Construction Materials and Testing

Engr. Algerico Odal |

CONCEPTS IN FUNDAMENTALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Topic Outline:
● Introduction for Construction Materials 1. Most efficient use of finite materials (Longevity)
● Construction Materials 2. Reduce energy consumption and production of
greenhouse gases
3. Recyclable and reusable construction materials
INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AND ROLES ISSUES DURING CONSTRUCTION
& INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
THE OWNER – The owner is the organization, or individual, who
has legal title to the building, 1. Keeping Up with Compliance Regulations
2. Working on a Schedule
SERVICE PROVIDERS – Most projects have many different 3. Slow Technology Adoption Speed
companies that are engaged in delivering and operating a facility 4. Communication Problems
5. Managing your Documentation
DESIGNERS – delivers comprehensive, integrated design for 6. Issues with Cash Flow
the project and typically an architectural firm 7. The Problem of “Pointing Fingers”
8. The Lack of a Skilled Workforce
DESIGN CONSULTANTS - These may include scopes such as 9. Vandalism/Theft on Site
the structure design, lighting design, mechanical system design, 10. Irregular Equipment Maintenance/Replacement
electrical design, landscape design, or other specialty areas. 11. “Forgetful” Clients
12. The Lack of Reliable Subcontractors
CONTRACTORS - The prime contractor(s) focus on the
management of the construction of the project CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
METALS
SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS - Examples of specialty
contractors are concrete contractors, mechanical contractors, Metals are versatile housing materials because they can be
drywall contractors, masonry contractors, roofing contractors, shaped in so many ways. Metals are strong, decorative, and
electrical contractors, etc. good conductors of heat and electricity.

VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS - Examples include concrete CAST IRON is made of iron and carbon, melted in a furnace and
suppliers, lumber suppliers, mechanical and electrical cast into shapes such as wood burning stoves, bathtubs, sinks,
manufacturers, excavation equipment rental companies, etc. skillets, sewer lines, waste disposal systems, lawn furniture and
gas pipes.
NEEDS FOR MATERIALS WITH VARIOUS QUALITIES
WROUGHT IRON is nearly pure iron used for ornamental lawn
• FOOTING furniture, lighting fixtures, fences, and staircase/porch railings.
• BASEMENT FLOOR
• BASEMENT WALLS BRONZE is an alloy of copper and tin, forming a strong,
• OTHER FLOORS AND CEILINGS beautiful, stately material that weathers well. It is used for
• ROOF thresholds, screws, plumbing supplies, and decorative pieces
including sculpture.
SELECTING MATERIALS
BRASS is an alloy of copper and zinc, ranging in color from a
1. Analysis of the problem coppery red to silvery white. Tin can be added or it can be
2. Comparison of available materials or products with the coated with clear enamel to prevent tarnishing. Ir can be cast,
criteria of step 1. hammered, stamped, rolled, or drawn into bolts, screws, pipe
3. Design or selection of type of material, size, shape, fittings, wire, furniture, and decorative pieces.
finish, method of preserving, and method of fastening
in place ALUMINUM is lightweight, highly resistant to corrosion, an
excellent conductor of electricity, a good reflector of light and
SUSTAINABILITY heat, easily formed into many shapes, and receptive to many
finishes. Aluminum can be “extruded” into window and door
“Green building, ”sustainability,” and frames, railings, and hardware. It can also be “cast” into lamp
“environmentally friendly design” bases, plant stands, cookware, and grills. It can be “rolled” into
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range hoods, awnings, garage doors, appliance panels, and
ductwork.
COPPER is most important for its electrical and heat
conductivity, and resistance to corrosion. Exposed to moist air,
it becomes coated with a thin layer of green carbonate that
protects it from further corrosion. It is used in wiring and roofing
materials, cookware, lamps, and decorative pieces.
STAINLESS STEEL is steel with chromium added, making it
hard and corrosion resistant over a wide temperature range. It
is used for gutters, downspouts, cooking and eating utensils,
appliances, sinks, countertops, and even furniture.
LEAD is a heavy but workable metal resistant to corrosion. It is
used under showers and as liners for pools, and in drainage
pipes. It expands and contracts in different temperatures, and it
can cause lead poisoning… limiting many household
applications. It is used in leaded window designs.
GLASS
Glass is the only housing construction material that allows the
passage of light and permits a clear view. It does not conduct
electricity and is almost completely corrosion resistant.
The “tensile strength” of glass refers to the amount of force that
glass can withstand without breaking.
Float glass is a flat glass, less expensive and better quality than
sheet glass or plate glass.
Hand blown glass is expensive but beautiful. It is used primarily
for art pieces, vases, and fine glasses.
Stained glass refers to glass colored by pigments or metal
oxides fused to glass.
Types of decorative glass include patterned, etched, cut, or
enameled. Patterned safety glass is often used for tub or shower
enclosures. Cut glass sparkles. Etched glass appears frosted.
Enameled glass has color added to its surface.
Crystal is perfectly clear glass. Lead crystal contains lead oxide,
giving it clarity and sparkle.
CLAY
Clay is easily shaped, but firing that clay at high temperatures
preserves the shape, color, and texture. After firing, this
“ceramic” also becomes resistant to heat, cold, moisture, acids,
and salts. It can be glazed, colored, and textured for decoration.
Glazing increases it’s strength and seals it to make it waterproof.
Mosaic tile is made of porcelain or natural clay; smaller in size,
smoother, and brighter in color.
Glazed tile Quarry tile or pavers are the strongest ceramic tiles.
Roofing tile is expensive and more porous than other roofing
materials.
Three Types of Pottery
1. Earthenware products are casual, porous, fragile, and
opaque. Generally red or brown, it is used for flower
pots, casual dinnerware, and folk pottery.
2. Stoneware is made of finer clay than earthenware,
usually light brown or gray in color. It is fired at higher
temperatures, making it waterproof and durable. It
accepts subtle colors with a matte finish.
3. Porcelain is fired at very high temperatures to a white,
finely textured finish. It is completely “vitrified” (made
into glass) and very hard. It has a delicate appearance,
and is used for fine dinnerware or for sinks and
bathtubs.
PLASTICS
Plastics are usually reasonable in cost, moisture and corrosion
resistant, lightweight, tough, and easily molded into complex
shapes. Plastics are replacing many natural building materials
due to low maintenance requirements.
WOOD
Wood is a hard, fibrous substance that forms the trunk, stems,
and branches of trees. It can be processed to make lumber,
plywood, or other wood products used in construction.
Softwoods are strong and resilient, but they do not accept
finishes as well as most hardwoods. They are most commonly
used in construction.
Hardwoods tend to be more expensive than softwoods. They
resist denting and scratching better and their surfaces yield
smooth finishes with attractive grain patterns. Hardwoods are
most often used for flooring and furniture.
LUMBER is wood sawed from logs into boards of various sizes.
TIMBER is lumber that is 5” or larger in width and thickness, and
is used mainly for support posts or beams.
MILLWORK is processed lumber, such as doors, window
frames, shutters, trim, panel work, and molding.
PLYWOOD is made from thin sheets of wood called veneers or
plies. They are glued together to form a panel, with the grain of
one ply running at right angles to the grain of the next ply to give
it strength and prevent warping or splitting. The outer plies might
be fine, attractive veneers if used in furniture, or rough layers if
used in floors and walls.
LAMINATED TIMBER is layers of wood glued together with all
the grain running in one direction…simply making thicker pieces
of timber.
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HARDBOARD composite board made from refined wood fibers
that are pressed together. One or both sides may be smooth.
PARTICLE BOARD composite board made from wood flakes,
chips, and shavings that are bonded together with adhesives.
WOOD FINISHES
BLEACHES remove the natural color of the wood to give it a
pale or weathered appearance.
FILLERS are often applied to wood such as oak, walnut, and
mahogany that have “open grain”. By filling the pores of the
grain, the finished surface will be smooth with an even color.
STAINS add color to wood without masking grain patterns. They
are oil-, alcohol-, or water-based.
VARNISHES are used as top coats, emphasizing wood grain
and deepening wood tones.
SHELLAC is designed to seal wood under a final top coat.
LACQUER is a durable top coat, producing a glossy finish.
POLYURETHANE is a clear finish that dries quickly, wears well,
and has a high resistance to chemicals, alcohol, and grease. It
is popular for wood floors.
EPOXY RESIN is an excellent floor and exterior finish because
of durability. OIL penetrates wood to highlight the grain, darken
the wood, and produce a soft luster.
WAX is used over other surfaces to produce a smooth luster,
but must be renewed frequently.
MASONRY
Masonry materials are versatile, durable, and beautiful. More
expensive than wood products, but require less maintenance.
BRICK is fireproof, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain. It is
popular for fireplaces, chimneys, walls, and floors. Bricks come
in a variety of colors and sizes. Colors vary with the chemical
makeup of the clay used to make them and the time and
temperature used to fire them. Mortar is used between the bricks
to bond them together and seal the spaces between them.
GLASS BLOCK
Glass blocks are hollow units of clear, rippled, or frosted glass.
Some of the air has been removed from the hollow core to
prevent condensation and improve insulation value. They give
privacy but allow light.
GLASS BLOCK
Stone is difficult to work with in building, so is labor intensive and
therefore expensive. It has varied colors and textures to provide
visual interest. It is fireproof and resistant to decay, and gives a
feeling of permanence and stability.
Types of natural stone permanence and stability.
• granite (hard and durable),
• sandstone (porous and prone to dampness, with poor
insulation value)
• limestone (weathers rapidly in humid climates),
• marble (expensive and luxurious but not as durable as
granite),
• slate (hard and brittle, made from compressed clay or
shale).
Manufactured stone (made from lightweight concrete or
fiberglass) and terrazzo (durable material made from marble
chips bonded together with cement) are stone-like materials.
CONCRETE
Concrete is used for foundations, exterior walls, floors, walks,
and driveways. It is economical, tough, weather resistant, and
long lasting. It can be colored, have an exposed aggregate
(pebbles in it show up), be textured, or be scored into geometric
patterns.
TEXTILE FIBERS
NATURAL FIBERS Cotton and flax are from plant sources; silk
from silkworms, wool from sheep, and some specialty hair fibers
are from protein sources, and asbestos is from a mineral source
MANUFACTURED FIBERS These fibers are derived from
substances found in nature such as wood pulp or petroleum.
They are chemically engineered into fibers. Examples are
acetate, rayon, triacetate, acrylic, glass, metallic, nylon, olefin,
polyester, rubber, saran, spandex, and vinyon.
TEXTILE YARN
Cotton: absorbent, shrinks in hot water, easy to dye, highly
flammable; used for sheets, towels, bedspreads, kitchen
curtains, rugs
Silk: lustrous, expensive, yellows with age, water spots; used for
draperies, upholstery, lampshades, and wall hangings
Flax or Linen: strong, lint free, durable; used for tablecloths,
draperies, kitchen towels
Wool: warm, absorbent, wrinkle resistant, low flammability,
expensive; used for blankets, carpets, upholstery, rugs
Acetate: easy to dye, drapes well, soft and luxurious,
nonabsorbent; used for bedspreads, draperies, fiberfill
Acrylic: resembles wool, soft and warm, colorfast, generates
static electricity, resists mildew, moths, mildew, and sun
damage; used for blankets, carpeting, upholstery, draperies,
fiberfill
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Glass: fiberglass is strong and heavy, resists heat, flames, and
most chemicals; used for draperies and insulation
Metallic: colorfast, durable, resists moths, mildew, and
shrinking; used for draperies, slipcovers, tablecloths
“Leather” has no fibers, but is used as a fabric. Manufactured
from animal hides, leather is expensive, beautiful, durable, and
moisture resistant.
FABRIC FINISHES

