There are many materials involved in building houses. The most common ones are concrete, concrete bricks, steel, wood, and cement. However, there have been significant innovations in construction materials—especially eco-friendly ones.

Man-made buildings made with the usual construction materials are good, but it can cause long-term problems for the environment. To lessen the damage to the environment, it’s good to consider using materials that are good for the environment. Read on below for a list of more eco-friendly building materials.

1. Recycled Plastic

In recent years, plastic waste has plagued the environment more than most waste materials. To combat this, scientists found a way to reshape plastic waste into plastic building blocks. The plastic blocks are machine-compressed to have the same attributes as concrete blocks, making them suitable for construction. 

2. Grasscrete

Grasscrete is a green alternative to concrete surfaces for outdoor use. You can use it on any surface outdoors, be it your walkway or driveway. Grasscrete is permeable enough to allow stormwater to pass through without erosion. 

Even more than that, grass can grow in this construction material. It is perfect for those who want to enjoy both the structural strength of concrete and the greenness of nature. 

3. Bamboo

Bamboo is a pretty common building material, and bamboo houses are pretty common in some parts of the world, such as in Asia and South America. However, many people don’t realize that bamboo is, in some ways, better than concrete. For one, bamboos grow incredibly fast. 

Aside from that, the actual bamboo plant doesn’t die when you harvest it. You can use bamboo if you want a structure that’s lightweight yet strong at the same time.

4. Hempcrete

If you’re thinking about whether or not hempcrete is related to marijuana, we’re here to make things clear: yes, hempcrete is indeed made from the cannabis plant. This is also probably one of the more surprising materials to end up on this list. 

Hempcrete is made by combining hemp aggregates with water and lime-based binders. While hempcrete sounds gimmicky, it’s also a pretty amazing building material because it is fire and termite resistant. 

5. Ashcrete

Ashcrete is made from a mixture of fly ash and cement. Fly ash is a fine powder that comes from coal power plants. There are many different types of ashcrete to choose from, such as premixed, precast, road bases, road pavement, and concrete masonry.

6. Timbercrete

When you mix sawdust and concrete together, timbercrete is the result. It’s lighter than regular concrete, but is still strong regardless. Wood is very hard to recycle, but timbercrete has proven an effective way to do so. Another good thing about using timbercrete is that it’s resistant to fire, termites, and decay.

7. Ferrock

Ferrock is a particularly good building material, since it’s made from leftover steel from factories. Since steel is malleable, it can also bend itself, which can be useful in case of earthquakes. Carbon dioxide also plays a role in its hardening, since ferrock absorbs it.

Conclusion

The materials on this list are a good alternative to the more common materials that can cause long-term harm to the environment. Most of these materials are locally produced, and are significantly cheaper. If you use these materials for your home or otherwise, not only are you protecting yourself but also the environment as well.

While the materials above are strong, they still need to be sealed in some cases. To seal air leaks, caulking is necessary. If you need caulking contractors, Quality Seal Australia has got your back! Aside from residential caulking, we also service yachts. Contact us today to learn more!