Modern materials science is reshaping building design, enabling architects to achieve durable, sustainable and resilient finishes. Sustainability efforts are shifting architectural priorities toward longevity more than merely aesthetics. This performance-driven approach is the future of architectural finishes, promoting sustainability and saving building owners money.

What are architectural finishes?

Architectural finishes are the materials that encase the exterior and interior surfaces of buildings. Finishes and the entire architectural process must prioritize durability and sustainability to promote long-term efficiency. Scientists create finishes from long-lasting materials, reducing the need for replacements and bolstering sustainability efforts. As climate change continues to negatively impact the world, shifts toward sustainability across industries are becoming common.

Determining whether a finish is durable requires multiple factors. A material’s hardness, including how resistant it is to scratching and abrasion, can determine whether it will last. Corrosion resistance is another vital trait. The sun can damage finishes as well, so UV stability is essential. Various chemicals can come into contact with building finishes, making chemical inertness another desirable quality. Architects should ensure finishes have these properties.

Techniques to maintain durability and sustainability

Several techniques help architects maintain durability and sustainability in their building finishes. They must understand the importance of material selection, both in the building materials and in the materials used during each phase of the project. Consciously selecting the most durable materials reduces damage and setbacks during the process and prepares the building to withstand various elements, including environmental factors.

Architects must consider the environment surrounding the building. They should not use a material that thrives in a dry climate in a humid region, as it will degrade quickly and require replacement. Architects should look at the UV radiation, humidity levels, salt spray and pollution in the area to pick the right material.

Using materials that repair themselves is a common technique for maintaining durability and sustainability. Scientists have engineered materials that can repair damage on their own, such as polymer-based coatings with microcapsules.1 Nanotechnology also plays a role. Nanoparticles create super-hydrophobic coatings that are anti-graffiti and anti-microbial.2 Self-sustaining materials are the key to designing with durability.

Abrasive blasting and finishing processes

Surface preparation is the final technique for achieving durability and one of the most important. Without adequate surface preparation, even good finishes fail. The goal is to create a clean surface that eases adhesion. Abrasive blasting is a standard finishing process.

Workers use substances like aluminum oxide to clean surfaces for adhesion. Aluminum oxide's low iron content prevents it from leaving rust on a part's surface during the abrasive process.3 Having a robust finishing process sets surfaces up for prime durability.

Material standards

When choosing materials, most meet specific standards to ensure their durability and preparedness for construction and building processes. They often require testing in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. The ISO standards primarily focus on sustainability, which also ensures durability.4

Obtaining an ISO certification is a step-by-step process that helps materials for architectural finishes meet the standard requirements:

  • Determine which standard applies: This step involves scanning the ISO standards and choosing which ones are achievable. For architectural finishes, scientists will look for certifications involving materials.

  • Compare requirements: Scientists must examine the requirements within the certification and compare them to the finish’s current state. This step identifies any weak areas that scientists can remedy before the actual audit.

  • Provide documentation: The auditor will ask for documents regarding the finish’s creation, the tests the scientists ran and safety elements. Preparing those documents makes the process smoother.

  • Train staff: All staff members, including the main scientist, should receive training on the new procedures required to obtain ISO certification. This step helps the architectural finish pass certification without common mistakes.

  • Conduct a self-audit: Before asking the real auditor to test the finish, scientists can perform their own audits using the ISO criteria to ensure they followed all procedures correctly.

  • Experience the real audit: First, auditors will review the documents the scientist provided and see if they meet the ISO standards. Next, they will visit the lab and observe the actual practices.

  • Receive the certification: Assuming the finish passes, the scientists receive the ISO certification. However, auditors will come back and reassess occasionally to make sure the procedures still meet the requirements.

Before using an architectural finish, architects should be aware of the process scientists follow to get a material cleared by ISO. It can reassure them that the new material is safe to use in their designs.

Benefits of durable finishes

Durable finishes have many notable benefits for architects and their clients. Architects must balance budget and performance when choosing finishes. Advanced finishes are usually more costly than traditional ones. However, they are often more durable and sustainable in the long run.

Advanced finishes also require less maintenance, which saves clients’ money along the way. Also, clients do not have to pay for replacements all the time, since advanced finishes last longer. Another benefit is how the finishes’ durability improves the building’s overall energy efficiency. Durable materials waste less energy. Sometimes, these materials can negatively impact energy efficiency, so architects should be cautious about this as well.5

Another benefit of architectural finishes is that construction workers can apply them during renovations. Retrofitting buildings instead of demolishing and rebuilding them is more sustainable. It prevents pollution from demolition and utilizes the original energy it took to construct the building. By applying architectural finishes, architects are making existing structures more durable. Renovation is a massive global market, so stakeholders also benefit from this process.

Applying architectural finishes to existing buildings is a careful process with several crucial steps:

  • Examine the existing wall materials: If the materials are weak, then the areas for new finishes should be obvious. One sign is corrosion on metal.

  • Survey the surface: The adhesion surface is critical, so surveying the surface underneath the finish is essential. Field adhesion tests can help with this.

  • Prepare the surface: Existing buildings may have some noticeable substances on the surface, so using abrasive blasting or a similar method can create a smooth surface for new adhesion.

  • Choose a finish: Architects should then decide which new architectural finish to place on the fresh surface. They must consider environmental and other potential factors when choosing.

  • Conduct a final inspection: After applying the new finish, architects and other personnel should examine the area and ensure its proper application. Otherwise, the retrofitting process will be unsuccessful.

The future of finishes

Architectural finishes will improve even further now that science is advancing. Durability and sustainability will remain top concerns, but some emerging concepts will persist, too. Carbon-capturing finishes are advancing, limiting the negative impact of carbon emissions. Scientists are also designing materials for easy disassembly and recycling. Architects should remain informed about these new advancements and implement them once they are cleared.

The new kinds of architectural finishes aim to create a resilient and sustainable environment. Emphasis is placed on the building's functionality rather than its aesthetic appearance. Durability and resilience are at the forefront. Architects should consider using these new finishes in their designs moving forward.

Notes

1 Recent Advances of Microcapsule-based Intelligent Coatings: From Bioinspired Designs, Material Selections, to Potential Applications at Wiley Advanced.
2 Nanomaterial advanced smart coatings: Emerging trends shaping the future at ScienceDirect.
3 Aluminum Oxide: Properties and Benefits at Finishing Systems.
4 Building and construction at ISO.
5 Durability of Building Facades and Sustainable Architecture at MDPI.