Unity University

Building Materials &

construction I

Building materials & construction I

Course Outline:

Course Number : Arch 1151

Course Title : Building Materials & Construction I
Credit Hour : 3
Course Objective : Equip students with the theoretical and practical
understanding of basic principles in architecture
related to materials.

Building materials & construction I

Course Outline:

Course Description : The origin and characteristics of common

building materials,
: Composition and properties of building materials,
: The preparation and production of materials
commonly used in Ethiopia: Stone, earth, wood,
cement, lime, mortar, sand & concrete,
: Introduction of blocks make of these materials,
finishing materials like paints, tiles etc.

Building materials & construction I

Course Outline:

Teaching & Learning Methods : Lectures and Studio exercises

Assessment/ Evaluation : Attendance 5%
: Presentation 10%

: Continuous Assessment (Project) 15%

: Final Submission (Project) 30%

: Final Examination 40%

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Semester Project

In a group of two, choose one story (Ground floor) residential house and
prepare working drawing.

- Site Plan

- Floor Plan

- Sections

- Elevations

Building materials & construction I

Literature:

 Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials & Methods,3rd

Edition Merritt, Allen & Edward
 Materials, Structures, & Standards: All the details Architects need to
know but can never find, Julia Mcmorrough
 Concrete & Masonry Handbook, For Architects, Engineers, Builders,
5th Edition. Panarese, WC, Kosmatka, SH

Building materials & construction I

Introduction

Building: relatively permanent

enclosed construction over a plot of
land, having roof, wall with windows
and used for any activity, as living
entertaining, manufacturing etc.

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Introduction (cont.)
Building components: has two main parts.
- Super structure :- is everything that is
above ground.
- Sub- structure:- is the part of
the building that is underneath the
ground.
:- wall, roof, foundation, window, door,
structure.

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Introduction (cont.)

Building Structure: refers to any body

of connected parts that is designed
to bear loads.

- Skeleton/ structure

- Enclosure/ envelope/ skin

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Introduction (cont.)

Building materials: for specific building component there are variety of

materials.

Foundation :- concrete, stone, steel

Wall :- mud, wood, brick, concrete, steel, glass,

Roof:- concrete, thatch, mud, corrugated iron sheet.

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Introduction (cont.)
Classification of building material :-
I. Metallic and Non‐metallic
a. Non metallic
b. Metallic . Non ferrous
‐ Concrete
‐ Timber . Ferrous . Aluminum
‐ Stone . Wrought iron . Copper
‐ Plastic
. Cast iron . Lead
‐ Ceramics
. Steel . Zinc

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Introduction (cont.)
Classification of building material :-
based on mode of manufacturing
. Naturally occurring materials
e.g. stone ,wood,
. Industrially produced materials
e.g. cement, steel, plastic etc.,
. Materials produced at construction site.
e.g. concert, mortar.

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Introduction (cont.)

Construction: the action of building something.

: the process of making building.

- process

- techniques

- construction system

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Building Materials &
construction I
Lecture I
Stone

Building materials & construction I

What is Stone ?
The hard, solid, non-metallic minerals matter of the
rock, a building material.
:- are rocks that are formed from earth’s crust and
have no definite shape and chemical composition
but are mixture of minerals.

Stone as building material

Stones have been considered as one of the popular
material from the olden days due to their availability
in abundance from the natural rocks.
The stones which are suitable for the construction of
structures such as retaining walls, dams, barrages,
roads etc. are known as building stone.

Building materials & construction I

Sources of Stone
Monomineralic rock:- composed of one mineral type only.
Ex. Metamorphic rock marble (composed entirely of calcite)
Polymineralic rock:- mixtures of two or more minerals.
Ex. Granite composed of quartz, feldspar, & mica.

- Rocks are generally

classified by mineral and
chemical composition, by
the texture of the
constituent particles and
by the processes that
formed them.
Building materials & construction I
Classification
1. Geological classification

Building materials & construction I

Classification
1. Geological classification
A. Igneous rocks :- are formed from
molten magma.
- They represent different structural features
depending upon the condition of
solidification and composition.
- Generally they are strong and durable.
Ex. Granite, basalt, trap, etc.

