Construction Materials

Building Homes with Natural Materials

Naturally occurring building material is best used in the areas where they occur. Among these are wood, stone, mud or clay, lime and naturally growing grasses like bamboo and straw. All these materials can be used by themselves or in combination with...

Low Cost Housing Can Help to Provide Shelter to Millions

Low cost housing can lead to more people being able to live in better conditions than the slums that a vast majority of urban population in cities around the world seems to have to contend with. This can definitely help to improve the quality of life...

Intumescent Paint and Coatings

Spray-on fireproof coatings are an effective method for protecting equipment and structures from fire and heat. However, these materials tend to have particular advantages and disadvantages. Read this article to learn about the properties, indications...

Characteristics of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)

Glass fiber reinforced concrete is an engineered material that contains cement, polymers, and glass fibers that are ingrained in the cementious matrix. The GFRC properties are influenced by the glass contents, mix design, and production process. GFRC...

What is a Lacquer Based Paint?

Lacquer is a colored coating that is frequently used to produce a shiny wood appearance. Lacquer types are nitrocellulose, and less often cellulose, which is expensive and produces an appearance that is not very attractive. Lacquer will be durable if...

Replacing Wood Structures with Plastic Lumber in City and State Parks

This article provide helpful information about the advantages and drawbacks of using plastic lumber for park site amenities and municipal structures such as picnic tables, benches, fences, docks, and decks.

Closed Cell Foam Materials in Construction

Very light, extremely strong and excellent insulators. These are the main properties of closed cell foams that construction and other fields are taking advantage to ensure protection and high performance.

Preventing Carpenter Bee Structural Damage

It takes quite a while for carpenter bees to actually cause structural damage to a building but if the extent of their damage does get to the structural level the cost to repair it could be substantial. If you catch them early though, the problem is easily...

Cement Production, Hazards, and Recycling

Cement is used globally for construction, and its raw materials are lime, silica, and alumina. With the whole world on a construction spree, demand for cement is increasing, but the associated disadvantages of using cement and how to control them is the...

Concrete That Compacts on Its Own? - Description and Advantages

This type of concrete, unlike the conventional one, can be conveniently poured in narrow places since it does not require vibration. The ingredients are the same as in the conventional mixture except for the water reducing agent that improves its properties...