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For many people, houses are merely four walls and a roof. But the construction of your dream home takes so much more than this. The construction industry employs various building materials for different parts of a home. The most popular materials used in home construction are concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and stone. Each is suitable for a variety of uses because of its variations in strength, weight, and longevity. The usage of building materials in the construction sector is governed by national regulations and testing procedures, ensuring that they will provide structural integrity. Architects also consider cost and aesthetics while choosing materials.

Building materials are often divided into two categories: natural and man-made. Concrete, masonry, and steel are man-made materials, while stone and wood are examples of natural materials. However, both must be prepped or treated before being used in construction. Here is a list of popular construction materials used in home construction.

1. Bricks – The first thing we notice during any construction work is a stack of bricks. Any time there is construction going on, a mound of bricks is the first thing we see. Because of their durability, capacity for withstanding high temperatures, and ease of construction, they are one of the most extensively used raw materials. Therefore, it should go without saying that bricks are necessary for building a house. Bricks are available in a wide variety, including hollow bricks, burnt clay, fly ash, concrete, sand-lime, engineered porotherm, and sun-dried burnt clay. These bricks are all manufactured differently and have varied uses. For instance, columns, walls, and a house's foundation can all be constructed with burnt clay bricks, also called "common brick."

On the other hand, a builder will utilise porotherm smart bricks, also known as "eco brick," while creating an environmentally friendly house. These hollow bricks are very strong and provide excellent thermal insulation. They are therefore entirely regarded as eco-friendly for this reason.

2. Steel - Steel is a metal alloy made of iron, carbon, and other alloying components to increase its strength and fracture resistance over iron. Due to the extra chromium in its composition, stainless steels resist corrosion and oxidation. Structural engineers use it for the structural framework of tall contemporary structures and large industrial facilities because it is so robust relative to its weight and size. Following are some of its attributes:

• Steel has excellent weight-to-strength and size-to-strength ratios.

• Compared to other metals, it is expensive. Structural experts can offer advice when selecting the sizes to employ in a home to sustain the actual weight of the structure.

• Concrete installation takes more time than steel.

• It can be installed in any environment.

• However, if installed or maintained incorrectly, steel is subject to corrosion.

3.   Concrete - Concrete is a composite substance comprised of fine and coarse aggregates (such as gravel, crushed stone, recycled concrete, and geosynthetic aggregates) that are joined by a liquid binder like cement that hardens or cures over time. The most popular type of cement is Portland cement, which is made of grinded materials heated in a kiln with clay and limestone before being mixed with gypsum. Thus, the mineral aggregate is combined with Portland cement, water, and Portland cement to create Portland cement concrete. After mixing, the cement cures or hardens to form the concrete-like substance we are familiar with. Below are some of the attributes of concrete: -

• Concrete may be poured into a mould to assume almost any shape and harden into a substance similar to stone.

• When constructing building schedules for concrete construction, engineers and architects must account for the hardening time, which takes at least seven days to cure.

• It is the best material for a house foundation because of its adaptability, affordability, and strength. A concrete home foundation is typical because it can support a big load and withstand the stresses of the surrounding environment.

• To increase the tensile strength of concrete, engineers often reinforce it with steel rods or bars.

4. Sand - Sand is another crucial component utilised in building construction. Sand comes in various types, much like steel and bricks. Concrete sand, pit sand, river sand, M-sand, utility sand, and fill sand are the six types used in construction in India. Concrete sand, as its name implies, is created by crushing concrete and is frequently used in cement and asphalt mixtures. After being crushed, the sand for concrete is filtered to remove pebbles and other foreign objects. River sand is a fine-graded, white-grey sand collected from rivers and streams' banks. Since no additional manufacturing expenditures are involved because this sort of sand is found naturally, it is less expensive. M-sand, also known as manufactured sand, is created in a factory, unlike river sand. Since it is easily accessible and gives concrete outstanding durability and strength, this sand is frequently used instead of river sand in construction. 

Each of these materials has unique qualities, such as weight, strength, cost, and durability, making it appropriate for specific applications. The choice of materials for building a house depends on their cost and ability to withstand the loads and pressures placed on the structure. You can work with your structural engineer to decide the type of materials depending on your requirements.