A CBS News analysis found that the cost of home construction supplies has increased by 47% since 2016. One company says it can rebuild homes in a matter of weeks, for lower costs.

A new construction method developed by RENCO is enabling the rapid assembly of residential buildings, with a nearly 100-unit apartment complex near Palm Beach, Florida, completed in just eight weeks by 11 workers. The material, composed of recycled glass, plastic, and calcite, is lightweight, durable, and resistant to fire, water, and pests, with insurance costs reported to be about 20% lower for these structures.

While the upfront cost of the composite bricks is higher, the reduced labor and faster build times are expected to lower overall expenses. The technology, inspired by Lego blocks and first used in Turkey 14 years ago, is seen as a significant innovation in construction, though it currently limits architectural design to more boxy shapes. Experts highlight the material's potential for addressing housing needs in disaster-prone areas due to its resilience and efficiency.

A potential answer to home rebuilding costs

Just 8 weeks stand from start to finish for the walls, floors and roof of this building to go up. 8 weeks that could be the building blocks for major change. The end result by just 11 workers. A nearly 100 unit apartment complex near Palm Beach, Florida. We built that much faster than we would have had we done it with wood or concrete, sort of a traditional material. And there are plans for plenty more. Former Congressman Patrick Murphy is the managing director of RENCO, the company behind the buildings. How quickly can you turn a house out of here? We can basically produce about 16 homes a day in this facility. The company says it can endure 240 mile per hour winds, is more fire resistant than most brick and wood, and also water resistant. Will they withstand the test of time? They've been in such a long lifespan that the insurance on our first building is about 20% less expensive for the sort of long term insurance. Why is that? It doesn't rot, it doesn't rust, pests don't eat it, termites don't eat it. What is this material made of right here? This is made of recycled glass, recycled plastic, calcite, which is like a limestone dust. It's a fraction of the weight of concrete. It's so lightweight. How heavy is this? That's about 8 pounds right there. Compared to something like? Which is over 40 pounds. The blocks are glued together with an airplane adhesive design to last hundreds of years. Color coded blueprints make it easy for nearly anyone to build. That actually comes together really quickly. While the bricks are more expensive to construct up front, Murphy says decreased time and labor means cutting costs overall. We saw this wall go up in less than nine minutes. What does that mean for the speed in which these buildings can be assembled? Basically means we can get a lot more product built a lot faster with unskilled workers. And new methods based on an old favorite. So I gotta ask, does someone at Renco just really love Legos as a child? One of the co-founders came across a composite material that was being used for manhole covers originally, and was thinking, how do I use that maybe for construction somehow? Was watching his son play with Legos. So wait a minute. The technology debuted 14 years ago in Turkey, where more than 300 buildings, including shopping Town homes and warehouses have been built. Your company calls this the most disruptive innovation in construction in more than 100 years, which is a big statement. The last big breakthrough there was reinforced concrete, and that was 100, 125 years ago. So now all of a sudden we have this new material that's displacing all of that. Globally last year, 114 million people were displaced for natural and manmade disasters. So when I think about that, this has to be a moment of change. Ilya Azaroff is an architect who teaches sustainable construction at City University of New York. What are the disadvantages of building this? It limits some of your design. The product that they have is wonderful, but it only creates very boxy buildings. But Azaroff, who is not affiliated with the company, says the structural and time-saving benefits are crucial. When I see innovation in the marketplace like this, yes, we can build to fire resistance, earthquake resistance, to hurricane force winds, tornado force winds. We have to have the guts to try new ways of doing things.

Protesters gathered in front of the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh to oppose President Trump's visit to Scotland. Mr. Trump plans to host the U.K.'s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, for trade talks at his personal properties.

Edinburgh

Demonstrators protest Trump's visit to Scotland

The Israeli military said Saturday that it will resume aid airdrops into Gaza and open humanitarian corridors for United Nations convoys amid increased international pressure and accounts of starvation-related deaths in the territory.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israel says airdrops of aid into Gaza will begin

Tens of thousands flee as border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand intensifies — with no ceasefire in sight.

Preah Vihear Province

Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand

Typhoon Co-May has moved away from the Philippines but many low-lying areas are still severely flooded. Three storms dumped a months’ worth of rain in a span of a week on nearly the entire country.

