Building Construction: Principles, Materials, and Systems

The authors have combined their diverse professional and educational backgrounds to produce a resource that presents the complexity of building construction in an accessible volume. It clearly provides the basics of building science as applied to the art of transforming materials and systems into constructible buildings. The book appropriately addresses each of the primary building assemblies - foundations, walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs - and how they join, seal and integrate with other components. The performance of building enclosures and systems is reviewed in detail, which enhances the reader's understanding of the comprehensive, integrated nature of the building design and construction process. Almost all building materials and systems have been covered in depth. The book is unique among other books on the subject because it is joining efforts of three authors, two of whom are engaged full time in academia, and the third who has an extensive background in the profession. Offers a new approach to construction principles, materials and methods. Divided into two parts to illustrate current and traditional practices of construction: Part I 10 chapters deal primarily with the principles of building materials' and building assemblies' performance; Part II 25 chapters deal primarily with specific materials and assemblies. This book will serve as an indispensable reference for practitioners of architecture, engineering and construction.