Project bm1

Building MaterialsProject Report

August 2012

By: Suneeta Bodapati

B-23 A, Sector- 62 (Next to Fortis Hospital) Noida, 201301 Uttar Pradesh

AcknowledgementsThis project would not have been a success without the guidance and motivation of all my mentors. I am thankful to all the persons behind this project.

I would like to express my gratefulness to Ms. Shivani Sood, who acted as a mentor throughout my project for providing me valuable information and guidance.

Secondly, I would like to thank Ms. Renu Bhargava who have been very helpful in facilitating my site visits and encouraged at every instant.

Last but not the least; I would like to thank my classmates & my family for motivating me all the time throughout this project.

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Suneeta BodapatiInterior Designing – JD Institute, Noida

Index1.Introduction - page 042.Wood - page 053.Bricks - page 124.Glass - page 165.Sand - page 216.Steel - page 237.Stone - page 288.Concrete - page 379.Bamboo - page 4210.Conclusion - page 4711.Bibliography - page 4912.Sample - page 50

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IntroductionFundamentally, Interior designers must know about the building materials that will be used to create and furnish the space, how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make a space.

The aim of this project was to understand about different types of the basic building materials i.e. wood, bricks, glass, sand, steel, stone, concrete & Bamboo.

This report presents the vital nature of these building materials along with their properties, limitations, usage and current cost (in northern part of Indian sub-continent).

This report is based on actual site visits, detailed interviews with building material traders / manufacturers and information from World Wide Web.

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“I have little patience with scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes where drilling is easy.”

- Albert Einstein

Wood

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Woods are of many different types. Each unique wood type has its own combination of properties such as color, scent, strength, density, flexibility, and grain pattern. These factors make different types of wood better for making certain items we use in our daily lives. Wood can be broadly classified in two main groups: softwoods and hardwoods. The structure of the cells, or wood fibers, is what determines the strength and flexibility of a particular type of wood.HARDWOODSOAK: Oak is the most widely used hardwood. There are more than 60 species of oak grown, which can be separated into two basic varieties; white and red. The red variety is also known as black.Properties: Oak is a heavy, strong, light colored hardwood. It is ring porous, due to the fact that more and larger conductive vessels are laid down early in the summer, rather than later. Prominent rings and large pores give oak a course texture and prominent grain. Oak also has conspicuous medullar rays which can be seen as "flakes" in quarter sawed oak lumber.Uses: Oak is the most popular wood used to craft western designs. It is also used for Gothic as well as many transitional and contemporary pieces.

MAPLE: There are 115 species of maple. Two of the five are hard rock maple and sugar maple.Properties: Maple is so hard and resistant to shocks that it is often used for bowling alley floors. Its diffuse evenly sized pores give the wood a fine texture and even grain. Maple that has a curly grain is often used for violin backs. Uses: Maple is used extensively for American colonial furniture, especially in medium and lower priced categories. It can also be stained to simulate cherry wood, which it resembles. 6

Wood

MAHOGANY: Mahogany, also known as Honduras mahogany is a tropical hardwood indigenous to South America, Central America and Africa. There are many different grades and species sold under this name, which vary widely in quality and price. Mahogany which comes from the Caribbean is thought to be the hardest, strongest and best quality. Logs from Africa, though highly figured, are of slightly lesser quality. Philippine mahogany has a similar color, but is not really mahogany at all. It is a much less valuable wood, being less strong, not as durable or as beautiful when finished.

Properties: Mahogany is strong, with a uniform pore structure and poorly defined annual rings. It has a reddish - brown color and may display stripe, ribbon, broken stripe, rope, ripple, mottle, fiddleback or blister figures. Crotch mahogany figures are widely used and greatly valued. Mahogany is an excellent carving wood and finishes well.

Uses: Mahogany is used extensively in the crafting of Georgian, Empire and Federal reproduction furniture. Mahogany is also used in styles ranging from Victorian furniture reproductions to Contemporary.

CHERRY: Cherry is sometimes called fruitwood. The term fruitwood is also used to describe a light brown finish on other woods.

Properties: A moderately hard, strong, closed grain, light to red-brown wood, cherry resists warping and checking. It is easy to carve and polish.

Uses: Cherry veneers and solids are used in a variety of styles. Cherry has been called New England mahogany and is often used to craft 18th century, Colonial and French Provincial designs. 7

Wood

TEAK: True teak is indigenous to Southeast Asia, but similar wood species also grow in Africa.

Properties & Uses: Teak is a yellow to dark brown hardwood which is extremely heavy, strong and durable. Often strongly figured, teak may show straight grain, mottled or fiddle back figures. It carves well, but because of its high value, is often used as a veneer. Scandinavian modern, and oriental furniture styles are often crafted of teak.

WALNUT: Walnut is one of the most versatile and popular cabinet making woods. It grows in Europe, America and Asia. There are many different varieties.

