What Are the Different Types of Raw Building Materials?

Raw building materials refer to the basic materials that are used in the construction process, usually still in their natural forms. The building or construction process is material and labor intensive, requiring the application of numerous building materials, both in the raw and somewhat processed forms. Some of the raw building materials include the wood material that is utilized in the building process, rocks, ice, sand, mud and limestone and thatch.

One of the most basic and earliest forms of raw building materials is wood derivatives, meaning the various logs and pieces of wood that are derived from trees. Indeed, homes can be constructed using some form of durable wood as the chief construction material. In order to utilize this particular raw building material, the specific type of wood would have to be selected and cut into the desired form in line with the design of the builder. Bamboos are also used in the building process in the sense that they are still utilized to construct temporary scaffolding and also serve other purposes during construction processes. Even though wood is one of the more basic building materials, it does have some drawbacks that include the fact that it does not last as long as other raw building materials, it is susceptible to termite and other insect attacks, and it poses a higher fire risk than other materials.

Another category of raw building materials include rocks, which are basically stacked together and bonded by some form of binding agent. Even though it may not seem like a palatable idea to those in warmer climates, ice is another source of raw building materials that is mostly utilized by people in very cold regions, such as the North Pole, to construct some form of habitat. An example of this type of dwelling is usually referred to as an igloo and is built according to the specifications of the builders. Some people use clay or other forms of earth material like mud or some variation of the mixture of the two different types of materials to construct buildings, which may be roofed by the application of thatch — a plant-based material that resembles palm fronds. The techniques for building such mud homes are unique to the builders, and some slight variations may exist among different cultures, but the outcome is usually a sort of dwelling that is naturally regulated in terms of temperature.