Welcome to the Living Smart Program | Welcome to the Living Smart Program

What most homes use—and why

Most detached houses use a lightweight frame (usually timber, sometimes steel) with cladding outside (fibre-cement, weatherboards or metal) and plasterboard inside. It’s familiar to trades, quick to build, and easy to insulate. Brick veneer and blockwork are also common, and slabs on ground are typical for floors.

Why it’s popular

Cost and speed: framed walls go up quickly and suit most designs.

Flexibility: easy to run services (wires, pipes) and upgrade insulation.

Repairability: damaged sheets or boards are relatively simple to replace.

What to watch

Moisture: even 'breathable' walls can trap moisture if the layers are in the wrong order.

Termites: timber needs a proper system and clear inspection zones.

Coastal corrosion: steel frames and fixings need the right protection.

Cement and concrete—simple ways to lower impact

Concrete is strong and durable, but cement (the binder inside concrete) is carbon-intensive to make. The good news: you can keep the benefits and halve the footprint by changing the mix.

Ask for

SCM blends: cement mixed with industrial by-products like slag or fly ash (and increasingly, calcined clay). Similar strength, often better durability.

Geopolymer/alkali-activated concretes: cement-free binders supplied by several Australian producers; engineers can now specify these under recognised guidance.

Recycled aggregates where appropriate: good for slabs or driveways when quality-controlled.

What it means on site

Your engineer and concrete supplier will select a mix that suits our climate and exposure (coastal air, rain, salt).

Placing and curing might be slightly different—your builder just needs to follow the supplier’s instructions.

Cost can be similar to standard concrete, or a small premium. Always get a local quote.

Comparison quick-table


System	Cost guide	Carbon	Moisture/mould	Termites/corrosion	Insulation / mass	Speed	Best for
Timber frame + cladding	$–$$	Low–med (timber stores C)	Excellent if vapour-managed	Termite system needed	High insulation / low mass	Fast	Most homes
Mass timber (CLT/GLT/LVL)	$$–$$$	Low (stores C)	Keep dry; robust details	Termites/bushfire detailing	Low mass; great airtightness	Fast (prefab)	Precise builds
AAC	$$	Med–low	Vapour-open; add coatings	Low termite risk; normal fixings	Better R than brick; moderate mass	Fast	Rendered forms
Hempcrete (infill)	$$–$$$	Often very low	Excellent buffering	Timber frame needs termite system	Good R; low mass	Moderate	Healthy interiors
Straw bale	$$	Very low	Needs to stay dry	Bushfire details	Very high R	Moderate	Simple massing
Rammed earth / CEB	$$–$$$	Very low	Needs plinths/eaves	Normal fixings; watch salts	High mass	Moderate	Feature walls, diurnal swing
CMU block (low-carbon mix)	$$	Med → lower with mix	Vapour-open; insulate	Robust; plan thermal breaks	High mass	Moderate	Storm-tough
SIPs	$$–$$$	Varies	Must manage condensation	Confirm fire details	High R	Very fast	Straight forms
ICF (low-carbon infill)	$$–$$$	Med → lower with mix	Control interstitial moisture	Robust; low pest risk	High mass + continuous insulation	Moderate	Quiet, resilient
Steel frame	$–$$	Med (often high recycled content)	Needs condensation plan	Corrosion classes near coast	Low mass; use thermal breaks	Fast	Coastal builds (detailed right)

System

Cost guide

Carbon

Moisture/mould

Termites/corrosion

Insulation / mass

Speed

Best for

Timber frame + cladding

$–$$

Low–med (timber stores C)

Excellent if vapour-managed

Termite system needed

High insulation / low mass

Fast

Most homes

Mass timber (CLT/GLT/LVL)

$$–$$$

Low (stores C)

Keep dry; robust details

Termites/bushfire detailing

Low mass; great airtightness

Fast (prefab)

Precise builds

AAC

Med–low

Vapour-open; add coatings

Low termite risk; normal fixings

Better R than brick; moderate mass

Fast

Rendered forms

Hempcrete (infill)

$$–$$$

Often very low

Excellent buffering

Timber frame needs termite system

Good R; low mass

Moderate

Healthy interiors

Straw bale

Very low

Needs to stay dry

Bushfire details

Very high R

Moderate

Simple massing

Rammed earth / CEB

$$–$$$

Very low

Needs plinths/eaves

Normal fixings; watch salts

High mass

Moderate

Feature walls, diurnal swing

CMU block (low-carbon mix)

Med → lower with mix

Vapour-open; insulate

Robust; plan thermal breaks

High mass

Moderate

Storm-tough

SIPs

$$–$$$

Varies

Must manage condensation

Confirm fire details

High R

Very fast

Straight forms

ICF (low-carbon infill)

$$–$$$

Med → lower with mix

Control interstitial moisture

Robust; low pest risk

High mass + continuous insulation

Moderate

Quiet, resilient

Steel frame

$–$$

Med (often high recycled content)

Needs condensation plan

Corrosion classes near coast

Low mass; use thermal breaks

Fast

Coastal builds (detailed right)

Mass timber (CLT/GLT/LVL)

Large engineered timber panels or beams that act as structure and walls/floors.

