The Properties of Building Materials

When you construct something, you should make sure that the materials you’re going to can stand the test of time. For example, if you build the most crucial component of the structure which is the foundation, you have to be mindful about the materials that your supplier gives you. Contractors of Mcallen foundation repair are particular about this. In this article, we have the 3 properties of building materials that you should look out for.  

Building Materials 

Must Last Overtime 

A building is a great investment for you. To make it worth your investment, make sure that the materials you use are durable and can last over time. It means that it should withstand any chemical or biological attack. This property doesn’t apply to their strength alone, but also to their color and appearance. Did you notice how most of the building changes color over years? It’s because of the building’s exposure to the sun’s rays, which decreases the appearance factor of the building. So make sure that the materials you use are UV stable, especially the exterior.  

Overtime, concrete will lose its integrity and strength because of chemicals that might seep into it through atmospheric pollution and rainwater. The building tends to crack or shows other signs of damage. The steel material corrodes and rusts over time, which is a major impact on the ability of the building to carry the loads. It means that the structure is going to be useless.  

Must be Strong 

Each part of a building or any structure is prone to force, at whatever level. Each part should have the capacity to carry the loads that fall in it. There are other components that you can attach on a building’s components, like railings, brackets, pipes, fixtures, wall shelves and ducts. These components should be attached still. The building materials are actually rayed on its tensile strength or comprehensive strength. The tensile strength refers to the force you use to the swing’s chain and the comprehensive strength is like the force of the bricks that press down on each other.    

Must Resist Wear and Tear 

In the world of building structures, the wear and tear is referred to as abrasion resistance. This resistance is important for every part of the building because everything is prone to some level of abrasion. So the materials should resist wear and tear to keep on standing still. There is a standardize test like Taber Test which measures how resistant the building material is to the wear and tear. During this test, a metal disc is rotated against the material at a fixed time with a standard speed.  

The sample material is weighed after and before. The difference will then show us how much material is lost. If there are many materials lost, it has less resistance. You can do this test when you compare different materials so you can choose which one if the best for a particular space in your house or building.  

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