В последнее время строительная промышленность предлагает застройщикам огромный выбор различных рулонных кровельных материалов. Если не так давно для этих целей использовался только натуральный битум и рубероид на основании картона, то сегодня даже не все профессиональные строители наизусть знают существующие названия рулонных материалов и их свойства. Это с одной стороны значительно улучшает качество кровельных покрытий, а с другой стороны неопытным потребителям значительно усложняет выбор. Тем более что ни одна компания не указывает недостатков своей продукции, акцент всегда делается только на положительных свойствах. Для того чтобы лучше понять, что такое бикрост, надо немного узнать об общих требованиях и свойствах всех типов мягких кровельных покрытий.

Такой тип покрытий применяется в основном на плоских крышах с наклоном до 12°. Но в деревнях можно встреть варианты покрытия и двускатных крыш, чаще всего это старые дома дачного типа или различные хозяйственные пристройки.

Бикрост изготавливает очень известная корпорация «Технониколь», и ее специалисты уделяют большое внимание качеству своей продукции. При этом учитываются не только текущие требования к мягким покрытиям, но и делаются разработки на будущее. Кровля изготавливается на самом современном оборудовании с использованием инновационных технологий и материалов. Каждая партия проходит визуальный технический контроль, выборочным методом выполняются лабораторные испытания.

Компания «Технониколь» выпускает много разновидностей рулонных покрытий для кровли

Все типы бикроста соответствуют основным эксплуатационным требованиям.

В связи с тем, что бикрост может применяться как для внутреннего подкладочного слоя, так и для финишного покрытия, строение обоих видов кровельного материала несколько отличается.

1. Основание. В этих целях используется стеклоткань (очень прочный по физическим параметрам материал), полиэфирное волокно (показатели несколько хуже) или стеклохолст (механические характеристики намного ниже). Все основания не боятся влаги.

   

2. Битумная пропитка. Имеется с обеих сторон рулона, а для повышения устойчивости к УФ-лучам, пластичности при минусовых температурах и сохранении характеристик после нагрева до +80°С добавляются специальные инновационные присадки.

   

3. Защитная полиэтиленовая пленка. Назначение – предупреждение слипания рулонов во время транспортировки и хранения. Подкладочный бикрост имеет такую пленку с двух сторон, финишный только с обратной.

   

4. Посыпка из минерального или натурального камня. Имеется только на рулонах для финишного покрытия с лицевой стороны. Назначение – защита битума от жесткого ультрафиолетового излучения и улучшение дизайнерских характеристик.

   

Технические характеристики и виды материала

В зависимости от назначения каждый тип материала имеет свою маркировку.

Таблица. Марки бикроста

Марка	Описание технических и эксплуатационных характеристик
Бикрост ХПП	Основание – стеклохолст, максимальное усилие на разрыв 290 Н, масса квадратного метра 3 кг. По параметрам прочности занимает последнее место среди всех видов кровельных покрытий, применяется в качестве подкладочного слоя. Защитная пленка имеется с двух сторон.
Бикрост ЭПП	Основание – полиэстер, физическая прочность несколько выше, чем у материалов на основании холста и достигает 350 Н. Битумное покрытие не плавится при нагреве до +80°С, масса квадратного метра 3 кг. Бикрост ЭПП может применяться только в качестве подкладочного слоя.
Бикрост ТПП	Материал изготовления – каркасная стеклоткань, имеет самые высокие физические характеристики, может выдерживать нагрузки до 600 Н.
Бикрост ТКП	Материал для финишного покрытия кровель, прочность 600 Н, что является самым высоким показателем. Квадратный метр весит 4 кг, масса битума с нижней стороны не менее 1,5 кг/м2.
Бикрост ЭКП	Прочность на разрыв 343 Н, верхняя поверхность покрыта каменной крошкой для защиты битума от вредного действия ультрафиолетовых лучей. Рекомендуется использовать на ненагруженных кровлях, не имеющих на своей поверхности тяжелых инженерных коммуникаций.
Бикрост ХКП	Прочность всего 294 Н, изготавливается на основе холста. Может применяться только на неответственных строениях в качестве временного покрытия. Масса материала 4 кг/м2.

Рекомендации по применению в регионах в зависимости от температурных условий эксплуатации прописаны в СНиП 23-01. По горючести бикрост относится к группе Г4, по скорости распространения огня к РП4, по температуре воспламенения — В3. Эти характеристики указывают, что он считается пожароопасным материалом, работа требует соблюдения всех мер предосторожности.

