5 Building Materials Required the Most for Construction Purposes Today

• February 16, 2023
• By: Editorial Team
• PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

Building materials are basically any material that we use to make buildings or structures. Also known as construction materials, they have many defining properties—with strength, durability, firmness, and resistance to fire, water, and pests, etc.--being some of them.

At present, we are using many kinds of construction or building materials for construction purposes. Given different materials have different combinations of these properties, it’s crucial to select the right material for the work at hand. Choosing the appropriate material for your project is also vital from the perspective of improving and increasing your project’s lifetime. 

Across different regions of the world, local and national standards generally have a say in the use and selection of the building materials for construction purposes. Cost and aesthetics also play key roles. 

Now let’s take a quick look at 5 of the most commonly used construction materials today.

5 Most Important Construction Materials

Concrete: It has many attires and functions. One of the most extensively used structural materials, concrete is used as a structural matter in the form of bond beams and CMU blocks and a facade finish as well. It’s also used to make platforms and furniture for the general public use. Although concrete production has one of the highest carbon footprints which afterwards pollutes the atmosphere--thanks to the latest technology and our scientist’s constant struggle to explore the new—today, concrete has become a more ecological and aesthetical substance.

Steel: Regarded as one of the strongest, and therefore used as a primary structural material for high-rise and large buildings, steel is also used as reinforcement bars for setting up concrete, to make the structure stronger. Of late, steel is also increasingly being used as an aesthetical facade material and also as decorative roof material for buildings.

Bricks/Masonry: A brick is essentially a type of block used to build walls, pavements, and other things in masonry structure. They can be joined together using mortar, adhesives, or interlocking them. Bricks are available in several classes, kinds, materials, and sizes. Today, to build almost every structure or building, we need bricks.

Wood: Possibly the oldest construction substance, wood is one of the most commonly used building materials nowadays. It’s naturally available, not-too-costly, strong, ecological, long-lasting, and flexible. You can use wood for commercial and residential buildings. It also works well with other materials, including steel, marble, and aluminum. Besides, you can bend, mold wood into the particular shape you want. Adding to the appeal of wood--as a useful and key construction material--is the fact that vis-à-vis other construction materials, it’s relatively light and easy to harmonize in size. Further, it has high tensile strength and is good for insulation and soundproofing purposes.

Glass: Popular as the ‘King of Contemporary Architecture’, glass is extensively used nowadays to create modern lightweight transparent buildings that are see-through and provide day lighting as well. Besides being an important building facade subject, it’s also used for making interior partitions, furniture, not to mention wall openings. 

Wrapping-up: Concrete, steel, bricks/masonry, wood, glass…these are the 5 most important building materials that we can’t do without for making buildings today. Use them in the right proportion, with other suitable building materials, to make long-lasting, environment-friendly, and aesthetically appealing structures.

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