DEFINITIONS

A building is defined as an assemblage that is firmly attached to the ground and

that provides total or near total shelter for machines, processing equipment,
performance of human activities, storage of human possessions, or any
combination of this. it is designed and constructed to be fit for purpose i.e. it must
serve the purpose for which it was built with ease during its design life.
BUILDING MATERIALS

Majorly there are two building materials at tis context ie

 Stone
 Timber
STONES

stone has been used as a building material during,

 The early years of civilization and it’s
• Being a naturally occurring material, stone is
• Availability in the form of blocks, aggregates, slates, tiles.
• It is extracted from quarries through blasting, picking etc. using mechanized or manual
means
COMMON BUILDING STONES
The includes the following.
• Basalt,
• Granite,
• Sandstone
• Slate, laterite
• Marble
• Gneisis
• Limestone.
• Quartzite.
CONT’D

Basalt are igneous rocks used for,

• Road metals and aggregates for concrete. They are also used as
• pavements and for
• Rubble masonry work for bridge piers, river walls and dams.
Granite. Is an igneous rocks and is used for,
• monumental and
• Institutional buildings.
• Polished granite is used as bench tops,
• cladding for columns and wall
• coarse aggregates in concrete.
CONT’D

Sandstone. Is a sedimentary rock and is therefore stratified. It is desirable to use it with

silica cement for heavy duty structures.
• Used for masonry work for dams bridge piers and river walls.
Slate. Is a metamorphic rock and is used for roofing tiles, slabs and pavements.
Laterite. Is a metamorphic rock and is used as a building stone.
Marble. Is a metamorphic rock and is used for facades and ornamental works. It is also
used for columns, flooring, steps and as table top.
CONT,’D

Gneiss. Is a metamorphic rock and is used in minor constructions. The hard variety can be
used for buildings.
Quartzite. Is a metamorphic rock and are used,
• Building blocks and
• Slabs
• Aggregates for concrete.
STORAGE OF UILDING MATERIALS

Materials required in construction operations shall be stored and handled in a manner to,
• To prevent deterioration and damage to materials,
• To ensure safety of workmen in handling operations and
• Non-interference with public life including safety of the public
• prevention of damage to public property and natural environment.
Stones of different sizes, types and classifications shall be stored separately. Stones shall be
stacked on dry firm ground in a regular heap not more than 1 meter in height.
STORAGE CONT’D.

Veneering stones shall be stacked in tiers up to a height of 1.2m. A distance of about 0.8m
shall be kept between two adjacent stacks.
Aggregates shall be stored at site on hard, dry and level ground. If such a surface is not
available, a platform of planks or old corrugated iron sheets, or a floor of bricks, or a thin
layer of lean concrete shall be used. Contact with clay, dust, vegetable and other foreign
matters shall be avoided.
USES OF STONES IN BUILDING WORKS

• Stones are used in different engineering constructions.

• For the construction of foundations, walls, columns and arches in stone masonry.
• For flooring, benches, fireplaces etc.
• Stone slabs for damp proof courses, lintels and as roofing materials.
• Stones with good appearance for façade works of buildings like polished marble and granite.
• •For paving roads, footpaths and open spaces around the building
• •For construction of piers and abutments of bridges and dams.
• •Crushed stones for providing base course for roads and they form a finishing coat when mixed with tar.
• used as inert material in concrete, for making artificial stones and building blocks and as railway ballast.
REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD BUILDING STONES

The requirements are as follows;

Strength. Although most stones are having good strength it should still be able to resist the
load coming onto it.
Durability. A stone’s durability can be seen if it is capable of resisting adverse effects of
natural forces like wind, rain and heat.
Hardness. This is seen when a stone is used in floors and pavements. A good stone should be
able to resist abrasive factors like movement of men and materials placed on them.
Toughness. Stones for building should be really tough to withstand stress like vibrations.
Specific gravity. A good building stone should have a specific gravity between 2.4 and 2.8.
for the construction of dams, retaining walls, docks etc.
CONT’D

Porosity and absorption. A good building stone should not be porous. Porous stones allow rainwater to enter
into it that causes the stone to get weak and crumble.
Finishing. Finishing is when you give a stone its required shape, surface finish and to reduce the cost of
finishing. A stone should be easy to work to an extent. Care should also be taken when processing stone so that
it may not affect the required strength and durability.
Appearance. Appearance is very important especially for façade works. The colour and the ability of the stone
to be polished plays an essential part in its appearance.
Seasoning. A good building stone must be free from quarry sap. Laterite stones must not be used for 6 to 12
months after being quarried. They are allowed to get rid of quarry sap through the action of nature. Seasoning is
the action of removing quarry sap.
ADVANTAGES OF BUILDING STONES.

• Aesthical, cultural & landscape integration value.

• Potential high durability.
• Great thermal inertia.
• Good insulation to air transmitted noise.
• Incase of landslide blocking a natural water way, removal of boulders and gravel may
help in restoring the stream ecosystem.
DISADVANTAGES OF BUILDING STONES.

The high thickness of the walls leads to a low yield of the potential living area.
• The high self weight leads to great gravity & seismic loads.
• Low flexural/seismic resistance.
• High cost, both of the material & labour.
• Very slow execution (growing difficulty to guarantee specialized workmanship).
• Habitability parameters.
• Quarrying involves blasting causing noise, dust, air pollution, habitat destruction &
vibration. Crushing plants do the same.
DISADVANTAGES OF BUILDING STONES.

• Vibration if not managed & unplanned rock quarrying can cause landslides and
hydrological impacts including changes to water supplies.
• Transport affects rural roads.
VITAL ISSUES TO OBSERVE WHILE DEALING
WITH STONES
• Stones remain indispensable construction materials.
• Wear PPE’s like hand gloves and gas masks should be used during its extraction and
handling.
• EIAs should be conducted to mitigate and minimize extraction impacts on the
environment.
• Early warnings should be issued before blasting.
 APWOYO MATEK

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