Metal is an essential building material used to make structures like skyscrapers. It is stronger than concrete, and its corrosion-resistant properties allow it to last longer than wood or other materials.
Plastic decorative laminates aren’t attacked by termites, and they reduce dead load in buildings by lowering their weight. This also cuts down on maintenance costs.
1. Durability
The popularity of synthetic building materials, such as vinyl siding, urethane railings and block windows, has changed the way homes are built today. These products are less expensive and easier to install than traditional wooden building materials. They also are more resistant to damage from the elements and require less maintenance.
Synthetic polymers are a highly desirable group of materials because of their strength, flexibility and chemical inertness. They are found in everything from the acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) copolymer that hardens to make car bumpers to the plastic forks you use at restaurants to the Styrofoam insulation that goes into your coffee cups.
Although they are not technically natural, plastic laminates are considered to be synthetic because they are made from a substance that was once a naturally occurring material, such as sand. Bamboo is another example of a naturally occurring product that is now used for a variety of home applications.
2. Aesthetics
Many of the synthetic materials used in home construction — fiber-board furniture, toxic paints and so on — off-gas over time, creating a harmful indoor environment. In contrast, natural materials such as wood and bamboo are sourced locally and use minimal, if any, embodied energy. These natural materials also do not off-gas chemicals into the air.
The field of environmental aesthetics has emerged from the philosophical fields of both art and ecology. But, a key issue remains that aesthetic values are often viewed as subjective and not taken seriously in conservation and decision-making. This stems from the common belief that ‘beauty lies in the eye of the beholder’.
A number of non-cognitivist theories – with some inspiration from Kant — try to address this challenge by emphasising the role of feelings, imagination and to some extent knowledge in aesthetic appreciation of nature. This multisensory approach allows for a deeper appreciation of nature and provides alternative grounds to the popular notion that beauty is ‘in the eye of the beholder’. This approach also brings moral concerns into aesthetic considerations, a view inspired by Aldo Leopold.
3. Energy Efficiency
Using synthetic materials to create energy-efficient homes is not only good for the environment, it can also save homeowners money. Homeowners can take advantage of tax credits as well as insurance savings that often come with energy-efficient homes.
Synthetic polymers like acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) and styrene foam (commonly known as Styrofoam) are strong, flexible and lightweight. They are an excellent insulator and take less energy to produce than other building materials such as concrete, steel or bricks.
Another benefit of using synthetic materials is their chemical inertness. This makes them ideal for making products that will last a long time once they are discarded. It is estimated that it will take 500 years for a single plastic bag to break down in the natural environment.
To model the distribution of the synthetic buildings and dwellings stock, the method uses a Monte Carlo sampling from an aggregated set of attributes which can be obtained through various data sources such as statistical offices, building standards and surveys on parts of the stock. Fig. 4 shows how the distribution of specific useful energy demand, final energy and primary energy and GHG emissions can be modeled based on this methodology.
4. Recyclability
Using recycled materials in a construction project decreases embodied energy significantly. A circular approach also mitigates environmental impacts during demolition and disposal. This is proven by a recent life-cycle assessment (LCA) of five essential construction elements: steel, concrete, drywall, glass and flooring.
Known for its soft, warm and comfy qualities, sheep’s wool is a natural building material with excellent insulation properties. It’s also renewable and can be regrown quickly. It’s often incorporated into the ceiling, walls and attics of homes.
Another eco-friendly option is a plant-based polyurethane rigid foam made from hemp, bamboo and kelp. It combines well with wooden frames to make a strong, lightweight structure.
Fungi is another green option as a building material, particularly mycelium—the connective tissue of mushrooms and other fungi—enveloped around other organic material to create bricks and unique shaped building segments. The combination is then dried to a solid, fire-resistant material called enviroboard. It is a great way to repurpose agri-food byproducts and waste material. It also provides a viable alternative to Styrofoam and concrete. The best part: no fossil fuels are involved in the production of this insulation.
5. Sustainability
As with all things, there are both positive and negative impacts on our society when we use synthetic building materials. Some of these come from the manufacturing process and others are part of the environmental footprint.
The good news is, sustainable building materials can help to minimize these effects, especially when you select them early on in the design process. The key is to make sure you understand the Life Cycle Costs (LCC) of each material before choosing it for your project.
In addition to reducing your home’s carbon footprint, the right sustainable building materials can also reduce health and safety risks. For example, sustainable wood trim is free of harmful preservatives and emits fewer chemicals than traditional materials. Other sustainable options include urethane ceiling beams and PVC decorative trim pieces that can replace the heavy plaster moldings of old.