- A presentation on Construction materials and their selection.

“The Elements of a Home”

• Why do we need to build ourselves houses? We build because little that we do can take place outdoors. We need shelter from sun, wind, rain, and snow. We need dry, level platforms for our activities. Often we need to stack these platforms to multiply available ground space. On these platforms, and within our shelter, we need air that is warmer or cooler, more or less humid, than outdoors. We need less light by day, and more light by night, than is offered by the natural world. We need services that provide energy, communications and water and disposal of wastes. So we gather materials and assemble them into the constructions we call buildings to satisfy these needs. So, a proper a nurturing environments for ourselves, our family and children can be ensured.

Why do we Build?

• Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more and some less synthetic. The manufacture of building materials is an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is typically segmented into specific specialty trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing and insulation work. They provide the make-up of habitats and structures including homes.

Construction Materials

• Physical Shape, Size, Density, Specific Gravity

• Mechanical Strength, Elasticity, Plasticity, Hardness, Toughness, Ductility, Brittleness,

Creep, Stiffness, Fatigue, Impact Strength, Compression and Tensile Strength

• Thermal Thermal conductivity, Thermal resistivity, Thermal capacity

• Chemical • Corrosion resistance, Chemical composition, Acidity, Alkalinity

Properties of Construction Materials

• Optical• Colour, Light reflection, Light transmission etc.,

• Acoustical• Sound absorption, Transmission and Reflection.

• Physiochemical• Hygroscopicity, Shrinkage and Swell due to moisture

changes

Natural Synthetic

Classification of construction materials

• Our ancestors used a lot of natural building materials. The simple natural building materials for constructing the roofs and walls of houses and even great big walls for protecting against invading tribes were mixed from thatch or sod, mud and clay. 

• Structures that have been built from rock have also been familiar to man for the longest time. There are different types of rock, and different types of buildings and edifices have also been created. Some houses made from rock that were in existence from the Neolithic and Bronze Age are still standing today. Rocks are one of the strongest building materials, as we can observe from the Pyramids in Egypt.

• Boards and planks from wood are used extensively in building houses and other structures. Wood is flexible enough to bend and adjust to contours while still retaining its strength. Machine saws have made it easier to cut wood into the width, height and length that is desired.

Natural Construction Materials

• These are materials used in construction that are generally made in industrial settings. Although there are paints and pipes that are environmentally sound, it is more common and much cheaper. Examples of synthetic material would include petroleum based paints and PVCs.

Synthetic Construction Materials

• Fabric

• Mud and clay

• Wood

• Stone

• Thatch

• Brush

• Gypcrete

• Ice

A List of Various Construction Materials

• Concrete

• Metal

• Glass

• Plastic

• Foam

• Cement composites

For every material, make sure it:

• Satisfies the requirements for functional performance: In stable equilibrium, Strength, Serviceability, Safety of operation

• Gives the desired aesthetic qualities: Visual appearance, personal choice

• Is not constrained by legal constraints: Codes & ordinances

• Is the most economical : Funds available, life-cycle costs, etc.

• Is the most appropriate for the environment: least damaging and disruptive, very little environment damaging effluents and emissions, etc.

• Is durable and long lasting.

How To Select Construction Materials

• Sustainable construction materials are mostly masonry materials and brick materials, as well as cement extenders that

are either recycled or don't cause too much damage to the environment.

Sustainable Construction Materials

• Sustainable construction materials are not only cost-saving measures implemented by companies, but investments in the planet's future as well. Because these materials act as replacements for the usual cement, brick or metal, you are doing away with the possible wastes that your firm will contribute to the detriment of the environment. And as the global warming awareness level increases, more and more people and companies are becoming environmentally-aware of their practices. Their cost is respectively less and show longevity over regular materials That’s why they are swiftly finding their way into homes all over the world including India’s Urban Habitats.

• The best part?  The quality of these products is at the same level as the usual materials.

Why consider Sustainable Materials?