Choosing the right construction type for your project

Impacting design, cost, and materials, the construction type of your building project heavily influences the entire proposal.

Having a clear understanding of the various building construction types is therefore essential to ensuring your construction project is efficient and fit for purpose from the start.

Find out how construction types affect design and cost as well as building materials and regulatory compliance from the RICS-regulated chartered surveyors at Kingsmead Consultants.

What are the main types of construction?

There are four key types of construction, including:

Residential construction 

Residential construction refers to the building of structures where people live, such as apartments and flats, single family homes, and multi-family homes. These buildings should be comfortable and practical to support a healthy and enjoyable residential environment.

Commercial construction 

Structures that have been designed and built specifically for business and commerce purposes (for example, office spaces, hotels, and retail stores) are encompassed in commercial construction.

Industrial construction 

Industrial construction involves the building of premises that are used for manufacturing, production, and storage purposes. This includes structures like factories, warehouses, and power plants.

Infrastructure construction 

Encompassing many large-scale public structures including roads, bridges, railways, pipelines, tunnels, and dams, infrastructure construction refers to the building of crucial physical systems and structures that support a society.

Why types of construction are important

Understanding the different building construction types and their varying needs is essential to ensuring construction projects properly meet their requirements in terms of safety, regulatory compliance, and functionality.

For example, when comparing residential vs commercial construction, commercial structures must abide by more complex building regulations and standards – especially relating to fire safety and accessibility.

How else can building construction types be classified?

In the UK, construction types are typically classified by sector and occupancy or structural systems, instead of fire resistance (e.g. type 1 to 5), which is more common in the US.

How construction types influence design, cost, and materials

Design

The design approach to different types of construction projects is driven by the structure’s use and end user-expectations. For example, residential projects are tailored to meet domestic requirements and therefore focus on aesthetics, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Commercial buildings, however, must meet stringent accessibility requirements and fire safety standards using flexibility layouts. Industrial structures revolve around robustness and improving operational efficiency, and infrastructure projects must prioritise both durability and structural integrity.

Cost

Due to advanced MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems, greater project complexity, and coordination services, commercial construction projects tend to cost significantly more than both residential and industrial commercial projects (with infrastructure project costs being highly variable).

While building a basic warehouse or factory can cost between £690 and £901 per square metre, according to Checkatrade, commercial projects can thousands of pounds per square metre.

For residential construction projects, the typical materials include bricks or blocks, timber, and plasterboard, while commercial structures tend to require strong steel frames and concrete foundations.

Similarly, industrial buildings must also prioritise structural integrity and are therefore commonly made from reinforced concrete and steel frameworks, while also incorporating glass to ensure plenty of natural light.

Infrastructure projects, on the other hand, often use concrete and steel materials alongside geotechnical systems to ensure the ground is suitable for the structure.

Which construction type is best for your project?

When assessing which construction type is suitable for your project, you should bear in mind the:

Purpose

The project scope, performance requirements, and materials will all be determined by the purpose of the structure. For example, if you’re building a retail office for business use, you should focus on meeting professional workspace requirements by creating flexible, open spaces.

Timeline

Working to a tight deadline? You may have to consider modular or prefabricated solutions that can be quickly installed on-site. Alternatively, if you have more freedom with the completion date, you can explore slower but potentially more durable construction methods.

Location

A wide range of location-related factors, including site conditions, local regulations, and even the climate can play a significant role in selecting the most suitable construction type for your project.

For example, coastal areas that are often exposed to high levels of wind, moisture, and salt, you may have to consider materials like marine-grade lumber and reinforced concrete.

Budget

Project budget will naturally impact the structure in many ways – from the choice of materials to the size of the building and the completion timeline.

Stay on track with Kingsmead Consultants

At Kingsmead Consultants, we’ve worked closely with builders and contractors on countless construction projects across the North West, helping them to complete both on time and within budget, ensuring maximum profitability.

​As part of our RICS-regulated chartered quantity surveying services, you can receive expert support with understanding contract compliance, navigating on-site project variations, negotiating supplier agreements and settlements, and much more.

​If you’re a contractor searching for a trusted team of quantity surveyors to partner with, speak to the professionals at Kingsmead Consultants today. Alternatively, please feel free to:

Call us on: 01270 323 515

Email your enquiry to: info@kingsmeadconsultants.co.uk