Цены на рулонные материалы Бикрост

Пошаговая инструкция по укладке бикроста

Для начала рассмотрим интересный вариант использования автомобильного ГБО для подключения газовой горелки. В настоящее время многие автомобилисты начали отказываться от бензиновых двигателей в связи с постоянным повышением цены на топливо. ГБО не редкость, автолюбители перевели свои машины именно на это дешевое и экологически безопасное топливо. Такое оборудование дает возможность подключать горелку прямо к нему, нет надобности одалживать или покупать газовый баллон.

Способ подключения горелки

Как делается подключение?

Шаг 1. Поставьте автомобиль в максимальной близости к гаражу или иному строению, которое планируете покрывать бикростом.

Шаг 2. Откройте капот и снимите заглушку с газоподающего агрегата. Он распложен над головкой блока цилиндров, имеет прямоугольную форму, чаще всего бывает синего цвета. Важный отличительный признак – от этого устройства отходят резиновые шланги к каждому цилиндру двигателя. Заглушка расположена сбоку,

90000 Can You Lay New Roof Shingles Over Old? 90001 90002 90003 90004 90005 90006 90002 The answer is 90008 yes 90009, you can lay new roof shingles over old ones. Now that we’ve taken care of the primary question at hand, we’ll consider a couple of reasons why you might want to do this. Then we’ll look a lot more reasons why you might not want to do this. But before we get started, one thing must be clear: adding new roofing over old (sometimes called a «re-roof») is possible only with asphalt shingles (also called «composition shingles»).You can not do it with wood or slate, for example, and you should never mix materials, such as laying asphalt shingles over cedar shakes. Also, the old roofing has to be in pretty good condition. Otherwise you’re just putting lipstick on a pig. 90006 90011 90003 Why Add New Roof Shingles Over Old? 90005 90014 90011 90014 90002 Contrary to what might seem like an obvious benefit, having multiple layers of shingles does not necessarily make a roof more waterproof, and it often creates its own problems.So why would you lay new roof shingles over old? Convenience and cost. If you keep the old shingles on, you skip the messy, laborious removal step — called the «tearoff» — and you’ll save some money on the roof job. 90006 90002 However, both of these benefits have caveats. It’s clearly easier and cheaper to leave the old shingles in place, but there’s some special prep work involved with a re-roof (removing vents, ridge caps and misshapen shingles, among other things) and you still have to replace or add new flashing, which sometimes can be tricky over old roofing.Eliminating the tearoff can easily save $ 1,000 or more on a new roof, but you’re really just delaying the cost: when it’s time to replace the roof again and you have no choice but to start anew (two layers is the maximum allowed in most areas), you’ll have to pay extra for the two-layer tearoff and disposal. 90006 90011 90003 Why 90005 90008 90003 Not 90005 90009 90003 Add New Roof Shingles Over Old? 90005 90014 90002 As suggested above, the potential cons of re-roofing tend to outweigh the potential pros, but it all depends on your situation.The following list includes some universal reasons not to reroof as well as some considerations or things to check out if you’re seriously considering adding new roof shingles over old ones. 90006 90002 1. 90003 Shingles are designed for flat surfaces 90005. They do not do a good job of bridging over gaps, dips or humps, including the stepped texture created by overlapping shingles. Re-roofers have tricks to lay new roof shingles over old so that the same step-ups between courses are maintained, but if any old shingles are cupped, curled, or otherwise misshapen, those defects will «telegraph» through to the new layer.Many roofers recommend using laminated, or dimensional, shingles for re-roofs because they’re thicker than standard shingles and often have a staggered edge profile (for looks) that helps hide any dips or high spots in the old roofing. 90006 90002 2. 90003 Shingles add weight. 90005 Good-quality composite shingles can weigh 350 to 450 pounds per «square» (100 square feet of roofing, installed). Chances are, your roof structure was designed for a dead load of one layer of shingles, plus extra for snow and a safety margin.Installing new roof shingles over old effectively doubles the weight of the roofing, so you have to make sure your roof structure can handle the extra load. That’s also why building codes commonly limit re-roofing to no more than two layers. On some houses, the extra weight of multiple layer causes the roof sheathing (decking) to sag between the rafters or trusses. 90006 90002 3. 90003 No visual inspection of roof sheathing 90005. Without a tearoff, roofers can not see what the decking looks like.A good roofer will perform a careful «walking» inspection for spongy areas and other problems, and they can make localized repairs before re-roofing. A not-so-good roofer might be less conscientious. 