The Most Important Building Materials

THEME: The Most Important Building Materials

Read, write and learn the following words and word combinations:

to burn горіти

to decay  згнити

to belong належати

to shape  надавати форму

to face облицьовувати

to fasten скріпляти

to include включати

to apply застосовувати

main головний

masonry  кам’яна кладка

unit елемент, блок

disadvantage недолік

compactness  щільність

porosity  пористість

ferrous metal  чорний метал

alloy  сплав

kind  вид, тип

 Read and translate the text.

All building materials are divided into three main groups: main building materials such as rocks and artificial stones, timber and metals; binding materials such as lime, gypsum and cement; secondary building materials which are used for the interior parts of the buildings.

We use main building materials for bearing structures. Binding materials are used for making artificial stones and for binding together masonry units. For interior finish of the building we use secondary materials.

Natural building materials are stone, sand, lime and timber. Cement, clay products and concrete are examples of artificial building materials.

Timber is referred to the group of the main building materials. It is the most ancient structural material. It is light, cheap and easy to work. But wood has certain disadvantages: it burns and decays.

Stone belongs to one of the oldest building materials used by man. It has many properties, such as mechanical strength, compactness, porosity, sound and heat insulation and fire-resistance. The stones which are usually used for masonry work are granite, sandstone and marble. Granite is very hard, strong and durable. It is used for foundations, columns, steps and for entire facades. Its color may be gray, yellow, pink or deep red. Sandstone is comparatively easy to cut and shape. It is often used for facing rough walls and for interior decorations. Marble is a crystalline stone chiefly used for decorative purposes. It takes on a high polish.

Bricks were known many thousands of years ago. They are examples of artificial building materials. Brick is made by pressing clay into blocks and burning them to hardness. Bricks are hard and easily fastened together with the help of mortar. They are produced in a great variety for widely different purposes.

Metals are divided into ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals. Ferrous metals include iron, steel and its alloys. Cast iron is the cheapest of the ferrous metals. It is chiefly used in building for compressed members of construction. Steel is used for the framework of buildings, and as reinforcement in modern ferro-concrete structures. Non- ferrous metals have the following characteristics: high electric and heat conductivity, high corrosion resistance and light weight. The oldest and the best known light metal is aluminium. It is used in lift bridges, long span roofs, dome roofs, crane jibs, and in other structures.

Glass and plastics are widely used nowadays in construction of different kinds of buildings. Glass has an excellent combination of physical, chemical and mechanical properties. The outstanding property of glass is its chemical inertness. Glass is used for constructing doors, walls, roofs, pipelines. Nowadays plastics can be applied to almost every branch of building.

 Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false.

1. We use main building materials for bearing structures.

2. Concrete and cement are natural building materials.

3. Timber is the newest structural material.

4. The stones which are used for masonry work are granite, marble and sandstone.

5. Granite is hard, strong and durable.

6. Marble doesn’t take on a high polish.

7. Bricks are easily fastened together with the help of mortar.

8. Cast iron is the cheapest of the ferrous metals.

9. Steel is referred to the group of non-ferrous metals.

10. Aluminum is used in long span roofs and dome roofs.

11. Nowadays we don’t use glass and plastics in the construction of buildings.

У відведене поле завантажте фото сторінки зошита - ЗАВДАННЯ 1.