Types of building materials

Aluminium

Uses - Mouldings, window frames

Advantages - Strong, lightweight, can be recycled
Disadvantages - Production is very energy-intensive and polluting.
Earth-wise tips - Avoid, or use recycled aluminium.

Brick (clay)

Uses - Walls, paths, driveways

Advantages - Versatile, good thermal mass
Disadvantages - Production is energy-intensive and uses non-renewable resources.
Earth-wise tips - Look for recycled bricks.

Concrete

Uses - Floors, walls, supports

Advantages - High thermal mass, strong, durable, economical, resists termites and earthquakes
Disadvantages - Production involves quarrying and creates greenhouse emissions; poor insulator, needs reinforcing.
Earth-wise tips - Use autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), which is lightweight, energy-efficient and non-toxic, or
concrete made with recycled aggregate.

Fibre cement sheeting

Uses - Cladding
Advantages - Low embodied energy, light, inexpensive, good thermal properties, can be rendered
Disadvantages - Not as strong as some other options; associated with cheap housing and asbestos (no longer used).
Earth-wise tips - Try lime wash as a surface treatment: its suitable and environmentally benign.

Glass

Uses - Windows, doors, skylights; bricks

Advantages - Stable, long-lasting, efficient, recyclable
Disadvantages - Production is energy-intensive, uses non- renewable minerals.
Earth-wise tips - Seek out recycled windows; buy energy-efficient new glass.

Mudbrick

Uses - Walls, floors

Advantages - Source material can be found on site, long-lasting, biodegradable, high thermal mass; pest- and fire-
resistant
Disadvantages - Making bricks is labour-intensive; requires soil with high clay content; poor insulator.
Earth-wise tips - Bricks can be purchased ready-made.

Plasterboard

Uses - Lining walls

Advantages - Potentially recyclable, breathes, largely natural
Disadvantages - Some plasterboards contain toxic chemicals and glass fibres.
Earth-wise tips - Look for recycled plasterboard and non- synthetic boards with natural fixatives.

Plastics

Uses - Window frames, water pipes, gutters, floor and wall coverings
Advantages - Light, durable, resistant to damp, water and pests
Disadvantages - Made from non-renewable resources; production is energy-intensive and polluting; may off-gas.
Earth-wise tips - Look for renewable alternatives; avoid PVC opt for PVC-free polypropylene or polybutylene
instead.

Steel
Uses - Frames, supports
Advantages - Strong, economical, durable, recyclable
Disadvantages - Production is energy-intensive and highly polluting; coatings are often polluting.
Earth-wise tips - Buy recycled steel or opt for renewable timber.

Stone and composite stone

Uses - Walls, floors, supports

Advantages - Abundant, durable, high thermal mass, economical if available on site; no toxic emissions
Disadvantages - Non-renewable; extraction and transportation can be energy-intensive.
Earth-wise tips - Use salvaged stone or products made with waste stone from local sources.

Straw bale

Uses - Walls
Advantages - Cheap, renewable, good insulator
Disadvantages - Is bulkier than other materials; requires specialised construction.
Earth-wise tips - Avoid chemical pest treatments and use eco-friendly render.

Timber

Uses - Floors, walls, supports and roof frames

Advantages - Strong, easy to work with, versatile, potentially renewable, biodegradable
Disadvantages - Some timber is non-renewable; often treated with toxic chemicals.
Earth-wise tips - Use recycled wood or timber from sustainable sources, with no chemical treatments.
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Building Materials Different Types and Uses
May 17th, 2013 | Author: Administrator

Building resources are those people products that

happen to be used to the construction involving homes and also other buildings. There are
several varieties involving materials used by constructing residences. In a number of
countries, materials are widely -used good climatic conditions in the place. This can be the
building resources are grouped into a pair of types -the manufactured and pure materials.
The manufactured materials are people that are man -made when the pure materials are
generally those which have been originated effortlessly.

Clay: The most widely applied building resources include clay and also mud. Both these
kind of materials are widely -used to create homes. It is the most suited constructing
product in hot places mainly because it keeps your interiors neat. It boasts the luxury of
being longer lasting though its not at all as strong because concrete complexes.

Glass: Another distinctive material used by constructing office buildings and enormous
mansions. Glass complexes are tranquil common currently with various glasses accessible
in the market segments today. Your diverse assortment includes frosted wine glass,
colored wine glass and t ainted glass.

Good ole: Rock have been considered because oldest making materials used by
constructing residences. It will be the strongest and quite a few durable material used by
construction. Though it turned out widely employed in ancient times it can be now almost
never used on account of many components.

Metals: Metals include the considered the most effective materials which they can use
these days and nights. Most in the structures are created in mining harvests like flat iron
and steel to be sure durability and strength. Metal houses are solid, expensive along with
last for some time of occasion.

Wood: Wood is usually used to develop homes along with offices considering that ages.
There are several kinds involving wood applied as making materials. On the other hand, it
is vital to use quality wood to be sure better longevity. Low good quality wood is
vulnerable to kinds of extremities similar to termites, chips and splinters.

Marbles along with Granites: Various other materials incorporate marble, m arble, ceramic
tiles so forth. Granite kitchen countertops are nearly all preferred by simply people
automobile beauty along with versatility. Marbles are widely -used for building houses
mainly because it is known due to the unique capabilities. Granite is usually used
pertaining to constructing partitions and countertops given it last longer and are also the
best stone that is known apart via diamonds.
Building materials are basically divided into natural and synthetic materials. The materials made from natural
products like clay, twigs, sand, leaves and rocks are natural building materials.

Building materials used in industries, that have gone through human processing is called synthetic building material,
like plastics.

Here are the 8 types of building materials:

1. Rock is one building material that has been used in building structures for centuries. It is also in fact, one of the
longest lasting building materials available. Though it is very protective in function too, it has its drawback of being too
heavy to carry, and is ineffective in keeping one warm.

2. Another very old building material used today is thatch. It is very cheap, is a great insulator and is very easily
harvested.

3. You find brush being used a lot in tropical and sub-tropical areas. This brush is made from plant parts, and is found
mainly in rain forests. It is usually used with rock, where gaps in between stones are filled with concrete and
insulation.

4. Ice is another famous building material which was once used only for building igloos. Today, it is also being used in
building ice hotels for tourist attractions in cold places.

5. In some places, earth is still used in creating walls. These walls are made by tightly packing and compacting mud
between planks. This was previously done by hand, but now machines are being used.

These houses of rammed earth are warm in winter, and cool in summer. This is because soil and clay help at
maintaining temperatures at constant levels.

6. Cement is a common building material made from rock. Today, cement is used in constructing most buildings
mainly because it is long lasting. Natural fibres and wood have soluble and dangerous organic compounds.

Any wood you plan to use with cement should be checked to ensure it is compatible with cement. You can find this
out through different procedures for different characteristics like interfacial bond, strength and morphology.

7. Metal is today popularly used for constructing a building's structural framework. Metals are used mainly because it
is long lasting There are different types of metals you can use for building like steel, which is a metal alloy.

Sometimes gold and silver are used for decorative purposes. However not many people can afford it, and moreover,
it is not as hard as other metals.

8. Glass is a building material used a lot nowadays in building structures because of its class and richness.

This variety of building materials is used for constructing all those beautiful structures found worldwide. The choice of
usage is done based on personal preference and the climatic condition of the place.