90006 90002 4. 90003 Can not replace underlayment. 90005 The building paper (tarpaper) that’s laid between the roof sheathing and the shingles is there for a very good reason — because water has a way of getting under shingles, no matter how many layers of roofing you have. If the underlayment is old and deteriorated, it will not protect your roof deck from water that gets past the shingles.In snowy climates, most new roofs these days get an ice-and-water shield (a rubbery moisture membrane) applied to the sheathing along the eave to protect against ice dams. Adding this membrane is not an option with a re-roof, and the extra layer of shingles offers little protection against ice dams. 90006 90002 5. 90003 Re-roofing may affect the warranty on the new shingles. 90005 Pretty self-explanatory. Be sure to check with the shingle manufacturer regarding all warranty issues and installation requirements before re-roofing.90006 90002 6. 90003 Local codes might not allow re-roofing 90005. Two layers is the maximum in most areas, but some building codes allow only one. For example, towns in climates with heavy hailstorm activity or significant ice dam problems may not allow multiple roofing layers. 90006 90002 7. 90003 A re-roof might not look good on an inspection report. 90005 Adding new roof shingles over old ones is tempting to a lot of people planning to sell their house in the near future: why pay for a tearoff if you can get away without it? Of course, it’ll be the new owners who are stuck with the extra expense of a two-layer tearoff down the road, along with any problems arising from an improper re-roof job.Because of this, home inspectors often report double-layer roofs when they find them, and they may warn the buyers of potential problems associated with re-roofs. If you’re planning to sell your house after installing a new roof, it’s a good idea to discuss your options with local real estate pros and / or home inspectors. 90006 90002 Contact a reliable roofing contractor to discuss your options for roof repair or replacement. 90006 90002 90008 Philip Schmidt writes for Networx.com. 90009 90006.90000 Insulating a Roof: All You Need to Know 90001 90002 When it comes to insulating a roof, your choices will depend on: 90003 90004 90005 your roof type (flat or pitched) 90006 90005 its structure (depth of the rafters) 90006 90005 your willingness to invest 90006 90011 90002 In most cases, extra investment made in beating the Building Regulations on insulation is money well spent — it gives a lot back in returns. 90003 90002 Insulating a roof is perhaps the easiest of all the energy-saving home improvements.Mineral wool rolls are ubiquitous and cheap, meaning a whole roof on a 90015 standard home could be insulated to the recommended 270mm with a spend of little more than £ 200 90016. 90003 90002 It’s also 90015 within the capability of most DIYers 90016, although not the most pleasant of tasks. And the effect it will have on your energy bills depends on what you’re replacing and how big your roof is. It’s also much more important to do if you do not have any loft insulation at all. 90003 90022 Building Regulations for Insulating a Roof 90023 90002 Heat rises, and therefore the Building Regulations requirements for heat loss through roofs are more stringent than those for walls.90003 90002 The limiting U value (the maximise U value which can not be exceeded) required under current Building Regulations for the roof is 90015 0.20W / m². 90016 90003 90022 How to Insulate a Roof 90023 90002 The first decision is whether to insulate a pitched roof at ceiling or rafter level. The current trend is for a ‘warm roof’ where insulation is installed between the rafters, thereby keeping the roof timbers warm. 90003 90002 90003 90036 On new build or replacement pitched roofs, the ideal build up would be insulation fitted over and then between the rafters — giving a big boost for 90037 90036 airtightness 90037 (Image credit: Kingspan) 90002 With a flat roof, this issue does not arise, but the U value constraint and the amount of insulation needed is just the same.90003 90002 Achieving a U value of 0.20W / m² (meaning your roof will be better insulated than your walls) will need 90015 120mm thickness of rigid foam or 200mm of mineral wool or natural insulation 90016. Hitting amazing levels of 0.13W / m² will need 90015 300mm of mineral wool or 180mm of rigid foam 90016. 90003 90002 90003 90036 For retrofit projects, 90037 90036 Kingspan 90037 90036 Kooltherm K14 Insulated Plasterboard goes ‘under’ the rafters. There will also be Kooltherm K7 Pitched Roof board between the rafters 90037 (Image credit: Kingspan) 90002 With a warm roof the usual process is to split the insulation into two layers.If 180mm is to be installed then 100mm board might be introduced between the rafters (there has to be a minimum 25mm air gap between the insulation and the underside of the tiles or slates) with an 80mm board running across the rafters. 