Eco-friendly building materials have gained a huge boost in popularity in recent years. While the construction industry as a whole has really embraced them, hotel construction work has become revolutionized by eco-friendly building materials. From siding to ICF construction, let's take a look at some of the biggest eco-friendly trends in building materials when it comes to hotel construction in 2019.
1. Insulated Concrete Forms
Wood frame construction has long been the standard for hotels, but there are many problems with this kind of framework. The cost of lumber is higher than ever right now. Wood frames also pose problems when it comes to insect vulnerability, moisture control, thermal mass, disaster resistance, waste, sound-proofing, fire damage, air quality, swelling and shrinking, along with design limitations. With wood being inferior in so many ways, the need for a new type of building material has arisen.
That's where ICF plans come in. Insulated concrete forms are fire-resistant, hollow concrete blocks that are linked together by rebar. They link together to create a comprehensive wall system that is disaster-resistant, energy-efficient, moisture-resistant and most important of all, eco-friendly.
2. Reclaimed Wood Accents
Wood accents, particularly reclaimed wood accents, have had a surge in popularity recently. For hotels, there's nothing better than a beautiful distressed hardwood floor, hardwood shelves, or decorative wood wall paneling. Using reclaimed wood for almost anything can give it a uniquely "broken-in" feeling, creating a homey, yet elegant atmosphere in your hotel. Using reclaimed timber is also eco-friendly because it saves new timber from having to be cut down, instead making use of perfectly good timber that's already available for construction.
3. Vinyl Cedar Shingles
Using eco-friendly shingles on the roof of a hotel has become a commonplace tactic among construction plans. While some types of natural shingles such as wood are expensive and easily damaged over time vinyl versions offer all of the beauty with much more durability.
Vinyl cedar shingles, for instance, are created with a lightweight, polyurethane material that is styled to look exactly like real cedar shakes. They are, however, much more durable and easy to care for than traditional cedar shakes. With better moisture resistance, fire resistance, wind resistance, and a longer lifespan than traditional cedar shakes, it's not hard to see why these eco-friendly, vinyl shakes are becoming a more desirable option for builders.
4. Living Roofs
A living roof is a roof with an overlay of vegetation on top of it. It consists of a waterproofing membrane, soil, and plants overlying a regular roof. There are many reasons to go with an eco-friendly roof such as this, one of them being lifespan.
A typical living roof can last up to 40 years if maintained properly. Compare this to the average 20-year lifespan of a normal roof. They also look amazing and create a real stand-out look for any hotel. Living roofs also improve energy efficiency, air quality, and the value of a property while also retaining rainwater, adding LEED credits to your building, and reducing noise as well.
5. Metal Architectural Screens
Exterior additions can provide aesthetic beauty while reducing maintenance needs and energy costs. There are various types of outdoor metal screen options for hotel construction, including louvers, dampers, grilles, sunshades, and more - all of which can significantly reduce energy costs and overhead.
Architectural grilles and architectural louvers are becoming more popular in hotel design thanks to their ability to attractively disguise HVAC systems and industrial equipment that may otherwise be an eyesore. In addition, indoor decorative ceiling panel ideas are a unique and eyecatching addition to any hotel complex.
Building an Eco-Friendly Hotel is Simple
With so many different eco-friendly materials out there right now, building an eco-friendly hotel has never been easier. Whether you choose to go with vertical metal siding, a living roof, ICF construction, or any of the other hot new trends revolutionizing hotel construction, your hotel is guaranteed to be a little more environmentally friendly.
1. Insulated Concrete Forms
Wood frame construction has long been the standard for hotels, but there are many problems with this kind of framework. The cost of lumber is higher than ever right now. Wood frames also pose problems when it comes to insect vulnerability, moisture control, thermal mass, disaster resistance, waste, sound-proofing, fire damage, air quality, swelling and shrinking, along with design limitations. With wood being inferior in so many ways, the need for a new type of building material has arisen.
That's where ICF plans come in. Insulated concrete forms are fire-resistant, hollow concrete blocks that are linked together by rebar. They link together to create a comprehensive wall system that is disaster-resistant, energy-efficient, moisture-resistant and most important of all, eco-friendly.
2. Reclaimed Wood Accents
Wood accents, particularly reclaimed wood accents, have had a surge in popularity recently. For hotels, there's nothing better than a beautiful distressed hardwood floor, hardwood shelves, or decorative wood wall paneling. Using reclaimed wood for almost anything can give it a uniquely "broken-in" feeling, creating a homey, yet elegant atmosphere in your hotel. Using reclaimed timber is also eco-friendly because it saves new timber from having to be cut down, instead making use of perfectly good timber that's already available for construction.
3. Vinyl Cedar Shingles
Using eco-friendly shingles on the roof of a hotel has become a commonplace tactic among construction plans. While some types of natural shingles such as wood are expensive and easily damaged over time vinyl versions offer all of the beauty with much more durability.
Vinyl cedar shingles, for instance, are created with a lightweight, polyurethane material that is styled to look exactly like real cedar shakes. They are, however, much more durable and easy to care for than traditional cedar shakes. With better moisture resistance, fire resistance, wind resistance, and a longer lifespan than traditional cedar shakes, it's not hard to see why these eco-friendly, vinyl shakes are becoming a more desirable option for builders.
4. Living Roofs
A living roof is a roof with an overlay of vegetation on top of it. It consists of a waterproofing membrane, soil, and plants overlying a regular roof. There are many reasons to go with an eco-friendly roof such as this, one of them being lifespan.
A typical living roof can last up to 40 years if maintained properly. Compare this to the average 20-year lifespan of a normal roof. They also look amazing and create a real stand-out look for any hotel. Living roofs also improve energy efficiency, air quality, and the value of a property while also retaining rainwater, adding LEED credits to your building, and reducing noise as well.
5. Metal Architectural Screens
Exterior additions can provide aesthetic beauty while reducing maintenance needs and energy costs. There are various types of outdoor metal screen options for hotel construction, including louvers, dampers, grilles, sunshades, and more - all of which can significantly reduce energy costs and overhead.
Architectural grilles and architectural louvers are becoming more popular in hotel design thanks to their ability to attractively disguise HVAC systems and industrial equipment that may otherwise be an eyesore. In addition, indoor decorative ceiling panel ideas are a unique and eyecatching addition to any hotel complex.
Building an Eco-Friendly Hotel is Simple
With so many different eco-friendly materials out there right now, building an eco-friendly hotel has never been easier. Whether you choose to go with vertical metal siding, a living roof, ICF construction, or any of the other hot new trends revolutionizing hotel construction, your hotel is guaranteed to be a little more environmentally friendly.