It is essential to ensure you use the right construction materials, as the materials to build any structure speak for its hardness and longevity. But with so many options, choosing the right materials can be challenging.
Research shows that selecting the incorrect material can raise costs, make the structure unsafe, and compromise its integrity. However, you can make wiser decisions according to the attributes of typical engineering materials.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the main features and benefits of different materials so you can make the best choices for your projects.
Why Building Construction Materials Matter?
Choosing appropriate building materials is essential. Whether you’re building a home, a bridge, or a skyscraper, your chosen materials determine strength, durability, and cost. Understanding their properties enables you to make better decisions and use them safely and efficiently.
Inappropriate materials can deteriorate quickly, be costly, or even fall apart. Your selection of materials is critical to your project’s long-term efficacy and success. It can also help you cut costs while remaining sustainable.
Properties of Construction Supplies
Materials have different properties that will affect performance. Let’s break them down:
Concrete
Concrete has an excellent compressive strength and is useful in foundations and columns. It can take massive amounts of stress and still function with maintenance. It is also highly durable and resistant to weather, fire, and water when you mix it and cure it correctly. That’s why a quality concrete binder can solidify the end application. Incorrect procedure can lead to cracking and a short lifespan, so following industry best practices when applying is key.
The concrete requires time to cure to realize its best properly. For this reason, integral waterproofing additives can improve impervious to damp penetration and cracking or damage. Thus, it is ideal for foundations, basements, and bridges.
Steel
Steel is a strong choice when you have to support a lot of weight, as it has excellent tensile strength. It is also very ductile, i.e., bends without breaking, which is the key to earthquake-resistant structures. However, steel becomes vulnerable to rust and requires coating or treatment to render it more rust-resistant and extend its service life in construction projects.
Such is steel structure reinforcement through carbon fiber retrofitting. Steel is expensive, so use it wisely, given the high cost.
Recycling is another advantage that comes with the use of steel. Steel is a reusable material, unlike other materials, whereas it loses its qualities once you use it. Sufficient insulation is necessary in structures to prevent loss of heat and validators.
Wood
Wood handle when building solid wood furwork with solid wood furniture. It is also thermal and sound-insulating, making buildings extremely energy efficient.
Timber is a renewable, green building material and a sustainable construction choice. If you do not maintain wood correctly, it may be vulnerable to decay and termite damage and usually warrants maintenance.
Wood is quite pleasing to the eye and is available in different types and finishes to suit various architectural styles and its functional strengths. Protective coatings can also help prolong wood.
Bricks
Bricks are fire-resistant and very durable. They also have a lot of thermal mass, which helps moderate indoor temperatures by holding onto heat and slowly releasing it.
Bricks are a popular choice because they can support loads. Bricks also need very little maintenance. Bricks do not require frequent maintenance or protective coating like wood or steel. However, they can break if they face extreme temperature fluctuations and if you do not solve the problem immediately.
Glass
Glass is pricey, which admits natural light to buildings and lowers energy costs by reducing the need for electric lighting. While fragile, strong glass absorbs shock and increases safety in construction.
Moreover, it is popularly useful in contemporary architecture to add aesthetic value to different buildings. Polyurethane waterproofing is ideal for sealing the glass and making it waterproof in some applications. However, glass can break easily, and care must be taken during installation.
Plastics
Plastics are very light and easy to transport and put on the construction site. They are also waterproof, making them ideal for plumbing and insulation applications. Plastic is cheaper, making it a lower-cost alternative to traditional materials, with performance that depends on the use. It is also more durable and resistant to the elemental wear and tear that tends to be found in high-traffic areas.
Plastic is the least sustainable material. If you do not manage it effectively, the overuse of plastic in construction can also lead to pollution .
Aluminum
Since aluminum has a very high corrosion resistance, it does not stain, making it an ideal choice for the exterior of windows, doors, and other applications prone to weather. It is also less heavy, requiring less structural mass in office buildings without losing structural strength.
Moreover, aluminum is 100% recyclable, making it an eco-friendly and sustainable material. Structural epoxy for crack repair is useful to extend their life. The downside to aluminum is that it is usually more expensive than other lightweight materials.
A few examples of XPS exterior insulation applications include luxury architectural projects where a more upscale and stylish outcome is often key. However, it can easily dent and scratch, so you have to handle it with care upon installation.
Mistakes in Construction and Building Material Selection
Selecting the right building materials is inevitable in any construction process, and getting it wrong can be costly. Here are some of those mistakes and what to do instead:
Ignoring Material Compatibility
This could cause problems down the line, for example, with steel and concrete. If you do not treat or coat the materials before, you can see how they corrode together. Whatever materials you opt for, ensure they are ideal to work in harmony, and you coat them to help keep rust from filling in a crack or a weak link over time.
Neglecting to Consider Maintenance Needs
Some, like wood or metal, need regular maintenance for optimal performance and longevity. If the design ignores the need for long-term maintenance when selecting the components, it may not have the longevity it was ideal for.
Wood you do not coat, for example, is susceptible to termites and water damage, while steel will rust unless precautions are taken against corrosion. When selecting materials, strike a balance between durability and maintenance level.
Ignoring Environmental Forces
Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, or exposure to the elements, affect each material. Bricks, for instance, are durable but can crack in extreme freezes or from moisture that works through the outside.
In particularly wet climates, it can even erode if you do not seal it. So, think about the environment and the environmental conditions of where you will place your structure.
Focusing Only on Cost
By only focusing on cost, they can select lower-performing materials that may be more expensive in the long term, with more excellent continuing maintenance or cost implications when things fail ahead of schedule.
The last element in terms of what you are looking for is value. Balance the value to ensure that you are getting a deal and that what you are investing in is worth your weight and worth you even if it lasts longer than your previous experience with the material.
Not Integrating Sustainability Into Decision-Making
As the construction industry transitions to greener practices, it is crucial to choose sustainable building materials. Some materials, such as plastics and unprocessed metals, can impact the environment.
Choosing green construction materials, like recycled steel, bamboo, or low-VOC paints, can make your project more sustainable and energy-efficient while promoting long-term savings.
Choosing Materials Without Considering Local Regulations
There are building codes and regulations for construction projects. Using materials that do not meet a local building code may result in delays, fines, or even the need to make repairs that cost more than the original price. When selecting materials, follow your area’s controls and security codes if they pose a legal or safety risk.
However, it shows that there are ways to avoid these scenarios by following through on what you already have, which increases your project’s longevity, safety, and success.
Green Building Materials
Eco-friendly building materials promote sustainable building construction practices. They are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and made from renewable or recyclable materials. Some examples of materials are recycled steel, rammed earth, bamboo, and low VOC (vanishing compound) paints.
Using green materials decreases carbon footprints, saves natural resources, and limits energy use over a building’s life cycle. Incredibly, “smart” buildings with self-healing concrete and energy-efficient insulation are game changers.
FAQs about Construction Materials
What is the difference between building materials and construction materials?
Building materials are useful to build buildings, and construction materials are those we use to create other infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, or dams.
How to categorize construction materials?
You can classify the most useful construction materials into four major categories: natural (wood and stone), synthetic (plastics and metals), composite (concrete), and hybrid materials (fiber-reinforced polymers).
What is the most critical trait of a material?
The most critical properties of a material will vary depending on the application, but strength and durability are typically among the most important for all materials we use for construction.
Seal the Deal with Sealbond!
While the right construction materials help achieve safety and longevity, their proper application is equally important. Sealbond is a world leader in manufacturing premium construction adhesives and waterproofing materials that improve the performance and durability of various materials. Sealbond has a solution for every project. Contact us today to find the best product for your project!