90003 90002 The proportions do not matter but this arrangement helps to eliminate any draughts caused by gaps between the insulation and the rafter. 90003 90022 Alternative Options For Insulating Old Roofs 90023 90002 One modern option for existing buildings is sprayed foam.There is a good deal of controversy around these systems. They are often advertised as a DIY option, but those who have done it suggest that it requires skill and experience to do well. 90003 90002 The other issue is more technical and concerns the effect of enclosing roof timbers in a material that can retain moisture. What can not be argued against is that the sprayed foam sticks very well to whatever it touches — roofing felt, slates or tiles and rafters. If it becomes necessary to remove any of these, the sprayed foam will make it a difficult and expensive job to rectify and is generally considered bad news by many.90003 .90000 How To Replace Shingles And Roofing Plywood 90001 90002 This post will discuss how to install shingles on a roof correctly, to avoid future problems. The most important steps in the process are to: 90003 90002 90005 1. Tear off the old roofing material 90006 90003 90002 2. Repair plywood or sheathing 90003 90002 Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect to do this in an effort to save money, without realizing that they are running a very high risk of ending up with a bad roof. 90003 90012 90012 90002 While there are some legitimate ways to cut costs that will not jeopardize the integrity of your roof, others do more harm than good in the long run.90003 90002 90003 90002 One such dangerous way is to shingle over an existing roof, instead of tearing it off. 90003 90002 Another, is to forgo repairing old plywood or sheathing before doing the install. 90003 90002 Some contractors, who desperately want your business, may lure you in with promises of «big savings», if you agree to go for one or both of these options. Many DIY savvy homeowners, are also interested in figuring out how to reroof over existing shingles. 90003 90002 I will describe a recent job that will clearly illustrate why its NEVER a good idea to save money in this way.90003 90026 Bad Roof Installation: Case Study 90027 90002 Last winter we worked on replacing shingles on a roof that sustained massive ice dams damages. As a result, the kitchen, hardwood flooring and walls were also destroyed. 90003 90002 Before any work began, the homeowner wanted to leave the old shingles in place, to cut down on job costs. 90003 90002 Although I explained the negative consequences of making this decision, the possibility of saving 90005 $ 2000 + 90006 on tear-off and plywood was too attractive.This is somewhat understandable given the huge amounts of money he would need to spend on other renovations. 90003 90002 So, the homeowner continued to insist on putting a new roof over the existing 1 layer of shingles. 90003 90002 However, while doing the initial inspection, we found that removing the old material and fixing the substrate was not only the right thing to do, but also 90005 absolutely 90006 necessary. 90003 90002 Here is why: 90003 90044 Outdated Construction Standards 90045 90002 The house was built in the 1960’s and back then the building code required a minimum of 3/8 «roofing plywood — something no good contractor would think of doing today.Now, any new roof (in Massachusetts) must have a minimum of 7/16 «sheathing with H clips. 90003 90002 However, it is best to use 5/8 «CDX plywood or OSB roof sheathing for overall structural integrity. Additionally, the majority of manufacturers require the same substrate specs for warranty purposes. 90003 90002 As I stepped on the roof, I felt that I was going to break through it with my feet, if I stepped between rafters. 90003 90002 That was an immediate call to alter the job specs — we simply could not do the install onto the existing plywood.90003 90002 After changing the contract terms with he homeowner, we began removing the old shingles. 90003 90002 What we found below was scary to the say the least! 90003 90002 90003 90002 90005 After we opened the roof up, we found 3/8 «thick plywood that was old, dilapidated, broken in many places and with several spots of water damage. 90006 90003 90012 90044 Lazy / Irresponsible Builder / Roofer 90045 90002 Additionally, the rafter spacing was not a standard 16 «on center and not even the odd 24» OC — rafters were not evenly spaced at all.Some had 17 «of spacing — some were 19», 20 «, 21» etc. 90003 90002 Whoever built that house, really did not care much for the quality, or the additional work required in properly laying down the plywood roof sheathing. 90003 90002 90005 This video demonstrates exactly what we discovered: 90006 90003 90002 90076 90077 90003 90002 90003 90026 Potential roof problems 90027 90002 Lets look at different issues that may arise when you install a roof over existing shingles and / or damaged plywood.90003 90044 1) Roof will not be properly nailed 90045 90002 Most contractors use 1 1/4 «long nails on new construction projects. This meets the code, but is not good enough in my book. A 1 1/2 «or 1 3/4» long Home Depot roofing nails hold much better! 