Construction Materials and Techniques for Building Animal Shelters
Construction Materials
Natural Materials
- Stone
- Sand
- Gravel
- Clay
- Wood
Composite Materials
- Adobe
- Brick
- Mortar
- Concrete
- Reinforced Concrete
Material Properties and Characteristics
Stone
Very compact structure, hard, tough, heavy. Can be used as a building material.
Gravel
Compact structure, hard, not very heavy (weighing 1500-1700 kg/m3), permeable. Not typically used as a standalone building material, but as a component of concrete.
Sand
Compact structure, hard, not very heavy (weighing 1500-1700 kg/m3), permeable. Not typically used as a standalone building material, but as a component of concrete and mortar.
Clay and Silt
Unstable porous structure, low hardness, not very heavy, waterproof. Combined with water and binders, it produces ceramics and bricks.
Wood
Non-compact, variable hardness, can be shaped, lightweight, swells with water, vulnerable to fire.
Composite Materials Explained
Composites are formed by mixing two or more materials to create a material with improved qualities.
Adobe
Made from clay, sand, and water, uncooked. Very compact but weak, low hardness, relatively lightweight, fire-resistant, but susceptible to water damage. Used for walls.
Brick
Made from clay, sand, and water, fired. Compact, relatively strong, relatively hard, relatively lightweight, and fire-resistant. Manufacturing process involves kneading and molding.
Mortar
Made from sand, lime, and cement. Relatively strong, compact structure, not hard, relatively lightweight, fire-resistant, and weather-resistant. Used as a binder for walls.
Concrete
Made from gravel, sand, and cement. Compact, hard, heavy, fire-resistant, and somewhat weather-resistant. Used for slabs and walls.
Reinforced Concrete
Made from steel, sand, gravel, and cement. Compact and strong, hard, heavy, fire-resistant, highly resistant to compression, and weather-resistant. Used for columns.
Construction Technology
Construction involves a defined set of tasks to complete a project with relative precision in work plans and costs.
Construction Tasks
- Preliminary work
- Excavations
- Foundations and footings
- Masonry (walls)
- Elevations, floors, and subfloors
- Roofs
- Fill and compaction
Preliminary Work
Includes reconnaissance, installation tasks, weeding, redesign, and layout.
Excavations
Involves digging for leveling the ground.
Foundations and Footings
Applying foundation footings and formwork.
Masonry
Placement of bricks, adobe, stone, or concrete for walls.
Elevations, Floors, and Subfloors
Using columns (brick, concrete, wood), concrete beams, wood beams, and stone.
Agricultural Shed Construction
Includes a door, earth wall, roof poles, and straw. Considers protection from sun and rain, using wood and straw for the roof. Adequate size to avoid overcrowding (e.g., 1m2 for a sheep, 5-6m2 for a cow).
Importance of Sheds
Protects animals from wild beasts, wind, sun, rain, and disease.
Animal Production
Good results require animal health and welfare management, including hygiene, diet, and climate.
Animal Housing
Considerations include construction type, size, ventilation, lighting, water, and sanitation.
Bill of Materials
Item | Description | Unit | Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Installation Work | Gib | 1 |
2 | Stakeout and Designs | m2 | 2 |
3 | Excavators | m3 | 3 |
4 | Plants/Posts | pcs | 4 |
5 | Foundation Stone and Clay | m3 | 5 |
6 | Adobe Wall (23×30) | m2 | 6 |
7 | Cover | m2 | 7 |
8 | Door | pcs | 8 |
9 | Cleaning and Removal of Debris | Gib | 9 |