There’s more to construction materials than you might think

You can often estimate how old a building is simply by looking at the materials it’s been constructed from. Scotland’s architectural history is rich with sandstone Victorian tenements and villas, while the early 20th century saw brick being embraced throughout suburbia. The post-war decades heralded the widespread adoption of concrete, from high-rise towers to detached bungalows. Since the millennium, new developments have increasingly incorporated combinations of everything architects and builders have learned to date, mixing and matching materials, sometimes in playful and unusual ways. 

Drawing on many decades of expertise in construction, housebuilders like Cruden Homes are able to select the optimal construction materials for each unique development, subject of course to planning approval! While every option has its own characteristics and merits, the best approach is often a combination of contrasting (yet complementary) materials... 

Stone  

From castles to tenements, Scotland’s build environment is dominated by stone. Despite growing volumes of imports, there are still over a dozen sandstone quarries operational in Scotland. Modern buildings are usually faced or edged with stone (particularly at the corners or ground level), rather than wholly constructed out of it. Even so, incorporating stone into new developments ties them into older surroundings, in tandem with architectural tricks like maintaining the rooflines and window heights of older buildings across the new structures. 

Brick 

Although stone was Scotland’s primary construction material for centuries, rising excavation costs at depleted mines led to the widespread adoption by builders of mass-produced brick. The sheer variety and diversity of bricks means you can buy one at a DIY store for 50p, or commission thousands of first class burnt clay bricks to give a development a consistent visual aesthetic. Contrasting bricks may be used in lintels, arches and stairwells, or on neighbouring clusters of properties to diversify a development’s colour palette.  

Concrete 

Despite the best efforts of preservation groups like the 20th Century Society, exposed concrete is rarely seen nowadays beyond one-off commissions for private homes. However, it remains an indispensable construction material, literally and metaphorically underpinning residential buildings. Because it can easily be moulded and poured into any shape, or precast in factories, it’s the ideal material for balconies and roof terraces. It can also be covered with any shade of weatherproof paint, injecting colour and character. 

Render 

Visit any modern housing development, and render is likely to be the dominant exterior wall covering. Installing a weatherproof coating on top of brick, stone or concrete adds resilience against the elements, while textured surfaces negate the staining that characterised some low-quality 20th century builds. Render is affordable and endlessly versatile, protecting buildings against the inevitable attrition of wind and rain; even Edinburgh’s historic New Town had to be fully refaced in the 1960s after its stonework began crumbling. 

Timber cladding 

A more niche choice than render or exposed brick/stone, timber cladding adds drama to any façade. Cruden Homes has long pioneered the use of timber framed construction, and our appreciation for this endlessly versatile (and fully renewable) natural resource also extends into its adoption as an external design detail on low-rise buildings. Timber cladding works especially well in developments surrounded by existing woodland, with innumerable combinations of different timbers and staining treatments available. Composite timber style options are also available, adding durability and longevity to any build. 

Glass 

Cruden Homes has long championed the benefits of outsized glazing, especially in living spaces, but glass has far more to offer than just windows. Glazed balcony panels on low-rise buildings provide an attractive alternative to railings, maximising both light and views. Fanlights above doors draw extra illumination into hallways and communal closes, while skylights disperse natural brightness across stairwells and corridors. Coloured glass panels can even add points of interest to a building’s exterior. 

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