What Building Exteriors Are The Most Sustainable?

CONTENTS

• Concrete brick
• Clay brick
• Stone
• Metal
• Engineered Wood
• Hire a professional cleaning company
  • TORIK cleaning system
• Get in touch

According to Gov.uk, close to 50,000 new homes were built in January – March 2021 alone. This may leave you wondering what building materials are the most popular and durable within the construction industry nowadays.

With sustainability becoming an increasing priority for many people, those choosing to build their own homes will be on the hunt for exteriors that will meet their objectives

There are a lot of building materials to choose from, so the search for the right one can seem overwhelming. Have a look at our blog to find out some of the most sustainable building exteriors and why they don’t require much maintenance.

Concrete brick

Concrete brick is an in-demand choice particularly in wet locations. It is good at repelling mildew and lichen that can often stick to other types of brick.

The material is strong and resistant to the surrounding elements, which is great for those wanting sustainability. The cost and ease with which it is produced makes it a favourable option for many people. 

One of its appealing features for those looking to build a home is that concrete can be moulded to other shapes. If you have a bespoke plan in mind for your home, this may be a good option for you.

To find out more about the origins of concrete brick, take a look at this useful information provided by Britannica.

Clay brick

Clay bricks are known for being sustainable and long-lasting. They do not suffer from the elements as much as other materials, as they are built to be water resistant during the manufacturing process.

Not only this, but clay bricks are recyclable. This increases the longevity of buildings made from this material, with the average lifespan of a brick building being over 150 years.

As well as their durable nature, clay bricks are relatively cheap to obtain. This makes them a popular choice for construction companies when developing new houses, as well as landowners wishing to build a home on their plot.

Stone

Following on from brick, another durable material for the exterior of your house is stone. It's known for being aesthetically pleasing, but also for how effective it is against the elements.

Used extensively throughout history, stone walls can stay standing for many centuries, and are favoured within wall construction.

Along with its sustainability, stone cladding doesn’t require too much upkeep. It is relatively easy to clean, and marks do not settle on its surface easily. Washing methods for this material are quite simple and quick too, and won’t normally cost you excessively.

Metal

Having metal exterior walls is an increasingly popular choice for homeowners due to its sustainability and low maintenance.

This type of cladding provides an additional cover from the weather, dirt and grime that can build up on the outside of your home.

As well as being favoured for its durability, the material is recyclable and eco-friendly. The process of manufacturing steel, for example, is quite energy efficient. For those building homes who are conscious of their impact on the environment, metal cladding might be preferable.

To make metal even more sustainable, it can be galvanised. This solution is the result of adding a layer of zinc to steel. It can increase the longevity of the exterior greatly, sometimes to more than 100 years.

Similar to stone, metal cladding is also relatively easy to clean, so will not require a lot of hassle to keep clean.

Engineered Wood

Lastly, engineered wood is another option if you’re looking for a sustainable exterior to your property.

It is layered in a compacted resin binder that makes it strong and durable. As well as this, it is a cheaper alternative to many other wall exteriors.

Evidence of its sustainability can be found in the furniture made of the same material, which has been found to last for long periods of time. In addition to being effective at protecting your exterior walls from the weather, its composition stops pests from causing damage to the building.

Following the trend of the other sustainable facades, engineered wood requires little maintenance. Unlike other types of wood, it does not need to be painted regularly. A paint job once a decade will suffice on this type of surface.

Its long life span is attributed to the chemicals utilised during the manufacturing process. This may be a good choice for those who want a relatively cheap exterior that only needs intermittent cleaning.

Hire a professional cleaning company

When you require it, we provide effective brick & stone cleaning services. We use specialist tools and equipment to help you maintain the exterior of your building, no matter its type or size.

Though these materials are some of the most sustainable out there, we can use our industry knowledge and skills to keep them fresh and clean. For instance, we can eradicate:

• Algae
• Moss
• Fungi
• Chewing Gum
• Paint

Our services are all about finding the right exterior wall cleaning solution for each customer. We can work with you to create a bespoke plan suited for your individual needs, giving you complete flexibility within the process.

If you would like to find out more about how brick cleaning can maximise the value of your home, check out our blog on the topic here.

TORIK cleaning system

In our brick & stone cleaning, we use the TORIK cleaning system. This technology works by releasing a controllable flow of super-heated water through a heat-resistant nozzle onto the surface.

It dries instantly upon application, with the high-temperature strain of water removing all traces of damage to the material. This method of cleaning is popular among many of our clients, both domestic and commercial.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we are also proud to hold a 100% success rate on these services.

Get in touch

To book our brick cleaning services, you can get in touch with us on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. A member of the team will assist you with whatever you need.