Properties: Walnut is strong, hard and durable, without being excessively heavy. It has excellent woodworking qualities, and takes finishes well. The wood is light to dark chocolate brown in color with a straight grain in the trunk.

Uses: Walnut is used in all types of fine cabinet work, especially 1 8th century reproductions.

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Wood

ROSEWOOD: Very hard and has a dark reddish brown color. Properties: It is fragrant and close grained. It is hard to work and takes high polish. Uses: Used in musical instruments, piano cases, tool handles, art projects, veneers and furniture.

SOFTWOODS

CEDAR: Several species of cedar grow in the southern United States, Central and South America.

Properties & Uses: Cedar is a knotty softwood which has a red-brown color with light streaks. Its aromatic and moth repellent qualities have made it a popular wood for lining drawers, chests and boxes. Simple cases and storage closets are also constructed from this light, brittle wood.

ASH: There are 16 species of ash wood. Of these, the white ash is the largest and most commercially important.

Properties & Uses: Ash is a hard, heavy, ring porous hardwood. It has a prominent grain that resembles oak, and a white to light brown color. Ash burls have a twisted, interwoven figure. Ash is widely used for structural frames and steam bent furniture pieces. It is often less expensive than comparable hardwoods.

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Wood

BIRCH: There are many species of birch. The yellow birch is the most commercially important. European birch is fine grained, rare and expensive.

Properties & Uses: Birch is a hard, heavy, close grained hardwood with a light brown or reddish colored heartwood and cream or light sapwood. Birch is often rotary or flat sliced, yielding straight, curly or wavy grain patterns. It can be stained to resemble mahogany or walnut.

PINE: Pine is a softwood which grows in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere. There are more than 100 species worldwide.

Properties: Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow wood which is light weight, straight grained and lacks figure. It resists shrinking and swelling. Knotty pine is often used for decorative effect.

Uses: Pine is often used for country or provincial furniture. Pickled, whitened, painted and oil finishes are often used on this wood.

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Douglas-Fir: Douglas-Fir is technically not a true Fir (Abies genus), but is in its own genus: Pseudotsuga. It is an incredibly valuable commercial timber, widely used in construction and building purposes. The tree itself grows to be very large, and yields a large amount of usable lumber and veneer for plywood.Properties: Douglas-Fir is very stiff and strong for its weight, and is also among the hardest and heaviest softwoods. Can vary in color based upon age and location of tree. Usually a light brown color with a hint of red and/or yellow, with darker growth rings.Uses: Douglas-Fir heartwood is rated to be moderately-durable in regard to decay, but is susceptible to insect attack.

Wood

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Wood

S.No Wood type Units Min price Max price

1 Oak Sq-Mtr Rs. 2,100 Rs. 5,800

2 Maple Sq-Mtr Rs. 3,700 Rs. 4,100

3 Cherry Sq-Mtr Rs. 6,100 Rs. 6,300

4 Walnut Sq-Mtr Rs. 5,100 Rs. 5,300

5 Rosewood 1/2" x 2-7/8" x 36-1/4" Rs. 2,970

6 Teak Cubic ft Rs. 2,500 Rs. 5,000

7 Cedar Sq-Mtr Rs. 2,400 Rs. 3,100

8 Ash Sq-Mtr Rs. 3,900 Rs. 4,200

9 Pine 100x100mm Rs. 370 Rs. 455

Prices

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

- David Brikley

Bricks

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Bricks have been around for thousands of years and are still an important part of the construction industry today. Modern bricks are made in much the same way as they were in the past. Clay is dug out of the earth, dried then crushed into a fine powder, and mixed with water to a specific consistency. The clay is then molded into units, dried in ovens, and finally baked in high-temperature kilns.Bricks are named according to the clay they are manufactured from, the kind of method used in shaping the units (sand or water struck), how they are to be used (face brick or common), the strength, or the finish applied to the face after the initial firing such as glazed brick.Standard brick size in India: 9’ X 4’ X 3.5’

Brick

HANDMADE BRICK: Handmade Bricks are literally made by hand by throwing clay into moulds. Each brick is unique and they have a pleasing and distinctive appearance with a creased face (known as a smile) as well as longstanding durability - many of our most admired historic buildings were built with handmade bricks. This have a labour intensive production process.

STOCK BRICK: Stock Bricks are a traditional type of brick with a slightly irregular shape made by using a mechanised moulding process known as soft mud moulding. A wide range of colours is available. In price, as well as style, stock bricks fall between the wirecuts and the handmades.

This type of brick is currently one of the most popular.13

ENGINEERING BRICK: Engineering Bricks are used for their performance characteristics rather than their appearance and are most suited for groundworks, manholes and sewers, retaining walls and other situations where strength and resistance to frost attack and water are the most important factor.

FLETTON BRICK: Fletton Bricks, or Londons are only manufactured by Hanson Brick. They are made from deposits of Oxford clay. They are available in a wide range of colours and textures, and are particularly popular for matching existing brickwork.

REPRESSED BRICK: Re-Pressed Bricks are wirecut bricks which are re-pressed to create a solid brick with very precise size tolerances and distinctive surface texture. Known as the 'Jacobean', this range is unique and is a high quality product that can be used effectively in housing.

WIRECUT BRICKS: Wirecut Facing Bricks are made by extrusion of a continuous column of clay which, as the name implies, is cut by the wire but not before the column has been textured. They are suitable for almost every type of application and are available in a wide range of colours and textures. The highly automated production process makes wirecuts relatively inexpensive compared to some other types of brick.

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Brick

Brick Prices:

•Mud Bricks Rs. 2.00 – 4.00 per piece Price depends on thickness and finish.

•Mud Bricks (Light Weight) Rs. 3.50 – 6.00 per ton Various qualities depends on manufacturer

•Fly Ash / Hallow Bricks Rs. 8.25 + per piece Standard sizes and finishing depends on manufacturer

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Brick

“People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones”- Romanian proverb

Glass

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There is a special relationship between glass and buildings. Glass is a magical material which has so many different properties and uses, that it has presented Interior designers with many new possibilities and designs. In their quest for transparency and safety, Designers & Architects often use glasses.

There are many kinds of glass. Several important kinds of glass are explained below.

Glass

FLAT GLASS is used chiefly in windows. It is also used in mirrors, room dividers, and some kinds of furniture. All flat glass is made in the form of flat sheets. But some of it, such as that used in automobile windshields, is reheated and sagged (curved) over molds.

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GLASS BUILDING BLOCKS are made from two hollow half-sections sealed together at a high temperature. Glass building blocks are good insulators against heat or cold because of the dead-air space inside. The blocks are laid like bricks to make walls and other structures.

LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS is a “sandwich” made by combining alternate layers of flat glass and plastics. The outside layer of glass may break when struck by an object, but the plastic layer is elastic and so it stretches. The plastic holds the broken pieces of glass together and keeps them from flying in all directions. Laminated glass is used where broken glass might cause serious injuries, as in automobile windshields.

TEMPERED SAFETY GLASS unlike laminated glass, is a single piece that has been given a special heat treatment. It looks, feels, and weighs the same as ordinary glass. But it can be several times stronger. Tempered glass is used widely for all-glass doors in stores, side and rear windows of automobiles, and basketball backboards, and for other special purposes. It is hard to break even when hit with a hammer. When it does break, the whole piece of glass collapses into small, dull-edged fragments.

OPAL GLASS has small particles in the body of the glass that disperse the light passing through it, making the glass appear milky. The ingredients necessary to produce opal glass include fluorides (chemical compounds containing fluorine). This glass is widely used in lighting fixtures and for tableware.

COLORED STRUCTURAL GLASS is a heavy plate glass, available in many colors. It is used in buildings as an exterior facing, and for interior walls, partitions, and tabletops.

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FIBERGLASS consists of fine but solid rods of glass, each of which may be less than one-twentieth the width of a human hair. These tiny glass fibers can be loosely packed together in a wool like mass that can serve as heat insulation. They also can be used like wool or cotton fibers to make glass yarn, tape, cloth, and mats. Fiberglass has many other uses. It is used for electrical insulation, chemical filtration, and firefighters' suits. Combined with plastics, fiberglass can be used for airplane wings and bodies, automobile bodies, and boat hulls. Fiberglass is a popular curtain material because it is fire-resistant and washable.

Glass

GLASS-CERAMICS are strong materials made by heating glass to rearrange some of its atoms into regular patterns. These partially crystalline materials can withstand high temperatures, sudden changes in temperature, and chemical attacks better than ordinary glass can. They are used in a variety of products, including heat-resistant cookware, turbine engines, electronic equipment, and nose cones of guided missiles. Glass-ceramics have such trade names as Pyroceram, Cervit, and Hercuvit.

RADIATION-ABSORBING AND RADIATION-TRANSMITTING GLASS can transmit, modify, or block heat, light, X rays, and other types of radiant energy. For example, ultraviolet glass absorbs the ultraviolet rays of the sun but transmits visible light. Other glass transmits heat rays freely but passes little visible light. Polarized glass cuts out the glare of brilliant light. One-way glass is specially coated so that a person can look through a window without being seen from the other side.

PHOTOSENSITIVE GLASS can be exposed to ultraviolet light and to heat so that any pattern or photograph can be reproduced within the body of the glass itself. Because the photographic print then becomes an actual part of the glass, it will last as long as the glass itself.

FOAM GLASS when it is cut, looks like a black honeycomb. It is filled with many tiny cells of gas. Each cell is surrounded and sealed off from the others by thin walls of glass. Foam glass is so light that it floats on water. It is widely used as a heat insulator in buildings, on steam pipes, and on chemical equipment. Foam glass can be cut into various shapes with a saw.

