Building material

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Building material refers to any material which is used for construction purposes. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, and wood, even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more and some less synthetic. The manufacturing of building materials is an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is typically segmented into specific specialty trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing, and insulation work.

Types of Building Materials

Building materials can be categorized into two main types: natural and synthetic.

Natural Building Materials

Natural building materials are those that are unprocessed or minimally processed by industry. These include:

• Wood and timber
• Clay and mud
• Stone and rock
• Sand
• Thatch
• Bamboo

Synthetic Building Materials

Synthetic building materials are those that have been processed or manufactured. These include:

• Concrete
• Bricks
• Glass
• Plastic
• Metals such as steel and aluminum
• Insulation materials

Properties of Building Materials

The selection of building materials is based on various properties, including:

• Durability
• Strength
• Thermal conductivity
• Sound insulation
• Fire resistance
• Aesthetic appeal

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of building materials is a significant consideration in modern construction. The production, transportation, and disposal of building materials can have substantial effects on the environment. Sustainable building practices aim to reduce the environmental footprint by using materials that are:

• Recyclable
• Renewable
• Energy-efficient

Related Pages

• Construction
• Architecture
• Civil engineering
• Sustainable architecture
• Green building
• Building code
• Building insulation
• Building design

See Also

• List of building materials
• Construction material recycling
• Building material salvage