Local Trends in Residential Construction

Jan 28

Recent events made some industries temporarily unstable, with residential construction being notable among these. Recent trends have shown that this no longer appears to be the case.

With many areas easing up on restrictions, construction is rebuilding. That’s been seen in multiple areas, with Massachusetts being notable among these.

There are multiple other local trends in residential construction across the region, especially in the likes of Westwood, Dover, Needham, and more.

With this increased work comes the high need for construction professionals across these areas, alongside Dedham, Medfield, and further afield. With that are multiple other trends affecting the industry.

If you’re considering residential construction work, either as a newcomer or returning veteran, you’ll need to know what these trends are. There are more than a few for the coming year to be aware of.

Top Trends in Residential Construction in Westwood, Dover, & Beyond

Increased Focus On Safety

Safety has always been a focus for residential construction in Massachusetts. It’ll become even more prominent in the coming months.

Construction firms have had to adapt to the impact of the pandemic. That’s led to masks and similar safety features being implemented to health and safety codes.

Enhanced equipment and safety protocols should be expected from here on out. Though these could relax somewhat eventually, don’t expect it anytime soon.

You can also expect a few other safety-focused protocols, including:

Reduced crews on-site.
Staggered shifts.
Reduced sharing of tools.

Use Of Remote Technology

Technology is the cause of quite a few local trends in residential construction. That’s been the case for centuries and has been seen in countless ways.

Most recently, it’s led to the rise of remote technology. Though that’s typically seen in productivity-focused apps, among other things, it’s especially seen with drones in construction.

Construction is one of the more common users of this technology, thanks to the large implications it can have. Drones can perform multiple duties much faster than a human counterpart.

Site assessments, for example, could be done in half the time using these. Issues will be identified quickly and easily without putting anyone at risk.

Application Of 3D Printing

Speaking of technology, 3D printing is one of the more notable local trends in construction. It can be seen across Medfield, Dedham, Westwood, and multiple other areas.

It’s being implemented into construction in several ways. Pouring concrete is one of the more notable, as it can be done to a specified design quite quickly.

While much of this has been done on a relatively small scale so far, it aims to grow in the coming years. Expect to see some of this in the coming months.

Though it won’t replace mass production, it could be better utilized in more custom projects.

Work Disruptions

Uncertainty often impacts the construction in various ways. Though that’s typically seen in commercial construction, it can also be seen in residential construction in Massachusetts.

Work disruptions were quite common during the pandemic. While these are going away, they’re still a local trend that many people should be considerate of.

That’s especially true when it comes to financing larger projects. These can be curtailed somewhat.

As for local trends in residential construction, expect to work on smaller projects more regularly. Larger ones will have quite a few disruptions and may have multiple delays.

Modular Construction

Modular construction has been around for quite some time, although its popularity always remained relatively low. That’s been changing over the past few months, with the practice becoming increasingly popular.

Consumers are looking for ways to reduce costs while improving construction efficiency. Construction companies have looked to do the same.

As a result, modular construction should keep gaining traction in the coming years. These can be beneficial both to construction workers and the homeowners themselves for various reasons.

These types of projects are designed to reduce laborer needs alongside reducing overall labor costs. While this wouldn’t become the most popular construction method in Massachusetts, it’ll certainly be well-known.

Supply Chain Diversification

Many supply chains were disrupted during the pandemic. While that had its negatives, there have also been multiple positives.

One of the more notable is that it’s encouraged diversification in the supply chain. Construction companies have been forced to reassess who they do business with.

Previous suppliers may have limited materials and higher prices. That may not change anytime soon. Many construction firms must now look elsewhere.

Formulating best practices and developing detailed processes about onboarding and working with these third parties is also becoming commonplace.

Alongside this have been firms that have moved into new areas. That diversification allows for increased opportunities in the mid to long term.

Living Materials

One of the more interesting trends in residential construction is that of living materials. While these are still in their early phases, they’ve been used in Needham, Medfield, and many other places in Massachusetts before.

These are materials, primarily biological compounds, that grow themselves. Bacteria and fungi are the more obvious examples of this.

Living material has already proven to have several uses. Self-mending concrete might be the most noteworthy. By combining living materials with standard concrete, a more durable and long-term solution is developed.

Should cracks or similar defects appear, the bacteria built into the concrete grows into and repairs them. With how usable such living materials are, they’ll become increasingly prominent in the coming months.