Building materials are the fundamental components that make up a structure, from the foundation to the roof. They play a critical role in the design and construction of buildings, ensuring that they are safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at building materials, exploring what they are, how they are used, and why they matter.
What Are Building Materials?
Building materials are any substance, product, or material that is used to construct or decorate buildings. They can be natural, like wood and stone, or manufactured, like cement and steel. Building materials are classified into two categories: structural and decorative. Structural building materials are used to create the framework of a building, while decorative building materials are used to enhance the appearance of a building.
Types of Building Materials
There are many different types of building materials, each with their unique properties, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common types of building materials:
1. Concrete
Concrete is a popular building material used to create foundations, walls, and floors. It is strong, durable, and resistant to fire and weather damage. Concrete is also versatile and can be molded into various shapes and sizes.
2. Wood
Wood is a traditional building material used for framing, flooring, and decoration. It is easy to work with, renewable, and has natural insulating properties. However, wood is vulnerable to water damage, pests, and fire.
3. Steel
Steel is a strong and durable building material used for framing, roofing, and cladding. It is resistant to weather, pests, and fire, making it an excellent choice for commercial and industrial buildings.
4. Brick
Brick is a natural building material made from clay and used for walls, paving, and decoration. It is strong, durable, and fire-resistant, but it can be expensive and requires skilled labor to install.
5. Glass
Glass is a versatile building material used for windows, doors, and cladding. It allows natural light into a building and enhances its aesthetic appeal. However, glass is fragile and can break easily.
6. Stone
Stone is a natural building material used for walls, floors, and decoration. It is durable, fire-resistant, and has natural insulating properties. However, stone is heavy, expensive, and requires skilled labor to install.
7. Plastics
Plastics are synthetic building materials used for insulation, roofing, and decoration. They are lightweight, durable, and easy to install. However, plastics are not environmentally friendly and can release harmful chemicals.
List of Building Materials Companies in the USA
| S. No. | Company Name | Founders | Founded Year |
| 1 | Owens Corning | Corning Glass Works | 1938 |
| 2 | PPG Industries | John B. Ford and John Pitcairn Jr. | 1883 |
| 3 | Masco Corporation | Alex Manoogian | 1929 |
| 4 | RPM International | Frank C. Sullivan | 1947 |
| 5 | USG Corporation | George Zehnder | 1901 |
| 6 | Armstrong World Industries | Thomas M. Armstrong | 1860 |
| 7 | Mohawk Industries | Aladdin Mohawk Carpet Mills | 1878 |
| 8 | Sherwin-Williams | Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams | 1866 |
| 9 | James Hardie Industries | James Hardie | 1888 |
| 10 | Simpson Manufacturing Co. | Barclay Simpson | 1956 |
| 11 | Georgia-Pacific | Owen Robertson Cheatham | 1927 |
