Brief study of materials used in interiors

1. Interior Material And Surfaces
Ar. Mansi Gupta

2. Natural Materials & Synthetic Materials
• technical function
• practical function
• aesthetic function
•concrete and cement based materials,
• stone,
• glass,
•Ceramics
• tiles
• woods---- wood composites and veneers,
• plaster and plaster composites,
• metals--- iron, copper, steel, aluminium,
synthetics,
• plastics, rubber, linoleum, resins,
•fabrics ----leather and suede,
• wall and window finishes,
• paints, varnishes
• lacquers

3. Wood & Wood Composites – primary building material
•Hard Wood
•Soft Wood
• Plywood
•Tongue and groove
•Veneers
•Chipboard
•Laminated Butchers Block
•Strip Laminates
•Melamine Coated Wood
•Cork
• Willow
•MDF
•Hardboard

4. Hardwood & Softwood
•Softwoods are found in building
components e.g., windows,
doors, furniture, medium-density
fibreboard (MDF), paper,
Christmas trees, use to make
balustrade or composite block
boards for bookshelves or
panelling. Pines are one of the
most commonly used
softwoods.
•Poor in fire resistance
•Low in cost
•hardwoods are more likely to be
found in high-quality furniture,
decks, flooring, and construction
that needs to last. Used in
fixtures such as stair tread, doors.
Available in laminated veneers
and sheets
•Lumber is stronger, denser and
homogeneous.
•Good in fire resistance
•Cost is high

5. Hardwood doors
Both are availaible in various standard sizes
best grade - required for a natural or stained
finish
at least 6 inches wide and 8 to 16 feet long

6. Plywood
•Made from sheets of cross laminated wood veneer with resin adhesive under heat
•Light weight
•Stable against moisture
•Marine ply/water and boil proof
WBP are water resistance
•Flexible plywood can curved
in one direction
•Used in structural, decking ,
framing ,panelling ,shelving ,
furniture , doors
Used in kitchen counters

7. Chip board or particle board
•Made from pressure bonded wood chips using synthetic resin adhesive under heat
• susceptible to moisture , swelled and break down when waterlogged.
•Indoor use only, serves as a base of other finishing material.
• low cost , basic , rough product, found beneath the laminates or veneers of many
ready formed shelves and work surfaces

8. Laminated butchers block
•Narrow and uniform strips of hardwood (4 cm) glues together to form thick heavy
sheet i.e blutchers block
• extreme dense , durable and unlikely to warp , hard wearing and luxurious
•Used as solid wooden counters or for kitchen backsplashes, table tops
• oiling and varnish is required for durability.

9. Melamine coated wood
•Decorative , durable plastic layer adhere to stable , inexpensive substrate like
chipboard or MDF
• easily cleaned waterproof surface, give high gloss finish.
• light weight , strong in tension , hard , brittle , available
in different colours and textures , easy to clean with
cleansers
•Used ready to assemble furniture
• susceptible to scratching and can crack

10. Cork oaks
•Cork is tree’s bark , harvested and used in raw form , have honeycomb texture , a fine
elastic structure of tiny air pockets.
• versatile , durable , lightweight , soft , warm
• resistant to high temperatures , moulds easily into various shapes
• high acoustic and insulation value
• does not absorb dust , resilient to water
•Low in cost
• light weight , strong in tension , hard , brittle , available indifferent colours and
textures , easy to clean with cleansers
•Used in heatproof table mats , flooring , floor tiles in bathroom areas , panelling

11. Cork oaks

12. MDF – Medium density fibreboard
•Pressured and heat bonded Fine wood fibres adhered to flat , rigid , knot free sheet.
•Smooth surface good for veneers , laminates , paint work , cost effective
• highly dense and heavy , susceptible to moisture - swelled and break down
•Used frameworks and cabinets as wall panelling

13. Hard boards
• pulped wood waste and wood fibres extracted from wood chips adhered with
synthetic resin under heat and pressure.
• one side is glossy finish and other is textured.
• susceptible to moisture - swelled and break down
•Used as substrate for melamine and veneer , in flush doors , substitute of plywood
where strength and durability not required.

14. Metals
IRON , FORGED & WROUGHT MILD STEEL
ALUMINIUM STAINLESS STEELWOVEN SHEET
GOLD LEAF
COPPER
ZINC GOLD LEAF

15. Iron •Basic form of iron ore – pig iron
•Cast iron – strong in compression , but brittle and rigid
• uses are in structural element , columns , beams ,
spiral staircases , outdoor furniture
• wrought iron – strong in tension
can be easily pulled , twisted , hammered ,
stretched.
• uses are limited to decorative applications and outdoor
garden furniture
• corrugated iron -- corrugation give iron sheet strength
• used in temporary structures , agricultural buildings ,
cladding.
• coating is required because iron is prone to rusting when used
outdoors.
•Coating is done by metal paints and lacquers.

