What materials are used to build a house, and what properties make each one suitable?
The main construction materials (timber, brick, block, concrete, steel, glass, insulation) and the properties that make each suitable for its use.
A CCEA GCSE Construction answer on the main construction materials used in domestic buildings, such as timber, brick, block, concrete, steel, glass and insulation, and the properties that make each suitable for its use.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to know the main construction materials used in a domestic building, the properties of each, and how those properties make each material suitable for the job it does. You should be able to name a material, state a relevant property, and link it to a use.
The answer
Choosing a material by its properties
A material is chosen for a job because its properties suit that job. The properties that matter most in construction are:
The main materials
Why the property matches the use
Timber is used where a strong but light, easily worked material is needed, such as the roof structure and floor joists, because it can be cut to size on site and fixed quickly.
Brick is used for external walls because it is durable and weather-resistant: it stands up to rain, frost and sun for many years and needs little maintenance, while also looking attractive.
Concrete is used for foundations and floors because it is very strong in compression and spreads heavy loads into the ground. Because it is weak in tension, it is reinforced with steel where it has to resist bending, for example in a lintel over a window.
Steel is used where great strength is needed in a small section, such as a beam carrying a wall above an opening, or as reinforcement bars cast into concrete.
Insulation is used wherever heat loss must be reduced, because its very low thermal conductivity slows the flow of heat from the warm inside to the cold outside.
Worked example: choosing a lintel
Examples in context
- Example 1. A cavity wall
- The outer leaf is brick (durable and weather-resistant), the inner leaf is concrete block (cheaper and quicker to lay), and the gap between is filled with insulation (low thermal conductivity). Each material is chosen for its property.
- Example 2. A pitched roof
- The roof structure is timber, chosen because it is strong for its weight and easy to cut and fix into trusses and rafters. The covering tiles are durable and weatherproof to keep the rain out.
- Example 3. A house extension floor
- A ground floor is often a concrete slab because concrete is strong in compression and spreads the load over the ground. An upper floor uses timber joists because they are light and span between the walls.
Choosing the right material for each part of a building is one of the core skills in construction. The same building uses many different materials, each picked because its properties match the loads, weather and finish required, and the choice also affects cost, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Try this
Q1. Name a material used for the external walls of a house and give one reason. [2 marks]
- Cue. Brick, because it is durable and weather-resistant.
Q2. Why is concrete often reinforced with steel? [2 marks]
- Cue. Concrete is weak in tension; steel adds tensile strength so the concrete can resist bending.
Q3. State one property of insulation that makes it suitable for reducing heat loss. [1 mark]
- Cue. It has very low thermal conductivity.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA style4 marksName two materials used in the construction of a house and give one property of each that makes it suitable for its use.Show worked answer →
Any two materials with a relevant property:
- Brick: durable and weather-resistant, so it is suitable for external walls.
- Timber: strong, light and easy to cut and fix, so it is suitable for roof and floor structures.
Other acceptable answers include concrete (strong in compression, used for foundations and floors), steel (very strong, used for beams and reinforcement), glass (transparent, used for windows), and insulation (low thermal conductivity, used to reduce heat loss).
Markers reward one mark for each correctly named material and one mark for a relevant property linked to its use.
CCEA style6 marksConcrete and timber are both used in house construction. Compare the properties of concrete and timber, and give one use of each.Show worked answer →
Concrete: very strong in compression but weak in tension, heavy, durable, fire-resistant and not easily worked once set; used for foundations, ground floors and lintels (often reinforced with steel). Reward strong in compression, durable or fire-resistant, heavy, and a correct use.
Timber: strong for its weight, light, easy to cut, shape and fix, renewable, but can rot, burn and be attacked by insects if not treated; used for roof timbers, floor joists, doors and windows. Reward strong for its weight or light, easy to work or renewable, can rot or burn, and a correct use.
Markers reward valid property comparisons (strength, weight, durability, workability) plus one correct use for each material.
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