Building a house is very costly. But when it comes to price, some materials are more expensive than others. These high-priced materials are common in special buildings and structures. You’ll rarely see a normal house with such expensive materials. But if you can spend extra, you can add these materials to your home or building. This can add a little luxury to any structure.
However, there are also common materials that are very expensive. Some of these are necessary when building a home or an infrastructure. Here are the six most expensive building materials and building processes in constructing a house.
Wood
Framing is one of the most expensive parts of home construction. Wood is one of the most needed materials in building a house. Good quality wood is not only expensive but hard to come by as well. On average, you will need almost £30,000 for wood. Wood is a common material for framing, sheathing, and flooring. Framing refers to the wood that forms the walls of the house or building. The sheaths are what covers everything, while the trusses are wood that supports the roof. Wood decking boards are used to create a beautiful outdoor flooring of a garden or a front yard.
There are many types of lumber. Some are more expensive than others. Some of the most expensive types of woods are Ebony wood and African Blackwood. Both of these types of woods cost around £10,000 per kilogram. Alternatively, there are also cheaper woods to choose from.
Dirt for Foundation
Despite common dirt being relatively cheap, the foundation of a house or a structure doesn’t. Before building a house, you will need a strong foundation that can withstand most structural damages. It involves digging a lot of dirt.
After creating strong support, dirt is returned to solidify the foundation. The construction process involving the dirt can cost at least £15,000-£17,000. Depending on the size and depth of the foundation, the price can be higher. So even though dirt is not necessarily expensive, the process of using dirt as a foundation is.
Stone Materials
Cement is another comparatively cheap material. Collectively, they can cost a fortune. Besides, you will need a lot of cement in building houses and structures. Their cost increases depending on how much you will need to use it.
The more expensive stones are the ones used in decorations. Limestones, granites, and marble are some of the expensive types of stone materials that you can use. Genuine ceramics, which is also technically stone, is also expensive.
Stainless Steel
Another expensive building material is stainless steel. Stainless steel is a versatile material. It is also very durable, being able to withstand corrosion. People also use stainless steel for its flexibility, easy to weld. It is also recyclable and long-lived. There are hundreds of grades of stainless steel.
There are four common types of stainless steel. These are Austenitic, Ferritic, Duplex, and Martensitic. Austenitic stainless steels are mostly nickel. Ferritic are corrosion-resistant, often used in places where corrosion is very likely to happen. Duplex is a mixture of both of the previous types but is more expensive. And lastly, Martensitic is the strongest and hardest stainless steel.
It is also used in various forms, such as plates, bars, and tubes. Most people use it on handrails, backsplashes, and countertops. However, they don’t come cheap. Stainless steel cost £6 per kilo. It may sound cheap, but when you plan to use multiple pieces of stainless steel, it can be pretty expensive.
Glass
Glass is another commonly used material in buildings and homes. It is one of the oldest and most luxury building materials. Despite it being common, it is very expensive. Add the fact that it is also hard to work with these materials. Some of the glasses are very delicate as well, needing professional workers to handle. There are different ways to use glass as a building material. It can form windows and partition walls. Glass is also used in making doors. It is also a widely used material for roofing.
There are many types of glass for building. Double-glazed glass is the cheapest, with a price range of £3-£4 for a square foot or around 0.1 sq meters. Plate or flat glasses are the most expensive, ranging from £25-£100. Tempered glass, a common building material, cost £12-£14.
Gold and Precious Materials
Gold is not something you see in your typical build or structure. The reason for this is that pure gold is very soft. It is often mixed with other metals for it to be hard enough for construction. Silver, palladium, platinum, and copper are mostly used to strengthen gold.
However, gold is often used as a decoration. Some parts of a structure are also gold-plated. Gold plated materials are still expensive. A gram of gold can cost more than £40.
Aside from gold, various materials and stones are also used when building a house. They are not necessarily used as a building material, but a decoration instead. Nevertheless, they do count as one of the most expensive materials used in buildings and houses.
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