Manila

At least 30 killed in Philippines typhoon

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she will meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday in Scotland to "discuss transatlantic trade relations."

Glasgow

Global Tariffs

Ursula von der Leyen to meet Donald Trump to discuss trade

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at dramatically changing how the U.S. approaches homelessness.

Washington

Trump signs executive order changing U.S. approach to homelessness

Typhoon Co-May has left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, making landfall in the country's northwestern region. Torrential rains and strong winds have battered towns and cities, damaging homes, roads, and farmland. At least 25 people have been reported dead.

Pangasinan

Philippines hit hard by Typhoon Co-May, dozens killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Palestinian militant group Hamas, a day after withdrawing their delegations from talks.

Jerusalem

Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump is spending five days in Scotland visiting his luxury golf resorts. While the White House touts the economic impact, some locals say the developments have scarred the land and stirred controversy.

Trump visits Scotland to tour golf courses amid protests

The U.S. Department of Justice is set to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's convicted accomplice, amid mounting political pressure on President Donald Trump over his administration's handling of the Epstein case.

Ghislaine Maxwell to meet with U.S. Justice Dept. amid Epstein probe

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday (July 25) as their worst fighting in over a decade intensified and spread to new areas, despite international calls for a ceasefire.

Bangkok

Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a draft bill to restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies, following nationwide protests and EU concerns over recent reforms that threatened their autonomy.

Ukraine Invasion

Zelensky approves anti-corruption bill after protests

Chinese and European Union leaders have met in Beijing for their first in-person summit since 2023, addressing a range of contentious issues amidst growing trade tensions. The talks, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping and EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, highlighted the complex nature of China-EU relations.

Beijing

China-EU summit ends in climate deal, talks strain over Ukraine

The United Kingdom and India have signed a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky, cars and spices and allow more market access for businesses. British PM Keir Starmer hailed the agreement as a “landmark moment” for both countries.

London

UK, India sign free trade agreement during Modi visit

President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had a disagreement almost immediately as the two men set foot in the Fed's headquarters in Washington to survey an extensive renovation project on two of the reserve's buildings. Nancy Cordes has more.

Trump, Powell clash during tour of Federal Reserve renovations

Hulk Hogan, the legendary professional wrestler whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Clearwater

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at the age of 71, WWE says

At least 12 were killed as a Thai-Cambodian border dispute escalated into deadly clashes on Thursday (July 24).

Surin

Thailand bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates

According to preliminary data, 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board.

Tynda

Passenger plane crashes in Russia, killing all 49 people on board

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died, World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement on social media. He was 71. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE says

The Wall Street Journal reports that former Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump his name appeared in the Epstein files. The White House denies wrongdoing.

Report: Trump was briefed on mentions in Epstein files

Columbia University will pay $200 million to resolve federal claims it failed to stop harassment of Jewish students during campus protests. The Trump administration had suspended the school's access to $400 million in funding.

New York

Columbia settles for $200 million over antisemitism claims

Israel issued a statement indicating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Gaza negotiating team to return to Israel for ceasefire talks. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Israel brings back Gaza negotiating team for ceasefire 'consultations'

Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”

Columbia University to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump

There are several developments in the cases involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the migrant in ICE custody whom the Trump administration wrongly deported. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.

Nashville

Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain detained following new court orders

Dr. Salvador Plasencia admitted to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry before his 2023 overdose. He is the fourth person to plead guilty in the case and faces up to 40 years in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor pleads guilty in Matthew Perry death case

While both sides acknowledged progress on humanitarian issues, talks on a full ceasefire remain stalled. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "result-oriented negotiations" to end the devastating war.

Istanbul

Russia and Ukraine conclude third round of peace talks in Istanbul

A passenger plane has crashed in southeastern Russia with up to 49 people onboard. Emergency services say the An-24 aircraft took off from the city of Khabarovsk and was heading to the town of Tynda. Wreckage was found on a mountainside around 15 kilometres from the flight's intended destination.

Russian passenger plane with 49 on board crashes

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to retain the independence of anti-corruption agencies, bowing to pressure from the first wartime street protests and rare rebukes from European allies.

Kyiv

Zelenskiy to protect anti-corruption agencies, bows to protests

U.S. President Donald Trump's name is among the many appearing in the Epstein files, according to the Wall Street Journal, and he was told as much earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department.

Breakdown