Building Construction

Materials

BRICKS
NATURE:
A brick is a block or a single unit of a kneaded clay-bearing soil, sand and lime, or concrete
material, fire hardened or air dried, used in masonry construction.
Brick are produced in numerous types, materials, and sizes which vary with region and time
period, and are produced in bulk quantities.
Standard Dimension of a brick is 9X41/4 X23/4
Normally, brick contains the following ingredients:
Silica (sand) 50% to 60% by weight
Alumina (clay) 20% to 30% by weight
Lime 2 to 5% by weight
Iron oxide 7% by weight
Magnesia less than 1% by weight
Basic categories of brick are Fired, Non-Fired and Chemically set Bricks
Fired brick are one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials sometimes
referred to as artificial stone and have been used since circa 5000 BC. Fired brick are the
most numerous type and are laid in courses and numerous patterns known as bonds,
collectively known as brickwork.
Non- Fired bricks have a history older than fired bricks, are known by the synonyms mud
brick and adobe, and have an additional ingredient of a mechanical binder such as straw.
Chemically set bricks are not fired but may have the curing process accelerated by the
application of heat and pressure in an autoclave.

Wood and Wood Composites

NATURE
Wood is a living material composed of Cellulose, which forms the cells and the lignin
that binds cells together.
Wood is a product of trees, and sometimes other fibrous plants, used for construction
purposes when cut or pressed into lumber and timber, such as boards, planks and
similar materials. It is a generic building material and is used in building just about any
type of structure in most climates.
Wood can be very flexible under loads, keeping strength while bending, and is
incredibly strong when compressed vertically. There are many differing qualities to the
different types of wood, even among same tree species. This means specific species are
better suited for various uses than others. And growing conditions are important for
deciding quality.
"Timber" is the term used for construction purposes. Raw wood (a log, trunk, bole)
becomes timber when the wood has been "converted" (sawn, hewn, split) in the forms
of minimally-processed logs stacked on top of each other, timber frame construction,
and light-frame construction.
Every home contains wood in some capacity, from external wall and roof coverings to
structural lumber, windows, doors, staircases, floors or storage solutions and furniture.
Wood is generally classified as Hardwood and Softwood.
Hardwood are the products of deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the fall and
are relatively slow growing.
Softwoods are usually derived from evergreen trees growing in the temperate zone,
which have sharp slim needle leaves and seeds that grow in cone. Softwoods contain a
large amount of natural resin and are slightly faster growing than hardwoods.
Wood Composites are the new developments alternative to woods which have a
content of wood and additional materials which are relatively cheaper, easy to use,
minimal maintainence alternative to wood, to suit the modern day living.

Wood and Wood Composites

WOOD

WOOD
COMPOSITES

Hardwood

Plywood

Softwood

Chipboard

Laminated
Board

MDF

Willow

Laminated
Flooring

Melamine
Coated Wood

Hardboard

Veneer

Wood and Wood Composites

WOOD: HARDWOOD
PROPERTIES:
Derived from Deciduous trees, they grow slowly than softwood, so their lumber is
stronger, denser and homogeneous.
They also expand, contract and change colour as they age.
They are used as a building and joinery material, and for surface finishes, furniture
and craft ranges.
USE AND MAINTAINENCE:
Outdoors for furniture and structures, sealing with the weatherproof varnish.
Indoors for exposed structural elements, flooring, fixtures such as stairs treads and
doors and furniture.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Sawed or planed, in knotty or plain grades, in a wide range of standard and special
lumber sizes and lengths.
AVAILABILITY:
Direct from lumberyards and home improvement retailers.

COST:

Wood and Wood Composites

WOOD: SOFTWOOD
PROPERTIES:
Derived from Coniferous trees, they are available in a number of forms and sizes.

They are used as a building and joinery material, as well as being popular choice for
furniture and surface finishes.
Most commonly used softwood trees are spruce, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, western
hemlock and western red cedar.
Softwoods will expand and contract with heat and moisture: they can also lighten or
darken.

They have lower density than hardwoods, making them good for acoustic and thermal
insulation.
USE AND MAINTAINENCE:
Outdoors uses include furniture, landscaping and decking- seal with weatherproof
stains, varnish or exterior grade paints.
Indoors uses are furniture, flooring and trim. Softwoods can be turned on a lathe to
make balustrades or bought as composite blockboards for bookshelves and panelling.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Sawed or planed, in knotty or plain grades, in a wide range of standard and special
lumber sizes and lengths.
AVAILABILITY:

Direct from lumberyards. Also widely used in prefabricated components as doors and
window frames.
COST:

Wood and Wood Composites

WOOD COMPOSITES: PLYWOOD
PROPERTIES:
Manufactured from sheets of cross-laminated wood veneer, which are pressure bonded
under heat with waterproof resin adhesive.
Ply is very strong against the impact and in cross and diagonal tension.
It is easy to work with using conventional tools and machines.
It is highly stable when exposed to moisture, usually reverting to its original thickness
when dry.
USE AND MAINTAINENCE:
Traditionally, plywood has been used as a structural, decking or framing material.
It can be sawed, sanded, drilled, nailed, glued and finished and used for shelving,
furniture and panelling.
It is effective for kitchen counters; layers that create dramatic edges when sanded and
shaped.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Standard sheets 4X8 ft (1220X2440mm) in incremental thickness, 1/6-1 (4-25mm).
Some grades upto 4X10ft (1220X3000mm) or in thickness greater or less than standard.
AVAILABILITY:
Direct from lumberyards and home improvement retailers.

COST:

Wood and Wood Composites

WOOD COMPOSITES: PARTICLE BOARD
PROPERTIES:
Manufactured from wood chips that are pressure bonded together under heat using
synthetic resin adhesives.
Some can be treated to make them flame retardant or moisture- resistant.

Particle Board is strong in tension and durable against the impact.

All grades except those specially treated are susceptible to moisture, becoming
waterlogged before swelling and breaking down.
It is characterised by a rough surface to the sides and edges.
USE AND MAINTAINENCE:
All but
It can be sawed, sanded, drilled, nailed, glued and finished and used for shelving,
furniture and panelling.
It is effective for kitchen counters; layers that create dramatic edges when sanded and
shaped.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Standard sheets 4X8 ft (1220X2440mm) in incremental thickness, 1/6-1 (4-25mm).
Some grades upto 4X10ft (1220X3000mm) or in thickness greater or less than standard.

AVAILABILITY:
Direct from lumberyards and home improvement retailers.
COST: