This document provides information on common building materials used in construction including cement, sand, bricks, and timber. It describes the manufacturing processes and key properties of each material. Cement is produced through mixing, burning, and grinding processes. Sand is obtained from rivers or seas and used as fine aggregate. Bricks are made from clay then dried and burnt. Timber comes from tree trunks and its quality depends on factors like density and lack of defects. The document also lists common types of each material and their uses in construction.

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BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
The Various Building materials used in construction are as below
1. Cement
2. Sand
3. Bricks
4. Timber
Let us learn about building materials used in construction, their features and properties.
CEMENT – Cement is the most important construction material without which its not possible to
construct. Cement acts as a Binding Material. Cement in earlier days are prepared by drying and
burning of Clay and chalk at very high temperature of up to 1800 deg F. Now a days the common
cement i.e. Portland cement is prepared by using a mixture of Lime, Silica and alumina.
The Main Process in manufacturing of cement are
1. Mixing
2. Burning and
3. Grinding
The final product is properly checked and some lumps if any are removed and packed and used.
The two main process of manufacturing cement are Dry Process and Wet process.
Main components of cement are
1. Lime – 60 % approx.
2. Silica, Alumina – 30 %
3. Magnesia and other alkalies – 10 %
Following are the characteristics of good Quality cement
1. Ideal Portland cement shall be of green colour.
2. The Sp gravity of cement is in the range from 2.2 -3.0
3. Initial and final setting times shall be 30 min and 10 hrs respectively.
4. Weight of cement shall be between 1200 to 1800 Kg/ cum
Routines checks carried out at site to check the quality of cement
1. If we put our hand in a bag of cement, feeling shall be cool.
2. When little bit of cement is thrown in tub of water, cement should sink and not float.
3. Blackish or other colours of cement means some foreign materials are mixed during
manufacturing.
The various important types of cement available in the market are as below
1. Ordinary Portland cement- Regular use
2. Quick Setting cement – Used in underwater construction and initial setting time is 2min.
3. Rapid Hardening cement – Quickly hardens used preferable in flowing water.
4. Low heat cement – produces lot of heat, hence used in Dam construction.
5. Sulphate Resisting cement- Better in resisting chemicals, used in structures where sewage or
any waste comes in contact.

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SAND
Sand is obtained by highly weathering of rocks. Main component of sand is silica. Sand is often found
is various shapes i.e. round or angular. Sand is also Fine aggregate. Sand is mainly available from
River or sea and are addressed as river sand / Sea sand.
River sand Characteristics – River sand are mostly round due to action of water movement. This type
of sand is often used in the finishing works.
Sea sand characteristics – Sea sand as name suggests is obtained from sea bed. This sand is mostly
salty nature. This type of sand is not used in regular construction work.
The following aspects shall be taken care in sand
1. Colour of sand
2. How much fine the sand is and is determined by sieve analysis.
3. Voids present in sand
4. Amount of salts present in sand
Also, a very important silt check is performed at site before the sand is used for construction using a
jar and is checked by settling time.
BRICKS
Bricks are obtained by burning and drying of clay in Kiln. The various types of bricks are
1. First class bricks
The Main characteristics of first-class bricks are
a) These are of proper shape and with proper rectangular edges.
b) First class bricks do not break when dropped from 1m height.
c) A metallic ringing sound is heard when they are hit against each other.
2. Second Class bricks
a) These bricks are not that rectangular in shape.
b) Small cracks and finger nail marks can be made on these bricks.
3. Third class bricks
a) These are regularly obtained bricks which are not regular in shape,
b) Edges are not very rectangular; the colour is a little less than brick red and are a bit
under burnt.
Brick earth is used for making of bricks and contains 40 % of Alumina and 60 % of Silica.
This brick earth is properly made in correct proportions and is placed in mould and then
is dried and burnt in Brick Klin.
Properties and Characteristics of Good Bricks
1. The standard size of brick is 19 cm X 9 cm X 9 cm
2. An indent is made on top of brick called FROG for proper bonding with mortar.
3. A brick when immersed in water for 24 hrs shall not absorb water more than 10 % of its
weight.
4. Crushing strength of brick shall not be less than 11 N/sq.mm

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5. The surface of brick shall be smooth and with square corners.
TIMBER
The raw form of timber is LOG. The log is basically the bark of a tree when cut . This Log is converted
and used as timber
Starting from outer the various layers of Trunk of tree are
1. Bark – The outer most portion of trunk
2. Cambium layer
3. Annual Rings
4. Sap Wood
5. Heart Wood
6. Pith – Inner most portion of trunk
Characteristics of Timber
1. More weight
2. Close annual rings
3. Free from cracks and blemishes
4. Should not have wide space between rings.
5. Dull sound should not come when stuck against each other.
6. Colour shall be dark and not light .
List of various defects in Timber
1. Radial shakes
2. Heart shakes
3. Star shakes
4. Ring shakes
5. Rind galls
6. Knots
Types of timber and their uses
1. Converted Timber – Timber is sawn and cut into various sizes
2. Standing timber – The timber which we see on living tree is standing tress
3. Rough Timber- Timber obtained after tree falls to ground.
Types of timber used in construction
Bamboo – This is strong timber and used for Roof of structures and Scaffolding purposes
Banyan – Used in door panels and good against resistant to moisture.
Deodar – All railway sleepers are made by this timber.
Mahogony – Easily workable and hard used to make ornamental furniture.
Mango – Brown in colour used often in Door and window frames, furniture.
Sal -Used in bridges, Posts,Piles etc

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Sandal – Scented yellow colour and used in making Boxes and fancy items.
Teak – Extremely durable, Dark brown used in buildings, railway carriages etc
Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber
1. Advantages –
1. Can be moulded to different shapes
2. Light in weight
3. Aesthetically good
4. If locally available then its economical.
5. The houses or structures made of timber can be easily movable from one place to
another.
Disadvantages
1. Fire Risk
2. Not suitable for extremely cold and moist places
3. Lot of care and maintenance is necessary
4. If not locally available then there is cost implications.
Interview Questions Related to Building Material and construction
1. Main constituent of Portland cement is - Lime
2. Le chatelier’s device is used for determining - Soundness of cement
3. Material responsible for initial setting of cement – Tri calcium aluminate
4. Initial setting time of cement is - 30 min
5. Final setting time of cement is – 10 hrs
6. Best retarder used is cement is – Gypsum
7. The fineness of cement is known by – Air Permeability test
8. Pozzolana in Ordinary Portland cement causes – Shrinkage
9. Vicats apparatus is used to test – Initial and Final setting time
10. For dams what type of cement is used – Low heat cement.
11. No of bricks in 1 cum volume – 500 nos
12. Pug mill is used for preparation of – Clay
13. The process of mixing clay, water and other ingredients is called – Kneading
14. The indent provided on top of the brick is called – Frog
15. The percentage of silica in good brick clay is – 50-60%
16. What is efflorescence - Formation of salts on brick surface
17. Which soil is good for making bricks – alluvial
18. Central part of trunk section is called – Pith
19. Seasoning of timber is done to – improves strength of timber
20. Due to dry rot timber – becomes powder
21. The trunk of tree after cutting all branches is called – Log
22. Number of days required for seasoning of timber – 120-150 days
23. The age of tree can be known by – its annular rings
24. Tell types of soft wood -chir and deodar
25. The strength of timber is maximum in which direction – Parallel to grains