Building materials & construction I

The rocks formed by
• solidification of magma within the mantle or crust are called
intrusive igneous rocks.
e.g. granite and gabbro
• and those that form at the surface from lavas are called extrusive
igneous rocks.
e.g. basalt and rhyolite

Building materials & construction I

Building materials & construction I
Granite is used in buildings, bridges, paving, monuments, and many other
exterior projects. Indoors, polished granite slabs and tiles are used in
countertops, tile floors, stair treads and many other design elements.

Building materials & construction I

The products made from basalt can also be used effectively in
the construction of bridges, highways, residential and industrial buildings.

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Classification
1. Geological classification
B. sedimentary rocks :- are formed by the
deposition of previously existing rocks due to
weathering actions.
destructive agents:- water(rain), frost,
wind and chemical actions.
- The rocks which are formed by gradual
deposition.
Ex. Sandstone, Limestone, Gravel, Gypsum etc.
Sandstone is made of sand sized grains.
Limestone is a light whitish gray stone.

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Sandstone:- they offer endless possibilities as both a decorating
and building material.
They are suitable for both indoors as well as outdoor areas.

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 Limestone:- as a building material, an essential component of concrete
(Portland cement), as aggregate for the base of roads.

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Classification
1. Geological classification
C. Metamorphic rocks :- Formed by a change in
character of a pre existing rock due to,
• heat (Thermal Metamorphism),
• chemicals or pressure (Cataclastic Meta.), and
• dynamo‐thermal metamorphism.( does not
include weathering and sedimentation)
The process of metamorphism, literally a "change
in form," takes place deep beneath the earth's
surface and acts on all rocks‐igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Ex. Marble

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Building materials & construction I
Marble:-

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The process of rock formation
The earth's crust is dynamic and is subject to a variety of processes that act upon
all types of rocks. The effect of these processes makes anyone of these rocks to
be changed into another type.

Building materials & construction I

Classification
2. Physical classification

 Stratified :‐ Have planes of stratification, i.e. these could be split up

easily. Ex:‐ Sedimentary
 Un‐stratified :‐ these may have a crystalline or compact granular
structure. Ex:‐ Igneous and sedimentary rocks
 Foliated:‐ Have tendency to split up in a definite direction.
Ex:‐ metamorphic rock

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Classification
3. Chemical classification

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Stone Quarrying
It is a process of taking out stones from natural rock bed.
Quarry :‐ Exposed surface of a natural rock surface.

The site for quarrying should be selected keeping in mind of the

following points:‐
• Availability of equipment's
• Availability of enough space around the proposed quarry site,
• Proximity to the transport facility and distance of the quarry
• Drainage of quarry, availability of water, geological data etc.

Building materials & construction I

Quarry Stone Production
Processing stages applied in production:
 Drilling of closely spaced boreholes in rock for subsequent
separation of large lumps of stone from the massif.
 Breaking of these lumps into standard products or similar‐size
stones.
 Treatment of stone surface ,dressing ,grinding and polishing.
 Loading and hauling of stone.

Building materials & construction I

Important consideration before starting the quarry
 Examination of a rock surface
 Laying out of the proper plan
 Proper coordination between man power and machineries.
 Removal of the top surface
 Structural Stability

• The method of quarrying will depend to some extent on the

nature of the stone.
• Quarrying could be done using hand tools, Machineries, or
Blasting.

Building materials & construction I

Important consideration before starting the quarry
 Examination of a rock surface
 Laying out of the proper plan
 Proper coordination between man power and machineries.
 Removal of the top surface
 Structural Stability

• The method of quarrying will depend to some extent on the

nature of the stone.
• Quarrying could be done using hand tools, Machineries, or
Blasting.

Building materials & construction I

Requirements of building stone
Despite the abundance of rock, relatively few stones satisfy the
requirements as building stones.

