Building Materials for Commercial Construction Projects

One of the most prominent features in building exteriors are architectural canopies. Designed to create welcoming, protected entryways for occupants, these features can have a big impact on the way occupants use the building as well as on energy efficiency.

The primary functionality of canopies is to protect occupants from sun and precipitation outside the entryway to a commercial building. This creates greater potential for these outdoor areas to be incorporated into the usable space of a building, and to help entryways stand out visually when they otherwise might be easy to overlook. 

Canopies don’t just shade people outside a building. They also greatly reduce the amount of direct sunlight that reaches exterior glass, which can lead to excess heating of the building’s interior. Because of this, canopies can reduce the load on HVAC systems and increase energy efficiency. 

Finally, canopies are readily used to distinguish buildings visually, adding color, patterns, or other visual flourishes that can enhance the appeal of a facade. 

For light commercial construction, one option that combines thermal performance with a simple, rigid construction is structural insulated sheeting. Consisting of large sandwich panels using a foam core surrounded by engineered wood on the outer layers, this type of sheeting offers numerous advantages.

One of the best reasons to use structural insulated sheeting is its cost-effectiveness combined with quick construction. The large panels are ordered and manufactured to spec, which simplifies the assembly process and lowers onsite labor costs. Structural insulated sheeting is highly energy efficient due to its outstanding thermal performance and construction, which saves costs in the long run, and it uses significantly less raw material than conventional wood, which saves costs up front. Because it uses large panels with few joints, it also promotes indoor air quality by limiting air leakage.

Despite the use of flammable materials in its construction, structural insulated sheeting can be a fire-safe building material. Because it uses a solid core, there’s no chimney effect with this kind of sheeting, which protects in the interior from rapid combustion. The engineered wood layers are treated with a fire resistant coating like gypsum to create a safe, affordable, and effective material for light commercial exteriors.

If you think structural insulated sheeting might be the answer for your next project, reach out for an estimate.

Plank and batten exteriors consist of vertically-arranged planks interspersed with thin, protruding strips of molding called battens. The battens function to protect the seams between planks from weather and other stressors, while giving the exterior a ribbed look. Plank and batten is also a simple construction, consisting of just two alternating pieces.

Plank and batten siding originally came around after the invention of the sawmill, and is still most commonly made of wood. However, synthetic and metal variations are available for commercial construction. 

Sometimes called “barn siding,” plank and batten is fantastic for a weather-tight yet rustic look, making it a popular choice for many residential and commercial projects. It’s perfect for property owners who want traditional charm and time-tested durability, and it’s familiar to most any general contractor or builder.

See if architectural planks and battens are the right choice for your building project. 

Aluminum composite panelling is a popular and effective cladding solution that prioritizes low average costs, safety, and thermoregulation. The panels consist of a non-aluminum core between two aluminum surface layers, making it a type of sandwich panel. This construction maximizes the benefits of aluminum while reducing overall weight and cost. 

This type of panelling owes its popularity to a number of factors.

• Sturdy construction that retains its shape over time.
• Customizable finishes that allow for aesthetic flexibility 
• Resistance to deformation from impact or temperature extremes.
• Recyclable 
• Simple, affordable assembly and installation
• Lightweight construction
• Fire-resistant construction

The low weight and thermal properties of aluminium composite panelling makes it a great choice for the construction of ventilated facades. By creating an air barrier behind the cladding, the building can take advantage of the chimney effect to keep air moving in an insulative layer around the building. This contributes to lower energy usage and is an essential component of any green building. 

Stone is a visually appealing, natural material that looks great on architectural facades. The colors, patterns, and textures in stone form naturally over long periods of time, creating unique pieces and aesthetic qualities that simply can’t be imitated. If you want the look of stone without the weight and expense of masonry, stone cladding is a great option. It’s thinner, much more affordable, and easier to install.

Stone isn’t just beautiful, it’s also extremely durable and easy to maintain. Able to withstand decades of exposure to the elements with minimal care, stone is one of the best long term options for cladding, as well as one of the sturdiest materials used in the construction industry. It’s a great choice for both cladding and load bearing walls.

