FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING MATERIALS Fourth Edition Edited By Ken Ward-Harvey

FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING MATERIALS Fourth Edition Edited By Ken Ward-Harvey

1- INTRODUCTION
2- WATER
3- FOUNDATION MATERIALS
4- PRIMITIVE MATERIALS
5- TIMBERS AND BUILDING BOARDS
6- BRICKS AND BRICKWORK
7- LIME, CEMENT, MORTARS, PLASTERS AND RENDERS
8- STONES
9- CERAMICS
10- METALS
11- CONCRETE
12- GLASS
13- CHEMICALLY BASED PRODUCTS
14- INCOMPATIBILITY OF MATERIALS
15- COMPARATIVE TABULATIONS
16- INDEX

The history of Architecture and Building goes back thousands of years, and the major changes termed “styles” have been closely associated with the materials available and the technologies learnt by tradesmen to construct those outstanding buildings which have come down to us as great examples of past Architecture. The materials were mainly timber or derived from plants ; stones, and ceramics such as bricks and other forms of baked clay products. Changes were usually slow and easily passed on by the tradesmen, who were largely limited to Carpenters, Stonemasons, and Bricklayers.

With the industrial revolution many more materials were produced which could be beneficially incorporated into buildings. By 1851 the revolutionary `Crystal Palace’ in London was built from cast iron, glass and timber in very fast time. That and other buildings to follow, changed the concept of on site hand work for building, to using factory made products such as steel, and its companion reinforced concrete, so a new style of Architecture began to emerge. The range of materials to be understood by designers and master craftsmen was greatly expanded during the late 19th & 20th centuries, as many new materials and technologies were introduced and tested. So called “Modern” architecture of the 20th century bore little resemblance to building forms of previous centuries.

The range of materials is still expanding, consuming increasing quantities of energy, and further polluting our atmosphere. In the ten years since the text of this book was last revised there have been great changes in the building industry’s attitudes, knowledge and communications, which led to a new approach in specifying the roles of many materials. This has come about due to the increasing awareness of “climate change”; the impact of fossil fuel use on our climate and weather; and improved methods of harnessing wind and solar power; the concept of “Sustainability” of building construction; and the tremendous impact of electronic communications, especially the Internet and its offshoot E-mail.

These have enabled manufacturers to place information regarding their products in this publicly accessible forum, which can be periodically updated. Consequently many references included in previous editions are now not included as they can become quickly outmoded. Our planet is at a crisis point which must be acknowledged, especially by those involved in construction industries, which consume large quantities of materials and power in mining, harvesting, manufacture and construction, and continue to consume power throughout the life of the buildings or other works created