The Different Types of Construction Materials Used on Job Sites Today

Did you know that the construction industry creates nearly $1.4 trillion worth of structures every year? With so much being poured into this industry, it’s no surprise the amount of materials it needs is huge. There also isn’t a shortage of construction materials to choose from either.

Whether it’s wood for a building frame or cement to fill in the foundation, there are a lot of different things every construction site needs. Read on to learn about a few of the different types you can find today.

Importance of Selecting the Right Materials

Before we talk about the types of materials you can get, it’s good to know the importance of selecting the right ones. Not only can materials have a large impact on the environment, but they also make a difference in the quality of the structure.

Cheap buildings fall apart quickly and don’t hold up well when natural disasters hit. While cheap materials can help save time and money, they’re not good for the long term. Choosing things that undergo construction materials testing and have a decent reputation is important.

Now, let’s move to a few of the most common building materials you can find today.

Wood

When it first came about, wood was simply processed into logs and then tied or notched into place. Now, it’s cut and pressed into beams or planks. It’s used in flooring, ceilings, cabinetry, wooden fences, and even to frame rooms inside houses or other structures.

It’s a good material because it can be used in pretty much climate. It’s flexible, so it can bend and stretch while still keeping its strength. A lot of wood also comes pre-treated to keep pests and mold out.

Concrete

Most commercial and industrial structures use concrete nowadays. It’s popular because it holds up well and promotes strength and longevity.

The con, however, is its low tensile strength. It’s usually reinforced with steel rods whenever it’s poured. It also weakens when air bubbles hit while it’s being poured, which is why vibrators are used to eliminate any bubbles that formed throughout the process.

Metal

Finally, metal is one of the most common building materials used today. Whether it’s iron, aluminum, brass, titanium, steel, chrome, silver, or even gold, it all serves a specific purpose.

Metals like steel, aluminum alloy, titanium, and brass are used as construction elements, while a lot of the others are usually just seen in the decorative details.

What Construction Materials Does Your Site Use?

Now that you’ve learned about a few of the different types of construction materials, has it made you want to change how you go about building at all? Not only is choosing quality materials important, but it’s also essential for the good of the environment and for the safety of those using the structures you build.

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