When looking to build or buy a house, you want something that will last years. It’s important to find a strong house to call home. So, let’s take a look at what makes a house strong.
The three main aspects of a house that make it strong are the foundation, frames, and roofing materials. Most commonly a house will have a concrete foundation for stability. ICF and timber frames increase the sturdiness of a house. Add on a slate roof to complete the main aspects of a strong house.
Let’s look a bit more into these aspects.
What elements make a strong house?
The elements that make up a durable house generally boil down to three key aspects: the foundation, frames/walls, and roofing material. The foundation provides stability, and therefore also strength, resiliency, quality and energy efficiency. Building a strong house starts at the bottom or the foundation. It’s important for the foundation to be level and thick. This will allow it to protect your home against the impacts of major weather, including earthquakes. If the foundation isn’t level, the frame won’t be straight, and the strength of the house will falter.
The frame and walls are the second aspects of building a strong house. The frame is the skeleton of your home, and a body doesn’t function without its skeleton. The walls are the muscles of the house, making up a huge portion of the house strength.
Finally, a good roof completes the strength of a house. There are many materials available to you, and it’s important to pick one that can handle the weather events that might come your way. In Ireland, that means roofing material that can handle abundant rainfall, frost, and snow.
Tick these three boxes, and you’re well underway for a durable home.
What is the strongest material for a house?
Research-wise, concrete foundations, insulated concrete form framing (ICF), and a corrugated galvanised steel roof are the strongest house materials.
Foundations are usually constructed from concrete because it is our strongest building material and it’s important to have a sturdy house foundation. It’s easy to create a durable, even finish with concrete no matter where you are building. It has great durability when it comes to standing against all kinds of elements. The foundation is not likely to move or cave because it will be thick and solid. This gives you a strong house foundation to build on.
Insulated concrete forms are believed to be one of the strongest house frame options. They are energy efficient, as well as water and disaster-resistant. But they are not as common when it comes to building houses. Steel and timber frames are the most common house frames in today’s construction business. Timber can be sturdy and flexible which is great for building a house frame. It is still considered one of our stronger frame materials.
As for walls, you have a few options. Some modern homes are built using concrete blocks, while others have walls constructed of bricks. Cut stone is another great option. Limestone and sandstone are easily cut and carved, and widely available. Granite is incredibly hard-wearing but difficult to work with. All of these are popular options in Ireland. Brick and stone are great materials for building strong exterior house walls and are the most common materials. With every build, it’s important to have the best quality stonemason tools to ensure the strongest finish.
When it comes to roofing, corrugated galvanised steel is considered one of the strongest material options. It can withstand high winds, heavy rain and snowfall. It is becoming a more popular option in places like Ireland because of its durability. But materials like artificial slate, mineral felt, and clay tiles are also common roofing options in Ireland.
What are the strongest house shapes?
Architecturally speaking, triangles are the strongest house shape. Think of some of the world’s most famous architectural marvels: the Louvre Pyramid, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Eiffel Tower. Triangles just keep popping up, which is why it isn’t a surprise that many houses incorporate them. Triangles have a large base that is able to support the weight of the rest of the triangle that leads to a small tip. Even rectangular houses are made up of different triangles to support the house. This makes a triangle the strongest shape for houses.
The shape of a house isn’t the major contributor to the house strength. But building houses in ways that can incorporate rectangles and triangles will help with the strength of the house. This being said, you can build houses in all different shapes provided that you find the right support for the design. Old houses were built differently to newer houses and all methods have their pros and cons. At the end of the day, the foundation and frame are the main contributors to the strength of your house.
Are wooden houses strong?
Wooden houses are strong and durable, lasting more than 100 years if properly built and cared for. They have been the most popular option for centuries. But more recently the material is mostly used for house frames, rather than the whole build. Wood is a convenient and often more cost-effective building material. It is a great insulator on cold nights and absorbs humidity well. On top of this, timber is one of the most environmentally friendly options on the market if sourced from a sustainable forest in Ireland.
But positives aside, there are a number of downsides to wooden structures. It undergoes natural wear and tear. You have additional worries such as termite damage, water damage and mould. Making repairs on wood requires refinishing or replacement in some situations. For these reasons, some buyers opt for other options, though if done properly, wood can be a very desirable option.
Alternatively, you could go for a timber-framed house over the more common concrete block method. For the exterior, popular options include masonry or brick.
How long should a strong house survive for?
As mentioned, the longevity of your home will largely depend on how well it was built and how well it’s looked after. Generally speaking, through careful planning and a lot of care, your home can last well over 100 years. Over time, maintenance may include large jobs such as replacing the roof, heating system or small-to-large remodelling projects. Natural wear-and-tear is inevitable.
The world will continue to move on, as will technology and our knowledge of construction – but look after your home, and it will look after you in return. Plus, if you invest in the suggested strong building materials, your home will have the durability to last multiple lifetimes!
Building or buying, there are lots of things to consider when it comes to your home. Have you ever wondered if you can add a bathroom to a house? How about if double brick is better? For more insight into home construction, bricklaying and masonry ideas, check out our Paragon Tools Ireland resources! Paragon Tools also have quality bricklaying and masonry tools for your building needs.
