The Different Types Of Building Materials

When you hear the words ‘building materials’, it is common for people to confuse it with building products. In fact, there is a big difference between the two terms. In reality, products are the end result. These are finished products that you can install into your home or building, such as the doors and the windows. The materials would be the wood and the glass that are used to make these products. To put it simply, materials are what are used to make products, which can then be used in the building of the structure. There are many different types of building materials out there. Some of these have been around for as long as mankind has been creating shelter for themselves, while others have only existed in recent years because of the advancements in architecture, construction and materials engineering that the world has gone through lately.
The Old School Building MaterialsThese are typically natural materials that have been around for thousands of years, if not longer. A good quantity surveyor Australia usually has a use for these at some point during the construction of a structure. A good example of this is rock. Raw, naturally occurring rock has been around for centuries, and probably longer. It lasts for millennia without having to be replaced or repaired. It is available in large amounts all over the world and is one of the hardest, most protective materials out there. However, it is a very heavy material, and is no good in colder climates. Another example of an older material is thatch. This has been around since the Middle Ages, and is one of the most popular for roofing. It is great at keeping buildings warm, and is readily available in most countries. However, it is wildly flammable and can be a major risk in populated, hot and dry areas.
The New Line of Materials In recent years, rock has been used to make cement, which is the pride and joy of any quantity surveyor. It is used in the construction of nearly every building, because it is a very neutral material when compared to wood and natural fiber like thatch. If you plan on using wooden posts with your cement structures, you will find that some types aren’t allowed because of the soluble toxins contained within them. Concrete and metal are also used extensively, and usually in conjunction with one another because of the way in which their material properties complement each other to make an extremely strong combination.