| 12 | Vulcan Materials Company | Birmingham Slag Company | 1909 |
| 13 | Weyerhaeuser Company | Frederick Weyerhaeuser | 1900 |
| 14 | US LBM Holdings | L.T. Gibson | 2016 |
| 15 | CEMEX USA | Lorenzo Zambrano | 1906 |
| 16 | Beacon Roofing Supply | Robert Buck | 1928 |
| 17 | Boise Cascade Company | Alexander and Augustin Papoose | 1957 |
| 18 | Louisiana-Pacific Corp. | Harry A. Merlo | 1973 |
| 19 | Acme Brick Company | George E. Bennett | 1891 |
| 20 | CertainTeed Corporation | George M. Brown | 1904 |
| 21 | GAF Materials Corporation | Rubin Family | 1886 |
| 22 | NCI Building Systems | Ken Hedrick | 1984 |
| 23 | Builders FirstSource | Joe S. Sambataro Jr. | 1998 |
| 24 | Ply Gem Industries | Gary E. Robinette | 1943 |
| 25 | Gibraltar Industries | William N. Barr | 1993 |
| 26 | Malarkey Roofing Products | Herbert Malarkey Jr. | 1956 |
| 27 | Carlisle Companies | Charles S. Moomy | 1917 |
| 28 | Boral Limited | David Mariner | 1946 |
| 29 | GMS Inc. | Richard J. Barrow | 1971 |
| 30 | Rmax Operating LLC | Richard A. Smith | 1978 |
| 31 | RedBuilt LLC | Harry Redlund | 1960 |
| 32 | Fabral | Walter C. Allen | 1967 |
| 33 | Eldorado Stone LLC | Leo F. Scott | 1969 |
| 34 | Nichiha USA Inc. | Nichiha Corporation | 1956 |
| 35 | Western Window Systems | Scott Gates | 1959 |
| 36 | PABCO Building Products | Leo Pabich | 1972 |
| 37 | Plyco Corporation | George Burkhardt | 1946 |
| 38 | McElroy Metal | Thomas McElroy | 1963 |
| 39 | Fortress Building Products | Rob Helton | 2003 |
| 40 | Rulon International | Dean Rulon | 1985 |
| 41 | RoyOMartin | Roy O. Martin Jr. | 1923 |
| 42 | Forterra Building Products | Brick Industry Association | 2016 |
| 43 | MFM Building Products | Alexander | |
| 44 | Tectum Inc. | Robert Kromm | 1949 |
| 45 | Tindall Corporation | William Tindall | 1946 |
| 46 | Versatex Building Products | Carl Troiano | 2003 |
| 47 | Continental Building Products | Harry H. Mellon | 1956 |
| 48 | Arclin | Gerry Dragomir | 1986 |
| 49 | Riverside Brick and Supply Company | Walter F. Brown Jr. | 1961 |
| 50 | Union Corrugating Company | Howard M. Smith | 1946 |
| 51 | Hollingsworth & Vose | Floyd Hollingsworth | 1843 |
| 52 | Louisiana Redi-Mix Co. | Charles S. Farnsworth | 1946 |
| 53 | Roseburg Forest Products | Kenneth Ford | 1936 |
| 54 | Superior Essex Inc. | John D. O’Bryan | 1930 |
| 55 | West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. | Henry Holman West | 1955 |
| 56 | Daltile | Dallas Ceramic Company | 1947 |
| 57 | Allied Building Products | Michael R. Horgan | 1950 |
| 58 | Hilltop Basic Resources | W.W. “Tex” Thornton | 1941 |
| 59 | Kleer Lumber | John H. Simon | 1992 |
| 60 | Fypon | Richard A. Marquardt | 1974 |
| 61 | Firestone Building Products | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. | 1930 |
| 62 | Simpson Strong-Tie | Barclay Simpson | 1956 |
| 63 | LafargeHolcim | Lafarge and Holcim | 2015 |
| 64 | Endura Products | Edward H. Mills III | 1954 |
| 65 | Trestlewood | K.B. “Bert” Romney Jr. | 1994 |
| 66 | Crystal Window & Door | Thomas Chen | 1990 |
| 67 | Vycom Corporation | Ralph Robbins | 1968 |
| 68 | Thomas Concrete | James Thomas | 1955 |
| 69 | The QUIKRETE Companies | Gene Winchester | 1940 |
| 70 | InterWrap Holdings | Dan J. Allan | 1996 |
| 71 | Dow Building Solutions | Herbert Henry Dow | 1897 |
