Many people are familiar with the construction process and materials but they may not be familiar with the material sourcing. The process of commercial, residential, and every type of construction starts with materials and material sourcing.
In this article, we will cover the most frequently asked questions about building materials and additional construction information.
What are Building Materials?
Building material is defined as any material that is used for construction pursuits. They can also be referred to as construction materials.
8 Common Building Materials:
- Timber (Wood)
- Concrete
- Cement
- Brick
- Clay
- Steel
- Metal
- Aggregates
What Are Aggregates?
Aggregates are materials formed, mixed, or combined with other materials for the purpose of higher quality, stronger, and more stable building materials. Commonly, the materials used are crushed rock (limestone, igneous rock, sandstone, etc.), gravel, sand, and more. They are commonly utilized in concrete, landscaping, and other uses throughout the construction process.
These combinations contribute to higher quality structures in contrary to older times when construction was achieved mainly with wood, straw, and bricks. With that being said, these old-time materials are still utilized to this day.
Utah has a long history of stone buildings constructed of local basalt and tuff. Learn more here to discover more about the history of Utah’s stone buildings.
Where Do Building Materials Come From? The Sources Of Materials.
Building materials are sourced from different places depending on your location. Timber (Wood) is highly affected by location.
Stone slabs can be imported near or far depending on where you are located. Stone slabs are usually imported from other countries such as Brazil, Spain, or Italy. Brazil is known for its granite quarries while Italy is a known producer of onyx and marble.
A main source of building materials is gravel pits.
What Are Gravel Pits?
Gravel pits are open-pit mines that contain materials used for excavation. These materials are used for numerous purposes. Often, the materials are mixed for the use of foundations, roads, motorways, footings, overpasses, and other structures.
Gravel pits help to secure the materials it holds. The pits also help ensure that the materials are of the highest quality. Without gravel pits, modern life would not be the same.
What Is A Quarry?
When you think of a quarry, you may imagine slick cliffs or massive stone blocks. Depending on the quarry’s material, mining can be done through different methods. This could include cutting rocks into blocks or blowing up rock into smaller pieces.
What Is A Sand Pit?
A sand pit is exactly what it sounds like, a pit full of sand. To go into more detail, they can be mixed with round stones, soil, and sand. Excavators are able to dig up the materials and deposit it in a machine that separates the soil and the rock.
The Importance Of Quality Building Materials
When cooking a meal, you want to use quality ingredients for a quality outcome, right? The same mindset should be applied when you are looking at building materials.
The quality of the materials you use in construction can significantly impact the outcome of the finished product. Higher quality materials can help increase the longevity of the structure, overall durability, and can lower expenses down the road.
Prioritize High-Quality Building Materials
If you do not use high-quality materials, there is a higher chance of unexpected maintenance and unforeseen expenses.
E.K. Bailey’s Gravel Pit
E.K. Bailey has been self-performing excavation and utility work for more years than we can count. This has enabled us to know the difference between good and bad imported material. We understand the importance of prioritizing your building material sourcing and quality.
That is why we opened our own gravel pit in 2017. With our crushing and screening operations, we can control the materials to provide customers with the highest quality and most consistent gravel materials available.
Here at E.K. Bailey, we aim to deliver the best possible materials and services to our customers. This is why we have gone the extra mile to open our own pit. Using high-quality material is critical to providing the best possible outcome for your construction project. The use of a gravel pit allows us to obtain the ideal materials for all of your construction needs.
Questions? Ask The Experts.
This allows us to completely control the quality of our materials. To learn more about how our pit helps us provide top-notch quality, contact our experts at E.K. Bailey in Utah today!