Materiality and Interior Construction

A comprehensive reference of materials for interior designers and architects

Choosing the right material for the right purpose is a critical and often overlooked aspect in the larger context of designing buildings and interior spaces. When specified and executed properly, materials support and enhance a project′s overall theme, and infuse interior space with a solid foundation that balances visual poetry and functionality.

Materiality and Interior Construction imparts essential knowledge on how materials contribute to the construction and fabrication of floors, partitions, ceilings, and millwork, with thorough coverage of the important characteristics and properties of building materials and finishes. Individual coverage of the key characteristics of each material explores the advantages and disadvantages of using specific materials and construction assemblies, while helping readers discover how to make every building element count. In addition, Materiality and Interior Construction:

Is highly illustrated throughout to show material properties and building assemblies

Supplies rankings and information on the "green" attributes of each material so that designers can make informed decisions for specifications

Is organized by application for easy and quick access to information

Includes a companion website, featuring an extensive online image bank of materials and assemblies

Rather than a typical catalog of materials, Materiality and Interior Construction is efficiently organized so that the reader is guided directly to the options for the location or assembly they are considering. Reliable and easy to use, Materiality and Interior Construction is a one–stop, comprehensive reference for hundreds of commonly used materials and their integration as building components and an invaluable resource that every interior designer or architect should add to their set of tools.

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

Chapter 1: WHY MATERIALS MATTER

DESIGN INTENTIONS

The Design Concept

Human Factors

Health, Safety, and Welfare

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Chronology and Technological Development

WHAT IT S MADE OF AND HOW IT S MADE

Material Extraction

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Biomimicry

Carbon–Neutral Design

Certifications

Downcycling

Embodied Energy

Life–Cycle Assessment

Local Materials

Natural and Synthetic Materials and Components

Rapidly Renewable Materials

Reclaimed/Repurposed Materials

Recycled Materials

Upcycling

Volatile Organic Compounds

MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Absorption Coefficient

Acoustics

Aging and Weathering

Cellular Structure

Compressive and Tensile Strength

Density

Dimensional Movement

Ductility

Durability

Elasticity

Emissivity

Fire Ratings

Stability

Surface Attributes

Thermal Conductivity

Thermal Transmittance

Workability and Joinery

APPLICATIONS

INSTALLATION METHODS

Existing Conditions

Construction and Fabrication

Substructures and Assemblies

MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

Green Cleaning Policies and Products

RELATIVE MATERIAL COST

RESOURCES AND SOURCES

Chapter 2: FLOORING

DESIGN INTENTIONS

Human Factors

Health, Safety, and Welfare

Purpose and Performance

Structural Integrity and Engineering

CIRCULATION AND CONVEYANCE: STAIRS, RAMPS, AND SLOPES

Stairs: Accessibility and Egress

Ramps and Slopes: Accessibility and Egress

Subfloor Preparation Methods

INSTALLATION METHODS

Adhesion and Bonding

Asbestos Abatement Issues

Installing Floating Floors

Installing Tiles

MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

RELATIVE COST OF MATERIALS FOR FLOORING

FLOORING MATERIALS

Bamboo

Brick

Carpet

Cementitious Top Coatings

Ceramic Tile

Composite Floor Tiles (Bio–Based, ESD, MCT, MVT, Polyester Resin Based, PVC–Free, Resin, VCT)

Concrete (Cast–in–Place, Precast, and Concrete Finishes)

Cork (Laminated Plank, Sheet, Tile)

Glass

Leather (Tile)

Linoleum (Laminated Plank, Sheet, Tile)

Metal (Flooring, Decking, Grating)

Rubber

Stone (Alabaster, Basalt, Bluestone, Dolostone, Fieldstone, Flagstone, Gabbro, Gneiss, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Petrifi ed Wood, Quartzite, Sandstone, Serpentine, Schist, Slate, Travertine)

Terrazzo (Cementitious, Epoxy, and Polyester Matrices, Cast–in–Place Systems, Precast Tile)

Vinyl (Composition Tiles, Luxury Tiles and Strips, Rolled/Sheet Goods, Solid Vinyl Tiles, Safety Flooring, Specialty PVC–Free, Vinyl Sheets and Tiles)

Wood (Strip, Parquet, Plank, Block, Reclaimed Lumber, and Engineered Flooring)

Chapter 3: WALLS, PARTITIONS, AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS

DESIGN INTENTIONS

Acoustics and Sound Transmission

Dimensions: Height, Thickness, and Depth

Function and Use

Incorporation of Building Systems

Partitioning Space/Spatial Order

Structural Integrity/Load Bearing

WALLS AND PARTITIONS: CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION TYPES

