Guide to Building Materials

The right construction materials can lend your project strength and versatility

By Matt Alderton, Writer, Editor and Media Consultant, Logolepsy Custom Content and Communications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use wood building materials for everything from framing to flooring

Wood building materials are perhaps the most common and versatile construction materials in the world. Appropriate for almost any structure in a variety of climates, they're useful inside your building and out.

I recommend: For wood construction materials, check Temple-Inland, which carries wood and lumber for framing, siding and more. Truitt & White has a wide selection of lumber and wood building materials.

Turn to bricks and stones as wall-worthy construction materials

While they're too heavy, awkward and energy-inefficient for broad applications, stone building materials are popular for exterior construction and landscaping designs. Projects that would benefit from the strength of stone building supplies should consider brick, which is equally sturdy but more practical.

I recommend: For brick building materials, go to Hanson Brick, which offers more than 1,000 brick design options. Eldorado Stone offers a wide variety of stone and brick. Find more suppliers of bricks and pavers at Business.com. You can also search the Brick Industry Association's member directory or go to ebuild.com.

Choose metal commercial building materials for larger construction projects

Metal building supplies are ideal for large buildings, such as warehouses and skyscrapers, which require metal skeletons for framing.

I recommend: Search for commercial building materials with McGraw Hill Construction's Sweets Network, which has a vast directory of metal building supplies. Suppliers like American Steel Components sell steel building materials.

Add a modern touch to your project with concrete building materials

Even better than brick, and stronger than stone, concrete commercial building materials, including cinder blocks and reinforced concrete, are the predominant choice for modern builders.

I recommend: Suppliers of ready-mixed concrete include Standard Concrete Products Ltd. Find suppliers and manufacturers that specialize in concrete via The Concrete Network, the Portland Cement Association or Business.com's concrete directory.

Use glass building materials for their aesthetic interest

Unlike other building materials, glass is more decorative than structural. Most commonly used for windows, it can also be used for architectural elements like curtain walls and space frame ceilings.

I recommend: For glass building materials, try companies like DuPont, which offers glass laminating solutions for both decorative and structural applications, and CGI, which specializes in impact resistant windows and doors for commercial and residential buildings. Or, for even more information about glass building materials, consult the Glass Association of North America.

Help the environment with green building materials

Increasingly popular are environmentally friendly building materials, including sustainable lumber and recycled building supplies.

I recommend: You can find responsibly harvested sustainable lumber via the Forest Stewardship Council and salvaged or recycled building materials via the Building Materials Reuse Association's directory. Meanwhile, consult the U.S. Green Building Council's member directory for vendors and suppliers that use -- and can help you find -- green building materials.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep your budget top-of-mind when you're buying building materials, supplies and equipment, as it's easy to overspend on them.
• •  Choosing the best building materials for your project comes down to both form and function. Ask your engineer which commercial building materials will give you the aesthetic that you desire and the structural integrity that you need.
• •  While traditional building materials like wood and metal will always form the core of commercial building projects, interesting building materials like plastic, ceramics, fabric and even foam are becoming increasingly popular as accents and alternatives.
• •  Streamline shopping when you purchase prefabricated buildings; they come with all the building materials, supplies and instructions necessary for erecting them.