16. •Iron furniture is built to last.
•Heavy and solid furniture.
•Heavy frames
•Smooth welds
•Thick, even paint
•Protective caps at the bottoms of legs
•Mesh wrought iron: little flex and clean
edges where mesh meets frame
•Ideal for outdoor furniture's

17. Steel
•Steel framework allows higher , lighter and
airier buildings.
•Minimum structural frames– walls can be
infill of glass—layout can be open and free of
division.
•Steel is a "green" product. It is also energy
efficient. Any excess material is 100%
recyclable.
•Steel does not easily warp, buckle, twist or
bend, and is therefore easy to modify and
offers design flexibility. Steel is also easy to
install.
•Steel allows for improved quality of
construction and less maintenance, while
offering improved safety and resistance.

18. •Used as structural element like trusses , beams ,
lintels , posts.
• perforated sheets for panelling/screening.
•Tubes for table legs
•Safety nosing for stair treads.
•Galvanized steel --- outdoor furniture , water planters
, grates for rainwater gulley.
• household appliances and utensil
• Mild Steel beams , columns , trusses
•Steel roofing
•Mild Steel

19. Perforated sheet metal
Steel wire mesh

20. •Stainless Steel
•Modern interior furnishing material
•Good for low maintenance
•Chromium thin film of oxide on surface protects
from rust.
•Stainless steel – 18% chromium , 8-12% nickel
•Imp. Property is resistant to corrosion
•Expensive in cost
Used as indoor and outdoor furniture , exterior light
fixtures , household appliances , ironwork , wall
ties.
•Sheets used in panelling , backsplashes , nosing.
• available in rods , tubes , sheets.
•Adding manganese – for impact resistance
•Adding tungsten – withstand in high temperature
•Galvanisation with zinc -- weatherproof

21. GLASS TABLE WITH STAINLESS STEEL
ELEVATOR INTERIOR CLADDING
STAINLESS STEEL KITCHEN CABINET, TABLE TOP
LASER CUT MILD STEEL PANEL

22. Aluminium– silver white metal with bluish tinge
•Light weight – well used in aeronautical engineering. , less load in bearing structure.
• 3 rd most abundant element in earth’s crust – 20% of world’s al is used in construction
sector
•High resistant to corrosion and tensile strength replaced steel in many applications.
•3 times lighter than steel with same strength.
•Good conductor of heat and electricity
•100% recyclable.
•Used as windows, roofing, cladding,
•curtain walling and structural glazing,
•prefabricated buildings, architectural hardware,
•H&V, shop fitting and partitions
• medium in cost
• available in sheets.
AL is a light , silver-grey metal

23. ACP aluminium composite panel
Interior partition wall frame

24. ACP aluminium
composite panel

25. Copper
roofing
• only brown metal , warm and rich tones
•Durable , corrosion resistance , prestigious
appearance , form complex shapes
•Requires more maintenance than any other
metal. Require regular cleaning to preserve warm
colour and finish.
•Uses – irregular roofing structures --domes ,
vaults
•Gutter , downspouts .
•Wall cladding
•Indoor panels , screens , ornaments , fixture ,
decoration.

26. WALL CLADDING ---
POPULAR IN MODERN
ARCHITECTURE

27. Copper-Metal-Pipes-
Home-Designing
•Copper surface kills pathogenic microbes ,
therefore it is used for public health benefits.
•Copper countertops , sinks , handles ,
doorknob , faucet , furniture.

28. Zinc
Bluish white metal-exterior cladding
•Naturally resistant to corrosion.
Requires no finish
•More than half zinc produced is used
to galvanize steel and protect it from
rusting.
• soft and easily scratched.
•Pliable and durable.
•Used to make roofing , flashing , gutter
downpipes.
Zinc countertop
•Sustainable choice – zinc can be
recycled and also for biological reasons.
•Cast for sculptures and decorative
element : can be moulded easily

29. •Zinc oxide paint are non-toxic and
resistant to pollution.
•Zinc roofing replaced more expensive
copper and lead roofing.
ZINC GUTTER , DOWNPIPES

30. Gold leaf – finish of real gold
• either made from pure gold or mixture of cheaper
materials
• very thin to almost see through
• used as finishing layer , varnish is used in outdoor
conditions and in heavy wear
• used to cover repairs and joints , as a decorative
element in furniture's , walls
•Very high in cost.
Decorative purposes

