Since 2004, there has been a 23.6% increase in the price of construction, primarily due to a strained labor force and costly materials. Productivity in the U.S. construction sector is also in decline and is currently lower than it was in 1968.
Ultimately, the effects of these issues are felt by the end user, as housing prices increase for home buyers. High costs put a big strain on the ability to find affordable housing that meets specific quality standards for things like durability and energy efficiency. This can also have far-reaching societal impacts on the greater housing infrastructure within the U.S.
Over time, the rising costs of home building and the decline in affordable housing options has caused a great slowdown in the growth of the construction sector. As a result, the industry has fallen behind in adopting new and emerging technologies over the past 50 years, especially when compared to the innovation seen within other industries.
Here are a few ways you can use the latest building solutions to create affordable housing options and still drive down the cost of labor and materials.
Reduce Labor Costs
Finding the right skilled building labor for your project can often be a difficult task. And once you do find the right people for the job, the required labor costs can escalate quickly. One solution for these common labor concerns is to reduce the number of trades needed to complete the job.

Cutting the amount of labor needed often means using the newest, most innovative building materials. Not only will these materials help you reduce labor costs, but you’ll also be incorporating materials into your building that make it more affordable for homeowners, saving money on energy consumption and maintenance costs.
The Bautex Wall System is a complete structure and envelope system that allows you to complete the structure, enclosure, insulation, and air and moisture protection using just one trade (instead of the typical three or four). This wall system gives you faster construction times and a more simplified schedule, which also helps lower the overall construction cost.
While lower construction costs lead to lower home prices, the Bautex Wall System also passes on other long-term cost-savings to homeowners. They will continually save money over time as they experience the benefits of reduced energy use and lowered (and sometimes non-existent) replacement, repair and maintenance expenses.
Choose Affordable Building Materials

Wood and light-gauge steel still remain popular choices for structural walls, but in the face of rising tariffs and decreased supply, they are becoming more expensive and difficult to use in a cost-effective way. Choosing affordable building materials that provide high levels of efficiency and also simplify construction processes is one way to lessen costs and pass the savings onto the homeowner.
Bautex Blocks are more than just an affordable building material. The Bautex Block is a composite insulating concrete form that makes design easier, construction faster and buildings more efficient.
Bautex Blocks come in one highly durable and versatile form that makes up one of the strongest concrete wall systems on the market. These lightweight blocks make construction faster and more simple while providing tremendous performance benefits to homes — a cost savings that will greatly benefit homeowners.

Build With Durability and Longevity in Mind

While recently developed building materials provide easy design solutions, they are anything but simple. Choosing products that are both well-engineered and cost-effective creates more affordable housing options that offer more benefits to homeowners than just financial savings.
Today’s ideal home design begins with the construction of a tight and well-insulated building envelope like the Bautex Wall System, the building solution of choice.
The Bautex Wall System is moisture-resistant, fire-resistant, disaster-resistant and pest-resistant. It also offers a higher level of energy efficiency, noise reduction and is an overall healthier option when compared to other building systems.
This wall system’s disaster resilience is a very important feature, as natural disasters are occurring more frequently in the United States. Bautex Blocks meet the ICC-500and FEMA standards for debris impact. The Bautex Block Wall assembly also meets the FEMA 320 and FEMA 361 guidelines for safe rooms in storm zones with wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour.
Utilize Innovative Building Solutions

As construction costs continue to rise and skilled labor becomes more difficult to find, builders need to continue looking for ways to make design and construction more affordable without compromising the overall quality of the homes they’re building.
By taking advantage of the latest building solutions and understanding how these products and practices can save time and money, builders can reduce their costs and create more quality housing options, giving homeowners more affordable, durable, efficient choices in the market.
Contact Bautex today to find out how we can keep your next home affordable.