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Glass

S.No Glass type Units Min price Max price

1 Flat glass Per Sqft Rs. 70 Rs. 80

2 Laminated glass Per Sqft Rs. 100 Rs. 120

3 Glass building blocks Per block Rs. 275 Rs. 345

4 Colored structural glass Per Sqft Rs. 330 Rs. 700

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GlassMIRRORS are usually made from float glass 4-6mm thick, and silvered on one side. Mirrors are available for use without a surrounding frame, these usually are made from a type of safety glass. Old mirrors, and modern mirrors supplied within a frame, should not be used unframed as any damage to them might cause the glass to shatter dangerously.

Prices

“Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble”- French proverb

Sand

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Sand is an extremely needful material for the construction but this important material must be purchased with all care and vigilance. Sand which is used in the construction purpose must be clean, free from waste stones and impurities. It is important to know what type of sand is beneficial for construction purpose as sand is also classified into three different forms that make it suitable for specific type of construction.

Sand is classified as: Fine Sand (0.075 to 0.425 mm), Medium Sand (0.425 to 2 mm) and Coarse Sand (2.0 to4.75 mm). However this classification of sand is further has types of sand in particular and on that basis only they are being incorporated in the construction. Read out the detailing of the types of sand:

Sand

PIT SAND (Coarse sand): Pit sand is classified under coarse sand which is also called badarpur in common language. This type of coarse sand is procured from deep pits of abundant supply and it is generally in red-orange colour. The coarse grain is sharp, angular and certainly free from salts etc which is mostly employed in concreting.

RIVER SAND: River sand is procured from river streams and banks and is fine in quality unlike pit sand. This type of sand has rounded grains generally in white-grey colour. River sand has many uses in the construction purpose such as plastering.

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“The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire”- Nixon, Richard M

Steel

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The most common construction material used in building structures is steel. Steel is a perfect material in building components and structures. It has changed the construction industry; bringing remarkable architectural designs to life. One of the most important benefits to consider is its level of sustainability.Steel is basically an alloy of iron and carbon with a small percentage of other metals such as nickel, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten etc. Steel metal is used primarily for structural framework for larger buildings or as an external surface covering.

Steel

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MILD STEEL: The mild carbon steel is simply composed of iron and carbon but it has a very low content of carbon in it.

This steel is used in the making of sheet metal for roofs, panels, boxes, cases and vehicle frames. It is now also used as a replacement for wrought iron in the making railroad rails.

There are many different types of steel classified on the basis of the type of metal used and the percentage content of the metal in the particular type of steel.

Below given are some commonly used types of steel:

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STAINLESS STEEL: Stain less steel is the most resistant and commonly used steel of all the types. It apart from carbon contains 11% chromium and some amount of nickel. It is probably the most resistant steel of all the types.

Although all the types of steel are generally resistant to rust and corrosion, the stainless steel in particular is resistant to any sort of external attack. Even a scratch cannot stay on the surface of stainless steel.

ALUMINUM STEEL: Aluminum steel is smooth steel with a high content of aluminum. Because of its strong and smooth surface it is used in the making of furniture.

GALVANIZED STEEL: The grayish galvanized steel with a tensile strength of 50,000 psi is zinc-coated steel. A "hot dip galvanizing" procedure of immersing steel in a molten zinc bath coats steel with hard, uniform, impervious gamma, delta and zeta zinc iron alloy layers and a pure zinc eta layer offering steel that is corrosion resistant.

Paint, weld- and join-friendly, weatherproof, stain proof, long-lasting, cost-effective and almost maintenance free, galvanized steel is suited for residences, commercial buildings, bridges and airports.

Steel

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TERNE METAL: Terne metal or thin gauge steel is carbon steel or stainless steel coated with an 80:20 tin-zinc alloy through a hot dip process. Terne has mild steel equivalent tensile strength and a low shine light grey satin texture.

Terne metal does not require painting. Terne is weatherproof, solder friendly, formable, durable and maintenance free. The highly corrosion resistant Terne metal roofs, sidings, downspouts, fascias and gutters are used in buildings in harsh coastal and industrial conditions.

CHROMIUM STEEL: Chromium steels have a high content of chromium and are resistant to corrosion.

They are very strong, ensile and are elastic in nature. It requires organic coating before use; it can be lacquered, printed and finished in fine stone, stone and matte finishes. Hence, it has building trade uses such as space bars and false ceiling rails.

MEDIUM CARBON STEEL: The medium carbon steels have a normal content of carbon that means that they are not as hard as the high carbon and neither are they as strong the Mild carbon steel.

They are used in the making of tool frames and springs.

Steel

S.No Steel type Units Min price Max price

1 Mild steel Rs / Kg Rs. 65 Rs. 80

2 Galvanized steel Rs / Kg Rs. 60 Rs. 65

3 Stainless steel Rs / Kg Rs. 165 Rs. 220

4 Medium carbon steel Rs / Kg Rs. 70 Rs. 90

5 Chromium steel Rs / Kg Rs. 65 Rs. 80

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Steel

Prices

Stone

“A rolling stone gathers no moss”- Publius Syrus

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Building stone, also called dimension stone, derives from one of three naturally occurring rock types:

IGNEOUS - Igneous stones are formed from molten or partly molten material i.e. magma, through solidification of magna. Lava is a form of magma cools and solidifies on the surface of the earth. Liquid magma cools and solidifies underneath the Earth's surface, and then mineral gases and liquids penetrate the stone and create new crystalline formations and various colors.

