Material Properties and Construction Process in Housing

Different Properties of Materials

The ability of a resistance material to resist forces without distorting excessively or breaking is a crucial property.

• Toughness

  Toughness is the property that some materials have to withstand forces repeatedly without breaking.

• Resilience

  Resilience is the property of a material to recover its original shape after being deformed by an effort.

• Ductility

  Ductility is the property of certain materials to deform permanently into a thin wire without breaking.

• Malleability

  Malleability is the property of certain materials to deform permanently in the form of a thin sheet without breaking.

• Hardness

  Hardness is the property that indicates the opposition a material offers to being penetrated or scratched.

Different Types of Stresses

• Traction

  Traction occurs when two opposing forces act on a body and tend to stretch it or lengthen it.

• Compression

  Compression occurs when the forces acting on an object are in the same direction but are opposite.

• Bending Stress

  When loads or forces acting on a piece are applied against its longitudinal axis and tend to bend it, we say the piece supports a bending stress.

• Torque

  The effect of the action of forces that make a body turn or curve is called torque.

• Shear Strain or Shear

  If we cut paper with scissors, clothes, or anything else, what we do is concentrate two opposing forces on one part of this element. If the forces are large enough and overcome the resistance offered by the material, the result is obvious: the cut. This is known as shear strain.

Phases of the Construction Process of a House

The phases are: foundations, structures, decks, fences, siding, finishing, and facilities.

Materials Used to Build a Home

• Binders

  These are materials in powder form that are mixed with water. When they acquire plasticity and after a period of time, they become consistent.

• Conglomerates

  Conglomerates are obtained by mixing a binder with sand or gravel. After adding water and kneading them, they acquire plasticity and can take various forms. After the binder sets, they become highly resistant to compression.

• Foundations

  Foundations are a construction element on the ground that transmits all the forces of the building. They are buried and support the structure of the building.

• Structure

  The structure is intended to support all the stresses of the building and convey them to the foundations to be compensated.

• Covers and Enclosures

  The covers horizontally separate the building from the outside. Their function is to protect homes from rain and snow and prevent moisture penetration.

• Closures

  Closures are formed by the walls, which serve to isolate and separate the different rooms from each other or from the outside.

• Coatings and Finishes

  Coatings conceal irregularities and imperfections in walls, ceilings, and other building elements and prepare them to receive the finish.