When man came to know about the need of having to have a shelter to protect himself from the anger of nature and predators, his prime importance, besides having a full stomach, was to own an abode. It has been stated by anthropologists that the shelter of man has been directly related to his way of producing food. For instance, people in the early Stone Age were hunters and gatherers, thus carved and lived in the caves for the sake of his privacy and security
Moving towards regions with no caves, in search of food, he started building his own abode. The technique of brick and block construction was developed after myriad ages.
In the Mesolithic era, men were nomads and moved from place to place in search of food and favorable weather. They made temporary camps alongside rivers and trees to make sure they had access to water and fruits, respectively.
The men of the Neolithic period built permanent houses with different materials because they were producing their own food through agriculture and animal farming. People in early times have also made use of other materials like wood, metals, bamboo, clay, even some bizarre materials like those of giant animal bones.
With the passage of time, came advancements of all kinds. People started using new materials and efficient techniques to build homes. Bricks and blocks are one of the oldest materials used in construction, which is why, archeological studies of old buildings show that almost all of them, no matter where located and to which civilization they belong, have made use of bricks and blocks. Let us not go very far and take an example of the all-time favorite- the Egyptian pyramids, even these mighty triangle structures have been made up of bricks.
The wide range of benefits that these building elements proffer to the user have made them a perfect choice since the early times. Let us have a detailed discussion about the advantages of them as constructing materials.
1. DURABLE AND TOUGH:
Pertaining to the fact that the masonry bricks and blocks are baked for a considerable amount of time at extremely high temperatures make them tough and durable. Therefore, the ancient buildings and structures have remained almost intact, if they were made of some other building material, would have not made it through all these years and had not survived the harshness of weather.
2. RESISTANT TO EXTREME WEATHER:
Bricks and blocks are several times more resistant to harsh weather, therefore, even after 1000s of years ancient buildings made of bricks and blocks have not been damaged. Had it been other materials like wood, it would have easily been degraded in rain and high storm, moreover, the fungal species like molds and mildews can easily affect other building materials.
3. COST-EFFECTIVE:
These masonry construction materials are very light on the pocket as compared to other materials. Furthermore, the amount spent on its maintenance is the lowest, as it hardly degrades even after many years.
Almost all of the ingredients required for making them are easily available, which makes them cheaper than any other building material.
4. FIRE-RESISTANT:
One of the best advantages that makes the bricks stand out of the crowd is the fact that it is absolutely resistant to fire. Fire outbreak is one of the prime issues in regions near forests. To prevent any such damage one has the option to build one’s residential or commercial facility with the blocks.
5. ECO-FRIENDLY:
One of the best features of these building materials is the fact that no trees are harmed during their making. Moreover, their making involves comparatively less energy consumption. The materials-clay, lime, sand- used for their making are offered to us for free by nature in abundant amounts. An icing on the cake is that the manufacturing process produces less air pollution.
Buildings constructed of bricks are well-insulated as compared to other constructing materials, and will not allow the easy escape of heat energy during winters and cold air during summers. Thus, will help you cut down on your expenses on energy bills, and simultaneously, consume less energy.
6. AESTHETICS:
Brick and block work is used for ornamentation of a building. Various patterns and colored bricks can be used to add beauty to a building. Block work makes use of large concrete blocks, whereas, brickwork uses small bricks that have a variety of colors.
6. WATER/MOISTURE RESISTANT:
Water that is detrimental to other constructing materials is, ironically, very beneficial to the blocks. More water absorption during construction gives more strength to the building. Besides, there is no threat of fungal growth on walls and roofs. So, the water damage that is easily destroying houses made of other materials can’t harm buildings made by bricks.
7. RECYCLABLE:
Anything that can be recycled and reused in the current era is a game winner. The inhabitants of earth can’t afford using materials that will linger on earth for eternity. It is a smart way to opt for options that can be reused. Blocks are recyclable and can be reused.
The amazing advantages these materials offer you on a plate at the same time, make them an accurate option for constructing your house, office, factory or a warehouse.
September 1, 2021