Of all igneous rocks, granite is the most common choice. It is a coarsely crystalline unstratified igneous rock composed of alkali feldspars, quartz, mica and hornblende.

SEDIMENTARY - Soft and fairly porous rock formed from deposits of eroded pre-existing rock that settled in layers mostly on sea beds, and became compacted. The best examples are sandstone and limestone.

METAMORPHIC - Hard and non-porous rock formed from pre-existing rock that has been altered by intense heat or pressure. The best examples are marble and slate.

There are huge variations within each of these rock types, caused by specific mineralogy and geology conditions, and while any stone can be used for building, they each have constraints that make them more or less suitable for different purposes.

Stone

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MARBLES Coarse-grained marbles are more suitable for architectural and monumental uses; it is the coarseness of the grain, which is the cause of the great durability of marble against meteoric weather ing. The fine-grained, purest white marbles are reserved for statuary use, for which no other varieties can be of service.

The marble deposits of India are fairly widespread and of large extent. The principal source of the marbles of India is the crystalline formation of Rajasthan -- the Aravalli series. Marble quarries are worked at Mekrana (Jodhpur), Kharwa (Ajmer), Maundla and Bhainslana (Jaipur), Dadikar (Alwar), and some other places, from which marbles of many varieties of colour and grain, including the beautiful white variety of which the Taj Mahal is built, are obtained. It was the accessibility of this store of material of unsurpassed beauty which, no doubt, gave such a stimulus to the Mogul taste for architecture in the seventeenth century.

Good quality marble also occurs in a large outcrop near Jabalpur, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Motipura in Baroda, Narsingpur in Madhya Pradesh, Kharwa in Ajmer. Some quarries in and around Jaipur furnish a dense black marble, capable of taking an exquisite polish, largely employed in the ancient buildings of Delhi, Agra and Kashmir.

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Stone

Green Oynx marble

Botticino marble

Pearl marble

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LIMESTONES Limestones occur in many formations, some of which are entirely composed of them. Not all of them, however, are fit for building purposes, though many of them are burnt for lime. In the Cuddapah, Bijawar, Khondalite and Aravalli Groups limestones attain considerable development; some of them are of great beauty and strength. They have been largely drawn upon in the construction of many of the noted monuments of the past in all parts of India. Vindhyan limestones are extensively quar ried, as already referred to, in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and elsewhere, and form a valued source for lime and cement, as well as for building stone. The Gondwanas are barren of calcareous rocks, but the small exposures of the Bagh and Trichinopoly Cretaceous include excellent limestones. The Nummulitic limestones of the extra -Peninsular districts, viz. Sind, Hazara, the Salt-Range, Punjab and Assam, are an enormous repository of pure limestone, and when accessible are in very large demand for burning, building, as well as road-making purposes.

Limestones suitable for the manufacture of both lime and cement occur in enormous quantities in the Vindhyan and older Formations. Cement grade limestone is quarried from Shahbad and Singhbhum districts of Bihar, Jabalpur (Katni and Jukheri areas) and Satna districts of Madhya Pradesh, Sundergarh district of Orissa, Narji limestone from the Guntur and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh, Ambala and Mahendragarh districts of Punjab, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and the Carboniferous limestone from the Raisi tahsil of J & K. The Vindhyan limestone in the Son Valley of Uttar Pradesh is also used for the manufacture of cement.

In the plains of India, the only available source of line is ‘kankar’, which occurs plentifully as irregular concretionary disseminations in clays. The clay admixture in kankar is often in sufficient proportion to produce a hydraulic lime on burning.

Stone

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GRANITES Granites and coarsely foliated gneisses form very desirable and durable building-stones. These rocks, by reason of their massive nature and homogeneous grain, are suitable for monu mental and architectural work as well as for massive masonries. Their wide range in appearance and colour - white, pink, red, grey, black, etc. - renders the stones highly ornamental and effective for a variety of decorative uses. The charnockites of Tamil Nadu, the Arcot gneiss, Bangalore gneiss, the porphyries of Seringapatam, and many other varieties of granite obtained from the various districts of the Peninsula are very attractive examples. Its dura bility is such that the numerous ancient temples and monuments of South India built of granite stand today almost intact after centuries of wear, and to all appearance are yet good for centuries to come. From their wide prevalence, forming nearly three-fourths of the surface of the Peninsula, the Archaean gneisses form an inexhaustible source of good material for building and oma mental uses.