| 72 | Richelieu Hardware | Paul Richelieu | 1968 |
| 73 | American Hydrotech | Richard J. Hayden Jr. | 1977 |
| 74 | Echelon Masonry | Oldcastle APG | 2007 |
| 75 | Sierra Pacific Windows | Frank D. Knock Jr. | 1986 |
| 76 | Red Devil | R. Emil Gehrke | 1872 |
| 77 | USG Corporation | Henry H. Hill | 1902 |
| 78 | King Architectural Metals | Joseph A. King | 1887 |
| 79 | Timely Industries | Louis R. Timely | 1971 |
| 80 | Sto Corp | Wilhelm Stotmeister | 1955 |
| 81 | Grace Construction Products | William Russell Grace | 1904 |
| 82 | Pacemaker Steel & Piping | Max Kahn | 1963 |
| 83 | Cascade Windows | Gary Delman | 1989 |
| 84 | Waterville TG Inc. | T.G. MacKay | 1940 |
| 85 | TYPAR | DuPont | 1978 |
| 86 | Rmax | Rabun Rasche R-Max | 1978 |
| 87 | Ply Gem | Bill Waltz | 1943 |
| 88 | Boise Cascade | Frederick Weyerhaeuser | 1957 |
| 89 | GAF | Charles A. Jacobus | 1886 |
| 90 | Pella Corporation | Pete and Lucille Kuyper | 1925 |
| 91 | Trex Company | Andrew U. Ferrari | 1996 |
| 92 | Greenfiber | Todd Lindner | 2000 |
| 93 | Uponor | Uponor Corporation | 1918 |
| 94 | Royal Building Products | Royal Plastics Group | 1970 |
| 95 | Plyco Corporation | L.D. Plymale | 1966 |
| 96 | Hilti Corporation | Martin Hilti | 1941 |
| 97 | Dryvit Systems Inc. | Stan Gatland | 1969 |
| 98 | RedBuilt | Charles W. Redinger | 1954 |
| 99 | Georgia-Pacific | Owen Robertson Cheatham | 1927 |
| 100 | The Tapco Group | Bill Haas | 1961 |
| 101 | Cornerstone Building Brands | NCI Building Systems | 1984 |
| 102 | Silver Line Building Products | John McIlvain | 1947 |
| 103 | InSoFast | Andrew Lennox | 2006 |
| 104 | Saint-Gobain Corporation | Jean-Baptiste Colbert | 1665 |
| 105 | Andersen Corporation | Hans Andersen | 1903 |
| 106 | The Hillman Group | Max W. Hillman | 1964 |
| 107 | Atlas Roofing Corporation | Robert J. Swingle | 1982 |
| 108 | Azek Building Products | Richard K. Skidmore | 2001 |
| 109 | VELUX America | Villum Kann Rasmussen | 1941 |
| 110 | Laticrete International | Henry M. Rothberg | 1956 |
| 111 | Overhead Door Corporation | C. G. Johnson | 1921 |
| 112 | Western Window Systems | Scott Gates | 1959 |
| 113 | BMC | Bertram Fink | 1987 |
| 114 | Jeld-Wen | Dick Wendt | 1960 |
| 115 | Mueller Inc. | Robert Mueller | 1932 |
| 116 | Western States Roofing Contractors Association | WSRC | 1974 |
| 117 | Advanced Drainage Systems | Eugene Swanzey | 1966 |
| 118 | Tamko Building Products | E.L. Craig | 1944 |
| 119 | Petersen Aluminum | Maurice R. Petersen | 1965 |
| 120 | Cemex USA | Lorenzo Zambrano | 1906 |
| 121 | Weyerhaeuser | Frederick Weyerhaeuser | 1900 |
| 122 | CertainTeed Corporation | George M. Brown | 1904 |
| 123 | New Tech Machinery | Tom Cholmondeley | 1993 |
| 124 | Therma-Tru | David Welles | 1962 |
| 125 | Tapco International | William Haas | 1961 |
| 126 | Georgia Masonry Supply | Lenny Sciarrino | 1992 |
| 127 | Ironbuilt Steel Buildings | John Blewitt | 1980 |
| 128 | James Hardie Industries | James Hardie | 1888 |
| 129 | Daltile Corporation | R.C. Ragland | 1947 |
| 130 | Varco Pruden Buildings | George Varcoe | 1948 |
| 131 | USG Corporation | Henry Hanger | 1901 |
| 132 | BASF Corporation | Friedrich Engelhorn | 1865 |
| 133 | ClarkDietrich Building Systems | Arthur Clark | 1960 |
| 134 | PGT Innovations | Rodney Hershberger | 1980 |
| 135 | Schöck USA | Eberhard Schöck | 1962 |
