This document summarizes building materials used in construction. It discusses stones, bricks, cement, mortar, paints, and distempers. Stones are classified based on their geological, physical and chemical properties and are used for foundations, walls and floors. Bricks are made from clay and come in various shapes and classes. Cement provides strength and resistance to moisture. Mortar is used to bind building units and is made from cement and sand. Paints and distempers are coatings used to protect surfaces from weathering.

1. SEMINAR
ON
BUILDING
MATERIALS
Submitted by :
PRAKASH KUMAR
REGD.NO: 1201298038
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GANDHI INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY,BBSR

2. INTRODUCTION
The engineering structures are composed of materials which
are known as building materials.The service condition of
buildings demand a wide range of materials & various
properties such as water resistance ,strength ,durability
,temperature resistance ,Appearance ,permeability etc.
 Cement materials : Lime ,Cement ,Mortar
 Protective materials : Paints , Varnishes ,Plaster
 Solid materials : Stones ,Bricks ,Iron ,Timber

3. STONES
The building stones are obtained from the rocks
which are classified in three ways :
 Geological classification : Igneous Sedimentary &
Metamorphic rocks
 Physical classification : Stratified ,Unstratified
& Foliated rocks
 Chemical classification : Silicious ,Argillaceous &
calcareous rocks

4. USES OF STONES
 The stones are used for foundations, walls,
columns, lintels, roofs, floors etc.
 The stones are adopted to give massive
appearance to the structure.
 These are used to cover floor of buildings such as
residential, commercial, industrial etc. Also used
as ballast for railways.

5. QUALITIES OF A BUILDING STONE
 Crushing strength : It should be greater than 100N/mm2.
 Appearance : The stones to be used for face work should
be decent in appearance & they should be capable of
preserving their colour uniformly.
 Durability, Facility of dressing, Hardness, Texture,
weathering.
BUILDING STONES OF INDIA :
Chalk, Kankar, Limestone, Sandstone, Laterite, Marble,
Slate, Quartzite etc.

6. BRICKS
The bricks are obtained by moulding clay in rectangular blocks
of uniform size & then by drying & burning these blocks. Brick
is extensively used at present as a leading material of
construction because of its durability, strength, low cost, easy
availability, etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS :
 First class bricks : Are table moulded & are used for
structures like building, dams, roads, tunnels, etc.
 Second class bricks : Are ground moulded
 Third class brick : Are used at places where rainfall isn’t
heavy.

7. SHAPES OF BRICKS

8. QUALITIES OF BRICKS
 The bricks should be table mounded, well burnt, free from
cracks & with sharp & square edges.The colour should be
uniform & bright.
 It should give a clear metallic ringing sound when struck with
each other.
 No impression should be left on brick when scratched with
finger nail.
 Bricks shouldn’t break into pieces when dropped flat on
ground from a height of about one metre.

9. CEMENT
The cement is obtained by burning at a very high temperature a
mixture of calcareous & argillaceous materials.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT :
 Provides strength to masonry
 Excellent binding material
 Stiffens early
 Offers good resistance to the moisture

10. USES OF CEMENT
 Cement mortar for masonry work, plaster
 In construction of bridges, dams, tunnels, light houses docks
 Making joints for drains, pipes
 Preparation of foundations, footpaths
VARIETIES OF CEMENT :
 High alumina cement, Pozzolana cement
 Quick setting cement, coloured cement
 Rapid hardening & extra rapid hardening cement

11. MORTAR
It is a paste prepared by adding water to a mixture of binding
material & fine aggregate like cement & sand
SOURCES OF SAND :
 River sand & Sea sand
CLASSIFICATION OF MORTARS :
 Kind of binding material : Lime & Cement mortar
 Nature of application : Bricklaying & Finishing mortar

12. PROPERTIES OF MORTAR
 It should be cheap, durable & easily workable
 It should be capable of developing good adhesion with the
building units such as bricks, stones etc
USES OF MORTAR :
 To bind the building units
 To form joints of pipes
 To improve the general appearance of the structure
 To form a soft bedding layer for the building units

13. PAINTS
Paints are coatings of fluid materials & they are applied over the
surface of timber & metals
OBJECTIVE OF PAINTING :
 Protects the surface from weathering effects of atmosphere &
actions by other liquids, fumes & gases
 Prevents decay of woods & corrosion in metal
 Provides a smooth surface for easy cleaning

14. TYPES OF PAINTS
 Aluminium paint : Visible in darkness, Resists heat to a
certain degree
 Anticorrosive paint : Is cheap, lasts for long duration
 Emulsion paint : Easy to apply, Dries quickly in about 2 hrs
 Luminous paint : Shines like radium dials of watches, Is
applied on the surfaces which is free from corrosion

15. DISTEMPERS
 They are cheaper than paints & present a neat appearance
 Are light in colour
 Provides good reflective coating
 They can be applied on brickwork, cement plastered surface
 They prove to be unsatisfactory in damp locations such as
kitchen, bathroom etc
A distemper is composed of base, carrier, colouring
pigments.For base chalk is used & for carrier water is used.

16. REFERENCES
 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.com
 Engineering materials by Rangwala