The important requirements are:

(1) Strength- refers the capacity of stone strong and durable to with
stand disintegrating action of weather.
(2) Hardness- capacity to resist scratching or abrasion.
(3) workability- is important since the ease of producing the required
sizes and shapes has a direct bearing on the cost.
(4) Durability- is the ability of the stone to withstand the effects of rain,
spray, wind, dust, frost action, heat, and fire.

Building materials & construction I

Requirements of building stone

(5) color and grain- is very important from the standpoint of aesthetics and
location.

(6) porosity - Is the percentage of void space that a rock contain.

(7) Texture- the fineness of grain, affects workability and therefore cost.

Fine‐textured rock splits and dresses more readily than coarse rock.

For many ornamental purposes, also, the texture is important.

Building materials & construction I

Requirements of building stone

(8) ease of quarrying- is a prime consideration in judging the

suitability of stone for building. The bedding and joint planes
must be such that the stone can be produced in sizable, sound
blocks.
(9) accessibility- also affects cost. Transportation over long
distances is expensive but in some cases becomes a necessity.

Building materials & construction I

Factors affecting stone structure
• Alternate wetness or drying
• Frost‐ chill, ice, cold
• Impurities in Atmosphere
• Living organisms
• Movement of chemicals:‐ Ex, Placement of a sandstone below a
limestone
• Nature of Mortar
• Rain water :‐ Physical and chemical effect
• Temperature variations
• Vegetable growth
• Wind

Building materials & construction I

Precaution against Stone Weathering
• Compact Silicious stones:‐ It is desirable to use only compacted
Silicious stones for external surfaces./calcareous sandstones/
• External rendering:‐ Pointing or plastering should be done at
the time of construction.
• Joints:‐these should be thoroughly filled up.
• Natural Beds :‐ stones should be placed in position of their
natural beds.

Building materials & construction I

Precaution against Stone Weathering

• Qualities of stones:‐ the use of polished and finished stone

pieces are preferred.
• Seasoning of stones
• Size of stones
• Washing with water
• Use of stone decay preservative
‐ coal tar, Linseed oil etc.

Building materials & construction I

Why stone is losing its popularity?
1. Dressing of stones is tedious, laborious and time
consuming.
2. Desired strength and quality not available at moderate
rates especially in plain areas
3. RC and steel are alternatives to stone and gives more
strength and flexibility.
4. Stone structure design can’t freeness and flexibility to
the designer.

Building materials & construction I

GENERAL TYPES OF STONE USED IN ETHIOPIA

• Stone which does, in general, satisfy the foregoing

requirements and which is commonly used for construction in
Ethiopia include: basalt, trachyte, granite, limestone, marble,
sandstone, ignimbrite, pumice, and scoria.

• Basalt and trachyte are very common in Ethiopia and are mostly
used for stone masonry work and as crushed stone for road
construction and crushed aggregate for concrete making.

Building materials & construction I

GENERAL TYPES OF STONE USED IN ETHIOPIA

• Granite is generally hard, strong, durable, and capable of taking

a high polish.
Granite has a wide variety of use in building, including flooring,
interior and exterior facing, stair trades and skirting.

• Owing to its beautiful colors and durability marble is used as

wall cladding material, floor finishing and window sill.

Building materials & construction I

GENERAL TYPES OF STONE USED IN ETHIOPIA

• Sandstone, and ignimbrite are widely used for decorative purpose.

Ambo sand stone is a typical example in this aspect.

• Pumice and scoria are found in large quantities in the rift valley .
They are widely used in the manufacture of light weight concrete
block. Owing to its light weight concrete made of pumice is used for
forming slopes on flat concrete roofs.
Pumice is also used for production of Portland pozzolana cement.

Building materials & construction I

Assignment
GENERAL TYPES OF STONE USED IN
ETHIOPIA

- Source/ type
- Characteristics
- Properties
- Location/ Ethiopia
- Application

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