Harsh rains, high winds and other natural disasters can wreak havoc on buildings, costing money to repair and possibly putting people’s safety at risk. Durable construction materials can help protect against these dangers.
Brick is a durable material that resists harsh weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. It also offers insulation, helping to reduce energy costs.
Steel
When building structures for extreme weather conditions, a material that can withstand large loads is needed. Steel is a strong and durable building material that can resist wind, snow, and other forces that can damage buildings. Steel also has good dimensional stability, so it doesn’t swell, shrink or warp over time.
Steel is made up of iron combined with one or more alloying elements that create the metal’s unique properties. There are many different types of steel, and each type has specific characteristics that make it suited to particular applications. There are two comprehensive grading systems that accurately categorize each kind of steel, and multiple subgroups within those classifications that have their own unique attributes.
For example, stainless steel grades like 304 stainless steel are often used for their resistance to corrosion. These types of steels contain chromium along with carbon, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, and silicon. Each of these additions can alter the steel’s strength, ductility, resistance to corrosion, and other properties.
The best thing about steel is that it can be recycled countless times without losing any of its inherent qualities. Because of this, it is considered to be a sustainable building material. Additionally, steel is non-flammable and does not release harmful components when burned.
Although steel is an incredibly versatile and useful building material, it does have some limitations. For instance, carbon steel corrodes in moist environments, and it requires protective coatings and regular maintenance to keep it in good condition. Additionally, steel is a heavy material, and it can be difficult to transport or lift. This can limit its use in applications such as shipbuilding or aerospace, where weight is a significant factor. Also, smelting steel requires a lot of energy, which can be costly for projects that require large amounts of the material.
Concrete
Concrete is a popular building material for its strength, durability and resistance to environmental exposure. It can withstand high winds, hurricanes and tornadoes without damage, and buildings constructed with it are more resistant to earthquakes than those built with steel frames. Concrete is also fire-resistant and can protect occupants in case of an emergency situation.
Concrete is made of a mix of aggregates (granular materials such as sand, gravel and rock) with a binder (cement) that is poured into formwork to create the structure of a building. The granular materials are typically washed to remove impurities and are then sized, which helps control the final strength of the concrete. Aggregate materials may be natural, such as sand and gravel, or man-made, such as crushed stone, river stone and lightweight manufactured aggregates.
When mixed with water, cement forms a paste that adheres to the aggregates and hardens in a process called hydration. The resulting concrete has relatively high compressive strength and low tensile strength, making it an excellent material for foundations, road construction and other structures that must withstand considerable force.
Adding additives to the concrete mix may help it perform better in certain conditions. Retarding admixtures, for example, are added to concrete to slow the set time in hot weather and improve workability. They can also act as a water reducer. Fly ash, a by product of coal burning plants, is often used to replace 15%-30% of the cement in concrete mixes. Silica fume is another additive that enhances workability and reduces permeability in concrete.
Concrete is produced locally in most regions, which keeps jobs flowing and boosts the economy of a city or region. Concrete production facilities are also more environmentally friendly than other kinds of plants, because they do not produce greenhouse gases.
Wood
Wood is one of the oldest building materials and still holds up well in extreme weather conditions. It is a durable and beautiful material that offers architects, engineers, and builders a wide range of options when it comes to design. It is also a highly sustainable material that has a low environmental footprint. It absorbs carbon dioxide in the form of photosynthesis while it is growing, and it acts as a natural carbon sink. It can also withstand climate change better than other materials, including concrete and steel.
Besides its structural integrity, wood is naturally insect-resistant and has good fire resistance. It also has excellent thermal insulation properties. This means that it takes less energy to heat a wooden structure than an equivalently-sized building made of other materials, such as brick and concrete. It is also a durable material, and the fact that it’s naturally resistant to moisture helps to reduce maintenance costs.
However, wood must be treated with preservatives to maintain its durability and protection against the elements. While it may deteriorate more quickly than other materials, the lifespan of wood can be extended through proper maintenance and careful design.
Wood is an environmentally friendly material that is not only carbon-neutral but also sustainable. It can be harvested in an environmentally responsible manner, and it stores carbon in the soil for decades after harvesting, thereby contributing to long-term carbon sequestration. Additionally, wood is a natural resource that can be recycled without losing its structural integrity. Moreover, it can be used to make other products like paper, furniture, and fuel. Wooden structures are more resilient to climate-related disasters than buildings made of other materials, and they perform better in earthquakes. They are also more aesthetically appealing than concrete and steel structures.