At first glance, the building products and construction materials industry looks like one of the easiest investment sectors to analyze. While this is generally true, investment in this industry isn’t always going to be easy. There are things to consider, such as the differences between residential and commercial, the materials and equipment used for each type of build, and the different building products and construction materials. In fact, many people probably don’t know that there are differences between building products and construction materials. 

Building products are items that are already processed and finished, all ready for sale. These are usually manufactured combinations of construction materials and probably of other products. Building products are processed for creating items such as doors, windows, general-purpose removable access doors and panels, light fittings, and so on. As distinguished from construction materials, building products are raw, unprocessed substances that include sand, salt, and many others. 

To understand more about how building products come about, it is also important to know the different types of building materials that we have compiled in this blog. It is necessary to have knowledge about them, especially for contractors. This is because each material has different properties such as durability, strength, weight, and cost, on which depend its applicability to certain surfaces. Here are some types of construction materials. 

1. Natural Construction Materials 

Generally, construction materials can be categorized into two sources: natural and synthetic. If the materials are unprocessed or minimally processed, such as glass or lumber, they are considered natural materials. On the other hand, synthetic materials are made in industrial settings after undergoing human interventions, such as plastics and petroleum-based paints. 

2. Mud and clay 

The use of construction materials depends on the different styles of buildings. One material commonly used is mud and clay. This material is very good at keeping temperatures at a constant level. Any home or building with this kind of material tends to be naturally warm in the winter season and cool in the summer heat. This is because clay is able to hold heat or cold and releases it over a period of time just like stone. Moreover, buildings with mostly dirt and clay have been standing for centuries and still remain habitable for hundreds of years. 

3. Rock

As long as history can recall, rock structures have existed for a long time. This building material is the longest-lasting and is usually readily available. Rock also provides a lot of protection since it is a very dense material. However, there is a drawback of its weight and awkwardness. Additionally, rocks don’t really get that much attention nowadays in the same way that cement is now commonplace.

4. Wood

This material is a product of trees and sometimes from other fibrous plants. When used for construction purposes, the tree or plant is cut into lumber and timber, such as planks, boards, and other similar materials. Wood is generic and used in just about any type of structure in different climates. 

5. Brick and Block

Bricks have been widely used as a construction material in the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. This is probably due to the fact that bricks are more flame retardant than wood while also being fairly cheap to produce. 

6. Concrete

Made from the combination of aggregate, which is the composite, and a binder such as cement, concrete is produced as a composite building material. Portland cement concrete is the most common form of concrete-- it consists of mineral aggregate that’s generally gravel and sand, water, and portland cement. Since concrete has a rather low tensile strength, steel rods or bars are generally used for strengthening the construction. This is then referred to as reinforced concrete.

7. Metal

This material is commonly used as a structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers or even exterior surface covering. Metal can be categorized into two types-- steel, which is a metal alloy that has a major component such as iron and is the usual choice as structural construction, and brass which is now usually restricted to specific uses or specialty items. There are also other metals such as chrome, titanium, gold, and silver.

8. Plastic

In a Canadian high-rise apartment building, plastic pipes commonly penetrate a concrete floor. This kind of material covers a range of semi-synthetic or synthetic organic condensation or polymerization products that can be shaped or extruded into different objects or fibers. Plastics differ greatly in hardness, resiliency, and heat tolerance. Their adaptability, combined with their lightness and uniformity of composition makes them usable in almost all industrial applications today.

In any construction project, it is important to know what building products or construction materials can be used. With this kind of knowledge, you will be able to ensure that the project will flow easily and will provide great results that can last for a long time. That’s why it is important to partner with reliable suppliers that can provide you with quality products and materials for your construction projects.

Author : Romeo Dela Cruz