Metals are versatile housing materials because they can

be shaped in so many ways. They are available in a variety

of natural colors or can be coated for a wider array of
colors and for added protection. Metals are strong,
decorative, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

CAST IRON is made of

iron and carbon, melted
in a furnace and cast into
shapes such as wood
burning stoves,
bathtubs, sinks, skillets,
sewer lines, waste
disposal systems, lawn
furniture and gas pipes. BRONZE is an alloy of
copper and tin, forming
WROUGHT IRON is a strong, beautiful,
nearly pure iron used stately material that
for ornamental lawn weathers well. It is used
furniture, lighting for thresholds, screws,
fixtures, fences, and plumbing supplies, and
staircase/porch decorative pieces
railings. including sculpture.
 BRASS is an alloy of copper and
zinc, ranging in color from a
coppery red to silvery white. Tin
can be added or it can be coated
with clear enamel to prevent
tarnishing. Ir can be cast,
hammered, stamped, rolled, or
drawn into bolts, screws, pipe
fittings, wire, furniture, and
decorative pieces.
ALUMINUM is lightweight, highly
resistant to corrosion, an excellent COPPER is most
conductor of electricity, a good important for it’s electrical
reflector of light and heat, easily and heat conductivity, and
formed into many shapes, and resistance to corrosion.
receptive to many finishes. Exposed to moist air, it
Aluminum can be “extruded” into becomes coated with a
window and door frames, railings, thin layer of green
and hardware. It can also be “cast” carbonate that protects it
into lamp bases, plant stands, from further corrosion. It
cookware, and grills. It can be is used in wiring and
“rolled” into range hoods, roofing materials,
awnings, garage doors, appliance cookware, lamps, and
panels, and ductwork. decorative pieces.
 LEAD is a heavy but
workable metal
STAINLESS STEEL is resistant to
steel with chromium corrosion. It is used
added, making it hard under showers and
and corrosion as liners for pools,
resistant over a wide and in drainage
temperature range. It pipes. It expands and
is used for gutters, contracts in different
downspouts, cooking temperatures, and it
and eating utensils, can cause lead
appliances, sinks, poisoning… limiting
countertops, and many household
even furniture. applications. It is
used in leaded
window designs.
 Glass is the only housing construction material that
allows the passage of light and permits a clear view.
It does not conduct electricity and is almost
completely corrosion resistant.
The “tensile strength” of glass
refers to the amount of force that
glass can withstand without
breaking. Tensile strength can be
increased by increasing
thickness or by applying certain
production techniques. It is
decreased by scratches,
imperfections, and rapid
temperature changes.

Float glass is a flat glass, less

expensive and better quality than
sheet glass or plate glass. It is
distortion-free, can be made in
various strengths and thicknesses,
and in very large sheets. It can be
tinted to reduce heat transmission
and glare.
 Hand blown
glass is
expensive but
beautiful. It is
used primarily
for art pieces,
vases, and fine
glasses.
Stained glass refers to glass
colored by pigments or metal
oxides fused to glass.
Types of decorative
glass include
patterned, etched, cut,
or enameled.
Patterned safety glass
is often used for tub
or shower enclosures.
Cut glass sparkles.
Etched glass appears
frosted. Enameled Crystal is perfectly clear glass.
glass has color added Lead crystal contains lead oxide,
to it’s surface. giving it clarity and sparkle.
 Clay is easily shaped, but firing that clay at
high temperatures preserves the shape,
color, and texture. After firing, this
“ceramic” also becomes resistant to heat,
cold, moisture, acids, and salts. It can be
glazed, colored, and textured for decoration.
Glazing increases it’s strength and seals it
to make it waterproof.

Roofing tile is
expensive and
more porous
than other
roofing
materials.
Mosaic tile is
Glazed tile
made of porcelain
or natural clay;
smaller in size, Quarry tile or
smoother, and pavers are the
brighter in color. strongest ceramic
tiles.
 Pottery refers to ceramic
objects such as dinnerware,
cookware, and vases. There are
three types…
Stoneware is made of
finer clay than
earthenware, usually
light brown or gray in
color. It is fired at
higher temperatures,
making it waterproof
and durable. It
accepts subtle colors
with a matte finish.
Earthenware products are casual,
porous, fragile, and opaque.
Generally red or brown, it is used for
flower pots, casual dinnerware, and
folk pottery.
Porcelain is fired at very
high temperatures to a
white, finely textured finish.
It is completely “vitrified”
(made into glass) and very
hard. It has a delicate
appearance, and is used
for fine dinnerware or for
sinks and bathtubs.
Plastics are usually reasonable in cost, moisture
and corrosion resistant, lightweight, tough, and
easily molded into complex shapes. Plastics are
replacing many natural building materials due to
low maintenance requirements.
 Wood is a hard, fibrous substance that forms
the trunk, stems, and branches of trees. It
can be processed to make lumber, plywood,
or other wood products used in construction.

