Use of Non-Conventional Materials for New Construction

[Pope Lake]

BP,

Lumber and steel prices are going insane right now, does anyone know of reliable non-conventional building materials that can be used to reduce construction costs? I am currently seeking to build 4 new townhomes in the Birmingham, AL market my goal is to avoid (to the extent possible) using conventional materials like lumber and steel to create more value for my investors.

I've been reading, and a number of materials have come up so far - insulated concrete forms (ICF), structural insulated panels (SIPs) - and I'm curious if anyone in this community has any experience with materials like these or others.

Thank you!

[Seth Borman]

Modern brick buildings are almost all what's called a veneer. That means a wood building with brick attached on the outside. Brick is an expensive material. It's more expensive than most siding products, but requires less maintenance. You have to figure out how to strike that balance in your market.

As for advanced framing, it generally means going from 16" on center to 24" on center, and from 2x4s to 2x6s, but it also means using less material for headers, top plates, etc. You'll need to talk to a structural engineer in AL to see what they can do in that market, because there are storms to worry about.