Nylon: very strong and durable, lustrous, lightweight, drapes
well, generates static; used for upholstery, outdoor furniture
covers, draperies, carpet
Olefin: quick drying, resists abrasion, chemicals, moths, and
shrinking; used for awnings, carpeting, doormats
Polyester: colorfast, easy to dye, retains shape, resists wrinkles,
generates static, subject to pilling; used for awnings, blankets,
carpets, draperies, fiberfill, sheets, tablecloths
Rayon: resembles cotton, drapes well, wrinkles, highly
flammable; used for sheets, curtains, upholstery
FABRIC CONSTRUCTION
Fabrics with a “twill weave” have diagonal lines or wales. They
form a strong fabric that resists wrinkles and hides soil. (denim
and gabardine)
A “plain weave” is a simple over and under weave, forming a
strong, durable fabric. (percale, broadcloth)
A “satin weave” produces a smooth and lustrous fabric that lacks
durability and snags easily. (satin)
A “jacquard weave” is characterized by intricate patterns.
(damask, brocade, and tapestry)
Color can be added to textiles in several different ways. “Yarn
dyeing” colors the fibers or yarn prior to fabric production. “Piece
dyeing” colors the entire piece of fabric after it is made, and
“printing” applies a design to premade fabric.
Fabrics may receive one or more finishes after construction to
add desirable qualities:
• antistatic (reduces buildup of static electricity),
• beetling (improves luster and absorbency on linen),
• bleaching (whitens natural fibers),
• calendering (produces a smooth polished surface),
• crease-resistance (resists wrinkling),
• flame-retardant (reduces chance of burning),
• fulling (improves the appearance of wool),
• mercerization (improves luster and strength),
• moth repellent (repels moths from wool),
• mildew-resistant (prevents mildew),
• napping (pulls up fiber ends such as in velvet),
• preshrunk (shrinks the fabric before sale to the
consumer),
• sanforized (reduces shrinkage),
• Scotchguard (resists water and oil stains),
• soil resistant (makes fabric less absorbent),
• water repellent (coats fabrics with wax, metals, or
resins to resist water).

Fabric with a “leno weave” is mesh-like, such as some blankets

and curtains.

“Knitted” fabrics are made by interlocking yarns. Though not

common in home furnishings, knits are used in some bedding
and curtains.

“Tufting” is a construction method, primarily used to make

carpet. Tufting machines loop yarns into a backing material. This
is usually followed by a latex coating to hold the yarns in place.

“Foam” is the result of incorporating air into a rubber or

polyurethane substance; it’s used for pillows, cushions, furniture
padding, and carpet backing.

“Felt” is a fabric made directly from wool fibers, in a process

using heat, moisture, and pressure to permanently press and
interlock the fibers together. It is used for sound-proofing,
insulation, padding, and decorative items.

“Non-woven” fabrics are made by bonding non-wool fibers to

make goods such as mattress pads, backing for furniture and
box springs.
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