1. STEEL
Steel is a metal alloy of iron and carbon and often other alloying material in its composition to make it stronger and more fracture-resistant than iron. Stainless steels resist corrosion and oxidation because of the additional chromium in their make-up. Because it is so strong compared to its weight and size, structural engineers use it for the structural framework of tall modern buildings and large industrial facilities. Some of its qualities include
2. CONCRETE
Concrete is a composite material made of fine and coarse aggregate (think gravel, crushed stone, recycled concrete, and geosynthetic aggregates) bound together by a liquid binder such as cement that hardens or cures over time. Portland cement is the most common type of cement, and is a fine powder, produced by heating limestone and clay materials in a kiln and adding gypsum. So Portland cement concrete consists of the mineral aggregate, bound with Portland cement and water. After mixing, the cement hardens or cures into the stone-like material we think of as concrete.
3. WOOD
Among the oldest, or perhaps the oldest, of building materials, wood has been used for thousands of years and has properties that make it an ideal building material—even in the days of engineered and synthetic materials.
4. STONE
The longest lasting building material available is the one that’s been here for thousands of years: stone. In fact, the most ancient of buildings still in existence in the world are made of stone. It has many advantages, though engineers and architects must make some special considerations when planning a building using stone.
5. BRICK/MASONRY
Masonry construction uses individual units (such as bricks) to build structures that are usually bound together by some kind of mortar. Historically, clay bricks were formed in a mold and kiln-fired. The strongest and most commonly used masonry unit now is a concrete block, which may be reinforced with steel. Glass, brick, and stone can all be used in a masonry structure.
