As a design + construct firm we select and order building materials with our clients every day from marble slabs to wood flooring. Did you ever wonder how these construction materials are made?
Marble has been used in construction since ancient times for its durability and beauty. The Parthenon, constructed from white marble, has been standing atop the Acropolis since the 5th century BC. Today, from countertops to backsplashes, many homeowners incorporate marble in their kitchen and bathroom designs. In addition to its polished sheen, this natural stone is durable and easy to maintain, and every piece is unique. But where does that gleaming slab come from? One of the oldest techniques for mining marble involved quarrymen using chisels to force pre-existing cracks to deepen, separating the marble “bench wall” from the mountain. The introduction of gunpowder revolutionized mining but produced much waste. Today, the process is more sophisticated and precise using state-of-the-art machinery, industrial diamonds, steel cylinders and drills (Carrara Marble). Excavators are used to push over marble blocks from the mountain, breaking them into manageable pieces (FD Engineering Stone Men). Back in their warehouses, marble suppliers inspect the cut slabs for quality, color, and veining. At the fabrication facility, “specialists cut and shape the stone in adherence to specific needs” (Colonia Marble) and, viola, your custom backsplash or countertop is created.
From North American White Oak to reclaimed Walnut to Cedar, wood flooring and siding comes in a plethora of species. Many of the options that we use in homes are actually engineered wood. But what is engineered wood? Is it real wood? Engineered wood refers to products that are made by “binding pieces of real wood (top layer), shredded wood fibers, scrap wood and/or sawdust” (HGTV.com). Engineered wood tends to be more durable as it consists of multiple layers with each row featuring compacted materials that increase the plank’s density and strength. Water and moisture cannot as easily penetrate engineered wood boards, limiting the expansion and warping that moisture typically causes on regular hardwood floors. It is also the more environmentally sustainable option as one hardwood tree can supply multiple planks. “To fully cover 1,200 square feet of floor in solid hardwood, you would need about 12 trees to create enough decent-size planks” (fromtheforest.com). With a range of high-end finishes, multitude of widths, and distinct shades, engineered wood offers long-term durability, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
Although we tend to use the two words interchangeably, concrete and cement are two different materials. According to MIT, concrete is the “world’s most-used material after water.” What is the difference between cement and concrete? Simply put, cement is one of several ingredients used to make concrete. Cement is made by combining limestone, sand, and other raw materials, which are heated and then ground to a fine powder, known as portland cement. (Fun fact: Portland cement is not named after the Oregon city, but after the isle of Portland in the English Channel per Sakrete.com). Sand, large stones or fragments, and water are added to the cement mixture to create concrete. Concrete is a necessary material in most construction. However, “according to the International Energy Agency [it]…. is responsible for up to seven percent of the world’s CO2 emissions and is the world’s second-largest source of industrial greenhouse gases” (Green Builder Media). Concrete carbon sequestering combats those emissions by capturing the CO2, chemically converting it into a solid material, then trapping it in the concrete mixture.
