The Future of Commercial Construction Materials

Commercial construction roadwork on I-35 in Texas began in 1960.

In 2020, when a newspaper printed an article: “Construction nears completion on I-35,” it became the latest of a long history of jokes among Texans about the I-35 commercial construction project.

Considering most concrete and asphalt roads begin needing repair after 20 years of use, I-35 construction crews may have jobs for life. But what if those materials – concrete, asphalt, and others – could self-repair?

It’s not a sci-fi movie plot; it’s happening now. Scientists are “cooking up” asphalt, concrete, and metals that “heal themselves,” reports CityLab. Its potential is mind-boggling.

5 Commercial Construction Materials That May Change Our World

You hear a lot about “sustainability,” but it’s much more than a buzzword. The future of the commercial construction industry may be re-shaped with some of these materials:

1. Air-cleaning bricks – Most air-cleaning methods emit pollutants, which is defeating the purpose. CalPoly invented a passive system: concrete bricks filter air particles.
2. Laminated mass timber – Wood is a weaker material. But cross- and glue-laminated timber is able to support a lot more weight and is “surprisingly fire-resistant,” says one study. Another study says as much as 31% of global emissions could be reduced by using wood in buildings and bridges.
3. Passive-cooling ceramics – California students have designed a building material of clay composite and hydrogel. As the building heats up, the heat is transferred to hydrogel droplets. The effect cools buildings.
4. Recycled trash – Recycled water bottles, cardboard, and possibly aluminum cans may be used for insulation and commercial construction materials.
5. Strand rods – Japan released a CABKOMA Strand Rod that can save lives during an earthquake. The seismic reinforcement system uses fibers and thermoplastic resin and the rods are five times lighter than metal wire.

Construction Monitor for the Future of Your Business

The costs for most of those materials are prohibitive for now. But you can expect to see more sustainable materials used in commercial construction when they become financially viable.

The future of your business depends on your ability to make informed decisions that drive profit. Construction Monitor has the data analytics you can use. If you need to know more about how to use building permit statistics for leads, please contact us today.