Choosing construction materials that are built to last

When it comes to property products, most of us are more interested in the completed building than being involved in the time-consuming construction process itself. We do not realize the importance of choosing the right building materials until an unwanted incident happens.

The collapse of Hambalang Sports Complex in Bogor is one example of the importance of choosing building materials according to the conditions of a particular area and terrain.

A substandard sports arena is a national issue; for the rest of us, our homes are the places where we sometimes find to our disappointment and expense that construction materials do not meet expectations.

 “I am disappointed with the contractor because only two years after the construction of my house was completed, there are several cracks in the wall, with the position of the wall a bit slanted,” said a father of two children, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Because he is busy with his job, he chose to rely on a developer when it came to taking care of the needs of the house under construction. “Now I have to spend more to renovate the house,” he complained.

Sutanto Primabodo, who is often engaged in construction projects, once noticed that the roof of a newly built concrete balcony slanted inward because the selected concrete iron building structures were irresponsibly replaced by the contractor with cheaper ones.

“It happened because the owner of the house did not monitor the building process but left it entirely up to the contractor,” he said.

“Using the right building materials or components is very important for the sake of the duration of a building even though they might cost more compared to second or third class materials.”

Opting for quality saves money in the long run, he added.

“It’s better to spend more money by choosing the right building materials that are costlier compared to choosing cheaper ones which is more risky.”

Today, there are many building materials in a range of models and prices in the market. A rule of thumb is to choose building materials that are functional in accordance with your needs. And, of course, the price should be based on the available budget that you have allotted.

Here are tips on choosing the right building materials and what to be aware of to ensure your dream home does not become a nightmare.

Cement

Cements in the market are similar in terms of price and quality. However, it is advisable to use well-known branded cements in order to obtain a stronger result of cementing.

Concrete iron

For a stronger structure, use quality concrete irons. Good quality concrete iron is one with standard yield strength of 24 kg per mm2, with low carbon content and high silicone content.

Wood

The first thing to be considered when choosing a type of wood is the age. Dark wood is usually older and harder for better resistance. Also choose wood that has straight fibers. The use of substandard wood that bends will affect the endurance of the house or building. Choose wood with water content below 20 percent to ensure that the construction is strong. Use construction wood or timber from Kalimantan, such as kamper Samarinda and kamper rasamala for a strong structure. It is good to use wood that has been dried to ensure it does not easily rot.

Sand and gravel

Sand and gravel play a significant role in building properties. Mixing sand and gravel with organic materials, mud or animal droppings will affect the endurance of the wall. Unclean sand or gravel means being wasteful in using cement because more cement is needed, especially in the concrete foundry phase.

Brick

Of course, this is one of the vital building materials or components used to build a house, a hotel, apartment and other property products. Choose bricks that are hard and not easily broken and have a similar size. Avoid using bricks that are already cracked. Use bricks that are strong enough to withstand pressure.

Roof tile

The best bet to find out the quality of a roof tile is to knock on it. If it is light and produces a good sound when tapped, then the brick is of good quality. A good quality roof tile also has a smooth surface and is water resistant. Choose roof tiles that perfectly match the color of your wall. Roof tiles made of clay and concrete also have a natural cooling effect in a building. However, the roof frame has to be stronger if using this kind of roof tile.