Rony
Moderator
Every day, new materials are discovered or invented, but how did it begin? When did they first come to use? Today, we discuss the history of building and construction materials.
Construction or building construction techniques must now meet industrial standards or human living standards, but that has not always been the case.
The crux for your building and construction projects rely on essential ingredients called “construction materials”. Without construction materials, maintain the structural strength of a building while reducing environmental hazards.
During the late Stone Age, hunter-gatherers used circular rings of stones to form the foundations of shelters. Then animal skins were used, along with crude huts made of wooden poles to shed snow or rain and reduce sunlight penetration. Primitive builders soon developed tholoi – a construction material made of dry-laid stone to build dwellings with domed roofs. The tholoi were the beginning of masonry construction because of their durability.
In the Neolithic (New Stone Age), dwellings began to be more permanent. Another variation of roofing material was introduced; Thatch. Reeds or dried grasses were tied together in small bundles in an overlapping pattern. However, the problem with this construction is that it leaked badly.
Other construction materials, including tree bark, wattle and daub, and clay, were mostly used in Polynesia, the Middle East, Indonesia, and some parts of Europe.
Many homes in these nations are mainly timber-framed homes. Timber comes with a lot of benefits and some drawbacks. It is inexpensive and can be carved into any shape. On the downside, the integrity of the building becomes compromised when the woods used are exposed to moisture.
Due to its ability to absorb moisture, wood also creates a conducive environment for moisture growth in homes. However, researchers have been able to develop various treatments for timber to ensure their safety.
Wood remains essential for the industry even if modern materials and construction techniques seem to outshine more prominently.
Concrete is a mix of cement, water, fine/coarse aggregates. In North America, concrete is widely used to lay foundations during residential construction. Concrete is primarily used to lay foundations in North American residential construction to support the rest of the structure.
Like wood, concrete also comes with some benefits and a few drawbacks. They serve as support materials to structures, yet they can be very toxic when inhaled. However, researchers are investigating green methods to make concrete more friendly for the environment and increase its strength while absorbing carbon iv oxide.
Steel comes with a lot of benefits for the modern construction industry in Malaysia. It is lightweight, high in stiffness and strength, non-combustible, termite-proof, and completely recyclable. These unique characteristics make steel beneficial for both manufacturing and structural purposes.
Construction or building construction techniques must now meet industrial standards or human living standards, but that has not always been the case.
The crux for your building and construction projects rely on essential ingredients called “construction materials”. Without construction materials, maintain the structural strength of a building while reducing environmental hazards.
History of Building and Construction
Construction is an ancient human activity that dates as far back as 400 BC. It started from using constructed materials to produce shelters for regulating the effect of climates on humans. Soon, the advent of agriculture paved the way for various construction materials such as timber and animal skin. In Egypt and the Middle East, timbers were used to construct dwellings for humans and as storage facilities for plants.During the late Stone Age, hunter-gatherers used circular rings of stones to form the foundations of shelters. Then animal skins were used, along with crude huts made of wooden poles to shed snow or rain and reduce sunlight penetration. Primitive builders soon developed tholoi – a construction material made of dry-laid stone to build dwellings with domed roofs. The tholoi were the beginning of masonry construction because of their durability.
In the Neolithic (New Stone Age), dwellings began to be more permanent. Another variation of roofing material was introduced; Thatch. Reeds or dried grasses were tied together in small bundles in an overlapping pattern. However, the problem with this construction is that it leaked badly.
Other construction materials, including tree bark, wattle and daub, and clay, were mostly used in Polynesia, the Middle East, Indonesia, and some parts of Europe.
Construction Materials
As time went by, modernized construction materials began to gain popularity. This marked the beginning of the distinction between architecture and building. Wood, concrete, and steel are the materials most commonly used in construction today.1. Wood
Wood remains a common material in building development throughout the world. This ancient material has been serving the construction industry for time immemorial. With expansive forests, Europe and North America are the havens of wood.Many homes in these nations are mainly timber-framed homes. Timber comes with a lot of benefits and some drawbacks. It is inexpensive and can be carved into any shape. On the downside, the integrity of the building becomes compromised when the woods used are exposed to moisture.
Due to its ability to absorb moisture, wood also creates a conducive environment for moisture growth in homes. However, researchers have been able to develop various treatments for timber to ensure their safety.
Wood remains essential for the industry even if modern materials and construction techniques seem to outshine more prominently.
2. Concrete
The origin of ready mix concrete as a construction material can be traced back to the Romans. They used cement to form concrete, which is incredibly versatile and used to make constructing gladiator arenas, museums, theatres, and so on.Concrete is a mix of cement, water, fine/coarse aggregates. In North America, concrete is widely used to lay foundations during residential construction. Concrete is primarily used to lay foundations in North American residential construction to support the rest of the structure.
Like wood, concrete also comes with some benefits and a few drawbacks. They serve as support materials to structures, yet they can be very toxic when inhaled. However, researchers are investigating green methods to make concrete more friendly for the environment and increase its strength while absorbing carbon iv oxide.
3. Steel
Steel can be easily customized without compromising design and structural strength. Both hot rolled and cold-formed steel is used for modern construction industry solutions, including residential and industrial projects.Steel comes with a lot of benefits for the modern construction industry in Malaysia. It is lightweight, high in stiffness and strength, non-combustible, termite-proof, and completely recyclable. These unique characteristics make steel beneficial for both manufacturing and structural purposes.
