Building Materials Used in Construction Work

The construction industry uses various building materials that are used in house construction. Numerous naturally available materials such as sand, stone, water, wood are used in the construction.

Apart from these natural materials, the construction industry uses several manufactured products such as cement, ready-mix concrete, brick, steel, PVC & GI pipe, paint and tile & hardware items.

It may be noted that the materials need to be selected carefully in order to ensure the durability and long-lasting service life of the buildings. Each construction material possesses different properties which in combination give desired strength and durability.

Type of Construction Materials

There are several materials used in the construction of buildings, which are-

Cement

Cement is a prominent construction material that is widely used for making a structure, roads, dams and others. Cement is a substance that sets and hardens when mixed with water and helps to bind other ingredients. Prism Johnson Limited manufactures higher quality cement that fulfils all the specifications listed by the Bureau of Indian Standards to give its consumers a high performing concrete and mortar. Various products of Prism Johnson Limited such as Prism Champion, Prism Champion Plus and Prism Champion Duratech are available in the market.

Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon and various other materials which is known for high tensile strength and structural integrity. The main reason why steel is of utmost importance in building construction is because of its feature of bonding well with concrete. Various steel bars are being used for construction in India which are- Rolled, Round and Square bars, TMT, Ribbed Bars etc. 

Sand & Coarse Aggregates (Gitti)

Proper identification and selection of sand are important for the durability and strength of concrete and mortar.

• It should be free from silt and other impurities.
• It should be graded means particles of medium and coarse size should be present.
• No impurities in the sand give strength.
• Be sure to consult the engineer for the right sand selection.

Coarse aggregates are used with sand in the construction. The strength and durability are enhanced by using these according to the instructions given by the engineer. This helps in maintaining a good quality of cement paste. The use of coarse aggregates of the right size increases the chances of making very good concrete.

• The shape should be preferably cubical.
• Sometimes round aggregates can also be used in place of cubical, but in such a situation, be sure to take care of some special working precautions with the advice of the engineer.
• Coarse aggregates used in construction should be of 10mm and 20mm size.
• 20mm and 10mm ballast should be used in the ratio of 60:40 or 70:30 or as advised by Engineer.
• Elongated or Flaky aggregates are not suitable for construction work.

Concrete

Concrete is a building material prepared by mixing cement, fine and coarse aggregates with water in a predefined ratio.

After mixing these elements together and pouring them into the desired frame it takes the shape and strength once get hardened.

The strength of the concrete depends on the mix ratio. Concrete is of two types viz PCC (Plain cement concrete) and RCC (Reinforced cement concrete). When reinforcement steel is not used it is called PCC else RCC. PCC is used in flooring and RCC is used in footings, foundations, columns, beams and roof slabs.

Mortar

Mortar is prepared with cement and sand in a predefined ratio depending upon the usage. It is used in brickwork and plastering.

Brick

Bricks are widely used in construction. Bricks are the individual units that are bound together with the help of mortar. There are two types of bricks available on the market which are known as clay bricks and fly ash bricks. Any of these bricks can be used provided they fulfil the required strength criteria and inhibit the moisture ingress through them.

Wood

Wood is the oldest construction material that has been used for thousands of years. Nowadays in India wood is used for doors and windows frames and shutters.

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