon footprint; heavy machinery is often used in building projects, which use a lot of energy, excavating and transporting materials can also be a significant contributor, and processing them into a usable product is also a massive part of the equation. Using renewable resources that are sourced locally, while not always practical, when done has been proven to be an excellent method for reducing the impact on the environment.

There are a lot of renewable resources that can be substituted in for more generic, mass produced, manufactured materials. For instance, many people have tested cotton out as a replacement for oil-based insulation, and clay as a plaster replacement. Each of these are produced in nature, and can be categorised as renewable and safe for the environment, whereas what they’re replacing aren’t.