Wood
Wood is one of the oldest and most commonly used building/construction materials in the world. Despite the growing threat of deforestation, wood has remained in high demand as a building material because of its reasonable cost, availability, attractive appearance and long life (if protected from insects and moisture).
Cement
Cement is one of the most widely used building materials in the modern world and nearly six billion tonnes of this very important commodity is produced every year. Cement is so crucial to the building and construction industry that it’s hardly surprising that Africa’s richest man, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, is heavily invested in cement production across Africa.
Plumbing Materials
Plumbing usually refers to the system of pipes, drains, fittings, valves, valve assemblies, and devices installed in a building for the distribution of water for drinking, heating and washing, and the removal of human and domestic waste (sewage).
Steel & Metal Products
Steel and metal products are widely used in building and construction. Steel is commonly used to make reinforced concrete that supports structures in buildings, bridges, dams etc.
Steel is made up of iron combined with a small percentage of carbon. High-carbon or ‘hard’ steel is used to make tools with cutting edges. Medium- carbon steel is used for critical structural components of buildings such as I-beams, reinforcing bars and frames. Low- carbon or ‘mild’ steel is used for pipes, nails, screws, door and window hinges, wire, screening, fencing and corrugated roofing sheets
Electrical Materials & Appliances
Electrical materials are the parts and elements used in the electrical system of any building and construction project.
This includes a huge inventory of materials used to supply electric power or telecommunications to different parts of a building and will typically consist of: electrical conduits and fittings, wires and cables, explosion proof enclosures, meters, circuit breakers, connectors, and electrical products such as wiring devices (switches, plugs) and lighting (bulbs).
Glass
Glass is fast becoming one of the most preferred materials of modern building architecture. Clear windows have been used since the invention of glass to cover small openings in buildings and provide us with the ability to both let light into rooms while at the same time keeping undesirable weather outside.
Glass controls light, letting in the good rays and keeping out the bad ones; it also saves on energy costs by providing natural day lighting. As a result, more designers are finding that glass fits quite nicely into today’s green building environment.
Paints
Paints are the colourful substances applied to interior and exterior walls of buildings to make them beautiful, enhance texture and protect from cracks, wear and tear. There are paints of all colours and types in the market which typically include : emulsions (water-based paints), matte finish, gloss, varnish, enamel and lacquers. (www.smallstarter.com)