| 136 | Boral America | Sydney H. Wells | 1946 |
| 137 | Metal Sales Manufacturing | Frank M. Stahl | 1963 |
| 138 | McElroy Metal | Gene McElroy | 1963 |
| 139 | Owens Corning | Julian F. Dussek | 1938 |
| 140 | Coreslab Structures | Peter Lewis | 1975 |
| 141 | Arriscraft International | James L. Craig | 1952 |
| 142 | Crane Building Services | Richard Teller Crane Jr. | 1855 |
| 143 | Dow Building Solutions | Herbert Henry Dow | 1897 |
| 144 | Formtech Enterprises | Michael J. Zeitler | 1983 |
| 145 | Hanson Building Products | W.H. Hanson | 1904 |
| 146 | Joel’s Antiques & Reclaimed Decor | Joel Alexander | 2010 |
| 147 | King Architectural Metals | Ray King | 1974 |
| 148 | LafargeHolcim | Paul Desmarais | 2015 |
| 149 | Marvin Windows and Doors | George G. Marvin | 1904 |
| 150 | MaxLite | Yon Sung | 1993 |
| 151 | Nichiha | Kenji Kimura | 1956 |
| 152 | Nucor Corporation | Ransom E. Olds | 1905 |
| 153 | Parex USA | Max H. Lefever | 1986 |
| 154 | Pitman Glass | Lloyd Pitman | 1956 |
| 155 | Ply Gem | Gary E. Robinette | 1943 |
| 156 | RedBuilt | Kenyon E. Reding | 1960 |
| 157 | Royal Building Products | Vic De Zen | 1970 |
| 158 | Saint-Gobain Corporation | King Louis XIV | 1665 |
| 159 | Sealocrete LLC | Dale Johnson | 1995 |
| 160 | Sherwin-Williams Company | Henry Sherwin | 1866 |
| 161 | Simpson Strong-Tie | Barclay Simpson | 1956 |
| 162 | Southeastern Metals | W.L. Williams | 1963 |
| 163 | Star Building Systems | Paul W. Starkey | 1927 |
| 164 | Sto Corp | Wilhelm Stotmeister | 1955 |
| 165 | Sweets Catalog System | W. D’Arcy Ryan | 1906 |
| 166 | Tarco Roofing | Frank L. Cashion | 1978 |
| 167 | Thermal Windows | Bill Barron | 1997 |
| 168 | Traco | R.S. Rausch | 1943 |
| 169 | Unilock | Ed Bryant | 1972 |
| 170 | Valspar Corporation | Samuel Tuck | 1806 |
| 171 | Vicwest Building Products | Leonard E. Larocque | 1905 |
| 172 | YKK AP | Tadahiro Yoshida | 1991 |
| 173 | Anderson Plywood Sales | John Anderson | 1948 |
| 174 | Balco | Harold R. Ball | 1958 |
| 175 | Bluco Corporation | James B. Whitehead | 1979 |
| 176 | Bradford White | Robert C. Bradford | 1881 |
| 177 | Butler Manufacturing | Charles L. Butler | 1901 |
| 178 | Celotex | Samuel Bingham | 1927 |
| 179 | Conklin Company | William A. Conklin | 1977 |
| 180 | Dryvit Systems | Stan Gatland | |
| 180 | Dryvit Systems | Stan Gatland | 1969 |
| 181 | Dura Coat Products | Robert Hirsch | 1986 |
| 182 | Echelon Masonry | Tom Reed | 2015 |
| 183 | Evergreen Scale Models | Keith Jordan | 1997 |
| 184 | Formica Corporation | Herbert A. Faber | 1913 |
| 185 | Fypon | Murray Gross | 1969 |
| 186 | Gentek Building Products | John M. Beatty | 1960 |
| 187 | Georgia-Pacific | Owen Robertson Cheatham | 1927 |
| 188 | Gibraltar Industries | John Watson | 1958 |
| 189 | Guardian Industries | William Davidson | 1932 |
| 190 | Henry Company | Frank Henry | 1981 |
| 191 | Hilti | Martin Hilti | 1941 |
| 192 | Huber Engineered Woods | J.M. Huber Corporation | 1883 |
| 193 | Insulfoam | John McLaughlin | 1959 |
| 194 | Jeld-Wen | Dick Wendt | 1960 |
| 195 | Johns Manville | Henry Ward Johns | 1858 |
| 196 | Kawneer Company | Francis Plym | 1906 |
| 197 | Knauf Insulation | Alfons Knauf | 1932 |
| 198 | Kohler Company | John Michael Kohler | 1873 |
| 199 | Laclede Chain | E.H. Laclede | 1854 |
| 200 | Larson Manufacturing | Oscar Larson | 1954 |
