Healthy and high-quality building materials are necessary to build structures with strength, durability, serviceability and desirable beauty. Materials can also greatly affect project and maintenance costs. Therefore, the selection of materials should be done carefully in order to achieve the design goals.
There is a wide range of building materials available in the market and since several factors must be considered for the selection of materials, choosing the best option that It is difficult to meet the different needs of the building. Strength, durability, local availability of materials, cost, handling, and storage are some of the essential factors that must be considered to select the right building materials for a given project.
A factor affecting the selection of building materials
1. Resistance
Resistance is the most important parameter in the selection of construction materials and indicates the ability of materials to resist stresses such as pressure, tension and shear. For example, there are several grades of steel with different yield strengths that contractors can choose from. If the building does not need to bear a lot of loads, low-grade steel can be used, in which case the cost will be reduced. However, the availability of steel in the market will play an important role here.
2. Durability
Durability of materials is important to build a structure with long life without significant maintenance cost. Therefore, some materials may be more expensive than others, but low maintenance costs in the future compensate for such high costs.
3. Cost
The cost of building materials in most cases leads to the final decision on the choice of materials. This cost constitutes a large part of the total cost, which is why it plays an important role. Finally, the cost of materials controls the total cost of the project.
4. Materials available locally
The availability of materials locally affects the cost and schedule of construction. If the materials are far away from the construction site, the transportation cost will be high, and if the materials are not ordered in advance, the work may be delayed. However, if the materials are available locally, the transportation costs will be low and the construction process will continue seamlessly.
5. Transportation and storage
Transportation and storage of materials is another factor that should be considered because it affects the construction time, the need for labor, the equipment needed. And the cost affects.
6. Climate
Climate is another important factor to consider when choosing materials. Parameters such as the average temperature range throughout the year, rain, snow, weather, amount of sunlight, required ventilation and wind are some of the things that should be considered. Weather and properties of building materials are related to each other. Therefore, the materials should be selected according to the climate of the region where the structure is built.
7. Skills required and availability When building materials are selected, the decision maker must know the amount of skills required to use those materials. If skilled labor is required, the cost of construction increases. In addition, construction work is delayed if skilled labor is not available, which is often the case in remote areas.
8. Sustainability The need for sustainable development is constantly increasing due to the demand to reduce carbon emissions. Relevant codes and standards are continuously setting more stringent specifications on carbon emissions. This makes decision-makers lean toward sustainable materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, and silica fume, which are used to reduce cement consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.