10 Basic Materials Used in Building Construction
1) Bricks:
Bricks are rectangular blocks bound together with mortar. Though bricks are traditionally made from dried clay, they may consist of a variety of materials. Bricks have an extremely high compressive strength and heat resistance, though they can break easily if dropped. Some common uses for bricks include walls, fireplaces, and pavement.
2) Concrete:
Concrete is a composite building material made from the combination of aggregate (composite) and a binder such as cement. The most common form of concrete is Portland cement concrete, which consists of mineral aggregate (generally gravel and sand), portland cement and water. After mixing, the cement hydrates and eventually hardens into a stone-like material. When used in the generic sense, this is the material referred to by the term concrete. For a concrete construction of any size, as concrete has a rather low tensile strength, it is generally strengthened using steel rods or bars (known as rebars). This strengthened concrete is then referred to as reinforced concrete.
3) Steel:
Steel is a metal alloy made mostly of iron with a small percentage of carbon. Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes structural steel an ideal choice for the framework of skyscrapers and other large structures like stadiums and bridges. Steel is also an ingredient in construction products such as nails, screws, bolts, and other fasteners.
4) Cement:
Cement, one of the most important building materials, is a binding agent that sets and hardens to adhere to building units such as stones, bricks, tiles, etc. Cement generally refers to a very fine powdery substance chiefly made up of limestone (calcium), sand or clay (silicon), bauxite (aluminum) and iron ore, and may include shells, chalk, marl, shale, clay, blast furnace slag, slate.
5) Sand:
Sand is a mixture of small grains of rock and granular materials which is mainly defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt. And ranging in size from 0.06 mm to 2 mm. Particles which are larger than 0.0078125 mm but smaller than 0.0625 mm are termed silt.
Sand is made by erosion or broken pebbles and weathering of rocks, which is carried by seas or rivers. And freezing and thawing during the winter break rock up the sand will be made.
A sandy soil containing more than 85 percent sand-sized particles by mass.
6) Aggregate:
Aggregates are the most basic material used in construction. They provide the foundation for roads, bridges, and buildings, while also making up over 90% of an asphalt pavement and up to 80% of a concrete mix. On average, 38,000 tons of aggregates are necessary to construct one lane mile of interstate highway. Construction of the average home requires 400 tons of aggregate, while the average size school or hospital requires 15,000 tons.
7) Ceramics:
Ceramics are such things as tiles, fixtures, etc. Ceramics are mostly used as fixtures or coverings in buildings. Ceramic floors, walls, counter-tops, even ceilings. Many countries use ceramic roofing tiles to cover many buildings. Ceramics used to be just a specialized form of clay-pottery firing in kilns, but it has evolved into more technical areas.
8) Wood:
Wood is a hard, natural material and one of the oldest types of building supplies. Though its characteristics vary depending on the tree species, wood is generally lightweight, inexpensive, and easily modified, and it provides insulation in cold weather. Sawmills cut wood into pieces of dimensional lumber (such as the classic two-by-four); large pieces of dimensional lumber are called beams, while any type of ready-made woodwork (such as molding, trim, doors, etc) is called millwork. Engineered wood involves different types of wood that are artificially bonded together to form a composite wood; popular types of engineered wood include plywood, particle board, and laminated veneer. Common uses for wood include interiors, exteriors, structural frameworks, walls, floors, shelving, decking, roofing material, decorative elements, and fencing.
9) Glass:
Clear windows have been used since the invention of glass to cover small openings in a building. They provided humans with the ability to both let light into rooms while at the same time keeping inclement weather outside. Glass is generally made from mixtures of sand and silicates, and is very brittle. Modern glass "curtain walls" can be used to cover the entire facade of a building. Glass can also be used to span over a wide roof structure in a "space frame".
10) Plastics:
Plastics are synthetic materials made using a variety of polymers. Popular plastics used in construction include acrylic, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and composite plastics. Plastic is lightweight, rot- and corrosion-resistant, inexpensive, and easy to mold into various shapes and sizes. Disadvantages of plastics are that they are not flame-resistant, aren't suitable for load-bearing use, and may have a negative environmental impact if not recyclable. Common uses for plastic include light fixtures, windows, carpeting, piping systems, electrical cable insulation, sinks, roofing, flooring, and siding.
- Also Read : What is Water Cement Ratio ? It's Role & Importance.
- Also Read : What is waterproofing ? Various Kinds of Waterproofing. Steps Engaged with Waterproofing. Advantages & Disadvantages.
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