90003 90002 But if someone uses 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch long nails to install a second layer, its «Houston we have a problem». Assume that each layer is almost 1/2 «thick, so 2 layers = 1» give or take. Thus, 1 1/2 «nails will barely penetrate the plywood.1 1/4 «will NOT penetrate it at all! 90003 90002 At the same time, all systems require at least 0.5 «penetration, meaning the nail must protrude at least half an inch past the plywood. So basically such a roof would not be nailed properly. 90003 90012 90044 2) Dry / rotted plywood does not hold nails well 90045 90002 As was the case on this roof, dry rotted 3/8 «plywood would not hold the nails even if they were long enough — you could pull them out by hand — that is how weak it was. This means that you MUST replace old roofing plywood.Here is approximately how much different options cost: 90003 90002 90005 5/8 inch — $ 26.87 per sheet. 90006 This is the BEST product to use, because its very sturdy and high quality. If there is water damage it will preform significantly better than the 1/2 plywood. Note, that when you buy in bulk, the price drops to 90005 $ 24.18 per sheet. 90006 Bulk pricing is for at least 58 sheets or 18.5 squares. If your roof is smaller than this, you can still request the pro to buy 58 sheets, and use what is left over for other home improvement projects.90003 90002 90005 1/2 inch — 24.85 per sheet. 90006 This is what most people use, and its ok quality. However, think about it this way: the difference in price between this and 5/8 «is $ 2 per sheet or $ 6 per roof square. If the total job is 20 squares, the total material price difference is 90005 only $ 120 dollars 90006, and you will be getting a significantly better quality material. Bulk pricing for 1/2 inch is 90005 $ 22.37 per sheet 90006, and you need to buy 70 sheets. 90003 90002 90005 OSB roof sheathing — about 60% cheaper than standard plywood.90006. While its allowed by code, we strongly advise against using OSB for sheathing. The minute any moisture gets in, its starts to break apart within 2-3 months. Then, you will need to do expensive repairs, and will actually waste hundreds of dollars in the end. 90003 90002 Note, these estimates were sourced from Home Depot. Lumber Yard prices are usually the same or higher. 90003 90044 3) Failure to install underlayment 90045 90002 90003 90002 On most «over the top» jobs (second layer installs), roofers do not use felt or any other underlayment.90003 90002 While it makes some sense, if you are already doing a second layer, you should put down a synthetic breathable underlayment, for leak protection, and to avoid trapping any attic moisture. 90003 90044 4) Added weight 90045 90002 Roof shingles are HEAVY. On average 2.5 lbs / sq. ft. 2 layers equal 5 lbs / sq. ft. By comparison, clay tile and slate are about 8 lbs / sq. ft. However, those heavy materials come with increased snow load framing already built into the roof structure. 90003 90002 MANY asphalt roofs have 2 × 6 framing, or 2 × 8 spaced 24 «on center.With an average roof being about 1600 sq. ft., this framing is not designed to hold 8,000 lbs of shingles and a snow load on top. For example, past winter, here in MA, we had 97 «of snow, of which 70» fell within 30 days. Do the math. 90003 90044 5) Increased thermal mass 90045 90002 Asphalt shingles is the least energy efficient building material in US / Canada. 90003 90002 Not only they fail to reflect solar heat, they also absorb and store it (thermal mass). That is why the top floor of nearly every home in US is always so hot in the summer, even long after the sun goes down.Now, two layers is double the thermal mass — try to cool that with an AC 🙁 90003 90012 90044 6) Most important — decreased longevity and NO warranty 90045 90002 To get the somewhat useless warranty on your roof, you need it installed exactly by the manufacturer specs. This includes adequate (not damaged, proper thickness) substrate — plywood or boards. Moisture protection barrier (felt / underlayment), ice and water barrier where required by building code and / or shingles installation specs, proper ventilation, and some other nuances.90003 90002 Doing a 2nd layer install will void that warranty. Also, because shingles will not be properly ventilated (even with adequate attic ventilation) they will dry out much faster, and will last maybe 1/2 of their intended lifespan. 90003 90026 What happens in the end? 90027 90002 90003 90002 All of the issues described above often result in «new» roofs lasting less than 3 years. 90003 90002 So there you go — trying to save 90005 $ 1200-2000 90006 on roof replacement by not removing old shingles and not repairing / replacing rotted plywood, will usually cost at least 90005 $ 4000-6000 90006 more just in few short years.And this does not include any interior damages. 90003 90002 Think about it before you spend your money. 