Studiocraft (Red Book Summary)

Wood
Easy to work with
Low weight and thermal conductivity
High Tensile and Compressive Strength
Variety of grains and hues available
Timber is susceptible to decay but can be treated with natural or chemical applications to
add to its longevity
Careful detailing can extend timber lifespan
Environementally friendly building product as it is a natural resource and requires low levels
of energy in its preparation

Common types
1. Hardwood
Complex cell structure, sourced from deciduous trees
2. Softwood
Simple cell strucutrue, sourced from coniferous trees

Uses
Suitable for structural use
Used as a cladding material externally
Also used internally as a lining material and for joinery + furniture

Wood products
1. Laminates
Layers of wood glued together e.g. plywood and glulam
2. Particle Composite
Timber chips bonded together e.g. OSB (Oriented strand board)
3. Fibreboard
e.g. chipboard, medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and hardboard

Uses
Suitable for cladding, formwork and furniture. *Structural application is possible with glulam
products
Some timber products are unsuitable for external use

Stone
High ddensity, High strength natural material
Wide variety of finishes and textures available
Key factors in selection (hardness, granular size, patterning, colouring and finish)
Stone can be finished in variety of ways, from highly polished to roughly carved etc.

Common types
1. Igneous
Basalt and granite
2. Sedimentary
Sandstone, limestone, shale
3. Metamorphic
Slate, Marble

Uses
Stone is traditionally ised for load bearing walls and coliumns
Today commonly used as cladding material
Can be used as floor surface or for architectural details e.g. windowsills, steps and reveals

When using stone, key issues in stone detailing must be taken into account
The coursing of solid stone walls
Fixings of Stone cladding
Porosity of stone can affect its weathering and staining over time

Metals
High density material
High thermal and electrical conductivity
Wide variety of pure and composite metal alloys available
Generally finished with smooth surface but prone to corrosion
Alloys are often applied to avoid corrosion

Common types
Metals are classified by their chemical composition + density
Hevay metals have density of 4500 kg/m3 (e.g. lead, copper, iron and zinc)
Light metals are those of density less than 4500 kg/m3 e.g. aluminum and magnesium
Ferrous metals contain iron and non-ferrous metals do not

Uses
Metals e.g. iron and steel can be used structurally
Sheet metals are commonly used for cladding + rooding
Aluminium window and door profiles are another common use

When using metal, fire treatment is a critical issue, especially when metal is used for
structural support

Glass
Brittle transparent/translucent material
High density and compressive strength
Prone to shattering due to low tensile strength
Thermal conductivity is average but can be improved by applying various coatings +
layerings
Glass is made from metallic oxides and silica under high temperatures (so they melt and
form liquid) Once cooled, they form solid glass
Common types
Glass is typically available in sheet form or as blocks
Some types of glass have been developed to deal with specific safety and structural
requirements

Uses
Commonly used in windows and doors for light
Structural applications are possible albeit expensive

U value of the glass chosen must be taken into consideration

Double and triple glazing improves the u value of doors and windows and help minimize
energy wastage

Brick
Type of ceramic
Inorganic material with high compressive strength
Low Tensile strength
Low thermal conductivity
Made from clay or cement, water, additives, baked at high temperatures to form small
modular units
Firing process ensures water resistance

Wide variery od colours and finishes available in brick

Common type
Clay or cement brick

Uses
Traditionally brick was used for structural applications
Brick today is used as a cladding or facing material and can be made in prefabricated panels

Concrete
Composite material made from cement water and aggrgates
Initially fluid but sets to form a hard, stone-like material
Admixtures (additives) can be mixed to concrete to improve elasticity, to speed up/down
setting times and add colour

Concrete is poured into formwork to set, so design of the formwork combined with the type
of aggregate used largely determines the finish of the concrete
Somefinishes such as polishing are carried our after the concrete has set

Common Types
1. Case in-situ
Concrete is poured and set in formwork on site
2. Precast
Concrete is cast in factory conditions and brought to site as prefabricated solid elements
3. Blocks
Common modular form of concrete used in masonry construction

Uses
Concrete is commonly used for both structural and cladding applications
In combination with steel reinforcement, structural performance increases

Cement is a binder, a substance that hardens and can bind other materials together
Cement is the basic infredient of concrete and mortar

Insulation
Insulation value of material determined by low thermal conductivity, preventing heat loss
from internal environement
Insulation can be integrated into formwork of concrete or inserted as separate layer in a
wall build up
Insulation has become critical in achieving low energy buildings

Common types
1. Synthethic
Materials e.g. polystyrene, polyurethane, Rockwool
2. Non-synthetic
Sheep’s wool, straw baes, hemp, cellulose fibres (these materials have become popular due
to their environmental benefits)

Uses
Insulation can be applied externally or internally or in a sandwich style composition in walls
floors and roofs

Render and Screeds

Typically cement based materials are used to cover large areas with few joints
Render and screeds are generally finish maerials applied to substances such as plasterboard
or blockwork walls or concrete floors. They are made of a number of materials combined
together

Common types
Traditionally some renders have been made of lime plaster
Recently, there has been a rise in the use of synthetic self-coloured renders, resisant to
fading and shrinking

Uses
Render and screeds are non-structural and typically applied to structural elements
Render is commonly used in masonry construction while screeds are commonly used on
concrete floor slabs
Render and screeds shrink when drying – the inclusion of joints is critical to prevent
cracking.