SERPENTINE Serpentine forms large outcrops in the Arakan range of Burma and also in Baluchistan. It occurs as an altera tion-product of the basic and ultra-basic intrusions of Cretaceous and Miocene ages. From its softness and liability to weather on exposure it is of no use for outdoor architectural purposes, but serpentines of attractive colour are employed in internal decora tions of buildings and the manufacture of vases, statuary, etc. Serpentinous marble (Verde antique) is rare in India.

Stone

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SANDSTONESVindhyan sandstones - The Vindhyan and, to a lesser extent, the Gondwana formations afford sandstones admir ably suited for building works. The most preeminent among them are the white, cream, buff and pink Upper Vindhyan sand stones, which have been put to a variety of uses. It is the most widely quarried stone in India, and being both a freestone as well as a flagstone it can yield, according to the portion selected, both gigantic blocks for pillars from one part and thin, slate-like slabs for paving and roofing from another part. The superb edifices, modern and medieval, of Delhi, Rajasthan and Agra are built of red and white Vindhyan sandstone quarried from a number of sites in the vicinity.

Some of the Vindhyan sandstones are so homogeneous and soft that they are capable of receiving a most elaborate carving and filigree work. Centuries of exposure to the weather have tested their durability.

Upper Gondwana sandstones - Another formation possessing resources in building-stones of good quality is the Upper Gondwana, which has contributed a great store of building-stone to Orissa and Chanda. The famous temples of Puri and the other richly orna mented buildings of these districts are constructed of Upper Gondwana sandstones.

The Mesozoic (Umia) sandstone of Dhrangadhra and the Cret aceous sandstone underlying the Bagh beds of Gujarat (Songir sandstones) furnish Gujarat with a very beautiful and durable stone for its important public and private buildings.

Among the Tertiary sandstones, a few possess the qualities re quisite in a building-stone, e.g. the Murree and Kamlial (Tarki) sandstones; but the younger Siwalik sandstones are too uncon solidated and incoherent to be fit for employment in building work.

Stone

Stone

Different types of Sandstones

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LATERITE Laterites of South India are put to use in building works, due to the ease with which they are cut into bricks or blocks when freshly quarried and their property of hardening with exposure to air. Its wide distribution from Assam to Comorin makes laterite a widely used material for road-metal. This stone is not capable of receiving dressing for any architectural or ornamental use.

SLATES Slates for paving and roofing are not of common occur rence in India, except in some mountainous areas, e.g. at Kangra and Pir Panjal in the Himalayas and Rewari in the Aravallis. When the cleavage is finely developed and regular, thus enabling them to be split into thin even plates, the slates are used for roofing; when the cleavage is not so fine, the slates are used for paving. True cleavage-slates are rare in India; what generally are called slates are either phyllites or compacted shales in which the planes of splitting are not cleavage-planes.The chief slate-quarries of India are those of Kangra, in the Kangra district; Rewari, in the Gurgaon district; and Kharakpur hills in the Monghyr district.

Stone

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Stone

S.No Stone type Units Min price Max price

1 Green Oynx marble Per Sqft Rs. 35 Rs. 60

2 White marble Per Sqft Rs. 60 > Rs. 300

3 Italian marble Per Sqft Rs. 200 >Rs. 2500

4 Pink marble Per Sqft Rs. 35 Rs. 60

5 Yellow marble Per Sqft Rs. 45 Rs. 55

Prices

Concrete

“Evil is the product of the ability of humans to make abstract that which is concrete”- Jean-Paul Sartre

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ConcreteConcrete structures are known for their durability and cost-saving features. With concrete construction, one can design home or office building to look just like what they want and also garner many other added benefits by choosing to build with concrete.

Concrete structures can withstand nearly any assault Mother Nature can dole out without sacrificing the comfort and design flexibility of a traditional home. In fact, more and more homeowners are doing just that, for reasons ranging from reducing escalating heating and cooling costs to allaying fears of being in the path of another disaster like fire or floods.

Some common and main types of concrete are:

Normal ConcreteThe concrete in which common ingredients i.e. aggregate, water, cement are used is known as normal concrete. It is also called normal weight concrete or normal strength concrete.

It has a setting time of 30 - 90 minutes depending upon moisture in atmosphere, fineness of cement etc.

The development of the strength starts after 7 days the common strength values is 10 MPa (1450 psi) to 40 MPa (5800 psi). At about 28 days 75 - 80% of the total strength is attained.

Almost at 90 days 95% of the strength is achieved.

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ConcreteHigh strength concreteCompressive strength of high strength concrete mix is usually greater than 6,000 pounds per square inch.High strength concrete is made by lowering the water cement (W/C) ratio to 0.35 or lower.Often silica fume is added to prevent the formation of free calcium hydroxide crystals in the cement, which might reduce the strength at the cement aggregate bond.