All that sturdiness comes with the caveat of additional weight. Stone is a very heavy building material, but practices like traditional handset cladding use a backing structure with load-bearing fixings to support the weight of the stone. This creates a highly effective and attractive option for cladding.

Because it is naturally occurring, there are also many different kinds of stone available. From sedimentary stone like limestone to harder metamorphic stones like slate and marble, there are a range of options with different visual and material properties, giving you a great deal of flexibility in what you want to build.

Exterior panels are a common and effective option for architectural cladding. Seen in many different applications from retail buildings to apartment complexes, this form of cladding takes advantage of recent building technologies to create low-cost exteriors that are long-lasting and environmentally conscious.

This type of cladding uses panels, often made of durable fiber cement, hung on a track system that encases the entirety of the building. This method of construction keeps labor and materials costs down by implementing a simple installation system that requires relatively few materials.

The primary function of exterior panels is to keep water out of the building. Using waterproof materials in tight construction isn’t enough, however. That’s why this type of architectural cladding also incorporates an air barrier between the exterior panels and the insulative layer of the structure. This air gap allows any moisture that passes through the panelling to dry quickly.

The air gap also creates natural airflow around the building, which contributes to an energy-efficient design. Combining this with the lowered need for materials and long-lasting nature of the construction, exterior panels are a great choice for any commercial building project. 

Roofs and basements often have greater waterproofing requirements compared to other parts of the building. Underground exteriors are exposed to an especially unique set of conditions. One of the most prominent is the threat of groundwater coming in contact with the exterior of the structure. This requires such structures to be adequately protected against their subterranean environments. 

Some of the unique stressors in this kind of environment include:

• High water pressure from surrounding groundwater
• Corrosive chemicals in groundwater or soil
• Shifts in pressure from uplift and other processes
• Shocks from seismic activity

Waterproofing membranes are a great choice for basements and other underground structures that must deal with groundwater and hold up in sometimes unstable conditions. Available in PVC-, bitumen-, and TPO- based sheets, waterproofing membranes are easy to apply to concrete masonry and other structural exteriors. 

Waterproofing membranes are essential for below ground structures and many other exteriors consisting of concrete construction, as well as some roofing systems. Explore our options to make sure you get the right product for the job.

There’s no way to overstate the importance of keeping moisture out of a building’s exterior layers. Moisture infiltration leads to mold and rot, which compromises the integrity of the building and creates financial pressure in the form of repairs. Readily available in easily-applied rolls of material, air barriers must meet a strictly coded low threshold for air permeance. 

An air barrier is an essential component of a building’s defense against moisture. There are a few qualities an effective air barrier must have:

• Meets requirements for air permeance
• Continuous application over the entirety of the building
• A lifespan that matches that of the building
• Durability to resist pressure, temperature, and other factors

Because its function is so important, these qualities are non-negotiable  for a building’s air barrier. Fortunately, there are cost-effective, no-headache options for applying an effective air barrier in your next project.

For an air barrier that works with your specifications, get in touch about your next building project.

Metal is a lightweight, sleek-looking choice for cladding that will stand up to the elements and endure for a long time. 

Sheet metal cladding comes in various forms. The most common of these is standing seam, characterized by protruding lines between the panels which cover and protect the seams. Snaplock is a simpler version with a similar ribbed look but a simpler installation method. There are also unribbed varieties like interlocking and cassette formations which offer smoother appearances. 

Although metal is not a permeable material, metal cladding systems will still make use of a waterproof membrane layer behind the exterior. This layer acts as additional assurance against the intrusion of moisture into the building’s construction. Membranes use a geotextile sheet, sometimes combined with a wire mesh layer, to create a breathable layer that evaporates and protects against moisture. 

There are also a variety of metals available for use including aluminum, titanium, zinc, copper, and different kinds of steel. We offer metal and sub metal panel systems for use in your next building project.