90003 90002 Oh and also — if the roofer offers or insists on doing the second layer — my advice to you — kick them out immediately. 90003 90012 90002 90044 90164 Related 90165 90045 90003 This roofing guide is presented by Leo B. 90002 I’ve been a roofer for 15 years, and specialize in Metal Roofing and Flat Roofing. 90003 90002 Have a roofing question or issue? 90171 Ask me any roofing question! 90172 90003 90002 Roofing Contractors — join our free 90171 Local Roofers directory 90172 to get more customers! 90003 90012 .90000 7 Construction Industry Trends to Watch in 2020 90001 90002 What construction tech trends should you keep an eye on in 2020? These 7 might be the most exciting. 90003 90002 90005 RELATED: 5 TALLEST BUILDINGS OF THE FUTURE 90006 90003 90008 What are the current trends in the building market? 90009 90002 We’ll expand on a few of these later in the article, but according to sites like ESUB, here are some of the most notable tech trends in the construction industry at the moment: — 90003 90012 90013 Technology Advancements and Integration.90014 90013 Green Technology in Construction. 90014 90013 Increase in Modular and prefabricated Construction Projects. 90014 90013 Increasing Material Cost. 90014 90013 Decreased Labor Force. 90014 90013 Better Safety Equipment. 90014 90013 Sustainability. 90014 90027 90008 What technology is used in construction? 90009 90002 90031 90032 90003 90002 Despite the construction industry’s traditional resistance to new technologies, some are making significant strides in rounds.Notable examples include, but are not limited to: — 90003 90012 90013 Mobile Technology. 90014 90013 Drones. 90014 90013 Building Information Monitoring (BIM). 90014 90013 Virtual Reality and Wearables. 90014 90013 3D Printing. 90014 90013 Artificial Intelligence. 90014 90027 90008 What construction tech trends should you watch in 2020? 90009 90002 So, without further ado, here are 7 tech trends you might want to watch in 2020. 90003 90054 1.Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) 90055 90002 90057 90032 90003 90002 These technologies are already making a huge impact on many industries around the world, and the construction industry is no exception. Buildings are becoming ever more complicated, and these technologies are helping architects and construction teams improve designs and detect design errors. 90003 90002 To date, architects and design teams greatly improve building design through interactive design and gesture interfacing.2020 is set to see this technology’s influence on the industry expand even further. 90003 90002 This could range from errors in HVAC system design or finding missing elements that have been overlooked during the design phase. AR, VR, and MR are also being utilized in the construction industry to aid: — 90003 90012 90013 3D modeling of buildings and structures. 90014 90013 Helping improve and innovate BIM visualization. 90014 90013 It helps provide a permanent record of the building and allows clients to explore designs before construction.90014 90013 Helping «see through walls» for maintenance workers and service engineers. 90014 90027 90054 2. 3D printing 90055 90078 Source: 90079 mebner1 / Pixabay 90080 90002 Another tech trend to watch out for in 2020 is the role of 3D printing in the construction industry. The benefits of it have already been explored and exploited by various construction companies around the world. 90003 90002 The ability to either prefabricate offsite or directly on-site has obvious labor and material cost benefits over more traditional building methods.It also reduces waste and being automated is not restricted by construction worker shift patterns. 90003 90002 For example, today it’s possible to 3D print an entire house in less than 24 hours! 90003 90002 «The concrete 3D printing market is expected to reach 90005 $ 56.4m 90006 in 2021, and with good reason. More and more companies are starting up in the sector to create new, innovative projects. Some are more futuristic, some are very real in the present, such as Apis Cor’s 3D printed house in 24 hours.3D concrete printing is developing rapidly and relies on different technologies and materials, offering many benefits to its users. The tech is still in its infancy however and is bound by current limitations. «- 3D Natives. 90003 90054 3. Robotics 90055 90093 Source: 90079 FBR / YouTube 90080 90002 2020 may also be the year where robotics makes a bigger impact in the construction industry. Somewhat linked to the impact of 3D printing above, robotics is also seeing impressive infiltration into the industry.90003 90002 In fact, one report by the 90079 World Economic Forum 90080 predicted that 2020 could be the year of the robot in the construction industry. 90003 90002 From robotic bricklayers to laying roads, robots are increasingly finding their place amongst the workforce on construction sites. This is interesting as traditionally the construction industry has seen very little automation, relying largely on manual labor. 