Very low embodied carbon (stores carbon), precise off-site fabrication, fast on site, warm look.

Detail for generous eaves, flashings and good membranes; termite system required; bushfire can be designed for.

Timber frame with cladding

Mainstream studs + insulation + wrap/membrane + cladding + plasterboard.
Cost-effective, flexible, easy to insulate and service.
Works very well when layers are in the right order and cavities can dry; termite system essential.

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)

Lightweight masonry blocks/panels with better insulation than standard masonry.
Vapour-permeable—keep rain out with coatings and flashings.
Good for simple shapes and rendered finishes.

house construction from autoclaved aerated concrete blocks

Hempcrete (infill to timber frame)

Hemp fibres with a lime-based binder installed between studs; frame carries loads.
Often net-carbon-storing; excellent moisture buffering and healthy finishes.
Needs trained crews and protection from prolonged wetting.

Straw bale

Bales stacked as infill or structure, then rendered.
Very high insulation and strong moisture buffering; can be carbon-storing.
Keep dry with good sills, eaves and vapour-open renders.

Rammed earth / CEB

Earth compacted in formwork or pressed into blocks; often a small % stabiliser.
Very low carbon and beautiful natural look, with high thermal mass.
Needs plinths, capillary breaks and generous eaves in our rainfall.

Masonry block (CMU) – with lower-carbon mixes

Standard hollow block walls, often reinforced and rendered/painted.
Tough in storms; specify lower-carbon concrete and add continuous insulation.
Plan thermal breaks; detail for impact and weather.

Structural insulated panels (SIPs)

Sandwich panels with insulating core and structural skins.
Excellent insulation and airtightness; very fast erection.
Get condensation details right and confirm fire testing/approvals.

Crane Install SIP panels for Frame House Construction

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) with low-carbon mixes

Hollow insulated blocks filled with concrete.
Quiet, strong and energy-efficient; great in storms.
Use a low-carbon infill and plan services/penetrations early.

Steel frame (prefer high recycled content)

Galvanised steel studs and tracks—termite-proof and straight.
Plan for coastal corrosion classes and condensation control; include thermal breaks.
Fast to assemble; check compatible fixings and coatings near the ocean.

New tech and special concretes—should you use them?

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC): extremely strong and durable but overkill for typical house walls and often higher in binder content. Best for special elements.
Soil-cement (“earthcrete”): good for pavements and stabilised bases; not usually used for house walls without specialist design.
'Mudcrete': niche civil material (dredged mud + cement); not a residential wall option.

Bottom line: for most homes, you’ll get bigger wins by choosing lower-carbon mixes for slabs/footings and a well-detailed framed wall that can dry out.

Key takeaways

Manage moisture and mould first: use vapour-managed wall builds, good eaves, and real ventilation.
You can cut concrete’s carbon by asking for blended or geopolymer mixes—no loss of strength for typical homes.
Timber (including mass timber) stores carbon; hempcrete and straw can buffer indoor humidity.
On the Coast, plan early for termites, corrosion near the ocean, and storm resilience.
Get itemised quotes so you can compare apples with apples: structure vs cladding vs insulation vs membranes.

Sunshine Coast Open House: see it in real life

Keep an eye on Sunshine Coast Open House for projects that showcase alternative materials—such as engineered timber used with careful weather protection. It’s a great way to talk to designers and builders about what worked, what didn’t, and the maintenance required.

Check out the 2025 Open House program

Make it work on the Sunshine Coast

Design for drying: vapour-open layers (or smart membranes), ventilated cavities, and decent eaves. Avoid finishes that trap moisture.
Cross-ventilation and shading: keep the sun off walls and let night air flush heat.
Termites: choose a compliant system, keep inspection zones visible, and don’t bridge weep holes with garden beds.
Coastal corrosion: select the right corrosion category for frames, fixings and claddings; rinse exposed metal near surf and maintain coatings.
Bushfire and flood: check overlays early and detail for drainable, replaceable linings at ground level where relevant.

Get started checklist

Moisture plan: ask for a diagram showing layers (lining, membrane, insulation, cavity, cladding) and how the wall dries.
Concrete choice: request blended or geopolymer mixes for slabs and footings; ask for a brief carbon comparison.
Termites: confirm the AS 3660 system and where you’ll see inspection zones.
Coastal details: confirm corrosion category, fixings and coatings if you’re near the ocean.
Quotes: get separate line items for structure, cladding, insulation, membranes and finishes.

If you remember one thing… In our climate, a vapour-managed wall that can dry out is your best defence against mould. Pair that with lower-carbon concrete and early termite/corrosion planning, and you’ll have a healthier, longer-lasting home.