Air Entrained ConcreteOne of the greatest achievements in field of concrete technology is development of air entrained concrete. It is used where the concrete is vulnerable to freezing and thawing action.It is used where the concrete is vulnerable to freezing and thawing action. It is prepared by adding the air entraining admixture.The air entrainment in concrete does the following functions:.•It lowers the surface tension of water and thus bubbles are created.•Secondly the air entraining agents prevents coalescing i.e. the combining of bubbles. The diameter of these bubbles ranges form 10 micrometer to 1000 micrometer and in entrapped air the diameter of bubble is greater than 1mm.Air entraining agents OR air entrained admixtures are used for the purpose of making entrained air in concrete.DRAW BACKS of Air Entrained Concrete:It has low strength as compare to normal concrete.

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ConcreteLIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETEThe concrete which has substantially lower mass per unit volume then the concrete made of ordinary ingredients is called lightweight concrete. The aggregates used are lighter in weight.Density of light weight concrete is 240 kg/m³ (15pcf) -1850 kg/m³ (115 pcf).Strength of light weight concrete blocks varies from 7 MPa (1000 psi) - 40 MPa (5800 psi).Some times Air Entrained Admixtures are also added to it giving resistance to freezing and thawing along with strength.Uses of Light weight concrete:Used where extra load is not applied e.g. parapet wall, road lining etc. or to reduce dead load.

SELF COMPACTING CONCRETEThe concrete where no vibration is required. The concrete is compacted due to its own weight. It is also called self consolidated concrete or flowing concrete. This self-consolidating concrete is characterized by:•Extreme fluidity as measured by flow.•No need for vibrators to compact the concrete.•Placement being easier.•No bleed water, or aggregate segregation.Uses and Applications of Self Compacting Concrete:It is used in location unreachable for vibrations. e.g. underground structure, deep wells or at bottom of deep sea.SCC can save up to 50% in labor costs due to 80% faster pouring and reduced wear and tear on formwork.

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ConcreteShotcreteShotcrete concrete uses compressed air to shoot concrete onto (or into) a frame or structure.Shotcrete is mortar or (usually) concrete conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at through a shortcrete nozzle with high velocity onto a surface. Shotcrete undergoes placement and compaction at the same time due to the force with which it is projected from the nozzle.It can be impacted onto any type or shape of surface, including vertical or overhead areas.Shotcrete is frequently used against vertical soil or rock surfaces, as it eliminates the need for formwork.

Pervious concretePervious concrete contains a network of holes or voids, to allow air or water to move through the concrete. This allows water to drain naturally through it, and can both remove the normal surface water drainage infrastructure, and allow replenishment of groundwater when conventional concrete does not.It is formed by leaving out some or the entire fine aggregate (fines), the remaining large aggregate then is bound by a relatively small amount of Portland cement.When set, typically between 15% and 25% of the concrete volumes are voids, allowing water to drain.The majority of pervious concrete pavements function well with little or no maintenance. Maintenance of pervious concrete pavement consists primarily of prevention of clogging of the void structure.

Bamboo

“The taller the bamboo grows, the lower it bends”- Chinese proverb

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There are about 1,450 different species of bamboo. Bamboo grows across East Asia, from 50°N latitude in Sakhalin (just north of Japan) through to Northern Australia, and west to India and the Himalayas. Bamboo is also found in sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Americas from Mid-Atlantic United States south to Argentina and Chile, reaching their southernmost point anywhere, at 47°S latitude.

There are two types of bamboo: Running bamboo (monopodial) and clumping bambo (sympodial). Running bamboos originate from cold areas of China, Japan and Korea. They send out long, underground stems (or rhizomes) every year. Each rhizome is capable of producing many new shoots along its length. Running bamboos have a habit of spreading outwards very quickly. This is great for land reclaimation but not so good if your neighbor's garden starts to become invaded with bamboo you planted. If this happens one solution is to replace the running bamboo with a type of clumping bamboo. In contrast, Clumping bamboos are shallow-rooted, and most of them are suited to tropical and subtropical climates. Their growth is limited because each rhizome produced develops into a single culm, or hollow jointed stem, located very close to its mother culm. This makes the plant far less invasive than running bamboo

Price of Indian Bamboo ranges from INR 90 ~ INR 150 pr 24 ft stick.

Bamboo

BAMBUSA MULTIPLEX or Alphonse Karr is a popular clumping bamoo . It normally grows to about 30 feet. Bambusa can withstand temperatures as low as 15 F. The culms are golden with random green stripes. Bambusa multiplex makes a good container plant or an outdoor plant where you need a privacy screen because it makes a tight cluster.

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Bamboo

BAMBUSA GLAUCESCENS VIRIDISTIATA grows in a tight clump. It is an average height bamboo that is native to tropical areas. It has vertical green stripes on the culm and small foliage that starts near the ground.

BAMBUSA TEXTILIS or Weaver's Bamboo is a dense, cold tolerant bamboo. It has nodding culm tops and no leaves on the lower half. Bambusa is an attractive non-invasive bamboo that grows in tight clumps of tough, straight canes. Weaver's Bamboo produces high quality thin-walled culms that are often used for weaving or furniture making.

BAMBUSA VULGARIS or Giant Buddha's Belly is a beautiful bamboo variety with incredible thick culms and thin leaves.