| 201 | Louisiana-Pacific | Harry A. Merlo | 1972 |
| 202 | Lowe’s | Lucius Smith Lowe | 1946 |
| 203 | Makita | Mosaburo Makita | 1915 |
| 204 | Marvin Group | Marvin J. Schutt | 1917 |
| 205 | MBCI | W.A. Wilson | 1976 |
| 206 | MFM Building Products | Donald J. Miller | 1961 |
| 207 | Milgard Windows & Doors | Gary Milgard | 1958 |
| 208 | National Gypsum Company | Melvin H. Baker | 1925 |
| 209 | New York Wire Company | Frederick J. Orthwein | 1894 |
| 210 | Nichiha Fiber Cement | Kenji Kimura | 1956 |
| 211 | Owens Corning | Corning Glass Works | 1938 |
| 212 | PABCO Roofing Products | Paul Allen | 1984 |
| 213 | Panasonic Corporation | Konosuke Matsushita | 1918 |
| 214 | Pella Corporation | Pete and Lucille Kuyper | 192 |
| 215 | Performance Building Supply | Robert R. Buck | 1983 |
| 216 | Ply Gem Industries | Gary E. Robinette | 2004 |
| 217 | PPG Industries | Captain John B. Ford | 1883 |
| 218 | Precision Doors & Hardware | Richard Phillips | 1988 |
| 219 | ProVia | Bill Mullett | 1977 |
| 220 | Quikrete | Gene Winchester | 1940 |
| 221 | RedBuilt | Ken Weyand | 1960 |
| 222 | Rheem | Richard and Donald Rheem | 1925 |
| 223 | Rockwool | Henrik Johan Henriksen | 1909 |
| 224 | Rulon International | Charles Rulon | 1985 |
| 225 | Saint-Gobain | Louis XIV of France | 1665 |
| 226 | Schlage | Walter Schlage | 1920 |
| 227 | Simpson Strong-Tie | Barclay Simpson | 1956 |
| 228 | Stanley Black & Decker | Frederick T. Stanley | 1843 |
| 229 | STYRO Industries | Andrew Carlson | 1985 |
| 230 | Sun Windows | Frank Anderson | 1948 |
| 231 | TAMKO Building Products | E.L. Craig | 1944 |
| 232 | Tech Lighting | Gregory Kay | 1988 |
| 233 | Tennant Company | George H. Tennant | 1870 |
| 234 | Therma-Tru | David Welles | 1962 |
| 235 | Trex Company | Andrew U. Ferrari | 1996 |
| 236 | USG Corporation | Henry H. Hill | 1902 |
| 237 | VELUX | Villum Kann Rasmussen | 1941 |
| 238 | Versatex | Ken Hendricks | 2003 |
| 239 | Vicwest Building Products | Roy Kennedy | 1905 |
| 240 | Viega | Franz-Anselm Viegener | 1899 |
| 241 | Viracon | John Ford | 1970 |
| 242 | W.R. Grace and Company | William Russell Grace | 1854 |
| 243 | Weather Shield Windows & Doors | Edward Schield Jr. | 1955 |
| 244 | Western Window Systems | Scott Gates | 1959 |
| 245 | Whirlpool Corporation | Louis Upton | 1911 |
| 246 | Wilsonart International | Ralph Wilson Sr. | 1956 |
| 247 | Windsor Door | Richard M. Kline Jr. | 1946 |
| 248 | Weyerhaeuser | Frederick Weyerhaeuser | 1900 |
| 249 | Wolverine Worldwide | G.A. Krause | 1883 |
| 250 | Woodgrain | Merrill Webster | 1954 |
Why Building Materials Matter
Building materials play a crucial role in the safety, durability, and sustainability of buildings. Choosing the right building materials can help to reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and enhance the comfort of occupants. Additionally, using sustainable and eco-friendly building materials can help to reduce the environmental impact of buildings.
In conclusion, building materials are an essential component of any construction project. They come in many different types, each with their unique properties and benefits. Choosing the right building materials is crucial for creating safe, durable, and sustainable buildings that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
