A lot of alternative construction materials are being used these days for various reasons such as structural strength, ease of design and cost. Structurally insulated panels are amongst the foremost in the list of alternative construction materials. These panels are made by sandwiching foam between two panels made of fiberglass. This is done with precise measurements and hence they are more likely to be air-tight. They are also very light and the turnaround time to bring up the walls is less. Light gauge steel studs are used instead of lumber framing.

This increases the longevity of the frames and the loads that they can take. Steel gives more dimensional stability to the structure too. Polyvinyl chloride is another synthetic material that is cheap and long lasting, requiring very less maintenance. It is used for gutters, sliding window frames and shutters. Bales of straw are also used as an infill for steel and wood frames.