Wood can be generally

classified as either a hardwood
or a softwood. Softwoods are
strong and resilient, but they
do not accept finishes as well
as most hardwoods. They are
most commonly used in
construction. Examples are
cedar, cypress, fir, pine, and
redwood.

Hardwoods tend to be more expensive than softwoods. They resist denting

and scratching better and their surfaces yield smooth finishes with
attractive grain patterns. Hardwoods are most often used for flooring and
furniture. Examples are ash, beech, birch, cherry, elm, mahogany, maple,
oak, poplar, and walnut.
 LUMBER is wood sawed from logs
into boards of various sizes.

MILLWORK is processed lumber,

such as doors, window frames,
TIMBER is lumber that is 5” or larger shutters, trim, panel work, and
in width and thickness, and is used molding.
mainly for support posts or beams.
LAMINATED TIMBER is layers of
wood glued together with all the grain
running in one direction…simply
making thicker pieces of timber.

PLYWOOD is made from thin sheets of wood called veneers or plies. They are
glued together to form a panel, with the grain of one ply running at right angles
to the grain of the next ply to give it strength and prevent warping or splitting.
The outer plies might be fine, attractive veneers if used in furniture, or rough
layers if used in floors and walls.
HARDBOARD is a type of composite board
made from refined wood fibers that are
pressed together. One or both sides may be
smooth.
PARTICLE BOARD is a type of composite
board made from wood flakes, chips, and
shavings that are bonded together with
adhesives.
 BLEACHES remove the natural color of
the wood to give it a pale or weathered
appearance.
FILLERS are often applied to wood such as
VARNISHES are used as top
oak, walnut, and mahogany that have “open
coats, emphasizing wood
grain”. By filling the pores of the grain, the
grain and deepening wood
finished surface will be smooth with an even
tones.
color.
SHELLAC is a type of vanish
designed to seal wood under STAINS add color to wood OIL penetrates
a final top coat. without masking grain wood to highlight
LACQUER is a durable top patterns. They are oil-, the grain, darken the
coat, producing a glossy alcohol-, or water-based. wood, and produce
finish. a soft luster.
POLYURETHANE is a clear
finish that dries quickly,
wears well, and has a high
resistance to chemicals, WAX is used over
alcohol, and grease. It is other surfaces to
popular for wood floors. produce a smooth
EPOXY RESIN is an excellent luster, but must be
floor and exterior finish renewed
because of durability. frequently.
 Masonry materials are versatile, durable, and
beautiful. They are more expensive than wood
products, but require less maintenance.

BRICK is fireproof, weather-resistant,

and easy to maintain. It is popular for
fireplaces, chimneys, walls, and floors.

Bricks come in a variety of colors and sizes. Colors vary with

the chemical make up of the clay used to make them and the
time and temperature used to fire them. Mortar is used
between the bricks to bond them together and seal the spaces
between them.
 Glass blocks are hollow units of clear,
rippled, or frosted glass. Some of the air
has been removed from the hollow core to
prevent condensation and improve
insulation value. They give privacy but
allow light.
 Stone is difficult to work with in building, so is labor
intensive and therefore expensive. It has varied
colors and textures to provide visual interest. It is
fireproof and resistant to decay, and gives a feeling of
Types of natural stone permanence and stability.
include granite (hard and
durable), sandstone (porous
and prone to dampness, with
poor insulation value) ,
limestone (weathers rapidly in
humid climates), marble
(expensive and luxurious but
not as durable as granite), and
slate (hard and brittle, made
from compressed clay or
shale). Manufactured stone
(made from lightweight
concrete or fiberglass) and
terrazzo (durable material
made from marble chips
bonded together with cement)
are stone-like materials.
 Concrete is used for foundations, exterior
walls, floors, walks, and driveways. It is
economical, tough, weather resistant, and long
lasting. It can be colored, have an exposed
aggregate (pebbles in it show up), be textured,
or be scored into geometric patterns.
 Carpets, rugs, upholstery, and curtains are common
textile products used throughout the home to add color,
texture, and comfort.
Fibers are the basic element of all fabrics, and are
combined to form a yarn that is woven, knitted, or
fastened together. Fibers are either natural or manmade
from chemical sources.

petroleum. They are chemically
NATURAL FIBERS
Cotton and flax are from plant sources; silk
from silkworms, wool from sheep, and some
specialty hair fibers are from protein sources,
and asbestos is from a mineral source
MANUFACTURED FIBERS
These fibers are derived from
substances found in nature
such as wood pulp or
engineered into fibers.
Examples are acetate, rayon,
triacetate, acrylic, glass,
metallic, nylon, olefin,
polyester, rubber, saran,
spandex, and vinyon.
 Several fibers twisted together
are called a “yarn”. That yarn will
eventually be woven, knitted, or
The size and texture of a yarn depends fastened together to create a
on the types of fibers from which it is fabric.
made, how tightly the fibers are twisted
together, and the number of plies or
strands it has.
Cotton: absorbent, shrinks in hot water,
easy to dye, highly flammable; used for
sheets, towels, bedspreads, kitchen
curtains, rugs
Silk: lustrous, expensive, yellows with age,
water spots; used for draperies, upholstery,
lampshades, and wall hangings
Flax or Linen: strong, lint free, durable;
used for tablecloths, draperies, kitchen
towels
Wool: warm, absorbent, wrinkle resistant,
low flammability, expensive; used for
blankets, carpets, upholstery, rugs

Polyester: colorfast, easy to dye,
retains shape, resists wrinkles,
generates static, subject to pilling;
used for awnings, blankets,
carpets, draperies, fiberfill, sheets,
tablecloths
Rayon: resembles cotton, drapes
well, wrinkles, highly flammable;
used for sheets, curtains,
upholstery
Acetate: easy to dye, drapes well, soft
and luxurious, nonabsorbent; used for
bedspreads, draperies, fiberfill
Acrylic: resembles wool, soft and warm,
colorfast, generates static electricity,
resists mildew, moths, mildew, and sun
damage; used for blankets, carpeting,
upholstery, draperies, fiberfill
Glass: fiberglass is strong and heavy,
resists heat, flames, and most chemicals;
used for draperies and insulation
Metallic: colorfast, durable, resists
moths, mildew, and shrinking; used for
draperies, slipcovers, tablecloths
Nylon: very strong and durable, lustrous,
lightweight, drapes well, generates static;
used for upholstery, outdoor furniture
covers, draperies, carpet
Olefin: quick drying, resists abrasion,
chemicals, moths, and shrinking; used
for awnings, carpeting, doormats
 Fabrics with a
“twill weave” have
diagonal lines or
wales. They form
a strong fabric
that resists
wrinkles and
hides soil. (denim
A “plain weave” is a simple over and
and gabardine)
under weave, forming a strong,
durable fabric. (percale, broadcloth)
A “satin
A “jacquard
weave”
weave” is
produces a
characterized
smooth and
by intricate
lustrous fabric
patterns.
that lacks
(damask,
durability and
brocade, and
snags easily.
tapestry)
(satin)
Fabric with a “leno weave” is “Knitted” fabrics are made by
mesh-like, such as some interlocking yarns. Though
blankets and curtains. not common in home
furnishings, knits are used in
some bedding and curtains.
“Foam” is the
result of
incorporating air
into a rubber or
polyurethane
substance; it’s
used for pillows,
“Tufting” is a construction method, primarily used to
cushions, furniture
make carpet. Tufting machines loop yarns into a
padding, and
backing material. This is usually followed by a latex
carpet backing.
coating to hold the yarns in place.
 “Felt” is a fabric made directly from wool
fibers, in a process using heat, moisture,
and pressure to permanently press and
interlock the fibers together. It is used
for sound-proofing, insulation, padding,
and decorative items.

“Non-woven” fabrics are made by

bonding non-wool fibers to make
goods such as mattress pads,
backing for furniture and box springs.

“Leather” has no fibers, but is used as a fabric.

Manufactured from animal hides, leather is
expensive, beautiful, durable, and moisture
resistant.
 Color can be added to textiles in
several different ways. “Yarn
dyeing” colors the fibers or yarn
prior to fabric production. “Piece
dyeing” colors the entire piece of
fabric after it is made, and
“printing” applies a design to pre-
made fabric.

Fabrics may receive one or more finishes after construction to add desirable
qualities: antistatic (reduces buildup of static electricity), beetling (improves
luster and absorbency on linen), bleaching (whitens natural fibers),
calendering (produces a smooth polished surface), crease-resistance (resists
wrinkling), flame-retardant (reduces chance of burning), fulling (improves the
appearance of wool), mercerization (improves luster and strength), moth-
repellent (repels moths from wool), mildew-resistant (prevents mildew),
napping (pulls up fiber ends such as in velvet), preshrunk (shrinks the fabric
before sale to the consumer), sanforized (reduces shrinkage), Scotchguard
(resists water and oil stains), soil resistant (makes fabric less absorbent),
water repellent (coats fabrics with wax, metals, or resins to resist water).