Most modern UK building are constructed from the same kinds of materials, such as brick, stone, concrete and wood. However, with environmental concerns playing an increasing role in how we design and build our homes and commercial buildings, alternative materials are growing in popularity. These often provide clear advantages over the more commonly used options and range from innovative new technology to materials and techniques that have been in use for thousands of years.

Straw bales

As a waste product from farming, straw is both relatively cheap and its production has a minimal environmental impact. When packed into tight bales, straw provides a robust building material which acts as an excellent natural insulator, helping to reduce the ongoing environmental cost associated with heating the final building.

Straw bale buildings are normally rendered with a semi-permeable plaster, such as lime plaster, which allows the walls to “breathe” preventing the build-up of moisture inside the bales which could lead to rotting. A properly constructed straw bale structure should be resistant to both damp and fire, making this material both sustainable and highly practical.

As well as being relatively cheap to construct, many people consider straw bale houses to offer a healthier living environment as the breathability of the walls helps to naturally regulate the humidity inside the house, preventing the growth of mould and other harmful organisms.

Metal

Although using metal as a building material is not unusual, it is most commonly used only for structural elements, such as joists and pillars. However there are a number of different ways of incorporating metal into a building which can offer various advantages.

One increasingly popular option is using old shipping containers to form the main structure of a building. They can usually be bought fairly cheaply as shipping companies retire them after a certain number of years, while still being extremely strong and watertight.

Another option is metal roof tiles, such as those produced by Metrotile. These have the advantage of being much lighter and stronger than traditional roofing materials and last for a long time. Like most metal products, metal roof tiles are easily recyclable, significantly reducing their lifetime environmental impact.

Metal structural elements tend to be quick to install as they can generally be simply bolted or screwed into place. As they are fabricated off site they can help minimise the amount of time and workers you need on site helping reduce costs.

Rammed earth

One of the most ancient building techniques in the world, rammed earth construction works by tightly packing soil into a mould to produce a very dense, stable structure. In general the earth used comes from the construction site, making it highly sustainable and cutting carbon emissions and costs associated with transporting materials.

Because soil is a good insulator and rammed earth buildings tend to have relatively thick walls, this produces buildings which require minimal heating once complete. This reduces the ongoing financial and environmental cost of the building adding further advantages.

Traditionally, most rammed earth buildings use wooden moulds to provide the structure into which the earth is forced to form walls. However, recycled car tyres are becoming an increasingly popular option. These are stacked to form walls which are then filled with hard packed earth. The tyres then form a permanent part of the structure, adding extra insulation. Although car tyres themselves are not sustainable, being generally made from crude oil derivatives, using recycled tyres that have reached the end of their normal life makes this a highly eco-friendly option.

Metrotile’s innovative steel roof tiles offer numerous structural and environmental advantages over traditional roofing materials. To find out more, contact us today on 01249 658514 or fill out our contact form with your query and we will get back to you promptly.