subject: Building Materials 101: What Is Your House Made Of? [print this page] Anything that is used to construct a building, from the cement that pours the foundation to the decorative cornice moldings affixed to the ceilings, is considered a building material. Building materials manufacturers generate billions of dollars in revenue every year due to the ongoing growth in global population, demand for developing environmentally-friendly facilities and the rising needs for companies to update and improve facilities. Although the market is seemingly basic, the building materials industry offers an assortment of diverse products, including woods, plastics, metals and others that range from completely natural to fully synthetic. Here is a basic breakdown of common materials found in a home.
Wood
Wood has endless possibilities in construction, from being a part of the framework of a home to the cabinets that hang from the walls. Today, using modern technologies, manufacturers have developed engineered wood that looks like wood, feels like wood and even might have some elements of natural wood in it, but it is a man-made material. In some cases, manufacturing synthetic wood costs less, saving the homeowner money. Whether using natural wood or synthetic wood, here is a brief list of where wood is used in a common household:
"framework for walls and foundation
"furniture
"cabinets
"flooring, both sub-floor and finished floor
"wall trim and moldings
Plastic
From plastic siding to the plumbing pipes, plastic is used almost everywhere within a common household. It is a completely synthetic material that ranges in flexibility, size and strength that can be used in a multitude of construction applications. Over the years, plastic has replaced wood in some instances, including window frames, siding and flooring. Areas of a house that you can find plastic building materials include:
"plumbing
"electrical outlets, covers and light switches
"flooring
"gutters
Metals
Metal is seen in new construction more and more each day. The aesthetic appeal of metal is modern and contemporary because it can literally be shaped into almost anything with today"s technology. In particular, aluminum sheet metal is appealing to the eye as well as environmentally-friendly; it never rusts and can be used again and again. You can find metal within a household in the following areas:
"electrical wires
"plumbing
"beam wraps
"cornice moldings
"column covers
Since there is virtually an infinite variety of building materials, this article is only able to skim the surface of introducing the many different materials used in new construction. From wood flooring to architectural sheet metal, houses today require a multitude of building materials. It is always important to consult your contractor about the quality, sources and types of building materials they plan to use in building your next house or structure.