31. Comparison Between Wooden and Metal Furniture:
• Design :
▫ Wood : limited shapes
▫ Metal : flexibility in forming and shape
• Weight
▫ Wood : heavy
▫ Metal : could be light ( aluminum )
• Firefighting
▫ Wood: easy to burn
▫ Metal : does not burn easily
• Cleanness :
▫ Wood : could be cleaned but it is difficult to use water / A material liked by insects
that hide in .
▫ Metal : easy to clean by water and it is not a field for insects
• Shape and looking :
▫ Wood : fixed shape
▫ Metal : could have different shapes using colors and paints
• Construction :
▫ Wood : complicated using glue and nails
▫ Metal : could be fixed and unfixed easily
• Safety :
▫ Wood : needs efforts to be smooth and easy to scratch.
▫ Metal : smooth surfaces and bears scratch / could be used for multi-loch doors .

32. Glass
STAINED GLASS TEXTURED GLASS
ANNEALED GLASS GLASS BLOCKPATTERNED GLASS
TOUGHENED GLASS
LAMINATED GLASS
19 MM THK FLOAT GLASS DECORATIVE GLASS

33. Glass is a chemically inert, brittle, hard but transparent construction material.
Glass is an element that helps us to achieve this goal of creating an empty space.
It’s the optimal solution for room that receive too little light.
making your home look spacious
Beauty & Versatility
Visibility & Light Transmission
Energy Conservation
Noise Resistant
Bullet Resistant
Non Load-Bearing

34. .Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered.
.In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyric
(PVB), between its two or more layers of glass.
.The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength
prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces.
.Windshields --- when cracked produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern
when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass.
Used where security is concern like for high grade construction , curtain wall ,
architectural ceiling , elevator parapet , skylights.
Specification : standard glass comes in 4-25mm thickness
Laminated glass

35. •Huge range of colours available
•Coloured laminated glass
•Transparent and translucent
•Glass wall curtain – weather proof
•UV protection
•Acoustic insulation
•Balustrade

36. Toughened or tempered glass is glass that has been processed by controlled
thermal or chemical treatments.
It has increased strength compared with normal glass and will usually shatter
into small fragments, rather than sharp shards, when broken.
Toughened glass (tempered glass)

38. The ellipse table has a walnut wood base
and a barrel-shaped tempered glass top.

41. •The use for laminated glass ranges from entrance doors and glass floors to
aquariums and display cases
•Tempered glass is almost 5 to 10 times stronger when compared to its
untempered counterpart. One very noticeable quality of this type is that it
breaks down into small granular pieces rather than sharp shards.
•tempered glass can take a higher load and deflects further before breaking.
However once the glass is toughened it cannot be reworked.
•Polishing and drilling holes into the glass needs to be done pre-toughening.
•Ground level doors and windows made from laminated glass are a safe bet.
This is also the most susceptible area when it comes to breaking and entering.
Laminated / toughened glass :

42. Fusion Glass
Fused glass is a term used to describe glass that has been fired
(heat-processed) in a kiln at a range of high temperatures from
593º C (1100ºF) to 816º C (1500ºF).
There are 3 main distinctions for temperature application and
the resulting effect on the glass.
Fused glass consists mainly of silica.
While the precise origins of glass fusing techniques are not
known with certainty

44. Float Glass
Float glass is a sheet of glass made by
floating molten glass on a bed of molten
tin.
This method gives the sheet uniform
thickness and very flat surfaces. Modern
windows are made from float glass.
Most float glass is soda-lime glass, but
relatively minor quantities of specialty
borosilicate and flat panel display glass are
also produced using the float glass
process.

46. •Most widely used type of glass
• Monolithic and highly transparent
•Manufactured in two main varieties, i.e.; clear and tinted.
•Used in mirrors , windows,curtain walls and doors.
•float glass can be toughened, a process that creates safety glass out of
annealed glass.
•Available in thicknesses 2-19 mm
•Can be coloured during manufacturing

48. Stained Glass
As a material the term stained glass generally refers to glass
that has been coloured by adding metallic salts during its
manufacture.
The coloured glass is crafted into stained glass windows in
which small pieces of glass are arranged to form patterns or
pictures, held together (traditionally) by strips of lead and
supported by a rigid frame.
Painted details and yellow stain are often used to enhance the
design.
The term stained glass is also applied to windows in which all
the colours have been painted onto the glass and then annealed
in a furnace.

50. Etched glass
•Etching refers to the technique of
creating art on the surface of glass by
applying acidic, caustic, or abrasive
substances.
•Glass with excellent finish to match
your interiors.

