Modern homes must wear a lot of hats. They are no longer just a haven to come back to after work. In many cases, they are the venue for work itself in the era of remote commerce.
With this in mind, properties must incorporate next-level materials that lower maintenance, enhance durability, and limit noise transfer. Keep reading as we explore some of the best solutions for soundproofing and promoting durability in modern homes.
Composite Roofing Shingles
Climate change is wreaking havoc in diverse ways. Wildfires, flooding, and gale-force winds are just a few of the conditions commonly making headlines.
What is also making headlines is insurance companies denying homeowners’ coverage to limit their exposure to these risks.
As such, it is crucial that modern homes be equipped with the most durable materials that can withstand severe weather, giving the homeowner the best chance of obtaining coverage.
The first place the insurance company will look is the roof. The roof is the source of fires, roof leak, and hail damage that cost the insurance industry millions of dollars each year.
Therefore, upgrade your roof with impact resistant shingles. This innovative roofing style uses a combination of asphalt, fiberglass, and recycled polymers that give the roof Class 4 impact resistance. This ensures that the roof will maintain its integrity in the face of the most severe weather for decades to come, giving homeowners and insurers peace of mind when the Gulf Coast winds start howling.
Hurricane-Grade Storm Windows
Much like the roofing, the windows of the home will get put to the test during times of extreme weather. Not only can worn and degraded windows serve as a point of unwanted air and moisture ingress, but they can become quite noisy when the winds begin to howl.
Give your home enhanced protection by upgrading to hurricane-grade storm windows. Fabricated with reinforced polymer glass set inside a structural steel frame, this advanced window solution can withstand winds in excess of 250 MPH and projectile impact up to 100 MPH.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
When a home’s framing goes, all is lost. From Katrina to Harvey, many Gulf Coast residents learned this firsthand, as the powerful wind-driven rains from these Hurricanes compromised wood-framed homes and led to the destruction of entire neighborhoods.
When building back, many architects opted for durable insulated concrete forms (ICF) to create a more impregnable building envelope.
ICF uses a series of precast, insulated blocks that are locked in place at the home’s building site. Once the walls are erected, concrete is used to set the blocks, creating a durable, double-insulated wall system. It provides a solid, one-piece fabrication that greatly limits air, sound, and moisture transfer through the walls. Due to these next-level insulation properties, ICF works just as well as a basement wall vapor barrier as it does in above-grade applications.
Engineered Quartz Countertops
Countertops in homes have evolved significantly in recent years. Peripheral countertops of years gone by are taking a backseat to more prominent kitchen islands. These islands are more than just a place for hot plates and casserole dishes. They serve as the epicenter of home activity. In addition to meal time, island countertops are often the place where kids do homework, parents engage in remote work activities, and the family hosts game nights.
Marble and granite are preferred materials for modern countertops. They provide a stately aspect that draws attention to this central area of the home. Unfortunately, they are a bit high maintenance, as they require regular sealing to prevent staining and bacteria buildup. A better option is engineered quartz. These countertops use mineral quartz that is bound with an epoxy resin. This creates a solid, one-piece countertop that is completely nonporous and highly resistant to acute impact.
Acoustic Wall Panels
The open interior is one of the prevailing concepts in modern home design. It creates a brighter, more energy-efficient ambiance that offers unmatched versatility for residents.
With that said, with fewer interior walls, noise transfer can become an issue. Acoustic wall panels can help mitigate this concern. These sound-absorbing panels can help the home achieve a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of up to .95 with as little as 15% wall coverage. The panels can be fabricated in a wide array of colors and designs to match the interior design theme of any home.
For properties that require additional soundproofing measures, acoustic blankets are worth consideration. Acoustic blankets use a fiberglass sound absorber that can be quilted to a wide array of residential facings, such as around exterior fencing or within the walls of interior recording studios that require next-level acoustics.
Leverage Innovative Materials for Unmatched Durability and Soundproofing
To accommodate the diverse needs of modern homeowners, properties must be built with enhanced durability and soundproofing in mind. From composite roofing shingles to acoustic wall panels, consider any of the materials listed above for next-level home solutions. For more of the latest trends shaping the home improvement industry in the Gulf Coast region, explore the content at The Katy News for ideas and inspiration today!