Load Bearing, Non–Load–Bearing

Lateral Bracing

Modular Construction (CMU, Stacking, Masonry)

Wood and Metal Framing (Channel, Plate, Runner, Stud)

Integral and Integrated Assemblies

Structural Integrated Panels

Adhesives and Bonding

Hardware (Fasteners and Mechanical Attachments for Walls and Partitions)

Relative Cost of Materials for Walls

WALLS, PARTITIONS, AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS: MATERIALS

Bead Board

Brick Masonry (Brick, CMU)

Cement Fiberboard

Ceramic Tile

Compressed and Rammed Earth

Concrete

Fabric–Wrapped Panel Systems

Glass/Glazing (Annealed, Flat, Laminated, Restoration, Safety, Smart, Stained, Tempered)

Gypsum Wallboard (Blueboard, Core Board, Foil–backed, Greenboard, Paperless, Type X Wallboard)

Leather

Metal (Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Galvanized Steel, Steel, Stainless Steel)

Paint and Decorative Finishes (Alkyd Paint, Antigraffiti Coatings, Ceramic Insulating Paints, Decorative Paint Techniques, Dry Paint, Electrostatic Paint, Intumescent Paint, Latex Paint, Milk–Based Paint, Oil Paint, Sprayed–On Paint Finishes)

Plaster (Finish Plaster, Gypsum Plaster, Venetian Plaster)

Plastics

Stone (Alabaster, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone, Travertine)

Wallcovering (Cork, Dry–Erase, Fabric, Flock, Glass Bead, Glass Textile, Grass Cloth, Historical Prints, High–Performance, Magnetic, Paper, PVC–Free, Teldar Film, Vinyl, Wall Carpet, Wood Veneer)

Wood (Wall Veneer Panels, Wainscot, Moldings, Trim)

Chapter 4: CEILINGS

DESIGN INTENTIONS

Acoustics and Sound Transmission

Defining and Partitioning Space

Fire Protection, HVAC, Lighting, MEP, and Acoustic Systems Integration

CEILINGS: CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION CATEGORIES

Intermediate Floor Assemblies

Suspended and Nonsuspended Ceilings

Relative Cost of Materials for Ceilings

CEILING MATERIALS

Acoustic Ceiling Tiles (Glass Fiber and Mineral Fiber)

Ceramic Tile

Concrete

Glass/Glazing

Gypsum Wallboard and Gypsum Fiber

Metal Systems

Plaster

Plastics

Stone

Wood and Wood Systems

Chapter 5 MILLWORK

DESIGN INTENTIONS

Constructing Space

Function, Purpose, and Use

Durability

Relative Cost of Materials for Millwork

INTERIOR MILLWORK: MATERIALS

Agglomerates (Cambria, Celador, IceStone, River Rock, Riverstone, Trend Q)

Concrete

Glass

Linoleum

Metal

Plastics

Plastic Laminate

Solid Surface Materials (Avonite, CaesarStone, Corian, Fountainhead, Hanex, Swanstone, Zodiaq)

Stone (Alabaster, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone, Travertine)

Wood and Wood Composite Boards

INTERIOR MILLWORK FINISHES

Aniline Dyes

Fire–Retardant and –Resistant Finishes

Nitrocellulose and Precatalyzed Lacquer

Oil–Based Finishes

Polyurethane/Spar Varnish

Shellac (Alcohol Based)

Stains

Varnishes

Waterborne Finishes

HARDWARE

Catches and Locks

Hinges

Screws (Wood and Machine)

Washers

Nails (Interior Construction)

Metal Connectors

Drawer Glides

Edge Profiles

Beads and Channels

Running and Standing Trim

Resources and Sources

WOOD JOINERY

APPENDIX: MATERIAL MATTERS

NOTES

GLOSSARY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Nancy Gesimondo is an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has taught design studio and materials courses in various Interior Design programs for ten years. She is currently the principal of a high–end residential design practice in New York City.

Jim Postell is an Associate Professor in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. He has taught design studio and seminar courses for twenty–five years and maintains an active design practice. He is the author of Furniture Design, published by Wiley.

This comprehensive reference imparts essential knowledge on how materials contribute to the construction and fabrication of all interior aspects of buildings, with coverage of the characteristics and properties of building materials and finishes. The highly illustrated book addresses key characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of specific materials, helping readers discover how to make every building element count. Organized by application for easy access to information, the book also includes a companion website with an extensive image bank of materials and assemblies. (ICON Magazine)