51. Decorative glass
Coloured glass

52. Decorative glass
patterned glass

53. patternedglass

54. Textured glass

55. GLASS BLOCKS
•These are hollow glass units or
blocks of glass shaped to work as
bricks
•Joined with the help of silicon
sealants to obtain seamless finish
•The two outer, exposed surfaces
may be smooth or textured.
•Glass bricks provide visual
obscuration while admitting light
• fire resistant.
•Standard blocks : 10x20cm (4x8
in , 15x15cm (6x6in) , 20x20cm
( 8x8in)

56. STONE - GRANITE
Polished graniteGranite textures
Solid slabs
•FLOOR TILES : 300MM OR 400 MM
SQUARE TO 900X600MM
•10 , 15 , 20 MM THICKNESS.

57. GRANITE
Granite stone steps
•GRANULAR APPEARANCE
•HIGH IN COST
•POLISHED TO SMOOTH FINISH

58. MARBLE
Marble wall
cladding surround
baths
•Sparkling white form
•Softer than granite and slate.
•Heatproof – but get damage from acids and stained .
•Sealant is required for high traffic areas.

59. MARBLE
Marble wall cladding
•FLOOR TILES : 300MM OR
400 MM SQUARE TO
900X600MM
•10 , 15 , 20 MM THICKNESS.

60. Slate
Slates texture and slate
flooring
•Heat , water and acid resistant
•Suitable for high traffic areas
•Medium in cost

61. Slate
Slate wall cladding

62. LIMESTONE
Slate wall cladding
• floor tiles : 305 or 400 mm (12 or 16 in)
square , to 900x600 mm ( 36x24 in )
•10 , 15 , 20 mm thickness
•Counters : 625 or 900 mm wide , 2 or 3 m
long

63. Limestone flooring

64. SANDSTONE
• floor tiles : 305 or 400 mm (12 or 16 in)
square , to 900x600 mm ( 36x24 in )
•10 , 15 , 20 mm thickness
•Mostly used in flooring

66. Terracotta tiles --
•Sealed with linseed
oil or wax
•Format available is
square
•Under floor heating

67. Quarry tiles --
Sealed with linseed
oil or wax
•Alternate to terracotta
• square format
•Cheap in cost
• available in 150 mm square
•Also in 50-300mm square
•Square tiles in 6 , 14 , 16 mm
thick
•Interlocking tiles are 9 mm
thick

68. Ceramic tiles --
•Huge range of colour , texture ,
patterns , shape , size
•Square , oblong , hexagon ,
regular and irregular blocksfrom
12mm sqaure to 300x300 mm

69. Ceramic tiles --

70. Mosaic tiles -- •Smallest tile among all tiles

71. LED TILES
•LED modules insets into ceramic tiles
•Decorative lighting

72. PEBBLE TILES
•Tiles availaible in squares , interlocking pattern on all
sides for no visible joints.
•Thickness are 10mm , 14mm , 22mm to max
dimension of 80x180cm
•Best use indoors

74. GLASS TILES
•Made from glass and
ceramics
•Impervious to liquids
and vapours
•Format shapes
30cmx30cm
•4-6 mm thickness
•Resists fading ,
staining and
discoloration
•Finishes include
transparent ,
translucent or frosted

76. FUNCTIONAL
TILES

77. RUBBER
•2.5 mm thk – domestic use
•4 mm thk for heavy traffic use
•Best for damp areas – areas surrounds swimming
pools , roof gardens , terraces , bathrooms
•Recycled product
•Low toxicity compared to PVC OR Vinyl flooring

79. LEATHER
•FLOOR TILES ARE IN
FORMAT OF SQUARE .
•Wax rubbed for finish
•Joints are sealed to
prevent moisture
penetration
Floor tiles bonded to
11mm wooden
backing with tongue
and groove joint

82. VINYL
•PVC DOOR FRAME
•VINYL OR UNPLASTICIZED
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE ALSO
KNOWN AS P.V.C
•IS A SYNTHETIC MATERIAL
ORIGINALLY USED AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR NATURAL
RUBBER
•VINYL IS USED AS-
•FLOORING
•PLUMBING
•CEILING
•ROOFING
•DOORS AND WINDOWS
FRAMEWORK

85. Example of vinyl roofing
VINYL ROOFING

87. ACRYLIC
•USED AS A SUBSTITUTE OF
GLASS
•CAN BE CAST INTO FORMS
•MIXED WITH PIGMENTS AND
FILLERS -- USED TO SIMULATE
DENSE NATURAL MATERIALS

88. ACRYLIC
•STRONG AND DURABLE
•THIN SECTIONS – MORE
STRENGTH