Five trendy innovations to improve your home

There’s good reason that when most people think about changes in technology, they tend to think about the digital world. It’s easy to forget that some of the most important technological advancements are happening around us in ways we may not be aware of — namely — in our homes.

From drywall to windows to insulation, home building materials have developed in a way that might seem like something from a science fiction movie. Here are five of the most exciting innovations:

1. Sound-dampening drywall — Some look to noise-canceling headphones or sound-muffling curtains to find some peace and quiet, but engineers at CertainTeed Gypsum have discovered that something as simple as the right drywall can do wonders in canceling out noise. The SilentFX(R) QuickCut noise-reducing dry-wall puts a blanket over sound energy and significantly blocks the amount of sound carried through walls and ceilings.

2. A new lease on lumber — Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a material made by gluing together smaller pieces of timber to create large slabs that serve as an alternative to steel and concrete. As strong as steel, and in many ways even more fireproof, CLT allows for contractors to put up incredibly durable buildings incredibly fast. With computer-aided design programs, architects can design a building and send the exact specifications to robotic routers that cut the exact dimensions for each piece so that the entire building can be assembled like a big piece of furniture.

3. Quartz, an engineering miracle — Quartz has emerged as a substitute that outperforms granite and marble. Extremely durable and virtually maintenance-free, modern engineered quartz comes in a variety of colors and patterns that mimic the erratic design prized in natural stone.

4. Air-quality control — People spend a lot of time and money ensuring their home has good air flow. As part of the new “smart” generation of drywall, AirRenew(R) with M2Tech(R) technology is a drywall that is not only moisture and mold-resistant, but actively removes formaldehyde from the air and converts it into safe inert compounds, contributing to a healthier home environment.

5. Bio concrete — Changes in temperature, the shifting of the earth, weather and chemicals all contribute to the inevitable cracks and deterioration of concrete. Several years ago, scientists in the Netherlands developed a kind of concrete that can repair itself by integrating limestone-creating bacteria that “heal” cracks. This process is similar to the way bones heal themselves when broken. The result for homebuilders is stronger foundations, less seasonal repair and more overall value.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.