GIGANCOCHLOA ATTER grows an incredible 50 feet high and has much bigger foliage. The young edible shoots taste sweet and are covered in purple hairs. From Indonesia. It's straight culms are useful for building furniture. This is a tight clumper.

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Bamboo

SCHIZOSTACHYUM is a medium flowering bamboo with a dense clump and erect culms. The Schizostachyum grows best in the tropics. The long internodes are attractive in this tropical clumper. Hardiness Zone: 10 to 11

PHYLLOSTACHYS EDULIS is commonly known as moso bamboo. It is perhaps the most famous bamboo in the Phyllostachys genus and perhaps the most important type of bamboo used for commercial purposes. Moso bamboo is extensively grown in China (mostly in Guangdong Province). It is a fast growing running bamboo that has thick straight culms. The bamboo makes very hard products such as strand woven bamboo flooring.

PLEIOBLASTUS LINEARIS is found in Japan and China. The Pleioblastus variety of bamboo is often used for flutes and fishing rods. This particular bamboo has thin leaves and thin culms. When young the culms are erect, when older they tend to hang.

PHYLLOSTACHYS PARVIFOLIA found in the Midlands, UK. Similar in look to the other phyllostachys listed below. All are known to be invasive, sending out rhizomes a long way under ground. In a garden the shoots need to be regularly pruned.

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Bamboo

PHYLLOSTACHYS BISSETI is a popular type of bamboo often planted in gardens in the USA as well as in the UK. Clearly a good species of bamboo for temperate zones, although the species is native to Asia.

PHYLLOSTACHYS BAMBUSOIDES 'Holochrysa'. There in total 75 species of Phyllostachys and 200 varities and cultivars. That is a staggering number for just 1 type of bamboo.

SINOBAMBUSA TOOTSIK is a popular running bamboo from China sometimes called 'Temple Bamboo'. Sinobambusa tootsik makes a good potted plant and forms a dense screen when planted in a row. Temple bamboo grows up to 32 feet in height. The culms turn from jade to yellow in full sunlight. The culm has an average diameter of one and half inches.

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With so many choices of building materials and house components and parts available today, how can one ever know which is best for one’s home or office building or remodeling project? The answer comes from learning all about available building materials / components, deciding what you want to pay, and thinking about what suits your house design or office building or remodeling project.

Over the past decade or so, green thinking has increasingly recognized that minimal levels of sustainability depend on radical increases of resource-efficiency—in the industrialized countries. Efficiency gains could be made but, they might easily be offset by continuing growth of the economy as a whole. Hence, while choosing building materials, one should also keep environment sustainability in mind.

Find below the conclusions with Earth-wise tips:

Conclusion

Brick (clay) Uses - Walls, paths, drivewaysAdvantages - Versatile, good thermal massDisadvantages - Production is energy-intensive and uses non-renewable resources.Earth-wise tips - Look for recycled bricks.

Glass Uses - Windows, doors, skylights; bricksAdvantages - Stable, long-lasting, efficient, recyclableDisadvantages - Production is energy-intensive, uses non- renewable minerals.Earth-wise tips - Seek out recycled windows; buy energy-efficient new glass.

Mudbrick Uses - Walls, floorsAdvantages - Source material can be found on site, long-lasting, biodegradable, high thermal mass; pest- and fire-resistantDisadvantages - Making bricks is labour-intensive; requires soil with high clay content; poor insulator.Earth-wise tips - Bricks can be purchased ready-made.

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ConclusionTimber / Wood Uses - Floors, walls, supports and roof framesAdvantages - Strong, easy to work with, versatile, potentially renewable, biodegradableDisadvantages - Some timber is non-renewable; often treated with toxic chemicals.Earth-wise tips - Use recycled wood or timber from sustainable sources, with no chemical treatments. Steel Uses - Frames, supportsAdvantages - Strong, economical, durable, recyclableDisadvantages - Production is energy-intensive and highly polluting; coatings are often polluting.Earth-wise tips - Buy recycled steel or opt for renewable timber.

Concrete Uses - Floors, walls, supportsAdvantages - High thermal mass, strong, durable, economical, resists termites and earthquakesDisadvantages - Production involves quarrying and creates greenhouse emissions; poor insulator, needs reinforcing.Earth-wise tips - Use autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), which is lightweight, energy-efficient and non-toxic, or concrete made with recycled aggregate.

Suneeta BodapatiInterior Designing – JD Institute, Noida

Year 2012-2013

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Places visited:

Wood : Timber Market, Sector - 31, Village Nithari, Noida - 201 301, Uttar Pradesh, India

Glass : Sector - 31, Village Nithari, Noida - 201 301, Uttar Pradesh, India

Stone : Barola, Noida

Bamboo : Nyay Khand II,Kala Patthar Road,Indirapuram, Gaziabad.

Bibliography

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Pit Sand

Samples

River Sand

White marble

Concrete

Yellow marble