90003 90002 By adding robots to the workforce, construction companies are seeing improved construction times and improved quality of builds.Robots are also being used to help demolish buildings too. 90003 90002 While currently slower than human demolition crews, they are far safer and cheaper for bringing down concrete structures at the end of its life cycle. 90003 90002 Robots are also being developed to help with certain building maintenance like window cleaning. 90003 90054 4. Sustainability 90055 90112 Source: 90079 shark_749 / iStock 90080 90002 For several decades now, building regulations have been placing more and more burden on building design to reduce their environmental impact and sustainability.This is a trend that will only become more strict heading into 2020 and beyond. 90003 90002 Optimized energy efficiency and a drive for low to zero carbon emissions have driven innovation in building construction and service design for years. In response, new, better thermal performance materials are being developed that promise to make the buildings of the future incredibly well insulated for a fraction of the cost of current solutions. 90003 90002 One example from a few years ago was the development of a concrete roof that can generate and store energy.Innovations like this should make buildings of the future cheaper to live in and reduce their impact on the environment. 90003 90002 Reducing waste or recycling old materials is another area where sustainability is helping drive innovation in the construction industry. For example, last year one architecture firm announced its plans for a new method of recycling construction waste into ton new reusable building materials. 90003 90002 It will be interesting to see what new innovations will be realized in 2020.90003 90054 5. Modular and Prefabricated Construction 90055 90002 90128 90032 90003 90002 Modular and prefabricated solutions are nothing new to the construction industry. For example, the end of the Second World War saw something of a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ in prefab design in war-torn cities across the UK. 90003 90002 While it has fallen out of favor over the last few decades, prefabs have been making something of a comeback in recent years. The promise of faster on-site assembly and higher quality, standardized builds are seen by some as the solution to tackle perceived housing crises around the world.90003 90002 «Advances in high-tech design and construction mean increasing numbers of components can be manufactured off-site. That means buildings can go up more quickly and quietly, with fewer materials wasted — an enticing prospect given London’s housing crisis. 90003 90002 To accommodate modular house-building, developers are building their own factories, and architects are getting ever more ambitious in their designs. Here are five of our favorite London modular housing designs. «- The Spaces.90003 90054 6. Exoskeletons 90055 90002 90142 90032 90003 90002 Another tech trend to watch in 2020 is the use of exoskeletons. The potential benefits this can afford to a construction site’s workforce are obvious. 90003 90002 Laborers can carry more load than their fragile human bodies would normally be able to cope with, and if it is widely adopted, it would largely increase the safety of construction sites. For construction companies, this will dramatically improve their bottom line by reducing the number of laborers needed on-site as well as reduce lost man-hours from injury.90003 90002 «ABI Research predicts the robotic exoskeleton market alone will reach 90005 $ 1.8 billion 90006 in 2025, up from 90005 $ 68 million 90006 in 2014. This year, about 90005 6,000 suits 90006 will be sold, mainly for rehabilitation. By 2025, ABI expects to see about 90005 2.6 million 90006 on the market. » — Constructible. 90003 90002 But they may ultimately lose out to robots and 3D printing alternatives as exoskeletons still rely on a human operator at their heart. That being said, they might offer the perfect compromise between labor unions who will inevitably try to protect their member’s jobs from becoming obsolete.90003 90002 But they are yet to significantly infiltrate the industry. Perhaps 2020 will be the year they make it? 90003 90002 Time will tell. 90003 90054 7. Building information modeling 90055 90002 90168 90032 90003 90002 Building Information Modelling, or BIM for short, is a process of creating and managing information on a construction project from cradle to grave. This intelligent 3D model-based process has already seen wide adoption by architects, engineers, and other construction professionals.90003 90002 In fact, many local authorities have made BIM the standard for many of its construction project needs. BIM allows stakeholders and suppliers to more efficiently plan, design construct and manage a building and its infrastructure. 90003 90002 As other technologies already mentioned, like AR, and VR, become more popular, their integration with BIM will become ever more important. This is unlikely to slow down in 2020 and beyond. 90003 .