Windows + Glazing
Windows today tend to either be framed or unframed.
When framed, they are commonly composite i.e. made of more than one material e.g.
aluminium externally and wood internally
Frameless glazing has become more common in recent years
Both double- and triple-glazed windows are possible
Glazing units can also be curve
Roof lights come in many forms and are favoured as they let in more light than the same
window on the wall
Triple glazed windows retain more heat but lets in less light

Material Selection Factors

1. Structual or non structural application
Consideration of structural needs of project e.g. spans and loads
2. Cost
Consideration of both initial cost of material and life time cost
3. Location
Sites with high exposur, high levels of pollution or danger of water peneratrion may rule out
vulnerable or high maintenance materials
Use Locallu sourced materials where possible, both for environemental reasons and
aesthetic value of local indigenous materials
4. Timeframe of constriuction
Materials can be labour intensive e.g. brick are generally slower than prefabricated
materials. In terms of Cast in-situ concrete, the curing time needs to be calculated into the
building programme. If time is limited, prefabricated elements will reduce construction time
5. Lifespan of Building
Lifespan of buildings must be taken into consideration. Buildings with short lifespans e.g.
temporary pavilions may use materials not ideal for long term structures.
6. Availability
One must consider the order and delivery times of materials e.g. stones
7. Maintenance
Some materials e.g. timber cladding require regular maintenance.
8. Environmental considerations
Sustainability, source and recycling possibilities are all crucial in selection of materials. This
includes disposal of demolition materials off site and disposal of off cuts and waste during
construction. Also consider carbon footprint of materials that are transported long distances
to the site
9. Aesthetic considerations
 Weathering
Weathering occurs with all architectural materials with exposure to rain wind and sun.
Weathering can be additive ( accumulation of dirt algae or soot) or subtractive (corrosion of
stone)
  Jointing
Two clear strategies emerge in the detailing of joints within materials – either the
suppression of joints, to create imoression of mass or the expression of joints leading to a
reading of the individual modular elements. Other important considerations are joint
colour, thickness and pattern
 Expression
Choice of materials can impact significantly on the reading of a project. Heavy materials e.g.
cast in-situ concrete give an impression of solidity and permanence. Lightweight materials
e.g. glass and steel give an impression of lightness and transparency
 Fixing
Fixing methods e.g. cladding can be exposed or concealed
 Finish and Treatment
Most materials allow range of options for surface finish and treatment. This could as a
purely aesthetic function or in the case of varnishes and stains on timber, help add to the
lifespan of the material
 Colour and Texture
Colour may be applied through paint or stains or may be inherent to the material such as
the rich variety of colours available to natural stone
 Morality and Honesty
One of the most complex issues in the aesthetic principles of Material selection. Architects
and theorists e.g. Adolf Loos and John Ruskin have applied morality to the selection of
materials, believing the architect should be true to the material used
Honesty indicates the exposure to the natural characteristics and colour of the materials
and the avoidance of other materials.

Modular Elements
Most bricks in UK conform to standard modular dimensions
Special bricks are available from most brick manufacturers are are shaped to allow for easy
constructon of angles, arches, sills and copings

Be careful of colour and texture of brick specialsand always insist on test panels on site as
there may be variations of colour across different brick batches.

Standard Concrete Block dimensions

Concrete Block Variations – there are a number of variations that may be used for specific
purposes e.g. cavity closers or lintels or for appearance or strength e.g. soap bar blocks

Blocks also come in a variety of finishes and strength classes. Exposed or fair faced
blockwork is commonly construted using a finer grade aggregate for a smoother finish

Bricks and Block modules

Bricks and concrete blocks work in modules, allowing ease of construction of combined
block and brickwork

Brick bonds
1. Stretcher Bond
Most commonly used modern brick bond as it is simplest to construct for single leaf
brickwork walls or for brick cladding
2. English Bond
Often used for solid brick walls as the combination of stretchers and headers allowed for
easy construction of solid double brick thick walls
3. Flemish Bond
Even regular rhythm of stretcher, header, stretcher
Commonly used in solid brick walls and therefore less common in modern construction
4. Stack Bond or Unbonded
Regular grid implies that this brick bond is not suitable for structural purposes and is used
for infill or cladding purposes
5. Soldier Course
Usually found over a window or opening, forming the window or door head
An bethreaded through with reinforcement bars or supported by a steel lintel
Often integrated into solid wall for decorative purposes

Hot rolled Steel vs Cold rolled Steel

Hot rolled
Steel formed by heating and rolling
Greater dimentsional variation when compared to cold rolled steel

Cold rolled Steel

Steel is formed at room temperature
Gives better finishand allows tighter tolerances

Advantages of Cold rolled steel

1. Greater strength than hot rolled steel for the same size section
2. Very tight tolerances are possible and can be consistently repeated when more are
required
3. Great range of shapes is possible
4. High quality finish is possible
5. Conventional jointing methods e.g. riveting, bolting, welding and adhesives can be
used
6. Cold rolled steel tends to be lighter , making it easy to reansport and erect

Building Loads
All structures require a foundation to take all the loads safely to the ground. This is to avoid
uneven settlement or eve failure of structure

Height and weight of a building nd its use and the load-bearing capactiry of soil will
influence choice of foundation and determine depth below ground

Choice of foundation will also indluenced by decisions about construction above ground and
the relationship building has with surrounding topography
3 Types of Building Loads
1. Dead Load – weight of structure itseld
2. Live load – moving or variable load added to the building and the effect of wind and
snow load
3. Imposed load – any load which structure must sustainother than the weight of the
structure itself, but excluding the wind load